I'm sorry and I know it's a very old competition but does anyone really care about this competition cause I know I don't and with the GAA wanting to lower the season for young players surely these two comps have to go and not the U 21 championship which in football had a massive crowd at last years final. You make up in teams on which college you go to huh? sure the Gaa is all about where you come from and play with your local team not some college that's nowhere near your home, ok I'll watch it if it's on telly to see how the Dublin players do or if there's other counties players I like playing but other than that ive zero interest , honestly how can they even think about getting rid of the 21 championships (which I love) and keeping this surely that's not right?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 12/02/2015 14:03:19    1692890

Players care to a point but only because for some their free trip through college depends upon it.

Fans do not care in the slightest.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 12/02/2015 14:09:26    1692895

I was only going to talk about this. Can we promote this more? I know it's not a valid comparison but in the US there is massive hype about college football. now I doubt we'll see the day that 90k attend a football match but we should try encourage more students to go.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 12/02/2015 14:10:16    1692897

Sigerson/Fitzgibbon Cups are a part of general college sport, you could say the same of all sport that is played in college/Schools etc. Players are not owned by clubs or counties, these cups mainly matter to the players/teams. I am thinking of some of the players on the DIT hurling team, one lad is from Wicklow - a truly marvelous hurler when will he ever get to play at this level? So I see nothing wrong at all with College sport, how can you ban it anyway?

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 12/02/2015 14:19:13    1692903

The players definitely care. Sometimes I think people forget, the GAA is an ameature organisation, which everyone involved originally got involved because they loved PLAYING it, at every possible opportunity. I know lads who built lifelong friendships with people they played with on University teams. Who cares if nobody watches it, they players certainly dont. Not too many people watch a Junior B final (well where I am from anyway) but it doesnt mean the players shouldnt play in it, and certainly doesnt mean they dont want to win it.

Man in a ditch (Louth) - Posts: 321 - 12/02/2015 14:22:55    1692905

I think it still has a place in the hearts & minds of the players

hurler in the ditch (Louth) - Posts: 439 - 12/02/2015 14:25:17    1692906

They are excellent competitions and I know from experience that they mean an awful lot to the players who take part. They are over in the space six weeks or less so fixtures congestion is not a problem. As always it's (some) county team managers that are the problem, forcing these players to continue slogging with both county and college during this six weeks. Look at Conor McDonald from Wexford as an example. Common sense and a bit of leeway would get rid of burn out quicker than getting rid of competitions.

I wouldn't dream of getting rid of the u21 competitions either by the way. Year on year some of the most exciting games are at u21 grade.

Dienekes (Laois) - Posts: 6 - 12/02/2015 14:29:57    1692911

It is taken very seriously indeed arock by the likes of DCU, UCC, CIT, UCD, Jordanstown and UL! Just look at who they have as coaches. Club takes precedence however and that scuppered Tralee IT as they were missing their Brosna and Ardfert players when they were beaten surprisingly by Carlow. Same will do for GMIT chances today as they are missing the two Farraghers and Slade (?) who are playing with Corofin against Vinnies. Although the + 9 handicap on GMIT is tempting. Can't see UCD emptying the tank this afternoon if they look like game is in bag.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 12/02/2015 14:41:24    1692914

Apologies arock, comment was directed at clondalkin's OP.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 12/02/2015 14:50:02    1692917

You need to have played in this competition to be in a position to comment on what it means to the players involved. It creates a bond between players from different counties that lasts for ever. As another poster said it gives some players from weaker counties an opportunity to play with and against some of the best players in the country.

subzero (Meath) - Posts: 69 - 12/02/2015 14:54:48    1692922

I went to Fas and went on great sessions with lads all over ireland and have bonded with them for life so what? I've played with great players it's no big deal, what's a big deal is young player burn out and this for me is the competitions that should go, like who on here really cares if UCD beats UCC? Maybe the players like it cause it gets them off county training or maybe they just say they like it to keep the college happy.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 12/02/2015 15:10:14    1692932

I think he means in relation to u21 and how it wouldnt be right to get rid of the u21 intercounty and keep the sigerson/fitzgibbon (in relation to burnout). I totally agree with him with that regard as the u21 grade takes in all players not just those at college, the guys who work or go to lesser colleges would loose the u21 platform to senior if it was done away with

Colinog (UK) - Posts: 39 - 12/02/2015 15:19:30    1692944

Aye and sure while we're at it get rid of all the Schools competitions across the country too. We could use the money saved to buy loads of big sheets of cotton wool and wrap our players up in it.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 12/02/2015 15:33:58    1692950

It matters to gaa fans, i.e. people who have an active interest in the sport. It doesnt matter to people whose only interest is to follow their own county.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 12/02/2015 15:40:12    1692955

Pinkie
County: Wexford
Posts: 3176

1692897
I was only going to talk about this. Can we promote this more? I know it's not a valid comparison but in the US there is massive hype about college football. now I doubt we'll see the day that 90k attend a football match but we should try encourage more students to go.

Doubt that you'll ever get much interest in the Sigerson or Fitzgibbon when a lot of players are parachuted in on scholarships and don't really have much to do with the rest of the student population. I went to a university which is strong in Sigerson football, but to be honest, even the people who were into gaelic and played club ball didn't follow the uni side much.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 12/02/2015 15:59:06    1692964

Offside schools is completely different cause it's your local school it's where your from, like Cillian O Conor is playing for some Northie college and he's from Mayo.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 12/02/2015 16:13:52    1692974

I've massive interest in Gaa but my least interest is these two comps.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 12/02/2015 16:16:06    1692977

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 12620

1692955
It matters to gaa fans, i.e. people who have an active interest in the sport. It doesnt matter to people whose only interest is to follow their own county.

Funny that, I'm still playing football for my club, and yet I don't have much interest in these particular competitions. Not many people who I know that are still playing do. I'd even say that the Railway Cup/Interpros or the Hogan Cup means more to me; it doesn't mean that I'm any less of a gaa fan than you.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 12/02/2015 16:30:01    1692987

Why is that funny? It just indicates that your interest is more based on the tribal aspect of my town v your town than the actual sport at play. Personally, Id watch good footballers play good football regardless of the backdrop.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 12/02/2015 16:42:20    1692993

Offside schools is completely different cause it's your local school it's where your from, like Cillian O Conor is playing for some Northie college and he's from Mayo.

See, you're getting in to another arguement here where basically there are players who are mercenaries and get courses at Institutions only to get them playing football/hurling or whatever. I am from Antrim and played for Queens and thoroughly enjoyed my time playing for them. I also played for the County U21s at the same time and our club U21s and Seniors so I don't buy in to the arguement of burnout as a reason to get rid of these competitions.

However, I know of guys from Co Antrim who went to schools in Derry for one reason only and that was to play MacRory Cup and same for guys from Armagh/Down going to school in the other County also for MacRory cup and probably similar all over Ireland. So it does go on at school level too so as I say, lets get rid of all competitions that aren't club/County if thats the arguement.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 12/02/2015 16:46:40    1692996