No stone left unturned as Wicklow look to harness power

In the end, it was a very simple equation. Oisín McConville wanted to know that Wicklow still wanted him, Wicklow wanted to know if McConville still wanted them.

The first part was an easy yes, but the second was potentially trickier. After Wicklow's brilliant Tailteann Cup triumph, the Armagh man’s stock was never higher. A cluster of county and high-profile club positions awaited him, if he so wished.

Wicklow chairman Damien Byrne was also conscious to give his manager as much space as he wanted. McConville's mother Margaret – herself so revered in the Orchard County – died just over a month ago.

In the end when the time was right to chat, it was an easy yes for McConville too. Earlier this week it was confirmed that the 2002 All-Ireland winner would take charge of the Garden County for a fifth season.

Rarely will Wicklow football look forward to a new season with such enthusiasm.

There was the All-Ireland B title in 1992 on the mouth of Christmas under a still-in-his-20s Niall Rennick, the side getting the better of Antrim in Navan.

The giddiness of the Mick O’Dwyer - who had 40 years on Rennick when he took over - era lives long in the memory of Wicklow fans, of course.

That brought more national success - again against Antrim, this time in the Tommy Murphy Cup final - as well as a first-ever senior championship win at Croke Park as they beat Kildare to spoil Kieran McGeeney’s first-ever championship game as a manager. Teams like Down, Cavan and Fermanagh felt their wrath in the backdoor too in intoxicating times for the Leinster minnows.

This time, they enter a new year with shiny silverware squirreled away and a guaranteed seat at the top table in the form of Sam Maguire football.

"There had been a lot of enquiries from (Wicklow) clubs, we’ve had to deal with a lot of anxiety from people hoping Oisín would stay on," Byrne told RTÉ Sport.

"Oisín was coming back. His big thing was whether Wicklow wanted him and the answer to that was yes, everyone in Wicklow wanted him to stay on.

"He has built up huge respect in the county, there was no begging from either side. The players themselves can’t wait to get back going.

"There’s a huge drive there, first for the National League and then for the promise of Sam Maguire football."

And will all the players be back from that famed 2026 campaign?

"You definitely won’t be retiring Dean Healy anyway," was Byrne’s emphatic reply.

Playing for Wicklow wasn’t always a badge of honour, an experience shared by countless lower-ranked teams. A chicken and egg situation, for both potential players and supporters. New management teams arrive at sides languishing in the lower league and the invitations extended to the best in the county aren’t always accepted.

Byrne has been striving to change things, and the last few months provided the perfect accelerant.

The Tailteann Cup run was boosted by an ever-increasing support along the way, culminating in an incredible noise at Croke Park as it became clear a magical comeback was on the cards against Down in the Tailteann Cup final.

"It's the norm for the weaker counties that have been down in Division 4," Byrne continued.

"First of all, it's hard to get the clubs to start following you and supporting you.

"When you take Division 1, the Kerrys, the Dublins, the Donegals, there's huge support. And it's something that I have been driving within the county.

"At county board meetings we’ve been trying to get the clubs behind their county players and, to be fair, they have done that.

"We had it every day in the Tailteann Cup. These people will follow this side because they know what they’re capable of. They believe in them now.

"The county players in any county, they will perform when they have their supporters behind them.

"It is difficult for them to not perform when there's nobody attending the games and we’ve just been getting more and more out."

Byrne points to how standards have risen across the board since Echelon came on board in a €1.5 million sponsorship deal back in 2022.

The money was ear-marked to boost facilities as well as pumping resources into their coaching structure.

McConville’s arrival harnessed that potential, from nutrition to communication with underage squads and, evidently, strength and conditioning.

That can’t be the sole reason for their incredible Jekyll and Hyde Tailteann Cup halves, but it played a pretty big part.

Their aggregate score in the first half of their six games sat at -38. Their aggregate score in the second half of their six games sat at +56.

It was the perfect tonic for just missing out on promotion from Division 4 last season, but there is an expectancy in the county now that they can make amends when the new campaign kicks into gears - and a Leinster side a few counties north provide the perfect inspiration.

"There will be no stone left unturned - whatever is needed will be sourced to help push these guys on next year," said Byrne.

"Look what Louth have achieved over the last three years. Absolutely amazing and they came up through the leagues.

"This is something that we need to do now, to follow the likes of Louth. I speak of Louth because they have been exceptional in the last 3 years.

"They're a good example and there's no reason why any other county can't follow them."

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