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Regional Championship

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Hoping to get to a couple of these games. But sounds like they not that good. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 31/10/2023 21:07:47 2511109 Link
Replying To royal11: "I got to two games last week and I must say the standard was way down on last year and really poor. While games were tight and competitive, I don't think any of the teams would win the intermediate . Seems to be many players unavailable. No doubt teams will gel with time and improve but not a great start." Went to a game last week myself and would echo your thoughts. Conditions weren't very conducive to free flowing football albeit but even taking that into account, I thought the standard was poor. I think the concept itself is great but a few chinks need to be ironed out. 1) Timing of the competition. This time of year isn't great. Poor weather and pitches, as above, not ideal for showcasing one's ability. Harder to get player and supporter buy-in I would suggest. Could this be run in late spring/early summer? 2) Purpose of the competition. Glorified county trials? Integrate regional teams into senior championship? Not sure if the CB have a firm stance on either of the above. I think an eventual integration into the senior club championship could create greater buy-in and drive standards. 3) Involvement of county panelists. I guess this relates to whether or not there will be a future link to the senior club championship. For now, there is no link so I don't see the need for current/former county players to to be involved. You'd imagine there's enough young fellas chomping at the bit to get a shot at it but then again, some of the panels look light on numbers in the match day team sheets. I'm all for it but a few tweaks could really enhance it. I'm sure O'Rourke will pick out a few players from it regardless which is his own personal aim I'd imagine but there's certainly scope for improvement. MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 01/11/2023 08:24:52 2511123 Link
Replying To Roger: "Caught a game last week and was well worth going to. Was a nice night in fairness and the football was good, with plenty of attacking play. The managers have been told that it is not to be defensive football, so that players can be judged on merit. A lot of people went to see the games last year as it was novel, and the double headers in Dunganny drew a crowd. A different format for fixtures this year but no one sided games so far, so the balance of teams is working." I too heard that interview where Colm O'Rourke had instructed managers not to play defensive football. This seems incredible daft to me. If he wants to judge the players on merit he should see how they fit into defensive football as that is what they'll play and face the majority of the time at inter county football LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1470 - 01/11/2023 16:57:29 2511203 Link
I found it ironic that Colm O'Rourke asked the managers to not play defensive football, any sweepers etc. since that's how he wanted the team to play during the league and that ended so well... Then when we did play with a bit of a defensive system we improved. This year we will need players who can play In different attacking and defensive systems so why not allow the regional coaches to be creative. Maybe the county setup could learn a thing or two because nobody in the current setup has the tactical or coaching know how to prepare a modern team. royal11 (Meath) - Posts: 95 - 01/11/2023 17:23:36 2511208 Link
Replying To royal11: "I found it ironic that Colm O'Rourke asked the managers to not play defensive football, any sweepers etc. since that's how he wanted the team to play during the league and that ended so well... Then when we did play with a bit of a defensive system we improved. This year we will need players who can play In different attacking and defensive systems so why not allow the regional coaches to be creative. Maybe the county setup could learn a thing or two because nobody in the current setup has the tactical or coaching know how to prepare a modern team." Probably wants to see players for their individual ability and skill whether that's attacking players or defenders with one on one situations. He is looking for individuals, not looking to learn a gameplan here. I think most understand what he means. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 515 - 01/11/2023 19:31:07 2511218 Link
Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "I too heard that interview where Colm O'Rourke had instructed managers not to play defensive football. This seems incredible daft to me. If he wants to judge the players on merit he should see how they fit into defensive football as that is what they'll play and face the majority of the time at inter county football" With the game I attended last week, the primary tactic for one of the teams was to launch direct ball into their full forward every single time, with limited success I will add. Couldn't get my head around it. Thought it was quite the shortsighted approach. MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 02/11/2023 09:44:34 2511247 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "Probably wants to see players for their individual ability and skill whether that's attacking players or defenders with one on one situations. He is looking for individuals, not looking to learn a gameplan here. I think most understand what he means." County football is not just a game of individual skill though. It's individual skill mixed with athleticism to get up and down the pitch and the ability to make decisions as part of a collective system. Also regarding the individual skill component. I would much rather see a players skill in breaking down a packed defense as that what they'll have to do at county, not what they can do 1v1 LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1470 - 02/11/2023 11:34:59 2511271 Link
