That's correct, Hermit.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 05/05/2016 10:19:07    1852182

Cheer's keeper. I would have been confident of getting a result from Westmeath before a ball was pucked but given their performance last Sunday this game in Tralee is going to be a huge battle.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 05/05/2016 10:46:06    1852198

One would expect a back lash from Offaly on Saturday , down the years Offaly have always struggled against the so called weaker counties ( not calling any of the teams weak I admire all hurling counties ) Antirm in 89 beat a very good Offaly side , Carlow few years back had them beat in the league only to lose in the last few mins , Laois winning last year first time in years , Kerry winning in Birr . It would never happen any of the so called big teams , Offaly just don't get up for these teams why I don't know . I'd like to see Westmeath top the group and get a good rattle at Galway in Mullingar if that's where it would be .

ke40 (Kildare) - Posts: 214 - 05/05/2016 11:28:15    1852219

Wins for Offaly & Westmeath today means a massive match between Kerry & Offaly the next day for a Leinster quarter-final spot.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 07/05/2016 17:13:44    1852782

Not long back from Tralee

Want to congratulate Westmeath on qualifying for the Leinster QF and on a excellent performance, fully deserved win without a shadow of a doubt. In truth Kerry were extremely flattered to lose by 5 points, a 9 or 10 point margin would have been a more accurate reflection.

I said after our game with Carlow we needed huge improvement to beat Westmeath but unfortunately we regressed badly making numerous simple errors. We haven't built on the Laois win and will need to try and get back to that level if we have want to have any chance of beating Offaly in Tullamore who will be bulling at the chance to beat us after what happened in the League.

I predicted Westmeath to lose both these games but in my defence I hadn't seen them in over a year (League Final in Limerick last April) and I have to say I was very impressed in all facets of their play notably in their use of the ball as well as very tigerish but disciplined defending. It's a pity they didn't get the chance to get to play 1B hurling next year as they are more than good enough to not only compete but win games. I wish them the best against Galway and the rest of the year and hope they can upset one of the 'elite' and get the recognition they deserve.

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 07/05/2016 18:20:16    1852812

Congratulations to Weatmeath. No question they are were prepared for this competition and went out to win with a positive attitude, strength and skill. There is no question who was the better team in both games. Neither of their opponents can have any complaints.

Galway have been warned, but so what? It will be step up. Nothing to indicate you'll make anything easy for them.

Good luck in your last game of the series against Carlow and against Galway.

UpOffaly (Offaly) - Posts: 69 - 08/05/2016 17:35:15    1853058

Not even a match report in the Sunday Independent from Kerry v Westmeath.
Disgrace

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 08/05/2016 20:19:23    1853083

Tonight's Sunday league highlights show, never mentioned the round robin qualifier teams. Just a remark that Galway have the easier task in the q/finals. Let's hope Westmeath givetheMontrose set, something to think about when they meet Galway.
Good win by Westmeath in Tralee yesterday. All down to Offaly vKerry in 2 weeks time for second place in group.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 08/05/2016 21:37:13    1853112

The lack of coverage is nothing new for these teams.

Hundreds of articles about Offaly hurling at an all time low while
no credit given to Westmeath, Kerry or Carlow at improvement.

In football, teams go up and down throughout the divisions as
their efforts merit, whereas in hurling the same top teams must
stay forever at the top.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1521 - 09/05/2016 09:04:57    1853133

Great performance by Westmeath. Kerry defeated Laois twice in the league. Westmeath lost by several points to Laois in the league play off. Offaly had also defeated Laois.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 10/05/2016 11:23:18    1853517

Congratulations to Westmeath! I was not too surprised by the result. I knew 2A hurling was not a hindrance ahead of the qualifier group. While others jumped on their backs after their loss to Laois, I knew it was not that straight forward. It is wrong that the 2A winners are not automatically promoted. Counties can vote for change so I am not going to simply blame the GAA HQ alone for this.

From a Kerry point of view the year has been a success. We have maintained out 1B status. We have also maintained our McCarthy Cup status for next year. It says a lot about how far we have come there will be disappointment and a sense of under achievement on missing out on the Leinster quarter-finals. I cannot see us beating Offaly for a second time this year.

