Have to agree with some others, giving home advantage to a team that came through the back door for a semi final is a bit of a joke. Kerry v Kildare should be at a neutral venue.

In fact when you look at some of the shenanigans that have gone on in both the league and championship competitions for the 'second tier' hurling counties some serious questions need to be raised about venue choices etc.

As others pointed out, when you consider that Derry got 3 home games while London had to travel the whole time some serious questions need to be raised about venue selection for this competition. Kerry despite topping Division 2A had to play the final in a neutral ground and then weren't even permitted home advantage for promotion play-off.

Would the GAA get away with this if it was the likes of Cork, Tipp, Clare and Kilkenny, I doubt it...

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 27/05/2015 13:07:29    1729046

Hermit,

London had home advantage in the first round against Kildare. It was a draw which was why they ended up on the road thereafter.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/05/2015 13:18:28    1729052

As an aside, what do the Ulster posters make of Donal Og's 'Team Ulster' idea?

From the outside I think it's nonsense how can you expect lads from the Ards and Derry to travel Belfast 3/4 times a week? Also wouldn't it be a glorified Antrim team with a number of Derry & Down players involved with hardly anybody from the other 6? Also I'd imagine the players wouldn't have the same interest commitment represnting 'Team Ulster' rather than their own counties.

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 27/05/2015 13:38:16    1729066

Derry vs. Down at Celtic Park as a curtain razor to the football quarter final would have been a great occasion and also great exposure for the small ball in both dominated football counties. Unfortunately the GAA wants to get the CRC out of the way as quick and as seamless as possible.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 27/05/2015 14:19:56    1729091

As an aside, what do the Ulster posters make of Donal Og's 'Team Ulster' idea?

From the outside I think it's nonsense how can you expect lads from the Ards and Derry to travel Belfast 3/4 times a week? Also wouldn't it be a glorified Antrim team with a number of Derry & Down players involved with hardly anybody from the other 6? Also I'd imagine the players wouldn't have the same interest commitment represnting 'Team Ulster' rather than their own counties.


I doubt many antrim player would make it at the minute.

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 27/05/2015 14:33:42    1729105

KYTitletown
County: Kerry
As an aside, what do the Ulster posters make of Donal Og's 'Team Ulster' idea?

While not really practical, I can see the merit in it. How can you expect lads from Fermanagh or Cavan to stick with hurling, if they never have a realistic chance of playing at the top level? An Ulster team would, or at least might, give everyone in the province a shot at the big time, and maybe give talented players in all Ulster counties a chance to show what they can do on the biggest stages.

But it wouldn't work if it prevented individual Ulster counties from making progress on their own terms. The way I could see it working is if all Ulster counties still competed indvidually in the existing tiers (Liam Mc, Ring, Rackard, etc), with a team Ulster competing in the Liam McCarthy, made up of players from teams not competing in the Liam McCarthy. If an Ulster team gets promoted to the Liam McCarthy, their players are no longer eligable for the provincial team.

As the RIng/Rackard/Meaghar cups finish at the beginning of the summer, the above is possible, but unlikely. As others have pointed out, the logistics involved in getting a provincial team together, and training regularly enough to be competitive, are almost prohibitive.
So while I think its a good idea, its probably unrealistic.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 27/05/2015 16:20:29    1729178

Marlon,

With Antrim already out of the championship, it'd nearly be ideal, in a way. You name the Ulster management at the start of the year & their job is to name an initial squad & monitor it throughout the league & Ring, Rackard & Meagher Cups adding & dropping players before the final cut (after Ring semi-finals). Split the panel in 2 during the week based on proximity to say Owenbeg & Belfast/Newry. It could be done....

Do the same with Connacht (excluding anyone on the Galway panel)...just add water! ;-)

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/05/2015 16:44:20    1729186

Not a fan of the idea at all and not sure what will it achieve in the long run. If the GAA are serious about improving Hurling in Ulster or North of the Dublin/Galway line then they have to invest money similar to Dublin. Its then up to the Counties and Ulster GAA to make sure it is invested properly and the right structures are put in place, again similar to how Dublin used the investment. Too much lip service for too long.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 27/05/2015 18:50:40    1729239

We are going way off topic but in some ways Donal Og's idea is related to lower tier hurling so it is fair enough.

My views on it are that 3 divisional counties should be allowed in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Using this year for example:
Ulster: Armagh, Cavan, Derry, Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone.
Leinster: Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath and Wicklow.
Connaught/Munster: Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim.

