Ive just read about this new 2 tier system and cavan opting out. Are they trying to kill the game up here or what is going on?

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 10/11/2015 19:28:14    1806134

I disagree. I mean I don't know why Donegal, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Monaghan aren't competing in the main event (because they did a few years ago before becoming non-participants for some reason), but if it means that they can aspire to play in the main competition in 2017, then more power to them I say.

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1029 - 10/11/2015 20:08:04    1806158

I think its another failure like when Antrim where automatically in the final each year. It sends out the wrong message. Should the same be done for say lenister football?

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 10/11/2015 20:22:01    1806165

As a hurler I think it is a possitive step

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1672 - 10/11/2015 21:40:21    1806198

No. In the Ulster hurling championship, those four counties weren't taking part, but now they're (kind of) being brought into the fold. Introducing a second tier to the Leinster football championship would involve removing the counties that are already there and devaluing their participation, quite the opposite to what's happening with those hurling counties in my opinion.

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1029 - 10/11/2015 21:41:17    1806199

It can only be an improvement from the previous set up where Antrim got a bye into the final.

As for the remaining other counties, If I read that right they win the shield and they're automatically up into the full Ulster Championship, no playing off with the losers of the losers as is the want in some other competitions, this can only be a good thing.

Timing of the games will be paramount.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 11/11/2015 08:42:04    1806221

If the winners of the second tier system got through to the Ulster Championship proper then i would say it's a great idea. I don't agree with the relegation thing at all, perhaps if they used it to see who would face the second tier winners in a prelim game then I'd be all for it.

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 11/11/2015 09:01:48    1806232

I think it's a positive move. Something similar has been in operation at Minor hurling in Ulster which Cavan have been competing in.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 11/11/2015 09:08:12    1806234

I like the new format.

Anything that gets more counties playing hurling is a bonus.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 11/11/2015 09:23:21    1806241

Cosmetic exercise to make it look as though Ulster Council really give a monkeys about hurling.

What is required is improving standards of hurling and particularly coaching all over ulster.

Unfortunately improving coaching will cost money and they along with Central Council will not fund it.

So we have lip service being paid again, im afraid that's the reality of Ulster Hurling.

Does anyone really think the 5 perceived weaker counties will even get to the final let alone win it in the next 50 years

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 11/11/2015 09:37:50    1806244

Bumpernut is spot on regards long term vision or lack of within the Ulster Council.
Big ball is king and that's just a fact but there are some pockets in Tyrone, Armagh, Fermanagh and Derry making great strides I would suggest without much support from their counties and without much certainly provincial support, but I could be wrong.

Bricktop is also spot on regarding the timing of the competition and reading between the lines its going to be in July - this in itself is an issue as players will have had a national league campaign, Christy Ring et al and there is no appetite for a competition just afterwards. Time will tell though and I hope Im wrong but I suspect like many others its just a bit of face-saving for the Ulster Football Council.

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 11/11/2015 10:02:00    1806256

The responses on here show the problems Games Administrators face. Everyone wants more games to improve standards, more competitive competitions and, in hurling, more games played in summer. The Ulster Council change their hurling championship to deliver on all 3 asks and now people are saying there isn't any appetite for more games in July after the league and Christy Ring etc is finished!?!

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 11/11/2015 10:19:31    1806263

I think its a great idea. Its a pity the Connacht council wouldn't do something similar.
WOuld love to see a Connacht championship between everyone bar galway. Allstar team from that competition taking on Galway as a railway cup trail match.

They made a change to try and improve things and increase the number of matches. No long drawn out process asking for an opinion from every tom,dick and harry.
Make the change, see how it goes. You can always go back again.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1105 - 11/11/2015 10:43:41    1806277

having played against quite a few of the teams involved over the years i think it is a positive step

hurler in the ditch (Louth) - Posts: 439 - 11/11/2015 11:45:39    1806329

great idea tirawleybaron that should definitely be put in place & would add competition for these counties & could be run off quite quickly too so as not to interfere with the Ring, Rackard & Meagher Cups.

hurler in the ditch (Louth) - Posts: 439 - 11/11/2015 11:49:39    1806336

"Cosmetic exercise to make it look as though Ulster Council really give a monkeys about hurling."

100% agree.

It happened only days after players from 31 counties voted against second tier competitions

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 11/11/2015 16:25:04    1806492

Just how good for Fermanagh hurling is it to be hammered by say Down in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship? That would be completely detrimental to their development! I think that the tiered system would work well, i would prefer if the winners of the second tier comp qualified to play, say Armagh, in that seasons Ulster SHC and not have it as a promotion/relegation tool.

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 11/11/2015 16:52:33    1806503

"Just how good for Fermanagh hurling is it to be hammered by say Down in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship"

About the same as football if you consider they havent won anything worth mentioning in either code but look at what the football team did last year. Every side should be given a level playing field

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 11/11/2015 19:34:17    1806543

DCFC I'm not sure how familiar you are with lower level hurling but a team like Fermanagh would not get with 15 points of the Derry club champions, never mind the Derry county side. The solution for football competitions is vastly different to what the solution needs to be for hurling competitions so I don't know why you try to keep drawing some parallel. A game between Antrim and Fermanagh would be a complete mismatch and dispiriting for both sets of players.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 11/11/2015 19:55:07    1806553

Surely you'd let Fermanagh hurlers decide if they wanted to play Down or Derry or what not, no?

Everyone outside the developing hurling counties has an opinion on how to develop these teams, Donal O'g and his team Ulster, various hurling review committees with no one from the said areas involved and they haven't a clue. How would Frank Lohan know whats going on in Donegal hurling?

Now IMO don't go asking Down CB how to develop hurling in Down, as they're failing miserably, go ask the hurling clubs in Down, similarly in Westmeath, Laois, Carlow, Fermanagh, Cavan and so on as more often than not county boards don't represent these areas and their voices never get heard at a level where the proper decisions can be made.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 12/11/2015 08:28:23    1806598