The co. Board may have extensive games and coaching programmes in place and committees monitoring player development and people liasing with schools but I was disgusted as I would say most Gaa followers in the county would be to hear that the Minor Team have been refused Transport to some away games recently. On one occasion I know the management were told to text the parents to ask them to bring the players to the game.So basically if your parents hadnt the time or the money to transport you around to training and games then you havent much chance of making the team no matter how talented you were. I am presuming the Minor Hurlers are in the same situation. Surely one of the things that the money received from the teams sponsors is supposed to be used on is buses for transporting teams to games, I really thought we had moved on from this type of thing but obviously not.

johnsee (Meath) - Posts: 389 - 21/03/2014 21:08:36    1563281

Johnsee

Ya I don't understand that at all,the Minor set-up seems to be a shambles this year..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 22/03/2014 08:36:03    1563320

Just to clarify ziggy Im not blaming the team management for this they made the request its the powers that be i believe refused the request.

johnsee (Meath) - Posts: 389 - 22/03/2014 18:07:32    1563477

Well I suppose there's not much point in looking for improvements in investment in underage coaching if the Co Board wont pay for the basics.Unbelievable!!

runnerin (Meath) - Posts: 202 - 22/03/2014 20:05:38    1563550

Johnsee


Why would they do that? Seems very odd..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 23/03/2014 09:06:10    1563627

That seems terrible and petty about a bus. Ziggy, apart from that what makes you think the set up is a shambles? Not having a go, just genuinely interested

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 353 - 24/03/2014 08:18:10    1563969

No,I'm just going by what some are saying,think we have a lot of injuries and stuff?

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 24/03/2014 10:30:38    1564018

So how do 'injurys and stuff' qualify calling the Minor set-up a shambles?

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 24/03/2014 11:48:21    1564068

Ziggy it may seem odd but it is obviously a money saving exercise from the tresuary dept. As regards the set up dont think its fair to say its a shambles I think we have a good enough management team in place but the standard of minor in the county at the moment may not be very good hopefully come the summer they will prove us wrong. But whether the standard is good or not they need the backing of the co. board.

johnsee (Meath) - Posts: 389 - 24/03/2014 12:05:18    1564080

I'm presuming that each team is given a budget at the start of the season and this is determined from the previous seasons !!! Would I be correct in thinking this ???? So presuming this is the case, surely we should not be having money problems at this stage of the season... Lads is it unusual that players at this stage make their own way to matches that are close by ?? I know if my son was playing intercounty football I'd make sure he had transport to game. And 100% I'd be at the match myself... Not trying to ruffle any feathers but am I in the minority...

royaljackeen (Meath) - Posts: 37 - 27/03/2014 11:14:28    1565633

thats a pure joke if they were refused a bus now.
i do believe there is a change in the structure of meath underage football and hurling.
jamie queeny, seamus kenny and peter durnin are heavily invovled and looking to put in place proper structures that will help us compete against dublin and co in the future but it will take time 4-5 years we should see a vast improvement in our minor teams (not to say they werent good). too long underage was neglected by county board officals and its showing now good to see fresh faces in there looking to improve it

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 28/03/2014 10:14:29    1566084

It's a fact that no bus was provided and you can go as far as not even a cup of tea provided as well.
From talking to a man who would be well respected in coaching circles in Meath and is involved with one of the Meath underage teams, he is of the opinion that the basic skill levels of underage players in Meath is pretty poor. Even the basics of catching and kicking is an issue. I believe we are suffering the consequences of too many silly drills in the underage coaching manual. Too much emphasis on hand passing drills which have no relevance to a game situation. Even the manual itself, in the way it was portrayed was a joke and a poor reflection on the Meath Coaching Authority.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 28/03/2014 11:19:34    1566117

Is 3 coaches enough for a county as big as meath... Most of the clubs in Dublin have at least 1 GPO, with some of the bigger clubs having 2. What do these 3 lads do ?? I don't think I've ever seen any of them at any underage matches I've being at in the last couple of years. I didn't realise that minor intercounty players are not being looked after. RUNNERIN what did CB say about the GPO system ??

royaljackeen (Meath) - Posts: 37 - 28/03/2014 11:58:02    1566139

He didn't say a lot about it really.Just thanked me for the details about the system and said they are are acutely aware of the need for juvenile development in the county.I completely agree about the lack of coaches.3 is a ridiculously low number for an area that big.At the very least divide the county in 4 areas and have 5/6 coaches covering the clubs and schools in each.Even this wouldn't be enough in my opinion but it'd be a start.

runnerin (Meath) - Posts: 202 - 28/03/2014 13:36:04    1566210

There are more than 3 coaches employed by the Co. Board. Dudley Farrell, Christine O'Brien and Jenny Rispin are also there. Plus the vast majority of clubs have a club/school link where coaches from the club coach in the local primary schools too.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 28/03/2014 13:55:18    1566228

Lads
Underage football is in the following condition
When the top two clubs in meath
O mahonys and Simonstown cannot field teams for minor league ?
Clubs should not be allowed to play in championship in that case

Half_back45 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 29/03/2014 13:38:57    1566581

Is 3 coaches enough for a county as big as meath... Most of the clubs in Dublin have at least 1 GPO, with some of the bigger clubs having 2. What do these 3 lads do ?? I don't think I've ever seen any of them at any underage matches I've being at in the last couple of years. I didn't realise that minor intercounty players are not being looked after. RUNNERIN what did CB say about the GPO system ??
You are not comparing like with like. Many Dublin clubs have budgets that are BIGGER than Meath GAA/County Board. Who will pay for all those coaches you talk about. Coaching starts at club level thats where the emphasis must be.

onthebench (None) - Posts: 35 - 29/03/2014 14:40:55    1566603

Onthebench

You're right coaching must begin at club level but with Co Board support.Most clubs have outside coaches/trainers they don't neccesarily need as I'm sure the same job could be done from within.The savings made could be re-directed into juvenile coaching/recruitment.Something needs to be done if a town of Navans size has no minor teams in the league.

runnerin (Meath) - Posts: 202 - 29/03/2014 15:01:44    1566612

ONTHEBENCH, clubs can find money for outside managers and state of the earth facilities.. Maybe if they redirected money from here clubs could afford GPOs !!! NOM have state of the art facilities and their struggling to field a minor team, now there's definitly something wrong there. This was happening in Dublin years ago until the GPO system was put in place and I can tell you now that the Dublin club I'm involved with had not a hugh budget and still don't but their reaping the rewards at the minute..

royaljackeen (Meath) - Posts: 37 - 30/03/2014 10:04:22    1566835

Royal jackeen there are not many venues in intercounty terms that you would call close by maybe drogeheda and parnell but would you call Antrim close by ? because thats one of the venues they were refused transport to ? And remember parents already bring lads to training some travelling good distances a couple of times a week. What id love to know is where does the sponsors money go ?

johnsee (Meath) - Posts: 389 - 31/03/2014 20:27:05    1568185