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Replying To Pinkie: "And in the 50/60/70's, how many teams won All-Irelands? Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipp, Cork won many, and Limerick and Waterford won 1.
So in 30 All-Irelands, 4 counties shared 28 of them? How was that better?" Read my post again and tell me where I said that it was better back then. Basically what I'm saying is, in the lifetime of the GAA only ten Counties have played hurling at a high level and the standard in most of the other twenty two has plummeted in recent years.
Forget about winning All Irelands I'm talking about competing and getting supporters from weaker Counties to follow their hurling team . Before you can win All Irelands you must be able to compete. Not so many years ago, Laois, Westmeath and Antrim could compete with the ten Counties mentioned, but not anymore. So please tell me; how is the game of hurling better now?
Hurling must be structured and marketed to provide incentive for tier two Counties and for a start their final could be showcased in Croke Park on All Ireland day.
gminor (Wexford) - Posts: 488 - 28/03/2018 10:38:19
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getting competitive in hurling is a 20-year process,not many counties are interested in putting that effort in.
and by saying they were competitive back in the 50/60/70s,do you mean fielding a team?there were a lot of bad hammerings back then,i am unfortunate old enough to remember the 70s and even offaly,who went on to win all irelands in the 80s and 90s,were brutal back then.the rest would fit the term of also-rans,with the odd plucky performance.
actually talking about plucky,the irish times described our victory v galway as plucky,what a condescending headline i felt.
perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 28/03/2018 11:34:21
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Replying To gminor: "Read my post again and tell me where I said that it was better back then. Basically what I'm saying is, in the lifetime of the GAA only ten Counties have played hurling at a high level and the standard in most of the other twenty two has plummeted in recent years.
Forget about winning All Irelands I'm talking about competing and getting supporters from weaker Counties to follow their hurling team . Before you can win All Irelands you must be able to compete. Not so many years ago, Laois, Westmeath and Antrim could compete with the ten Counties mentioned, but not anymore. So please tell me; how is the game of hurling better now?
Hurling must be structured and marketed to provide incentive for tier two Counties and for a start their final could be showcased in Croke Park on All Ireland day." You do make a very good point about the lower tier competitions (rackard ring etc)
They used to be played in the summer months alongside the Liam McCarthy cup. Then the finals were played as curtain raisers for the McCarthy semi finals.
THis was an excellent way of promoting the sport as the lower level competitions were given the respect they deserve and the finals played on big hurling days.
What has happened since is a disgrace where the GAA have demoted the lower tier competitions so that they are seen as a nuisance to be run off as quick as possible with as little publicity or fuss as possible!!
The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that the stronger football counties were behind this as they did not want to see hurling getting stronger in their respective counties at the expense of football. Maybe I am stretching it a bit there but I am not so sure!!!
Waldorf.Salad (Wexford) - Posts: 36 - 28/03/2018 11:41:01
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Replying To perfect10: "getting competitive in hurling is a 20-year process,not many counties are interested in putting that effort in.
and by saying they were competitive back in the 50/60/70s,do you mean fielding a team?there were a lot of bad hammerings back then,i am unfortunate old enough to remember the 70s and even offaly,who went on to win all irelands in the 80s and 90s,were brutal back then.the rest would fit the term of also-rans,with the odd plucky performance.
actually talking about plucky,the irish times described our victory v galway as plucky,what a condescending headline i felt." I'm sorry but I just don't get your point. You don't have to go back too far to recall the hammerings Wexford got in recent times, but they stuck at it and look where they are now. It's all part of the process of progression. For the record, (1) Wexford won the All Ireland in 1968 and were beaten by Cork in the 1970 final - where were they in 1969? Offaly put them out of the championship in the first round and within twelve years they were winning All Irelands themselves. (2) Wexford were hammered in the 1951 All Ireland and went on to become the team of the decade, Good teams have to start somewhere and there will be hammerings along the way.
gminor (Wexford) - Posts: 488 - 28/03/2018 12:20:43
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Replying To Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties.
gminor (Wexford) - Posts: 488 - 28/03/2018 12:35:01
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Replying To gminor: " Replying To Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties."
it is nigh on impossible to get hurling into counties where there is no interest.
perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 28/03/2018 16:53:52
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Replying To perfect10: " Replying To gminor: "[quote=Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties."