I know many do not agree with me but I want to make this point again. It is very unfair on the teams finishing 3rd and 4th in the group that there championship year is finished in May. The top 2 in the group are advancing to the Leinster quarter-finals. I do not see the harm in allowing the 3rd and 4th placed teams along with the Ring finalists to enter the All-Ireland qualifiers. It would be a simple move of the 4 provincial quarter-final losers being drawn against the next 4 in the championship pecking order. This additional qualifier round can be played on the same weekends as the provincial semi-finals. It is a simple subtle change within the current structures. It would lessen the blow on Carlow being relegated to the Christy Ring Cup. They would have at least 1 qualifier game to look forward to. At Ring level they could take some comfort knowing they would be back in the qualifiers should they make the final.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8162 - 13/05/2016 17:01:04    1854737

I agree with you legendzxix. I feel hurling can only develop if more teams are granted a chance at the All Ireland. Your system would have 22 teams in with a shot. Their routes determined by the level they enter at.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4329 - 13/05/2016 18:06:31    1854755

Fair play Whammo! That is exactly it! The Hurling Review Committee were looking to boost the Ring Cup and to raise it's profile. The best way of doing that is to allow it's finalists into the All-Ireland qualifier round. The Christy Ring semi-finalists could be dreaming of a final in Croke Park and the bonus of a qualifier in June against a provincial quarter-finalist.

Kerry were Ring finalists in the last two years. I would have loved to have seen them advance to a June qualifier. It would have been a great way to end the hurling year regardless of the result. Teams cannot be ring-fenced indefinitely.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8162 - 13/05/2016 18:38:30    1854766

Completely agree. I think ring fencing only slows the development of the game outside of the "elite". If one of the "elite" then falls back a bit (Offaly or Wexford) then you just have dwindling numbers of competitive teams. If you properly include all teams then you allow for new teams to emerge such as Kerry. This needs to be encouraged.

If I were rebuilding the hurling season for scratch I'd actually get rid of the cup structures completely.

I'd go for 4 leagues of 10,10,8 and whatevers left (6-8 depending on the likes of Cavan and Lancashire participating).
2 up 2 down between all leagues.

Championship of 16 teams: Division 1 teams, 5 from division 2 and 1 from division 3/4 playoffs.

Division 3/4 playoffs include top 3 from division 3 plus top division 4.

The 16 All Ireland teams are split into 4 tiers.

A: Top 4 division 1
B: 5-8 division 1
C: 9,10 division 1, 1,2 division 2.
D: 3-5 division 2, division 3/4 playoff winner

AI rd 1: C v D
Rd2: B v rd 1 winners
QF: A v rd 2 winners

Provincial championship can be confined to division 1 teams and played as part of division 1 fixtures.

10 teams works for division 1. You have the current 8 strongest teams joined by 2 others every year.

Division 2 is a great competition with loads to play for. Promotion, All Ireland Qualification, avoid relegation. Division 3 playoff champion gets a shot at the big time but they start by playing a tier C team. I don't see a problem with this, the division 3 team will be playing at that standard the following year.

I like that a team starts off at their own level but if they perform well they get a chance to progress within that year, rather than having to wait a year after winning a cup, as is the case right now.

It'll never happen but in theory a division 4 team could win the All Ireland. I think that'd send out a message that hurling is for everyone.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4329 - 14/05/2016 08:47:41    1854807

I doubt our hurlers will beat Offaly for a second time this year. We have maintained 1B status and McCarthy status. It's a decent performance at two tough levels.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8162 - 20/05/2016 20:41:00    1856893

Unless all hurling counties work together to improve the standards of the weaker counties then nothing will change. Everyone wants to push their own agenda which is understandable but would 20 competitive teams not be better for the game than the current state.

Darragh (Westmeath) - Posts: 305 - 22/05/2016 13:18:12    1857252

Problem is, the few top counties would be threatened.

keep the status quo.

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 22/05/2016 16:53:53    1857366

Fair play to Offaly on their qualification for the Leinster quarter-finals. Hard luck to our hurlers. They had a fine year in maintaining their status in Division 1B and McCarthy Cup level after last year's double promotion.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8162 - 22/05/2016 18:04:28    1857410

To Wham -
Similar good theme thrre compared with your prior Football structure.
As we've said before, we could blend prov KO that double up as league games, and with a slightly longer schedule have the league entend through May. Instead of NFL Divs of 4x8, let's have, 9-9-7North-7South, and following you LMcC idea, KO of 16 from 9-6-(4-4). So 8 from Div 3, play 3 KO rds for 16th Sam KO spot.
Or, we could have 2x16 - each 16 (plays 5 home, 5 away, 5 avoided) - 3 groups equal strength (6, 5, 5) - the 6 plays one 5 home, other 5 away - then each 5 plays round robin to complete 10 matches. Ditto for lower 16.
Top 12 Div 1 and 4 Div 2 to Sam KO 16 - 4 up/ 4 down.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2827 - 22/05/2016 18:36:11    1857426

Delighted for our Hurlers, Massive win today in terms of, if we had lost it would of been the final nail in the Offaly hurling coffin. Its true what they say, goals win games. After all the abuse and negativity around the county in the last few weeks it's great to get the 3 championship wins in a week (Minor Footballers and Seniors). Onwards and Upwards.

On a side note; Kerry and Carlow should be in the qualifiers

Biffo2013 (Offaly) - Posts: 23 - 22/05/2016 21:05:48    1857511