WICKLOW BOSS JOHNNY Magee isn’t too optimistic about the prospect of Laois springing a surprise against his native Dublin in the Leinster SFC quarter-final on 4 June.
Magee was crushed but proud following last night’s first-round defeat to Laois at O’Moore Park and had Wicklow taken their chances, it could be them and not their opponents preparing for a joust with the Sky Blues.
The former centre back admitted that he would have loved a shot at his home county in the provincial championship – and even felt confident of drawing a smile from Dublin boss Jim Gavin!
“Heart-strings would have been pulling between a rock and a hard place,” said Magee.
“My allegiances would have been to Wicklow on the day, and there would have been mixed emotions.
“I owe it to those guys, I would have loved it.”
Magee also has brother Darren and another former Dublin star, Ray Cosgrove, in the Wicklow backroom team.
And he admitted: “It would have been nice to pit your wits against the lads – I played with Jim, Deego (Mick Deegan), Davy Byrne and Declan Darcy, Brogie (Bernard Brogan), Flynner (Paul Flynn) as well.
“It would have been a bit of banter, having a cut off oul’ Jim, give him an oul’ smile and lighten him up a bit!”
Magee, who was in bullish form after watching his side produce a good performance, can only see one winner when Dublin tackle Laois at Nowlan Park.
If we can score 18 points off them, you’d think that Dublin would probably double that. But at the end of the day, Dublin are a different level, it’s a tough task ahead of them but that’s why they brought in Anthony Cunningham isn’t it? It wasn’t for us, let’s be honest!
Wicklow will look to bounce back in the qualifiers but the Leinster draw hasn’t been kind to them over the last two seasons.
In 2015, they lost their opening fixture away to Meath and were on their travels again last night.
Magee would love more games to develop his side and warned that it would take a “brave man” to ring him up and tell him that he’s leaving the Wicklow panel now.
“No-one’s rang me yet,” Magee confirmed.
“It would be a brave man ringing me at this stage. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been lucky.
“We’re a tight-knit group, and they’ve bought into the team ethic.
“That’s what you’re looking for – the team is more important that one individual.
“Nobody’s knocked on my door yet but that could change in the next couple of weeks.”
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Well done. Hopefully they can retain the Koh Samui cup this summer
@Luke: absolute horseplay
@Niall Boyle: absolutely sending it!
Would be very disappointed if 6 of the Blackrock squad aren’t capped by Ireland this summer
@Niall Boyle: and you’ll be begging for the other 9 players
@Niall Boyle: bit early for that under 20s first i would of taught
@SEAN: expect a solicitors letter for a derogatory comment like that
Tremendous game, albeit defence-dominated, well worth a watch by those who can. Munster fans would enjoy another top performance by Michael O’Sullivan, the Blackrock openside
@Kevin Ryan: agreed. I thought that lad was excellent. Is he a Munster kid?
@Jack Kirwan: From Kerry apparently, and definitely in the Munster system. So, for example, played for Munster against Leinster in the U19 interpro last August
Just get into leinster academy and be capped by capped by ireland within 2 years
Shame it was in Tallaght can’t believe people actually live in that kip. Still serious horseplay with the lads.