Fair play to the Carlow lads for being sporting in their comments. Ye'd probably have had a better chance in the play-off. Hopefully Carlow v Kerry will be a resumed rivalry in the qualifier group next year!
The Kerry hurlers got good coverage on the local radio. Kerry and Offaly used to have great battles in the second division of 8 teams in the early 90's. One late win by Offaly was labelled daylight robbery.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 07/04/2014 19:07:38    1571957

Any of the thousand or so people there must have admired a truly great score yesterday from p Boyle. Worthy of any event.

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2625 - 07/04/2014 21:42:56    1572056

Play-off is this Saturday. Only a 6 day recovery. It was originally supposed to be Sunday. The 2A final itself was supposed to be last Saturday. Strange that the gap has been cut by 2 days.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 08/04/2014 11:48:52    1572182

The best thing that could happen hurling is that Kerry win on Saturday and thats not a slight on Offaly, but then maybe, just maybe this hurling review committee selectively picked from the higher echelons of hurling will understand that there is a bit of hurling outside the big counties and with a bit of nurturing and support could actually make reasonable progress.

The likes of Carlow and MLR, even Laois and Antrim (if there was ever a more disorganised CB I haven't seen it) could be competitive with a bit of work and support making a more meaningful championship with the odd shock along the way can only be good for hurling in the long term.

But no, they'll come up with some scheme where the top 8 play each other all the time and no one else is allowed to play with the ball.

As for non traditional co boards not voting for these pro-elite hurling structures, the bottom line is that football CB's couldn't care less and vote with the status quo.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 08/04/2014 13:21:14    1572260

If there is any justice Kerry will be promoted, absolutely nothing against Offaly but its a disgrace the champions of a division do not get promoted and it just hardens the view of weaker counties that the GAA do not want big boys left out at the expense of a team outside perceived top 8 even though on current form Offaly are not in the top 8 teams in Ireland.

Baxter (Laois) - Posts: 282 - 08/04/2014 13:30:22    1572269

to be made paid play a week after their final is a disgrace, no time to celebrate their win, very little time to get ready for the game, Do the gaa really want to promote hurling in the weaker counties outside the top8/10 teams?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 08/04/2014 14:32:10    1572310

i cannot understand why people are so surprised at this iv said it before gaa hurling men have zero interest in promoting the game outside their own county ie cork hurling men dont care about the game in laois long as its ok in cork, wexford men dont care about wicklow hurling etc hurling men talk about promoting the game but what they mean is promoting the game in their own top 10 counties and kerry carlow laois etc can feck off

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2842 - 08/04/2014 15:17:49    1572359

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Play-off is this Saturday. Only a 6 day recovery. It was originally supposed to be Sunday. The 2A final itself was supposed to be last Saturday. Strange that the gap has been cut by 2 days.

Yeah, I've just seen that its on Saturday, poor form, very little recovery time for Kerry. I also think the 2A champions should have gotten home advantage. This is still going to be a very interesting game though.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 08/04/2014 20:28:36    1572628

Yeah sure the players and management are just getting on with it. It'll be an experience for them. While Offaly have struggled in 1B with a hit and hope style, there'll be doubts about whether Kerry's game is advanced enough at this stage to cause them problems.
Kerry are in bonus territory as said by the manager. Noone expected to win the division. A few players will be missing on Saturday. They'll be out to learn from the experience and look ahead to the Ring championship.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 08/04/2014 21:45:41    1572668

Stmunnsriver
County: Wexford
Posts: 824

1572359
i cannot understand why people are so surprised at this iv said it before gaa hurling men have zero interest in promoting the game outside their own county ie cork hurling men dont care about the game in laois long as its ok in cork, wexford men dont care about wicklow hurling etc hurling men talk about promoting the game but what they mean is promoting the game in their own top 10 counties and kerry carlow laois etc can feck off

