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McDonagh Cup Link To All-Ireland To Be Removed?

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Genuine question coming up.

Realistically and honestly, how much closer do you think today's matches would have been if Kildare and Laois had a two-week break instead, or even a three-week break?"
My question was would Cork or Limerick be asked to play 6 days after winning their provisional championship?? NO no no they wouldn't. I can only speak form Carlow experience & the 2 weeks break in 2023 gave us a chance to celebrate & then get back training. We ran Dublin close for most of the game. In 2018 we had 6 days & I know very little preparation was done. We got hammered. If Mcdonagh teams are going to be kept in championship give them some time to prepare at least

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 277 - 15/06/2025 13:59:22    2617706

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Replying To carlo:  "My question was would Cork or Limerick be asked to play 6 days after winning their provisional championship?? NO no no they wouldn't. I can only speak form Carlow experience & the 2 weeks break in 2023 gave us a chance to celebrate & then get back training. We ran Dublin close for most of the game. In 2018 we had 6 days & I know very little preparation was done. We got hammered. If Mcdonagh teams are going to be kept in championship give them some time to prepare at least"
The reason they only get six days is because the attitude of the GAA is that the preliminary QF is just a sop to the McDonogh counties, a favour, and they should just be thankful
Which is what it is.
McDonogh counties need more games against each other, more time, proper breaks between games, and more exposure
The preliminary QF completely distorts and devalues the McDonogh Cup. It means it has to be played off quickly and winning it is devalued by having to play a hastily scheduled game
The reward for winning it should be the trophy and then getting to play in the AI series the next year
Have eight teams, 7 games plus a final, run parallel to the provincials and AI series, played on rest weekends for those competitions to maximize TV coverage.

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 143 - 15/06/2025 16:00:11    2617746

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Replying To Yadse:  "The reason they only get six days is because the attitude of the GAA is that the preliminary QF is just a sop to the McDonogh counties, a favour, and they should just be thankful
Which is what it is.
McDonogh counties need more games against each other, more time, proper breaks between games, and more exposure
The preliminary QF completely distorts and devalues the McDonogh Cup. It means it has to be played off quickly and winning it is devalued by having to play a hastily scheduled game
The reward for winning it should be the trophy and then getting to play in the AI series the next year
Have eight teams, 7 games plus a final, run parallel to the provincials and AI series, played on rest weekends for those competitions to maximize TV coverage."
Thanks so much for the favour of letting us play the stronger teams in a q/t final. We are so grateful to the Gaa & the stronger counties. My God the arrogance of some people. In my opinion one of the ways for the weaker counties to improve is by playing stronger opposition. You will learn an awful lot playing KK or Galway etc rather than the same Mcdonagh opposition all the time. Yes you will take beatings but you will learn & hopefully improve. If you said to me a few years ago that we would draw with KK in the championship and beat Waterford in the league I wouldn't have believed you but playing higher opposition more often exposed our lads to what's required. I'm sure the buzz was unreal in Kildare all week before their game with Dublin & I dont think that opportunity should be taken from them. Hopefully a 2 week break can't be sorted in future & give them a fair cracking because ultimately that's what they are facing next year. As regards promotion of the Mcdonagh. It's a joke. Couple of minutes on Sunday game if we are lucky. As I said before outside the top 8 counties the Gaa don't care.

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 277 - 15/06/2025 16:40:29    2617756

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Replying To carlo:  "Thanks so much for the favour of letting us play the stronger teams in a q/t final. We are so grateful to the Gaa & the stronger counties. My God the arrogance of some people. In my opinion one of the ways for the weaker counties to improve is by playing stronger opposition. You will learn an awful lot playing KK or Galway etc rather than the same Mcdonagh opposition all the time. Yes you will take beatings but you will learn & hopefully improve. If you said to me a few years ago that we would draw with KK in the championship and beat Waterford in the league I wouldn't have believed you but playing higher opposition more often exposed our lads to what's required. I'm sure the buzz was unreal in Kildare all week before their game with Dublin & I dont think that opportunity should be taken from them. Hopefully a 2 week break can't be sorted in future & give them a fair cracking because ultimately that's what they are facing next year. As regards promotion of the Mcdonagh. It's a joke. Couple of minutes on Sunday game if we are lucky. As I said before outside the top 8 counties the Gaa don't care."
No! No! No! The McDonagh cup teams should have merited access to the McCarthy cup through promotion first and when getting there not relegated back down. It takes more than one year to reach the pitch of the game at the next level. The gulf between the McDonagh and McCarthy is so evident. Coming in better and not getting dumped back out before getting climatized to a higher level is not progressive. It's GAA that are giving them access to the McCarthy cup not the other countries. You and everyone else know they are not close to teams that don't qualify. When the McDonagh teams are close to the teams who fail to qualify then been competitive at the higher level will be realistic.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3111 - 15/06/2025 17:27:46    2617770