What exactly is the purpose of this completion. I thought it was for junior and Intermediate clubs. Were they not supposed to be allowed into the Feis cup. If so then why is there lads from senior clubs playing. Why would O'Rourke have any business directing managers how to play or who to play. If he want's to see someone then bring them into his set up. If lads from Senior clubs are allowed play in it then there's plenty who play second team football who are far superior to most that are already playing for the regional teams. Indeed I'd say there's not very many from any of these teams that would make any senior club team at the moment. The level of fitness and conditioning is well below the standard needed to play senior club football. I attended the Black water game the other night and the standard was awful, even aside from the weather which didn't help the skill level was atrocious. On another point why is the entire management team from Wolfe tones. Why is there no representation from the clubs involved. Seems strange to me. latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 520 - 02/11/2023 11:37:35 2511273 Link
Replying To latouche25: "What exactly is the purpose of this completion. I thought it was for junior and Intermediate clubs. Were they not supposed to be allowed into the Feis cup. If so then why is there lads from senior clubs playing. Why would O'Rourke have any business directing managers how to play or who to play. If he want's to see someone then bring them into his set up. If lads from Senior clubs are allowed play in it then there's plenty who play second team football who are far superior to most that are already playing for the regional teams. Indeed I'd say there's not very many from any of these teams that would make any senior club team at the moment. The level of fitness and conditioning is well below the standard needed to play senior club football. I attended the Black water game the other night and the standard was awful, even aside from the weather which didn't help the skill level was atrocious. On another point why is the entire management team from Wolfe tones. Why is there no representation from the clubs involved. Seems strange to me." The problem I see is buy in. In my club (intermediate) we have a group of 4 or 5 older players who would start for any senior team and have IC experience but have not made themselves available for this competition so what you are seeing is not the absolute best of the lower levels but the lads who have made themselves available. TigerKing (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 02/11/2023 14:40:42 2511307 Link
It definitely does feel like a damp squib compared to last year and all the best players don't appear to be available. Some unusual selections as well, for instance Yorke who played in goals for Meath not to long ago lining out at Full Forward or at least outfield anyway for An Tuascairt. Not to run him down as he's a fine goalkeeper but seems wrong that an amalgamation outfit puts him forward as an outfield option. I feel it's make or break time for this competition, either bring it to the clubs to properly integrate it into the calendar or it'll die a death very soon. Personally would love to see it ran as a proper Senior Championship. It can't make our already poor championship any worse I feel. The_Ripper (Meath) - Posts: 180 - 02/11/2023 15:11:54 2511312 Link
Replying To TigerKing: "The problem I see is buy in. In my club (intermediate) we have a group of 4 or 5 older players who would start for any senior team and have IC experience but have not made themselves available for this competition so what you are seeing is not the absolute best of the lower levels but the lads who have made themselves available." It's more about the coaches than players it seems. Led to believe 15 on 15 no chance, sweepers bodies behind the ball hold possession,set up when ball lost.same old *** as usual.goalies been used as forwards.its been killed off now.and it won't be sold again to clubs public.seems on purpose to be quite honest. Borderroyal (Meath)** - Posts: 488 - 02/11/2023 22:00:08 2511359 Link
Replying To The_Ripper: "It definitely does feel like a damp squib compared to last year and all the best players don't appear to be available. Some unusual selections as well, for instance Yorke who played in goals for Meath not to long ago lining out at Full Forward or at least outfield anyway for An Tuascairt. Not to run him down as he's a fine goalkeeper but seems wrong that an amalgamation outfit puts him forward as an outfield option. I feel it's make or break time for this competition, either bring it to the clubs to properly integrate it into the calendar or it'll die a death very soon. Personally would love to see it ran as a proper Senior Championship. It can't make our already poor championship any worse I feel." Certainly has a tokenistic feel to it this year. It has promise for sure, but requires several alterations for that promise to be met. MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 02/11/2023 23:57:04 2511368 Link
Replying To The_Ripper: "It definitely does feel like a damp squib compared to last year and all the best players don't appear to be available. Some unusual selections as well, for instance Yorke who played in goals for Meath not to long ago lining out at Full Forward or at least outfield anyway for An Tuascairt. Not to run him down as he's a fine goalkeeper but seems wrong that an amalgamation outfit puts him forward as an outfield option. I feel it's make or break time for this competition, either bring it to the clubs to properly integrate it into the calendar or it'll die a death very soon. Personally would love to see it ran as a proper Senior Championship. It can't make our already poor championship any worse I feel." Yeh agreed, saw the Tuaisceart team and I think they only have 15 on the panel, no subs. So lads probably clarly can't be bothered to play. Plus you'd think on paper they'd be quite a strong team, particularly the Castletown and Meath Hill players - the Dominic Yorke selection at full forward was bizzare. Must be just a pure numbers as they only had 15 players. But it shows the lack of interest. Plus a lot of the players nominated are definitely not the best players at the club. Like I said previously on this thread, this competition doesn't work in its current format. Throwing it in at the end of the season on a cold wet winter night in Dungany to virtually no spectators is not the right way to go about it. It clashes with u19s, college football, clubs teams playing in Leinster. In what could be a runner if they got it right has been a bit of a disaster to be honest. If you sat down and put a genuine best 25 or so panel together for each region, most of them would be competitive in the senior championship. But if they keep it how it is, can't see the competition going ahead next year. hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 03/11/2023 01:29:47 2511369 Link