it is nigh on impossible to get hurling into counties where there is no interest."]There are two national sports in Ireland and every means possibe to promote both should be examine. For a start it's my opinion it should be mandatory that all Counties have a seperate hurling and football board under the auspices and control of the County Board. Regardless of how low the starting base is in either code, with proper development, standards would rise. Continuing with the status quo is not an option. Have you any ideas youself to throw into the mix?
gminor (Wexford) - Posts: 488 - 28/03/2018 19:31:54
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Replying To gminor: " Replying To perfect10: "[quote=gminor: "[quote=Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties."
it is nigh on impossible to get hurling into counties where there is no interest."]There are two national sports in Ireland and every means possibe to promote both should be examine. For a start it's my opinion it should be mandatory that all Counties have a seperate hurling and football board under the auspices and control of the County Board. Regardless of how low the starting base is in either code, with proper development, standards would rise. Continuing with the status quo is not an option. Have you any ideas youself to throw into the mix?"]Couple of points on the debate. 1- Dublin won Liam in '61. 2- Antrim are in the same place they always were. Its a predominantly loyalist county where hurling is only really strong in a very rural area of the county. The Glens of Antrim probably only has the same population as the hook peninsular. Likewise North Kerry and the areas of Laois Westmeath and Carlow where hurling is popular. The problem is the same as we had for a decade or more this millenium. Good sportsmen and women are by nature competititve. They want to win things. Many top hurlers in the socalled lesser counties choose to play football where their county has a better chance of winning something. Kevin Doyle and Shane Long chose soccer and Tomas o leary chose rugby and theyre from toptier hurling counties. That was because they wanted to be professional sportsmen. Basically hurling probably is only strong in the counties it was strong in 1885. Its a game that to be really good at you need to have a hurl in your hand since you were 5.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16577 - 28/03/2018 22:28:35
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Replying To Viking66: " Replying To gminor: "[quote=perfect10: "[quote=gminor: "[quote=Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties."
it is nigh on impossible to get hurling into counties where there is no interest."]There are two national sports in Ireland and every means possibe to promote both should be examine. For a start it's my opinion it should be mandatory that all Counties have a seperate hurling and football board under the auspices and control of the County Board. Regardless of how low the starting base is in either code, with proper development, standards would rise. Continuing with the status quo is not an option. Have you any ideas youself to throw into the mix?"]Couple of points on the debate. 1- Dublin won Liam in '61. 2- Antrim are in the same place they always were. Its a predominantly loyalist county where hurling is only really strong in a very rural area of the county. The Glens of Antrim probably only has the same population as the hook peninsular. Likewise North Kerry and the areas of Laois Westmeath and Carlow where hurling is popular. The problem is the same as we had for a decade or more this millenium. Good sportsmen and women are by nature competititve. They want to win things. Many top hurlers in the socalled lesser counties choose to play football where their county has a better chance of winning something. Kevin Doyle and Shane Long chose soccer and Tomas o leary chose rugby and theyre from toptier hurling counties. That was because they wanted to be professional sportsmen. Basically hurling probably is only strong in the counties it was strong in 1885. Its a game that to be really good at you need to have a hurl in your hand since you were 5."]I agree with you but just because that's the way it is doesn't mean that's the way its got to stay.
gminor (Wexford) - Posts: 488 - 29/03/2018 01:13:37
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Are Reck and Mac expected to be fit for Sunday ? Also hope Aidan Nolan is back to full fitness to take a starting position was going very well before injuring his back. Really looking forward to Sunday now . The park will be rocking ! Should reach near sell out come throw in! See we are slight favourites with the bookies. Shows how much we have come on although Cody will have Kilkenny fired up for this one . This will be incredibly physical on Sunday but I feel with a vocal home crowd behind us we have what it takes to reach our first league final since 93. Bring on Sunday !!!
Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 29/03/2018 01:15:02
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Near a sellout just shows how far things have come in a few years a few years ago a league game would struggle to bring in 1000 spectators
hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 29/03/2018 14:01:57
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Replying To gminor: " Replying To Viking66: "[quote=gminor: "[quote=perfect10: "[quote=gminor: "[quote=Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties."
it is nigh on impossible to get hurling into counties where there is no interest."]There are two national sports in Ireland and every means possibe to promote both should be examine. For a start it's my opinion it should be mandatory that all Counties have a seperate hurling and football board under the auspices and control of the County Board. Regardless of how low the starting base is in either code, with proper development, standards would rise. Continuing with the status quo is not an option. Have you any ideas youself to throw into the mix?"]Couple of points on the debate. 1- Dublin won Liam in '61. 2- Antrim are in the same place they always were. Its a predominantly loyalist county where hurling is only really strong in a very rural area of the county. The Glens of Antrim probably only has the same population as the hook peninsular. Likewise North Kerry and the areas of Laois Westmeath and Carlow where hurling is popular. The problem is the same as we had for a decade or more this millenium. Good sportsmen and women are by nature competititve. They want to win things. Many top hurlers in the socalled lesser counties choose to play football where their county has a better chance of winning something. Kevin Doyle and Shane Long chose soccer and Tomas o leary chose rugby and theyre from toptier hurling counties. That was because they wanted to be professional sportsmen. Basically hurling probably is only strong in the counties it was strong in 1885. Its a game that to be really good at you need to have a hurl in your hand since you were 5."]I agree with you but just because that's the way it is doesn't mean that's the way its got to stay."]Kildare seem to have picked up with a couple ex Kilkenny hurlers amongst others from other counties. Most if not all of Dublins all ireland winning teams were backboned by lads from other counties too. Maybe if more fringe players from the strong 10 counties hooked up with weaker neighbouring counties they could become more successful and this may then encourage young lads in those counties to take up hurling. Equally where interounty stars are working in so-called lesser counties maybe they could be encouraged hold a workshop a week or as much as they have time for children in the counties they work in. For example Dee O keefe in Dunboyne in Meath. Or maybe after they retire from intercounty?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16577 - 29/03/2018 15:57:05
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Replying To Viking66: " Replying To gminor: "[quote=Viking66: "[quote=gminor: "[quote=perfect10: "[quote=gminor: "[quote=Waldorf.Salad: "gminor,
I believe you have contradicted your argument.
In your original post you say that hurling is in real trouble!! But then you say that 9 counties have been competitive for 70 years. If that is the case then hurling has always been in "real trouble".
Hurling is such a difficult game to master and hence it is a very difficult game to create a cluster of high quality clubs in a county which in turn will lead to a high quality county team. The biggest difficulty hurling has always faced is Gaelic football. I am not bashing football. It's just that, historically, those who wanted to play gaelic games would gravitate to the predominant game in that county. In most counties that is football.
(PS: I have the greatest admiration for those counties who keep BOTH hurling and football going, rather than concentrating on 1 only)
I despaired for hurling in the late 2000s (particularly 2008) when kk were dominating so much. This domination, I felt, would lead to a drop off in general interest in the sport as no other counties were seen as having a chance of winning the big prize. My worry was tempered somewhat, when I was at the league final in 2009 when Tipp stood up to kk and showed that they could be matched.
Since then, although kk have still dominated at times, other counties have have great success at underage and senior (Tipp, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Wexford for example). THis "high level" success is the tide that raises all boats and drives interest also at club levels.
Right now a number of counties have realistic prospects of silverware (not just the all-Ireland - which is a strong argument for retaining the provincials). Both the leinster and munster championships have realistic contenders which results in an intriguing season.
However, I do realise that all is not rosy in the garden. There are some potential threats:
Super 8s in football at the "business-end" of the championship will take a lot of the oxygen of publicity from the hurling.
Reducing the length of the intercounty season cedes some ground to other sports where that publicity no longer exists in September for example.
Conflict between the club and county fixtures is turning a lot of club players off.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the smaller competitions (e.g. walsh cup) should be stopped so that the league could start a little earlier... weather permitting.
