Having taken a few days to get over Saturday, I think we need to take a wider look at the summer campaign. While the Wexford performance was pretty dreadful on almost every front, there is reason to believe that we are still heading in the right direction.
Going into this season, we had not beaten a team regarded as serious provincial contenders in that particular year for almost a decade (since we hammered Tyrone at Casement in 1999). we had failed to put together any sort of run in the qualifiers since their launch in 2001, and we had not played a championship game at Croke Park since 1994.
We have now managed all three objectives, through the Tyrone and arguably the Laois results, getting back to back wins in the qualifiers and having a run-out at HQ as well.
We should never have been favourites against Wexford, as, apart from the second half against Dublin, they have been operating at a much higher level than us over recent years. They stuffed us in the league last spring, before winning the division, and have also been regulars at Croke Park as well.
They also had the benefit of a two-week break, while our boys were out on their feet after hanging on with 14 men against Laois. Hughes in particular looked drained against Wexford, while we cannot expect Gordon to be MoM in every match.
Losing our only two experienced defenders, Cole and Doyle, left us very vulnerable, and McComiskey would also have given us a range of options up front. By the time Ambrose ended up having major surgery, after the other long-term injuries to O'Hanlon, Ciaran McGovern and Rooney, it was pretty clear that we were not having much luck in 2008.
If and when they all return, we now know we can take on at least some of the leading sides, we are capable of coming through the qualifiers with the right draw and we have a much clearer idea about what is required if we ever get back to Croke Park.
I hope that the present management stays in place, despite some of the rumblings in the background, and I believe there are two or three young players out there who could make a real difference to the present squad. Kevin Duffin of Castlewellan is obviously one, while Peter Fitzpatrick of Ballymartin, if fit, and Kalum King of Bryansford, if committed, should also be in the frame.I think that Brendan McVeigh is a decent keeper who has simply let in too many goals, so I would also give McAllister his chance in nets.
The priority is to get into division two in 2009 and make it to the championship quarter finals within two years. I think we can do it.
Going into this season, we had not beaten a team regarded as serious provincial contenders in that particular year for almost a decade (since we hammered Tyrone at Casement in 1999). we had failed to put together any sort of run in the qualifiers since their launch in 2001, and we had not played a championship game at Croke Park since 1994.
We have now managed all three objectives, through the Tyrone and arguably the Laois results, getting back to back wins in the qualifiers and having a run-out at HQ as well.
We should never have been favourites against Wexford, as, apart from the second half against Dublin, they have been operating at a much higher level than us over recent years. They stuffed us in the league last spring, before winning the division, and have also been regulars at Croke Park as well.
They also had the benefit of a two-week break, while our boys were out on their feet after hanging on with 14 men against Laois. Hughes in particular looked drained against Wexford, while we cannot expect Gordon to be MoM in every match.
Losing our only two experienced defenders, Cole and Doyle, left us very vulnerable, and McComiskey would also have given us a range of options up front. By the time Ambrose ended up having major surgery, after the other long-term injuries to O'Hanlon, Ciaran McGovern and Rooney, it was pretty clear that we were not having much luck in 2008.
If and when they all return, we now know we can take on at least some of the leading sides, we are capable of coming through the qualifiers with the right draw and we have a much clearer idea about what is required if we ever get back to Croke Park.
I hope that the present management stays in place, despite some of the rumblings in the background, and I believe there are two or three young players out there who could make a real difference to the present squad. Kevin Duffin of Castlewellan is obviously one, while Peter Fitzpatrick of Ballymartin, if fit, and Kalum King of Bryansford, if committed, should also be in the frame.I think that Brendan McVeigh is a decent keeper who has simply let in too many goals, so I would also give McAllister his chance in nets.
The priority is to get into division two in 2009 and make it to the championship quarter finals within two years. I think we can do it.