Wicklow's Leighton Glynn in action against London
All biast aside as a Wicklow woman, I really think Wicklow might be in with a chance of claiming the All Ireland title this year. I know to many this may seem highly unlikely, but I hold a glimpse of hope that someday my Garden county will bring home Sam.
It's such a big deal in Ireland, it's the highlight of the calender for all GAA fanatics. I mean Croke Park is an absolutely fantastic grounds. You cannot beat the atmosphere on All Ireland final day. It's just unbelievable. The build up to the final is something else too.
Wicklow are on flying terms this year, with their most memorable win over Antrim February 9th last to top the division 4 table. They're performance was so admirable, trailing at half time to scoring three late minute crucial goals to bag a victory. Rathnew's Leighton Glynn was in top form for that game, as well as the game the weekend before against London(pictured above) bagging a hat-trick. James Stafford was also a driving force for the Garden county.
I mean, they are really showing stamina, and I watched both Glynn and Stafford in action at a local match last weekend and they were looking very strong.
Is it really that unbelievable that Wicklow could actually claim the Sam Maguire? They haven't had much luck in the past, narrowly missing out on a place in the Semi-finals in 2008, losing to Laois in the quarter-finals. But, beating Kildare in the Semis was an achievement in itself, who were the first ever squad to win the Sam Maguire in 1928. That game being the first championship win in Croke Park ever. So, as you can imagine, Wicklow were over the moon, especially beating our neighbouring county. And by god, did we cherish that.
However, in 2007 they won they're first ever silverware at Croke Park, with a victory over Antrim in the Tommy Murphy Cup. Wicklow have some really fantastic clubs, like Baltingalss who won the All-Ireland senior club championship in 1990, which is one of Wicklow's biggest achievements as a whole, for a small club who have won many county titles.
Under management of GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer last year, Wicklow failed to get very far. But this year under management of Rathnew's Harry Murphy, Wicklow are looking promising, well to me they are.
Wicklow and Fermanagh are the only two counties that have not claimed a senior provincial championship title. So, 2014 could be the Garden's year. I'm looking at Wicklow's performances so far and I've been impressed, so for that reason I'm praying we get somewhere this year!
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