Meath Forum

Hurling Development Proposals. Meath not getting fair treatment.

(Oldest Posts First)

The long promised proposals have at last been published and do involve the setting up of five team round robin Munster and Leinster (with additions, which incidentally don't have a problem with once the qualification process is fair and consistent) Championship. However I find it very strange that the Leinster round robin will consist of 5 teams even before the Christy Ring Final has taken place meaning that both finalists are promoted. Yet last year (2016) when there was utter confusion regarding the result of Christy Ring Final the President of the GAA completely ruled out both finalists participating in Leinster in 2017 even as a way of getting his organisation out of a very embarrassing situation that was completely the fault of the authorities in Croke Park.
It now falls to our representatives at Central Council or Special Congress to highlight how Meath have been treated in those proposals. On a historical note they must point out that back in 2008 Meath's demotion to the Rackard Cup was completely outside the rules that pertained when the Christy Ring Cup 2008 was drawn. To remind viewers at that time the competition consisted of 12 teams competing in groups of three. Meath were grouped with Mayo whom the defeated in Navan, Mayo beat Kerry in Castlebar and then Kerry beat Meath in Tralee. All teams finished on 2 points but Kerry advanced on score difference. Meath had then to play a relegation game versus Roscommon in Mullingar which the won and so we felt avoided relegation. But no Central Council decided to relegate all four teams that finished bottom of their respective groups AFTER the competition was completed.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1061 - 06/06/2017 20:43:17    1995993

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Replying To MillerX:  "The long promised proposals have at last been published and do involve the setting up of five team round robin Munster and Leinster (with additions, which incidentally don't have a problem with once the qualification process is fair and consistent) Championship. However I find it very strange that the Leinster round robin will consist of 5 teams even before the Christy Ring Final has taken place meaning that both finalists are promoted. Yet last year (2016) when there was utter confusion regarding the result of Christy Ring Final the President of the GAA completely ruled out both finalists participating in Leinster in 2017 even as a way of getting his organisation out of a very embarrassing situation that was completely the fault of the authorities in Croke Park.
It now falls to our representatives at Central Council or Special Congress to highlight how Meath have been treated in those proposals. On a historical note they must point out that back in 2008 Meath's demotion to the Rackard Cup was completely outside the rules that pertained when the Christy Ring Cup 2008 was drawn. To remind viewers at that time the competition consisted of 12 teams competing in groups of three. Meath were grouped with Mayo whom the defeated in Navan, Mayo beat Kerry in Castlebar and then Kerry beat Meath in Tralee. All teams finished on 2 points but Kerry advanced on score difference. Meath had then to play a relegation game versus Roscommon in Mullingar which the won and so we felt avoided relegation. But no Central Council decided to relegate all four teams that finished bottom of their respective groups AFTER the competition was completed."
Firstly May I point out I agree with everything you have pointed out. But you only covered a fraction of the inequality of GAA regulators.
FAIRNESS 1: Laois refused to participate in Ring Cup back in 2005 and GAA had to allow them compete in their provincial championship and rightly so. Meath should now advise Croke Park of same and tell them of the unfairness of them now having to go back to Ring Cup on score difference. All the progress made will be lost and a repeat of the last 10 years looms.
FAIRNESS 2: Antrim have played and won their umpteenth successive Ulster SHC in 2017. They also play Carlow in Ring Cup Final and if they win that I understand they will join the qualifiers for Liam McCarthy. Since when can any team in any grade compete in 3 championships in a season. Let's set up a Connaught hurling championship and give poor Antrim a shot at it.
Meath must stay in their provincial championship for now until GAA finally see sense and make it an Open draw seeded competition based on previous years competition. Then the provinces individually can have their own competition just like Ulster and that should keep all the other little "chiefs" happy.
Don't hold your breath.

Real.gael (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 07/06/2017 07:55:46    1996164

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Replying To MillerX:  "The long promised proposals have at last been published and do involve the setting up of five team round robin Munster and Leinster (with additions, which incidentally don't have a problem with once the qualification process is fair and consistent) Championship. However I find it very strange that the Leinster round robin will consist of 5 teams even before the Christy Ring Final has taken place meaning that both finalists are promoted. Yet last year (2016) when there was utter confusion regarding the result of Christy Ring Final the President of the GAA completely ruled out both finalists participating in Leinster in 2017 even as a way of getting his organisation out of a very embarrassing situation that was completely the fault of the authorities in Croke Park.
It now falls to our representatives at Central Council or Special Congress to highlight how Meath have been treated in those proposals. On a historical note they must point out that back in 2008 Meath's demotion to the Rackard Cup was completely outside the rules that pertained when the Christy Ring Cup 2008 was drawn. To remind viewers at that time the competition consisted of 12 teams competing in groups of three. Meath were grouped with Mayo whom the defeated in Navan, Mayo beat Kerry in Castlebar and then Kerry beat Meath in Tralee. All teams finished on 2 points but Kerry advanced on score difference. Meath had then to play a relegation game versus Roscommon in Mullingar which the won and so we felt avoided relegation. But no Central Council decided to relegate all four teams that finished bottom of their respective groups AFTER the competition was completed."
Firstly May I point out I agree with everything you have pointed out. But you only covered a fraction of the inequality of GAA regulators.
FAIRNESS 1: Laois refused to participate in Ring Cup back in 2005 and GAA had to allow them compete in their provincial championship and rightly so. Meath should now advise Croke Park of same and tell them of the unfairness of them now having to go back to Ring Cup on score difference. All the progress made will be lost and a repeat of the last 10 years looms.
FAIRNESS 2: Antrim have played and won their umpteenth successive Ulster SHC in 2017. They also play Carlow in Ring Cup Final and if they win that I understand they will join the qualifiers for Liam McCarthy. Since when can any team in any grade compete in 3 championships in a season. Let's set up a Connaught hurling championship and give poor Antrim a shot at it.
Meath must stay in their provincial championship for now until GAA finally see sense and make it an Open draw seeded competition based on previous years competition. Then the provinces individually can have their own competition just like Ulster and that should keep all the other little "chiefs" happy.
Don't hold your breath.

