Tadhg Evans

1 week ago | independent.ie | Tadhg Evans

Wicklow boss Oisín McConville describes Dean Healy as ‘a special player’Healy was Wicklow’s best player on Sunday, if not the best player on the day full stopDean Healy. Photo by Joe Byrne. Oisín McConville was clearly, and justifiably, proud of all his players’ efforts as Wicklow gave Dublin a far-stiffer test than most people thought possible. But one Wicklow man stood out to everyone watching – Dean Healy – and McConville described him on Sunday as “a special player”.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Tadhg Evans

That’s round one done with. How are things looking for Wicklow? Wicklow currently sit second on the table, level on points with London and Derry, but sandwiched in between them on points difference. The top two teams after every team has played each other once will play in this year’s Christy Ring Cup final, with promotion to the Joe McDonagh Cup up for grabs in that final. The team that finishes bottom of the Christy Ring Cup group phase will be relegated to play in the 2026 Nicky Rackard Cup.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Tadhg Evans

Five things we know as Wicklow give Dublin something to think aboutPadraig O' Toole (Wicklow) and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Dublin. Photo by Joe ByrneI find the Championship structure a bit tough to follow these days. Where does this leave Wicklow? Wicklow are out of the Leinster Championship. They are also out of the All-Ireland Championship; as a Division Four team, they had to make it to the provincial final to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup, so a quarter-final exit doesn’t tick that box.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Tadhg Evans

You would have forgiven Wicklow if the occasion got to them. A packed Aughrim hasn’t been seen very often – if at all – for an inter-county game since the Mick O’Dwyer era. But on a day on which the late Micko was remembered – not least in the presentation of a Wicklow jersey to son Karl O’Dwyer, a jersey signed by the 2007 Tommy Murphy Cup-winning team – the class of 2025 punched well above their weight in a way those Micko-managed outfits did so often.

1 week ago | independent.ie | Tadhg Evans

The Tánaiste also spent some time with the Bray Emmets All-Star groupIt was a Saturday morning not to be forgotten at Old Conna, with Tánaiste and former Taoiseach Simon Harris among the many faces who turned out for the opening of the Tom Walsh Walkway at Bray Emmets GAA. The sun shone brightly and fittingly on the day, and a speech from the Wicklow man further elevated a mood that was already sky-high.