My idea is for the 3 divisional counties and the 3rd placed team in the qualifier group to enter the All-Ireland qualifiers. Round 1 of the qualifiers would consist of:
Bowl A: 4 losing provincial quarter-finalists.
Bowl B: 3 divisional counties and 3rd placed team in the qualifier group.

Antrim as we know are relegated this year. Their best players would link up with the Ulster divisional team next year. The Christy Ring winner gaining promotion would leave their divisional group upon promotion. If Kildare for example retain their Ring title, they would leave the Leinster divisional group. This would mean the best of players from all counties would be competing in the Liam McCarthy Cup. That is exactly as it should be. An exceptional hurler in Donegal could play away with his county atRackard level but also get a taste of McCarthy Cup action with his divisional county side.

Returning more back on topic...

I fear for my county this weekend. We've a habit of not carrying league form into championship and getting caught out. We've done pretty well in making finals consistently but have had scares in semi-finals and the like. Kildare on their home patch will be tough. I hope I'm wrong.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 27/05/2015 20:27:09    1729269

Kerry are into the Christy Ring final after a stunning 6-27 to 0-09 away victory over reigning champions Kildare! There was great Kerry support for a great Kerry performance. I fear Kerry might have played their final before the final. We've been down this road before.

Last 5 Christy Ring Cup finals:
2010 Westmeath 2-16 (22) Kerry 1-18 (21)
2011 Kerry 2-21 (27) Wicklow 2-08 (14)
2012 London 4-18 (30) Wicklow 1-17 (20)
2013 Down 3-16 (25) Kerry 2-17 (23)
2014 Kildare 4-18 (30) Kerry 2-22 (28)

Advantage Ulster in the final. It is what it is.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 30/05/2015 15:40:33    1730245

Yikes, had to make sure I was reading that semi final result right. Kerry sending out a real message with that win, a 36 point victory over the current champions. They're really looking a cut above, hard to see anyone stopping them in the final, but you never know. Lets see how the other semi goes. But impressive stuff from Kerry.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 30/05/2015 15:46:12    1730246

6-27 to 0-9 must be a record for a defeat of the defending champions... can't see any chance for Derry/Down. Kerry have really shown they are contenders for the top flight, what a year for them!

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 30/05/2015 16:05:14    1730257

Kildare played U21 championship on Wednesday night - hardly ideal - but they haven't been setting the world on fire this year. Not ideal preparation for Kerry who've already lost 3 Ring Cup finals.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 30/05/2015 16:19:31    1730266

Closer game in Owenbeg! Down a point up at half-time.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 30/05/2015 16:24:26    1730270

@ Marlon_JD and @ mayo_hurler

Yes, Kerry are looking a cut above the rest. Our league form and championship form to date for the year so far suggests that. I would say though that it now has us in a more vulnerable position. Our opponent will come in under the radar. We've been down this road before. An opponent waiting in the long grass and Kerry falling right into their trap. There is a weakness within Kerry hurling. They have time and again failed to deliver on the big day. It's great to be back in another All-Ireland final. I suppose I'm scarred by recent losses on final day. Hopefully it is our year. We'll have to fight an incredible battle to win next weak. Our opponent won't give it to us easily and they'll be quietly confident of turning us over.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 30/05/2015 16:34:40    1730275

Level in Owenbeg with 20 minutes to go!

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 30/05/2015 16:36:44    1730276

You sure? LiveGaelic.com has Derry up by 5 pts in the 2nd half.

link

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 30/05/2015 16:55:35    1730284

Derry through to the final! Have to say I've been a bit of a Derry fan most of this year, hopefully their success will continue up in Ulster but in fairness I can't see anything but a Kerry win in the final. Let's hope the first CR final on the telly will be a good one...

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 30/05/2015 17:05:36    1730285

Derry 0-23 2-12 Down FT

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 30/05/2015 17:22:43    1730289

Congrats to Derry, through to their first Christy Ring final after what sounds like a really tough semi against Down. I've been hearing great things about hurling in the county (and city), this has to be a big boost for them.

Kerry look in awesome form, but I'm not counting out Derry. These are the 2 unbeaten teams in the competition, Derry have proved themselves worthy finalists. Kerry have to be favorites, but Derry have every chance (they drew in the league when the 2 sides met). I'm torn in a way, I'd love to see Kerry back in the top tier, and back in Munster. but I'd also love to see Derry in the top tier, and build on their success. And as Antrim are relegated, we'll have no Ulster representation in the top tier unless Derry win next Saturday.

Speaking of next Saturday, would it really kill the powers that be to give the 2 finalists a week to prepare for the final?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 30/05/2015 17:37:41    1730296