I think we need to get to the stage where club matches must go ahead even if the county players are unavailable. I know this is controversial, but it is the only way that the club player can get a structured season with regular matches.... this is a MUST!!! I do not think it will turn the top players away from playing intercounty AND it gives more players a chance of playing for their club on big days." I agree with a lot your saying but I do think hurling is in trouble. It has become so eletist, the gap between the top ten and the rest is getting larger every year and may never be bridged, unless the GAA do something radical to bring on other counties."
it is nigh on impossible to get hurling into counties where there is no interest."]There are two national sports in Ireland and every means possibe to promote both should be examine. For a start it's my opinion it should be mandatory that all Counties have a seperate hurling and football board under the auspices and control of the County Board. Regardless of how low the starting base is in either code, with proper development, standards would rise. Continuing with the status quo is not an option. Have you any ideas youself to throw into the mix?"]Couple of points on the debate. 1- Dublin won Liam in '61. 2- Antrim are in the same place they always were. Its a predominantly loyalist county where hurling is only really strong in a very rural area of the county. The Glens of Antrim probably only has the same population as the hook peninsular. Likewise North Kerry and the areas of Laois Westmeath and Carlow where hurling is popular. The problem is the same as we had for a decade or more this millenium. Good sportsmen and women are by nature competititve. They want to win things. Many top hurlers in the socalled lesser counties choose to play football where their county has a better chance of winning something. Kevin Doyle and Shane Long chose soccer and Tomas o leary chose rugby and theyre from toptier hurling counties. That was because they wanted to be professional sportsmen. Basically hurling probably is only strong in the counties it was strong in 1885. Its a game that to be really good at you need to have a hurl in your hand since you were 5."]I agree with you but just because that's the way it is doesn't mean that's the way its got to stay."]Kildare seem to have picked up with a couple ex Kilkenny hurlers amongst others from other counties. Most if not all of Dublins all ireland winning teams were backboned by lads from other counties too. Maybe if more fringe players from the strong 10 counties hooked up with weaker neighbouring counties they could become more successful and this may then encourage young lads in those counties to take up hurling. Equally where interounty stars are working in so-called lesser counties maybe they could be encouraged hold a workshop a week or as much as they have time for children in the counties they work in. For example Dee O keefe in Dunboyne in Meath. Or maybe after they retire from intercounty?"]Mad statistic, the only Dublin born hurler ever to win the all-ireland was thier goal keeper. 6 all irelands and all bar him were from somewhere else.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3836 - 30/03/2018 08:36:36
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Are we any wiser on Conor Mac's chances of playing on Sunday?
Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1145 - 30/03/2018 09:53:04
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We have won every home game since Davy took over. Don't think Sunday will be any different. Mac will be a big loss but if Nolan and chin are back to their best we should have the advantage.
Love to see guiney come on too.
Fanning
Reck ( if ok) Ryan donoghue
Murphy
Foley Hanlon o Keefe
K Foley. Nolan
Chin ROC. JOC
Mac Morris
If Reck is out I'd pick devereux as he was good vs Galway. If Mac is out we have good options in Dunne or Dunbar or guiney if fit
Yellow (Wexford) - Posts: 589 - 30/03/2018 12:16:56
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Expectation is high for Sunday which is an unusual position to be in against Kilkenny. I believe Wexford can win. We must cut down on the free count - I think we conceded too many frees v Kilkenny in both O'Byrne Cup and the league game in Nowlan Park. Many were soft frees in my opinion - Kilkenny have a lot of big game experience and might be that cuter when it comes to winning frees. I just hope the referee realises there is a lot at stake and let's the game flow, and that if there is any play acting by either team that all officials play their part in deciding when it is a free and when it's not a free. Loch Garman Abu!
Sliotharyslope (Wexford) - Posts: 138 - 30/03/2018 16:00:31
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Wexford by 3-5 points
hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 31/03/2018 22:33:56
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Big game today . Weather conditions may play a big part as due to be wet and windy later . A lot at stake. Win and we reach league final first time since 93 and also land Kilkenny a massive physiological blow before our championship meeting . Kilkenny would gain massive confidence if they beat us with a few lads still to come back . If our lads go out and hurl like we have all League we have a great chance . Crowd will play a big part too. Best of luck lads
Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 01/04/2018 10:54:23
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Good God that display was absolutely horrendous. Our weaknesses, which were quite obvious from previous games, were totally exposed by Kilkenny today. Our management seem to have learned absolutely nothing from game 1 until now. None of our obvious problems have been sorted out.
Fanning yet another poor game, puckouts were very inaccurate and he seems to totally lack concentration at times. For example near the end of the first half a ball got in past the full back line and fanning should have been out to clear it up but he was messing with the bag of sliotars he had in the goal just seconds before and wasn't ready to get out to the ball, alyward got it and tried to bat it into the goal.
