OISIN McCONVILLE insisted the days of “box ticking” and moral victories are over after extending his spell as Wicklow football manager.
The All-Ireland winning Armagh legend will remain in the Garden County for another two years.
McConville took over in 2022, with 2026 being his fourth season at the helm.
And he believes they are well placed to progress further after a campaign of near misses in 2025.
He told SunSport: “There was obviously a lot of work done the last three years. I think we are in a decent position and I think I probably know the landscape a bit better.
“This year, regardless of results, was probably a lot more positive in the fact that we have brought on a good group of players.
“I had to decide after the Limerick game whether I was a part of the solution or part of the problem.
“It weighed heavily on me that we had done so much and we can do a wee bit more. That is what went into the decision.”
2025 was a year in which Wicklow took one step forward and two steps back at times.
They narrowly missed out on promotion out of Division 4 by a single point after a costly opening day loss to London and draw with Limerick on March 16.
The Leinster SFC saw them beat Longford before a spirited 2-21 to 0-18 defeat to Dublin in the quarter-finals.
Wins over Laois and Waterford saw them top their Tailteann Cup group and set up a quarter-final against inaugural winners Westmeath.
And on a historic afternoon in Aughrim, a last second buzzer beater score from the evergreen Dean Healy set up a last four clash against Limerick.
A Malachy Stone goal had Wicklow seven points up on the Treaty County with less than 15 minutes left at Croke Park.
However, a rare error from goalscorer Mark Jackson allowed Rob Childs to put into the back of the net, while Oisin McGraynor was denied from the penalty spot by Josh Ryan.
Limerick goalie Ryan stepped up with 0-4 at the other end as Jimmy Lee’s men snatched the 2-18 to 1-17 win from the jaws of defeat.
Frustrated by his side coming oh so near to glory without anything to show for it, McConville wants to right those wrongs in 2026.
The Crossmaglen Rangers man added: “I was disappointed with the year if I am honest.
“The main thing for us last year was promotion. That didn’t work out.
“Leinster Championship we had a tough one with the Dubs and we did okay.
“The days of doing okay and ticking boxes are well and truly gone with this group.
“The Tailteann Cup was very positive for us. It was a horrible way to end the year but on reflection, we done really well to get ourselves in the position we were in and the more we put ourselves in those positions, the better chance we have of winning.
“For a team like this, we need to be operating in a higher division and that will be the main goal heading into next year.”
FAMILY CALL
After the loss to Limerick, McConville admitted to needing to mull over his future with his family.
Since taking charge in 2022, the Armagh man has been commuting to Ballinakill and back for trainings and was weary of the sacrifices made at home.
But he revealed that when the topic was discussed with his wife Darina, she backed him to go again.
He laughed: “I didn’t do much of the talking, I was just listening.
“The family know what to expect. Darina knows what to expect from the fact that we have been through it for the past three years and we have made it work.
“She said there is no reason why we can’t do that and make it work again.
“I suppose the fact that we know and everybody knows what it entails and the commitment it entails, everybody can get on board that little bit easier.
“I wouldn’t take it lightly the sacrifice that everybody else is making so I can go up and down to Wicklow.
“I have to be aware that there is massive sacrifice and that is why I said it after the game.
“It is quite a condensed season and when the season is on, it is all consuming so I have to try and make sure I don’t bring a lot of that home.
“I have been trying my hardest in the last couple of years to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
