@lilywhite1 - better playing 'meaningless Connacht finals against the likes of Roscommon' than playing in Leinster where only Kilkenny want us to be there.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 861 - 06/11/2014 20:50:28    1670315

Option one...........open draw no provencial championships

Option two..........bring KK and Clare into Connacht

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1671 - 06/11/2014 21:10:49    1670321

I also agree that Galway should put it up to the GAA, all of our hurling teams into Leinster (including our club champions) or we pull out, this was a retrograde step by the Leinster counties, who obviously don't want us in their precious Leinster Championship. If the GAA had any balls now they would either insist on all of the Galway teams into Leinster, or an open draw would be enforced in both the Minor and U-21 championships.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 06/11/2014 21:58:29    1670338

If they are playing Senior champhionship in Leinster it should be the same for U21 and Minor and none of that home/away nonsense either. Vote makes no sense at all.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4898 - 07/11/2014 09:43:29    1670361

So for many years we in Galway had no interest in joining Leinster. Then a few months ago our County Board decided we would join up. To their dismay we were refused and now we condemn Leinster for their decision.

In my opinion, and I posted it here in the past, we should have canvassed every county board in Leinster over the last twelve months with a plea to enter their province. Our County Board should have requested an opportunity to address each county board in Leinster explaining our position and seeking their support. After assessing the outcome of those meetings then, and only then, should we have gone to the the Leinster Council monthly meeting seeking approval to enter Leinster.

It seems to me that our County Board decided it was now time to join Leinster, demanded that we should be allowed without serious consideration for the Leinster counties opinions and then get in a huff when we're turned down.

Another fine mess by our County Board. It's our fault, not Leinsters. We can't even run our own Club championships!

westisthebest (Galway) - Posts: 444 - 07/11/2014 10:05:23    1670367

westisthebest
County: Galway
Posts: 257

Good post. The GAA is conservative by nature and slow to change, which protects it from making poor decisions on a whim. That's the nature of the organisation and I think we all know it.

I do think that all Galway teams should be in Leinster or some similar arrangement which provides more games etc.

This is just one vote and can be overturned in the future. People might be a bit hacked off at the moment but there is no need to dump Leinster just because of this.

(In fact if Galway did pull out would that affect their participation in the McCarthy cup?)

rcarragh (Dublin) - Posts: 305 - 07/11/2014 10:29:43    1670372

westisthebest
County: Galway
Posts: 257

I think your post is the first one close enough to the mark.

I think you'll see Galway underage teams in the Leinster Championship in the next few years. This is all part of a process.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 07/11/2014 10:39:04    1670378

Fine post, Westisbest!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 07/11/2014 11:28:20    1670389

What a joke. Im a Kilkenny fan and I cant see how it doesn't benefit everyone if Galway join Leinster. Galway GAA should make a stand to this. At least let them join and in the mean time try and develop hurling in Connacht. Could they not let the minor and under 21 Galway teams enter the Connacht Senior Championship?

deadybai (Kilkenny) - Posts: 63 - 07/11/2014 11:56:11    1670399

westisthebest summed it up well there. This thing should never have gone to a vote, until our county board knew that it was a done deal, and had their homework done. On the back of the county championship fiasco, this is another fine mess from the county board. At this stage, maybe our hurlers and their management team should be hiring a new set of board officials rather than the all too familiar other way around.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3456 - 07/11/2014 14:04:36    1670452

Westisbest & Popey: Perhaps at this stage the best option for our hurlers is for them to cover the logos on their jersey's, and pretend they're from Westmeath. That way not only do they get to play in Leinster, but they also get out from under the incompetent foot of the county board. Two birds with one stone.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 07/11/2014 16:18:15    1670500

I would like to see Galway hurlers compete in Leinster from minor to senior. In addition I think it's time to review the current provincial system.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1746 - 07/11/2014 16:39:00    1670512

I was saying during the summer that Galway and Antrim should leave Leinster. Kildare as Ring winners should be promoted to the top tier. London should stay in the top tier as well leaving the McCarthy with 16 teams. Only counties from their province should compete within their province.