Maybe would be better to incentivise it for the winners so that they get to compete in the Senior . . Might be tricky fixture wise for lads who might be dual players though lagoreX (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 03/11/2023 07:56:09 2511372 Link
Very poor crowds attending and not alot of reporting of games either in the media royal1967 (Meath) - Posts: 258 - 03/11/2023 09:30:25 2511376 Link
Replying To royal1967: "Very poor crowds attending and not alot of reporting of games either in the media" good coverage in the Meath chronicle this week. semi finals and final should draw good crowds 2020Vision (Meath) - Posts: 29 - 03/11/2023 10:57:10 2511393 Link
Only one club competition in Ireland has the regional championship in with the senior championship and its Kerry and its failing as there are very few club teams left in the Kerry senior championship as it's all regional teams competing. If anyone has seen the celebrations in the Kerry senior championship final last year it was a disgrace! This is my take on how to add the regional teams to the senior championship. Senior teams have four groups of four teams in each group. The bottom team of each group plays a semi-final of the relegation. The top two teams play the quarter-final as normal. Middle team that didn't qualify or has to play in the relegation semi-final. They will be entered into the regional championship and the losing teams in the quarter-final play in the regional championship as well and this competition will be played in September time. This gives junior and intermated teams to play against senior teams and gives senior teams more games and an opportunity to win a trophy at the end of the year. This competition can be called the county championship. Meathman721 (Meath) - Posts: 2 - 03/11/2023 12:06:45 2511410 Link
Replying To Meathman721: "Only one club competition in Ireland has the regional championship in with the senior championship and its Kerry and its failing as there are very few club teams left in the Kerry senior championship as it's all regional teams competing. If anyone has seen the celebrations in the Kerry senior championship final last year it was a disgrace! This is my take on how to add the regional teams to the senior championship. Senior teams have four groups of four teams in each group. The bottom team of each group plays a semi-final of the relegation. The top two teams play the quarter-final as normal. Middle team that didn't qualify or has to play in the relegation semi-final. They will be entered into the regional championship and the losing teams in the quarter-final play in the regional championship as well and this competition will be played in September time. This gives junior and intermated teams to play against senior teams and gives senior teams more games and an opportunity to win a trophy at the end of the year. This competition can be called the county championship." "If anyone has seen the celebrations in the Kerry senior championship final last year it was a disgrace! " What happened? stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 224 - 04/11/2023 11:47:35 2511488 Link
Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "I too heard that interview where Colm O'Rourke had instructed managers not to play defensive football. This seems incredible daft to me. If he wants to judge the players on merit he should see how they fit into defensive football as that is what they'll play and face the majority of the time at inter county football" Not sure what you mean by defensive football. Good teams have good defense but the present game is being ruined from within with all the back passing. Teams pushing an extra one or tow players into a defense are sure to win very little. You have a situation where everyone is marking everyone but nobody marking anyone with players gaining high stats but contributing nothing to the team. Kerry lost an AI being too negative and not contesting kick outs. If the county want to progress they most go back and play attacking football and get away from what we have been watching over the last 6-7 years. If you want to see what a player is capable off, you go and let him play football and judge him on all his attributes (work rate , mobility, fitness, skill set, reading of the game and ability to play as a team player. Good players are always alert and aware off what is around them and are able to see and kick accurately. Some guys play in a way that one would think they were wearing blinkers. browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 04/11/2023 18:15:19 2511497 Link
Playing defensive football doesn't show good defenders or even forwards. An average second team defender could slot into majority of senior clubs and not look out of place as there is nearly always 12/13 lads behind the ball. I do get COR logic as you want to see who the good man makers are, who are the guys that can get on ball and dictate the game. Are there any Paudie Clifford's playing at a lower level maybe at 11 or midfield but could make a great inside forward. I'm not a fan of it though and he shouldn't be calling the shots on how the regional championship is run UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 355 - 04/11/2023 21:02:30 2511519 Link