That's pretty stupid. I'd rather see wexford win the liam mc carthy in 2014 than cork because hurling comes first. Not everyone is as short sighted as you.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 09/04/2014 13:39:21    1572889

I commend u hurling spuds for looking at big picture but I suspect that stmunnsriver is right. I think 4 of the 6 div 1 teams voted in favour of retiaing current league format inspire of the fact that it is of no help whatsoever in promoting the game. Quite the opposite actually IMO

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 09/04/2014 15:25:33    1572975

Listen people, many different league structures have been tried in hurling & if one or other had worked well surely it'd still be in use?!?! They're trying to give teams a chance to improve incrementally with the current system but I believe it could've tweaked a bit better to achieve this. In financial terms, the dilemma is Carlow want to play the likes of Cork coz that'd bring a crowd in Dr. Cullen Park but Cork don't want to play the likes of Carlow coz that won't bring a crowd into Páirc Uí Caoimh or Páirc Uí Rinn.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 09/04/2014 15:57:14    1573000

I think the current structure benefits the developing counties more than the developed. If it was just about the developed all the time then cork, limerick, offaly and wexford would be in a top division with the other 6. The only problem that I can see with the current structure is the ridiculous play-off stipulation which says that kerry must now play offaly to go up. Also the relegation play offs should only happen if teams are tied on points, not simply an automatic bottom two. That Carlow didn't grasp their chance is not anyones fault but their own. Fair play to Kerry and I hope to see carlow putting in a big challenge in this years qualifiers group, their year can go one of two ways now, come back fighting or let the disappointment kill their championship as well.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 09/04/2014 16:23:51    1573015

keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 1890

1573000
Listen people, many different league structures have been tried in hurling & if one or other had worked well surely it'd still be in use?!?!
I thought the divisions of 8 were the right job. Most of the moaning was from the division 2 runners-up. The solution there should have been for 2 up and down, with the relegated taking their medicine. In football, counties have gotten on with it upon relegation to division 3.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 09/04/2014 19:17:19    1573109

And if Limerick had of been in Div1A, they'd have voted the same..

Every county vote for their own interests thats to be expected, but you'd hope that Croke Park would see the bigger picture and do whats right for all counties rather than look after the ones who ultimately don't need as much looking after in terms of hurling development.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 10/04/2014 14:22:58    1573418

bricktop
County: Down
And if Limerick had of been in Div1A, they'd have voted the same..
Every county vote for their own interests thats to be expected, but you'd hope that Croke Park would see the bigger picture and do whats right for all counties rather than look after the ones who ultimately don't need as much looking after in terms of hurling development.

I think the only way around it is to have seperate football and hurling boards in each county, so you have a delegate representing the counties football interests voting on football matters, and a delegate representing the counties hurling interests voting on hurling matters.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 10/04/2014 17:06:11    1573491

On the game itself at the weekend, it's hard to look past Offaly. They're heading into the game on the back of heavy criticism within their county. It's a more relaxed affair for Kerry. Taking the game as a tough challenge ahead of championship.
Unfortunately some people's optimism that Kerry's 6 wins from 6 will equate to a win over an out of sorts Offaly is misplaced. Kerry would have to be coming from Offaly's position of tougher games under their belt to have a chance. They haven't been given a fair reward to play at that level. The game will reflect their lack of experience of a higher level.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 10/04/2014 21:22:27    1573599

Just a reminder that the promotion/relegation play-off is in Thurles. Many surprised the game is not in Offaly to really make sure we do not get promoted.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 12/04/2014 12:49:40    1574138

Having seen the match last week I just feel Offaly will have too much for Kerry.Kerry ,in my opinion, are fitter than Offaly and a far better organised team but Offaly have the better hurlers and their abilty to score goals will get them through to another year in Div 1b and the GAA can breath a sigh of relief.

Baxter (Laois) - Posts: 282 - 12/04/2014 12:56:27    1574142

Kerry are 13/2 to win this evening. That is not a bad bet imho.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 12/04/2014 13:06:55    1574146