The provincial championships would be as follows:
Munster: Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Waterford.
Leinster: Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford, Offaly, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath and Kildare.

Munster would have one quarter-final and Leinster 4 quarter-finals. My argument is that the quarter-finals should be used to decide what teams advance to the semi-finals and what teams enter Qualifier Round 1. When you have a qualifier Round 1 of Galway, Antrim, London and 5 losing quarter-finalist, all 8 of those teams along with the 8 provincial semi-finalists should be treated the same from that point forward.

1. Provincial Quarter-finals.
2. Provincial Semi-finals. Qualifier Round 1 (Galway, Antrim, London and 5 losing quarter-finalists).
3. Provincial Finals. Qualifier Round 2A (4 Round 1 winners). Qualifer Round 2B (4 losing semi-finalists and 4 Round 1 losers).
4. Qualifier Round 3 (2 provincial runners-up, 2 Round 2A losers and 2 Round 2B winners).
5. All-Ireland Quarter-finals (2 provincial winners, 2 Round 2A winners and 4 Round 3 winners)
6. All-Ireland Semi-finals.
7. All-Ireland Final.

The idea to give provincial quarter-final losing teams an extra chance is controversial. My argument is that they are starting a round earlier than other counties so it negates that and brings all counties to a stage where they all have an equal chance from that point forward.

The Round 2B losers would have to play-off to avoid dropping down a tier. Under current systems, that would probably be a play-off against the Ring winner.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7873 - 08/11/2014 11:12:56    1670620

legend I appreciate your respect for maintaining the the Munster and Leinster c'ship but the reality is that their time is up unless you put the likes of Galway in there at all age levels. Scrap the current system, who ever hear of 2 quarter finals anyway? what a joke.....OPEN DRAW TIME

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1197 - 08/11/2014 12:22:05    1670640

I agree with mesamis-this is part of the process that will see Galway teams at all grades playing in Leinster in a couple of years.The dissenters will eventually give in for the greater good of the game.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/11/2014 12:44:22    1670645

The Leinster minor championship has a two tier type of approach. No other province offers that. It's the reason the Kerry minor's, who have won the last 3 All-Ireland minor B titles, want to get involved.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7873 - 08/11/2014 13:31:48    1670658

I remember Galway playing in Munster at one stage they could
take Kerrys place anyone know why they pulled out

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 08/11/2014 14:03:26    1670665

I wouldn't say we need to get rid of the Leinster and Munster championships but I'd certainly agree with separating them from the all Ireland series and running that off in a champions league type format.

Faithfull (Offaly) - Posts: 573 - 10/11/2014 21:59:32    1671278

westisthebest

In some ways I would have to agree with you and I guess even if we go back to the decision on the senior there were a lot of people in Galway against it as well. The problem I guess my problem is too many people in Hurling are doing whats best for them and not hurling. The Munster lads thing their championship is the best and if its not broken then why tinker with it - well you would onlt do it for the good of hurling overall. I suppose its asking a bit, you ask a lad to think outside whats best for his club, then his county, then his provence - it would be a brave man to do that.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1805 - 11/11/2014 13:48:07    1671412

It took Galway County Board over 100 years to agree to joining Leinster. Surely, then, the Leinster counties are entitled to a bit more time to warm to the idea? Our county board took the entire issue for granted and now want to blame anybody but themselves. They may start all over again now and approach it in a more humble manner this time. They need to sell the idea to each county board and propose joining up in a few years time on a gradual basis. Also, for certain, do not look for home games as that will definitely be a non runner. We should get an agreement from the Offaly county board to play our "home" games there. Our seniors are six years in Leinster and never have I heard our board suggest we take on Wexford, Dublin, Offaly or Kilkenny in their home grounds! In hindsight we should have offered as gesture of goodwill.

westisthebest (Galway) - Posts: 444 - 11/11/2014 14:08:52    1671423