LAOIS 0-23 WESTMEATH 0-16
After losing all their previous 6 games, Laois beat the Division 2A champions today to retain their 1B status.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7900 - 09/04/2016 18:25:31    1843784

Only a matter of time before someone calls for a 14 team top tier.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 09/04/2016 18:34:41    1843788

That's a blow for Westmeath. I know people don't like the promotion/relegation system but perhaps it is a fair reflection on who should be in the division next year? Kerry lost out a year or two ago against Offaly but came back all the stronger for it & survived in 1B this year. They probably weren't ready for the step-up before now & more than likely would've been relegated...

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 09/04/2016 18:43:28    1843789

I feel for Westmeath. How can a team get better playing the same teams every year. We were lucky we got a disorganised Antrim team last year and we barely won. Our lads hurling has improved a ton this year due to playing much better teams.

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 09/04/2016 19:00:56    1843793

Its tough. On the one hand, I'm happy for Laois, from what I hear they lost a lot of players from last year, so they were up against it. But, they lost all their league games, finished with a score difference of -53 points, and then lost a relegation play-off against Kerry. Westmeath finished 2A on 8 points with Carlow, score difference of +29 points, only lost their last league game after they had already qualified for the final, and then beat Carlow in the final. To have a then have yet another play-off between the 2 seems unfair.

But Laois did win, and like Keeper said above, maybe its an indication of where teams are, and what tiers they should be in. But does the fact that Laois had come off playing against a higher level of opposition than Westmeath in the league, give then an unfair advantage in a play-off? Or does the momentum Westmeath would have had from a good league run counteract that?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 09/04/2016 19:06:21    1843796

Very hard on Westmeath
Unbeaten all league, then have to play a farcical play off

Imagine counties in football having to play off to be promoted!!

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 09/04/2016 19:30:59    1843799

If Westmeath can't beat a Laois team decimated by retirements, injuries & suspensions then they don't deserve to go up. They lost by 7 points, for God's sake!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 09/04/2016 20:42:08    1843812

People are making some good points. One important thing to note is that Laois were coming up against tougher opponents all year. That is an advantage for them. People can criticize Westmeath for losing by 7 points but they need the games at the higher level to try and make the step up. At the end of the day, counties can vote for change at congress.

I expect Westmeath to be a tough opponent in the championship. Kerry beat Westmeath in the 2A final last year. Westmeath went on to finish 2nd in the qualifier group. League is league. Championship is championship.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7900 - 09/04/2016 21:33:35    1843825

Also come championship time I think Laois play the runner up of the round robin so that's potentially Kerry, Westmeath or Carlow given Offaly shud win the group. Great chance for Laois,Kerry,Westmeath or Carlow to get into a Leinster semi final. As a munster man I'd b hoping that wud b Kerry but look Laois now have a chance to push on and prove the underage work and structures in place are reaping rewards. I'm actually looking forward to this round robin seems like anyone can beat anyone although Kerry have a huge advantage and a great chance to get out of the group playing Carlow and Westmeath at home in their first two games. Sorry for going off topic but if Laois need to prove they belong with the best and in fairness do have a great chance of getting to a Leinster semi probably against Galway!!

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 10/04/2016 10:28:13    1843843

I think the result draws a clear line in the sand... that there is a significant gap between Div 1b and Div 2a.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 10/04/2016 16:56:02    1843932

I dont see much of a problem with it. The fact is if Westmeath cant beat that Laois team, they would ship awful hidings in 1B.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2496 - 10/04/2016 17:24:48    1843944

2 years ago Westmeath beat Christy Ring Cup winners Kildare in a promotion/relegation playoff held in Mullingar. Swings and roundabouts in a way.

The following year Kildare lost to London in the first round of the CR, then got a 35 point trouncing at home in the semi final. Losing the playoff was probably a fair reflection of the fact they werent up for Liam MacCarthy hurling.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1648 - 10/04/2016 17:45:42    1843958

How is a team meant to push on if they're being held back by an elitist system? Clare were promoted to Division 2 of the NFL last week. They clearly don't belong there and baring major upsets will go back down but one year in division 2 will bring them on more than five years in division 3 or 4 would.

It really is a farcical system if a team can lose every league game and still stay up.

muffinbutton (Clare) - Posts: 20 - 10/04/2016 21:59:23    1844118

Its a farcical situation to be honest.

A league by its very definition defines success over a number of games or period of time. Yet here we have success or failure based on one game and nothing else. Even in championship Westmeath will get a second chance they dont get in the league.

We have a situation where a team can lose every game in a campaign and be rewarded with 2 chances to not get relegated, meanwhile a team can win every game put in front of them and still have one chance only to be promoted, farcical!

There seems to be an assumption sure they couldnt beat Laois so dont deserve to go up, like i said its one game that everything is being based on, why have a league at all if everything is based on one game, anything can happen in a one off game. Sure another year down in 2A wouldnt do them much harm and theyll cop beatings in 1B, so what? Playing against better teams improves you. Will Kerry have learned more this year from being in 1B than they would have learned had they stayed another year in Division 2, damn sure they would have

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1353 - 11/04/2016 08:23:56    1844125

If Westmeath can't beat a Laois team decimated by retirements, injuries & suspensions then they don't deserve to go up. They lost by 7 points, for God's sake!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts:2790 - 09/04/2016 20:42:08

This. We are at a very low ebb and if Westmeath couldn't beat us, they have no business in 1B next year.

CmonAymonow (Laois) - Posts: 160 - 11/04/2016 12:48:34    1844250

Its unfortunate for Westmeath they lost the play-off. Maybe they might have won last years play off against Antrim. Laois for the last two seasons have been stronger than Antrim.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 11/04/2016 14:01:21    1844292

yes laois hurling stronger than westmeath, and people say it would be a disaster for laois if laois got drop down to 2a. but is a bit of kick in the teeth for westmeath hurlers the way itworked out for them.

game at neutral venue maybe should have been at mullingar give some reward for winning that division,
like wise kerry / laois play off should have been in kerry only because they were higher up the table in 1b not because they they played less game at home.

like wise division 1 semi final in teams home ground that finish up higher up in table to give reward to teams that had most points

madbull (Westmeath) - Posts: 195 - 11/04/2016 14:32:06    1844308

Its a farcical situation to be honest.

A league by its very definition defines success over a number of games or period of time. Yet here we have success or failure based on one game and nothing else. Even in championship Westmeath will get a second chance they dont get in the league.

We have a situation where a team can lose every game in a campaign and be rewarded with 2 chances to not get relegated, meanwhile a team can win every game put in front of them and still have one chance only to be promoted, farcical!

There seems to be an assumption sure they couldnt beat Laois so dont deserve to go up, like i said its one game that everything is being based on, why have a league at all if everything is based on one game, anything can happen in a one off game. Sure another year down in 2A wouldnt do them much harm and theyll cop beatings in 1B, so what? Playing against better teams improves you. Will Kerry have learned more this year from being in 1B than they would have learned had they stayed another year in Division 2, damn sure they would have

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts:289 - 11/04/2016 08:23:56 1844125

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on this.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4247 - 11/04/2016 17:51:09    1844410

Madbull
The kerry/laois playoff was in Kerry

RAHKILL (Westmeath) - Posts: 395 - 11/04/2016 19:03:11    1844425

in kerry because they had less home games not rewarded for doing well in league

madbull (Westmeath) - Posts: 195 - 12/04/2016 10:05:33    1844522