TIME FOR WICKLOW TO SLIP THE LAOIS!

First win since 1986 would be a real tonic

NOT since the ‘Battle of Aughrim’ in June of 1986 have Wicklow defeated Laois in championship football and there will hardly ever be a better time to do so than Saturday, June 17, in Joule Park Aughrim after the qualifier draw on Tuesday morning sent both counties on a collision course.

The home draw is a massive boost as is the fact that Laois are not the same team of 10 or 15 years ago when they were competing and winning (once) Leinster finals on a regular basis.

The O’Moore men are coming in on the back of relegation to Division 4 and a 14-point walloping at the hands of Kildare. They still however possess some class footballers, who would grace most county sides, and have a strong record over Wicklow so will be formidable opponents for the Garden county men.

For manager Johnny Magee the match represents, incredibly, the first time in three years and six championship matches that his side have been handed a home championship draw. It’s a challenge and an opportunity Magee says both he and his players are looking forward to.

“First of all it’s great to know who we’re playing and be able to turn our focus to Laois on Saturday week. The lads have reacted really well and be training hard since the Louth match but I suppose that knowing does sharpen the mind that little bit more,” said Magee.

Asked whether Laois may be vulnerable in their current predicament, Magee disagrees and says they are still formidable opponents.

“No matter who you draw at this level it’s going to be a tough game and Laois will be no different and have some brilliant footballers. My focus would be more so on our own game and how we can improve ourselves rather than Laois but obviously we’ll analyse them like we do for all teams we play. We played them last year in Portlaoise and put ourselves in a position to win, so even though we didn’t quite get there I think there is belief within the lads that they can finish it off this time around.”

Under Magee’s tenure Wicklow have introduced many new players to county football. This year being no different with five debutants in the starting line up the last day against Louth. Magee says that the attitude of those men since coming in has been great but the trick now may be finding relative consistency in the team.

“To be fair, all the lads that have took to the challenge and the lads that started or came on for the first time against Louth did a great job. It’s great for them to have the more experienced lads in there too to help them along and give guidance. It’s crucial to get the experience against quality county opposition so they grow as players. Darragh Fitz and Mark Jackson will be doing the Leaving Cert over the next few weeks so we’ll support them through that and whether they decide to play or not is up to them but that shows the youth that’s in this team.”

“There’s great competition within the squad and we’ve had a clean bill of health since the Louth match so fingers crossed that continues. Getting some sort of consistency in the team is important so that guys get more experience and we grow both as individuals and as a team.”

Under Magee’s time in charge Wicklow have generally performed well in championship but a drop off in the final minutes has cost them that elusive victory which both the players and manager so crave. Asked whether this is a worry for either he or his players ahead of the Laois match, Magee says it’s something they won’t be focusing on.

“In those matches I think the important thing is that we have been creating the chances so I don’t think it is a mental block or anything to do with belief.

“We were a point down against Louth with a couple of minutes to go and maybe they were that bit more clinical at the end but we certainly weren’t five points worse than them. The lads maybe just need that first win to get that extra one per cent of belief and we’re confident that will come on Saturday week with a big crowd behind them in Aughrim.”

Despite their poor recent form, Laois will still travel to Aughrim as strong favourites but there is no doubt that in championship football home advantage is a major advantage and one which Magee and his charges will be looking to exploit.