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "There was. Usual few hundred of us Dub hurling supporters less the backsliders who chose Newry. Was only expecting 2/3,000 for hurling but was 80% full at throw in and Kildare got a great reception onto the pitch. Very noticeable the number of children there even in the rain forest downpour so team has obviously been taken to their hearts. A good future beckons."
Was great to see alright and for Kildare to get a glimpse of the work needed at the next level I believe was vitally important for the development of the team.

That's a big reason why the preliminary quarter finals need to remain. It shows that standard to the best of the Joe McDonagh teams. If we want more than 10 hurling counties the link needs to be kept.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 466 - 15/06/2025 18:10:01    2617794

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Replying To brianb:  "Was great to see alright and for Kildare to get a glimpse of the work needed at the next level I believe was vitally important for the development of the team.

That's a big reason why the preliminary quarter finals need to remain. It shows that standard to the best of the Joe McDonagh teams. If we want more than 10 hurling counties the link needs to be kept."
There's no reason for it to be kept, two utterly one sided and pointless games that the winners won pulling up

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2206 - 15/06/2025 20:16:50    2617866

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Replying To Canuck:  "No! No! No! The McDonagh cup teams should have merited access to the McCarthy cup through promotion first and when getting there not relegated back down. It takes more than one year to reach the pitch of the game at the next level. The gulf between the McDonagh and McCarthy is so evident. Coming in better and not getting dumped back out before getting climatized to a higher level is not progressive. It's GAA that are giving them access to the McCarthy cup not the other countries. You and everyone else know they are not close to teams that don't qualify. When the McDonagh teams are close to the teams who fail to qualify then been competitive at the higher level will be realistic."
Waterford should propose that one of McDonagh teams replace relegated Munster team.

Or would that be sacrlige?

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3598 - 15/06/2025 20:57:41    2617888

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Replying To brianb:  "Was great to see alright and for Kildare to get a glimpse of the work needed at the next level I believe was vitally important for the development of the team.

That's a big reason why the preliminary quarter finals need to remain. It shows that standard to the best of the Joe McDonagh teams. If we want more than 10 hurling counties the link needs to be kept."
Yes but structured differently so they can be competitive. The last thing you want happening to Kildare is getting hammered and relegated as the progress is lost. The problem is they would not be competitive against the fourth or fifth team in either province. Fine hurlers but way off the pace and speed. It is an in indictment of the sport in 125 years no lower division county has made the break through.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3111 - 15/06/2025 21:13:11    2617895

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The current Leinster championship runs as follows: 1, 2, break, 3, 4, 5, break and final.
2 groups of 4 with 2nd and 3rd in quarter finals: 1, 2, break, 3, quarters, semis, break and final. Same timescale.
3 from 4 advancing hasn't suited the football championship but might suit Leinster with relegation.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8942 - 15/06/2025 21:19:50    2617898

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Replying To Canuck:  "Yes but structured differently so they can be competitive. The last thing you want happening to Kildare is getting hammered and relegated as the progress is lost. The problem is they would not be competitive against the fourth or fifth team in either province. Fine hurlers but way off the pace and speed. It is an in indictment of the sport in 125 years no lower division county has made the break through."
I think the change in the league structure will help. Particularly the 2 up and 2 down. For Kildare next year the first target will be to stay in 1B and move into the Leinster championship with confidence.

Brian Dowlings interview was on the mark mentioning the difference in the size of the backroom team. I hope the county board get behind the hurlers as much as the footballers.

The serious work needs start to try and close that gap in pace and speed. It's speed of thought as much as anything which mainly comes from experience.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 466 - 15/06/2025 22:37:39    2617947

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Waterford should propose that one of McDonagh teams replace relegated Munster team.

Or would that be sacrlige?"
That should make for good competition. Nearly as good as when we play Dublin.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3111 - 15/06/2025 22:43:15    2617952

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