Simon Donohoe was totally destroyed today and at no stage did the management try to do anything about it.
The most terrible inactivity from the management has been in relation to our sweeper. Yet another display of poor first touch and dreadful delivery of the ball from Murphy, but most importantly he isn't offering any support to the other backs. Just compare his displays with that of Paddy Deegan.
In the second half we let Kilkenny take short puckouts to either Buckley or one of the full back line and they just ran at us from there. Again the management just let this happen. We were outscored by 0-14 to 1-10 in the second half while playing with a very strong wind. That simply is a shambles.
Without Rory O Connor today we would have been totally humiliated. Our forwards are not effective enough at winning g 50/50 balls.
And yet again when we are under a bit of pressure our discipline was lost totally. Morris must have given away 3 frees for stupid high tackles and Aidan Nolan was far too indisciplined in the tackle also.
Finally we must have by far the weakest panel of any of the top 8 counties. We had literally no one that we could bring in today to make any impact whatsoever. Compare that with Blanchfield, Ryan and Scanlon and even the unused Kilkenny sub's. Davy must have no confidence in any of our sub's who are defenders because it was glaringly obvious that Donohoe needed replacing. And when your bringing in harry Kehoe and Dunbar to make an impact you know your in trouble.
I actually thought going to Wexford today that we had enough about us to win but that display was just so awful that I'd even wonder about us getting into the top 3 in Leinster.
890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 01/04/2018 17:03:06
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Replying To 890202: "Good God that display was absolutely horrendous. Our weaknesses, which were quite obvious from previous games, were totally exposed by Kilkenny today. Our management seem to have learned absolutely nothing from game 1 until now. None of our obvious problems have been sorted out.
Fanning yet another poor game, puckouts were very inaccurate and he seems to totally lack concentration at times. For example near the end of the first half a ball got in past the full back line and fanning should have been out to clear it up but he was messing with the bag of sliotars he had in the goal just seconds before and wasn't ready to get out to the ball, alyward got it and tried to bat it into the goal.
Simon Donohoe was totally destroyed today and at no stage did the management try to do anything about it.
The most terrible inactivity from the management has been in relation to our sweeper. Yet another display of poor first touch and dreadful delivery of the ball from Murphy, but most importantly he isn't offering any support to the other backs. Just compare his displays with that of Paddy Deegan.
In the second half we let Kilkenny take short puckouts to either Buckley or one of the full back line and they just ran at us from there. Again the management just let this happen. We were outscored by 0-14 to 1-10 in the second half while playing with a very strong wind. That simply is a shambles.
Without Rory O Connor today we would have been totally humiliated. Our forwards are not effective enough at winning g 50/50 balls.
And yet again when we are under a bit of pressure our discipline was lost totally. Morris must have given away 3 frees for stupid high tackles and Aidan Nolan was far too indisciplined in the tackle also.
Finally we must have by far the weakest panel of any of the top 8 counties. We had literally no one that we could bring in today to make any impact whatsoever. Compare that with Blanchfield, Ryan and Scanlon and even the unused Kilkenny sub's. Davy must have no confidence in any of our sub's who are defenders because it was glaringly obvious that Donohoe needed replacing. And when your bringing in harry Kehoe and Dunbar to make an impact you know your in trouble.
I actually thought going to Wexford today that we had enough about us to win but that display was just so awful that I'd even wonder about us getting into the top 3 in Leinster." Agree with most of your points! Would love to have Eoin Murphy as our keeper! Cillian Buckley got a free ride today and must of hit 60 balls today! We had no one capable of marking him. Think they have snuffed out the sweeper system. None of our backs were decent today, agree with you on Donohoe but thought O Keefee was absolutely dreadful.KK have relatively 4 new forwards today and they all had the beating of Wexfords backs. Chin and Jack O Connor looked totally lost and anyone of them could have been subbed.Please god we get back Guiney for championship as Morris offers nothing. No half decent ball going into McDonald again. We are limited in numbers with no one to come in to maybe change the game. Real danger now is that it's gonna be hard to pick up again, we had no spark today, Rory O Connor was our only outlet and that is not good to depend so much on a 19year old. Very disappointing but still a lot of hurling to be done this year.
Tox73 (Wexford) - Posts: 185 - 01/04/2018 17:56:48
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