Real.gael (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 07/06/2017 07:55:54    1996165

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Hopefully Meath don't take this lying down...

Sadly I can see this being news for a day or two. Meath management will release a statement, it will get some media attention. County board say nothing. GAA say nothing. It all goes away within a week or two and Meath are in the Christy Ring next year.

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 07/06/2017 08:45:56    1996183

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GAA in 2016: There cannot be two promotions. There has to be one winner. You have to be fair.
GAA in 2017: Promote both finalists. But only this year.

What a kick in the teeth.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 07/06/2017 10:32:08    1996264

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Replying To begining:  "Hopefully Meath don't take this lying down...

Sadly I can see this being news for a day or two. Meath management will release a statement, it will get some media attention. County board say nothing. GAA say nothing. It all goes away within a week or two and Meath are in the Christy Ring next year."
I agree I think management nor players won't take it lying down but it will all depend on county board and I wouldn't have a lot of faith there. It should be at least a relegation play off with the losers of Christy ring final to reside the second team that's promoted

billyjack24 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 07/06/2017 13:35:45    1996434

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So there you have it and I hope I am reading this correctly. Meath will not compete in next years Leinster senior hurling championship. Even though they won one of their three round robin games in 2017 and went down on scoring difference. Westmeath who at the time of writing are still in the championship proper only beat Meath by two points in the final game at home in Mullingar. So meanwhile Kerry a Munster team and Antrim an Ulster team will compete in next years Leinster championship. Not forgetting Galway. And wait for it. Antrim can also play in their own Ulster championship. You just could not make it up. Shame on the GAA, shame on Leinster GAA. for allowing such a comedy procedure. Somebody really wants to bury Meath hurling.

Triple H (Meath) - Posts: 551 - 08/06/2017 12:16:15    1996872

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Replying To Triple H:  "So there you have it and I hope I am reading this correctly. Meath will not compete in next years Leinster senior hurling championship. Even though they won one of their three round robin games in 2017 and went down on scoring difference. Westmeath who at the time of writing are still in the championship proper only beat Meath by two points in the final game at home in Mullingar. So meanwhile Kerry a Munster team and Antrim an Ulster team will compete in next years Leinster championship. Not forgetting Galway. And wait for it. Antrim can also play in their own Ulster championship. You just could not make it up. Shame on the GAA, shame on Leinster GAA. for allowing such a comedy procedure. Somebody really wants to bury Meath hurling."
Well put, provincial hurling championships need to be consigned to the dustbin and replaced with a properly structured league and knockout system.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 08/06/2017 12:50:33    1996892

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Agree with all of above. How can the ring losers be promoted at expense of a team that competed in leister championship. To my mind it's a double whammy for meath as they are the only team of second tier standard in the Christy ring so it won't be much competit ion for them

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 452 - 08/06/2017 15:43:14    1996990

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i agree that the proposals are very detrimental to Meath and probably Meath alone. I see the manager has had his say on this issue that it is not fair. However I ask the question, should the management team take a look at themselves and ask did they put the best team on the pitch? I refer to James Toher in particular. One of the best hurlers within the county wasn't involved and from listening to Mickey Burke on the radio last weeks it would appear that he and Toher were discarded by the management. I know he played football but there was no clash of fixtures with the Leinster Hurling games. Are we that strong that we don't need to use the talents of Toher or Burke for that matter?

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 12/06/2017 11:52:33    1998381

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Christ, not this again.
I don't believe Burke would have made a big difference. Had Toher been training regularly with the hurlers, no doubt he would have made a difference. But he wasn't training and so wasn't included in the squad. Chances are, McEntee wouldn't have allowed him to play anyway.

And the proposals are also extremely unfair on Leitrim who are due to remain in the Lory Meagher Cup while Sligo get promoted despite Leitrim beating Sligo to the runner up spot.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 12/06/2017 12:33:10    1998408

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Well Diego it would appear neither trim or longwood needed them the other night either.

Foley91 (Meath) - Posts: 418 - 12/06/2017 12:41:08    1998415

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I hear there is a shift on these with meath now not relegated and back in Leinster championship

numberedjerseys (USA) - Posts: 348 - 28/07/2017 17:07:15    2025020

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