Vodafone crowd facing testing weekends studying match stats.

Studying the form - an exclusive photo inside the match analysis centre.


Starting this weekend the show sponsors have the unenviable task of spending time in front of the computer monitor to mine scientific data from the big GAA matches of the summer.

They've been doing a dry run and had a look at Wexford v Dublin in 2005.


The analysis revealed Wexford had more possession 3 years ago.

Here's the raw data.

Vodafone Championship Big Match Stats – Dublin Vs Wexford 19th June 2005While the game finished 1-17 to 2-10 in Dublin’s favour, the statistics prove the general consensus that the game was much closer than the scoreboard suggested. In the possession stakes Wexford edged it with 50.63% (15min 54secs) compared to Dublin’s 49.37% (15mins 30 secs). Both teams achieved the same amount of turnovers - 16, Wexford even managed more entries into the full forward zone – 15 compared to Dublin’s 9, and won more clean catches – 23 compared to Dublin’s 18.



But Wexford’s possession football let them down on the day, having soloed the ball nearly twice as many times as Dublin – 61 times compared to Dublin’s 36 and short kicked the ball 40 times compared to Dublin’s 29. This played into Dublin’s hand as they used their superior strength to dispossess their opponents 20 times, compared to Wexford’s paltry 7 dispossessions. The metropolitans used their physical strength to their advantage winning 13 high catches, to Wexford’s 8 and kicking 29 long balls compared to Wexford’s 13.



At the end of the day it came down to the sharp shooters and Mossie Quinn was in no charitable mood hitting 10 points from 11 shoots (90.9%). Unfortunately for the normally superb Mattie Forde didn’t bring his shooting boots, only hitting 3 points from 10 shoots (30%).



But that young Wexford team are now three years on with their development and are undoubtedly a stronger outfit than they were, on the other hand Dublin have lost many household names including Coman Goggins, Senan Connell, Paddy Christie and Peadar Andrews. It is set up to be a mouth-watering contest. Whichever way it goes the Vodafone match statistics will be available the day after the Leinster final to help dissect exactly where the game was won or lost.