Just out of curiosity, is the fact New York and London are in the Connacht Championship a bit of a ...helping hand...to some Connacht forwards towards their personal tallys for the end of each year?
Didnt Cillian O'C score something like 3-5 in one match against one of them a couple of years ago?

Hard to imagine Michael Murphy, Kyle Coney or even James O'Donoghue ever having a chance to put up a score like that in provincial match. And usually the top scorer gets an all star on the back of their record that year.

Opinions?

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 04/09/2014 12:02:01    1647854

New York - maybe - but Mayo (the team most likely to be playing enough games to get the top-scorer award) only play them every six years. In terms of London, well I believe that the likes of Carlow and Waterford are ranked lower than them. A good team going through the back door - regardless of where they are from - has an advantage as well. I would say generally the top-scorer deserves an All-star

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 04/09/2014 12:56:20    1647883

Liamwalkinstown
County: Dublin
Posts: 5849

1647854

Just out of curiosity, is the fact New York and London are in the Connacht Championship a bit of a ...helping hand...to some Connacht forwards towards their personal tallys for the end of each year?
Didnt Cillian O'C score something like 3-5 in one match against one of them a couple of years ago?

Hard to imagine Michael Murphy, Kyle Coney or even James O'Donoghue ever having a chance to put up a score like that in provincial match. And usually the top scorer gets an all star on the back of their record that year.

Opinions?


Opinions? Liam I used to read a lot of your posts but this isn't the first one that has made me roll my eyes. Can you name a top scorer for us from COC has all stars on the back of his performances against the bigger teams, and he will have another deserving one this year. So basically for your theory to make any sense, you will have to name an All Star from Connacht who in your opinion didn't deserve his award. Looking forward to your response.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7891 - 04/09/2014 12:58:07    1647884

New York are probably the soft touch but its rotated system with each team only visiting there once every 5 years is it ?

London are becoming a bit harder to break down they can run teams close one year and then the next get a bit of a beating like Galway did this year.

Personally I don't have an issue with it as the saying goes you can only beat whats before you. I'm sure players appreciate more the days they had to work hard for scores as its benefits their game more than picking off target practice.

We cant wipe those scoring stats off too just because it was New York or London were the opposition.

The only time another county outside of Connaught will get a chance at playing London is in the qualifiers provided another Connaught team is not drawn against them.And it's rarely now the bigger teams within the Top 16 anyway are in Round 1 of the draw.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 04/09/2014 12:58:55    1647886

On the flip side, munster and connacht players normally play one less game than leinster and ulster teams in the provincial championship.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 04/09/2014 13:04:00    1647890

Connaught forwards have only finished as top scorer in the years in which their team have reached the All Ireland final. This year will be the first. Cillian O Connor racked up 2-6 and 1-8 against Kerry to get their. Maybe we should discount scores against New York and Kerry when judging top scorer. O Connor was top scorer last year and didn't even get an all star, so the title means feck all anyway.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 04/09/2014 13:59:24    1647918

Flaker, chill my friend
i am just trying to entertain myself in my grief !!!
lets not get too upset now :)

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 04/09/2014 14:26:00    1647931

you take dublin gaa awful seriously for a limerick man

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 04/09/2014 14:33:48    1647935

Cillian was top scorer last year too Liam. In fact of his 5-36 (51) take out the 2-5 he scored over in the Bronx this year and he is still top scorer by 4 points as it stands now.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 04/09/2014 14:56:15    1647945

Are you having a laugh Liam? Did he not score 3-13 (22) against Kerry in 2 Games. Besides, Mayo got good tests off Roscommon and Galway in Connacht this year. Mayo are the dominant team in Connacht as are Kerry, Dublin and Donegal in their provinces, who have won 14 out of the last provincial titles between them. Its like me saying why is there not a Kerry player top of the pile since they play against 4 DIV IV teams, or due to the Dubs playing div 3 teams. He's a great player and only great players stay there at the end of the year.

galwaydublin (Galway) - Posts: 226 - 04/09/2014 15:12:38    1647958

The minute I read the headline I knew it was posted by a dub. And voila.

MaigheoAbu (Mayo) - Posts: 343 - 04/09/2014 15:30:28    1647964

Didnt Cillian O'C score something like 3-5 in one match against one of them a couple of years ago?

yeah sure he only managed 3-4 against Donegal in the QF!

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 04/09/2014 15:34:00    1647969

We held O Connor scoreless from play back in June, 5 frees he scored i think and at least two of them weren't even fouls. The wide open Kerry,Cork defences has O Connor as top scorer but fair play to the lad a top talent and will deserve his All-star this year.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 3755 - 04/09/2014 18:09:15    1648067

He got sent off the last day. In the past that prohibited you from getting an All Star. Not so anymore but it might go against him.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 06/09/2014 11:08:02    1648688

These stats will always be skewed as long as there is an unbalanced championship - witness Paul Shiels from Antrim in the hurling list. The scores from play and averages are much more valid, for that reason I think James O'Donoghue should be player of the year.
A better list again would involve scores from play and assists....for example, if I am fouled and the free is scored, I get credit for it. If I lay a goal on a plate for a forward colleague, we both get credit for it.
If any media outlet wants to employ me to work on that for them next year, please feel free!!!!

barrnasraide (Carlow) - Posts: 49 - 06/09/2014 12:46:07    1648716