Matty Forde believes Wexford’s remarkable 2008 campaign deserved far greater recognition, with the former attacker still puzzled that none of the county’s players were selected as an All-Star. The season remains one of the most memorable chapters in modern Wexford football, yet its award haul was empty.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, Forde reflected on a year when Wexford won the National League Division 3 title, reached the Leinster final and progressed to an All-Ireland semi-final. Despite that run, the county was left without a representative on the final All-Star team.
Why Matty Forde still remembers the 2008 snub
Forde had already made history by becoming Wexford’s first football All-Star in 2004. However, he felt his individual performances were arguably stronger four years later, even though he did not score as heavily.
“I don’t think I’d scored as much, but I think I played way better football in 2008,” he said, while admitting that the omission of his teammates remains particularly difficult to understand.
Wexford’s progress was achieved after a difficult provincial final defeat to Dublin. Under manager Jason Ryan, they responded impressively, defeating Down and Armagh to earn a place in the All-Ireland semi-final against eventual champions Tyrone.
Wexford players nominated but overlooked
Forde, Ciarán Lyng, Redmond Barry and goalkeeper Anthony Masterson were all nominated for awards. None made the final selection, despite Wexford’s impressive championship journey.
Forde believes Lyng and Barry were especially deserving of recognition. In his view, the county’s league success and run to the last four should have carried significant weight in the voting.
- Wexford won National League Division 3.
- The county reached the Leinster final.
- They defeated Down and Armagh in the All-Ireland series.
- Wexford reached the All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone.
- Four Wexford players received nominations, but none won an award.
Injuries curtailed Forde’s championship
Forde’s own campaign ended in painful fashion. He carried a hamstring injury from the Down match into the quarter-final against Armagh, where he still produced one of the standout displays of the championship.
He scored 1-5 and was named man of the match as Wexford defeated Armagh by 1-14 to 0-12. However, the injury continued to trouble him before the semi-final against Tyrone.
After around 15 minutes of that game, Forde tore ankle ligaments. He played on until half-time but failed to score, and Wexford ultimately lost by six points. The injury meant he spent several days on crutches.
Forde accepts that his semi-final showing may have affected his own prospects. What continues to bother him is that Lyng and Barry were also left without awards, despite their contributions to the team’s historic run.
A forgotten chapter in GAA history?
The 2008 All-Star team was dominated by Tyrone, who supplied seven players after winning the All-Ireland title. Kerry received four awards, while Westmeath had two representatives. Dublin and Armagh each had one.
From an awards perspective, the distribution reflected the leading teams of the season. Yet Forde’s comments underline how individual recognition can sometimes fail to capture the wider story of a county’s progress.
Wexford’s achievement was significant. Their route to the semi-final included recovery from a heavy Leinster final loss and victories over two established opponents. For supporters of county GAA, it remains a campaign that helped raise expectations around football in Wexford.
Read more
For more Ireland sports news, follow the latest GAA stories, county developments and match analysis from across the country.
Explore more
Catch wider coverage of Irish sports and community stories, alongside lifestyle and sporting features at Ireland sports culture.
What to watch next in GAA
Forde’s recollections will renew debate about the way All-Stars are judged and whether a team’s overall progress receives enough attention alongside individual performances. For Wexford supporters, the 2008 side remains a reminder of how close the county came to a breakthrough on the national stage.
Article/Image Courtesy: Balls.ie
Key takeaway: Matty Forde may accept that injuries affected his own All-Star chances, but he still believes Wexford’s 2008 campaign warranted recognition for players such as Ciarán Lyng and Redmond Barry.