While Mayo's win over Wicklow yesterday definitely caught my eye it was not as shocking as the 2 Rackard semi-finals results. Fingal defeating holders Donegal in Letterkenny & Tyrone beating the Rossies in Athleague. Just goes to show league & championship are 2 very different animals! Hardly any coverage of these fixtures, unfortunately, despite the high-scoring. Probably more entertaining than yesterday's Heineken Cup & Champions League finals.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2014 12:34:37    1592972

These results did catch my eye. Very surprising.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 25/05/2014 12:46:15    1592982

Great result for both Mayo and Tyrone . Alot of work should be done to help these teams improve . Kerry hurling is the best example in the last few years .

RenardRedHand (Tyrone) - Posts: 547 - 25/05/2014 12:53:17    1592986

As one of the few rossies in Athleague I can assure you that it wasn't much better than the rugby. Tyrone sent down a good few supporters and it was like a home game for them!

CDuignan (Roscommon) - Posts: 3 - 25/05/2014 13:21:24    1593010

Roscommon have really slipped down the pecking order in the last number of years.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2014 14:07:13    1593024

Keeper7
How are Longford doing in the hurling?

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 25/05/2014 14:32:06    1593038

Not too bad, thanks for asking. Lory Meagher finalists again this year.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2014 14:44:32    1593044

Ah good stuff, I was talking to jack O'connor a few years ago when he was managing our seniors and I said it must be hard to get the boys geared up year after year and he said no it isn't , he said we're lucky that we get to provincial finals nearly every year and the quarterfinal every year he said that the likes of Longford and Leitrim he said it must be hard for those guys to get there guys geared up year after year so I must say fair play to ye'r county board and ye'r managers and mentors to keep things going and hopefully ye'l get ye'r reward someday soon, I beleive there is great work being done with ye'r minor footballers the last couple of years.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 25/05/2014 15:18:09    1593067

Ah good stuff, I was talking to jack O'connor a few years ago when he was managing our seniors and I said it must be hard to get the boys geared up year after year and he said no it isn't , he said we're lucky that we get to provincial finals nearly every year and the quarterfinal every year he said that the likes of Longford and Leitrim he said it must be hard for those guys to get there guys geared up year after year so I must say fair play to ye'r county board and ye'r managers and mentors to keep things going and hopefully ye'l get ye'r reward someday soon, I beleive there is great work being done with ye'r minor footballers the last couple of years.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 25/05/2014 15:20:18    1593069

Pity for the fall from grace by Roscommon but too many players are now concentrating on Gaelic football and soccer and also losing a lot of young players to emigration. Not making an excuse but their prep was understandably hampered, but good work going on at under age so they can rise again

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1079 - 25/05/2014 15:20:49    1593070

From the outside, it looks like Tyrone hurling is on an upward curve. Lory Meaghar winners in 2012, got to the Nicky Rackard semi finals last year, won div 3b and promotion in the league this year, and are now in the Nicky Rackard final. Is there potential for further improvement in Tyrone?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 25/05/2014 15:36:15    1593082

KingdomBoy1
County: Kerry
Posts: 2028

1593067
Ah good stuff, I was talking to jack O'connor a few years ago when he was managing our seniors and I said it must be hard to get the boys geared up year after year and he said no it isn't , he said we're lucky that we get to provincial finals nearly every year and the quarterfinal every year
--------------------------------------------
The hurlers aren't bad at getting to croke park most years either!

Fair play to Fingal and Tyrone. The winner however will have to take on the winner of Down v Armagh in a play-off. One of Down and Armagh must be relegated to make room for London. The Racakard winner has to have a play-off shot for the Ring as well. I'd imagine it'll be Down v Tyrone or Fingal.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7840 - 25/05/2014 16:19:33    1593125

Is it not the loser of Down V Armagh???

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2014 16:23:32    1593130

No as one of them has to be relegated to make room for London.

The Christy Ring Championship '15:
1. Westmeath or Ring winner
2. London
3. Ring runner-up
4 & 5. Ring semi-finalists
6 & 7. Ring quarter-finalists
8. Down v Armagh winner or Rackard winner

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7840 - 25/05/2014 17:52:30    1593232

It needs to be fixed from the bottom-up not just the top-down. Only 4 teams in the Lory Meagher is too few to make it worthwhile.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2014 18:22:33    1593243

It's not ideal but there hasn't been many complaints about it. They get 3 group games. Like the Kilkenny footballers taking on teams from across the water, it'll take teams like that in hurling to expand the fourth tier. The tiers as they are seem fair enough.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7840 - 25/05/2014 18:44:13    1593256

Question, how are Fingal allowed in this tournament? For me, that would be like New Ross or Enniscorthy entering? What is the criteria on which it is based?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 25/05/2014 21:03:07    1593326

It's a North Dublin development squad. Made up of maybe 8 non-traditional clubs, I believe.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2014 21:29:01    1593350

With the McCarthy only reducing to 14 instead of 13, the GAA were going to be short a team in the lower tiers. It seemed to be the drive behind a motion at the start of the year to add Fingal to the Rackard and the motion was passed. I suppose they've done their time in the league. The Dublin region is made up of 4 counties anyway with Fingal being one of them. The question is possibly why is a 4 county combined team allowed enter the championship?! ;)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7840 - 25/05/2014 21:29:04    1593351