Replying To zinny: "A lot of the posts are gone a bit off topic at this stage!
In favor To develop Hurling in these counties they need to be playing more competitive games and the five team structure means that after one year they are likely to be demoted and therefore do not really gain as much from it as they should.
Against The gap between the top and bottom tier is quite wide and all they will do is take hammerings year after year and never go down if they can beat the team that just came up. Its not developing either of the counties and devalues the top tier championship. They are already in the top tier in the league so that should give them competitive games.
The arguments about the league are a bit on the thin side - the game may be competitive but hardly going to bring on anyones standard of hurling. I assume people can remember the state of pitches and the weather that the league was played in this year? So what you want t do is tell these teams to slug it out in the mud in winter as a way to develop hurling in the county. Someone coming up each year means that someone has to be demoted which will most likely be the team that came up the previous year so what then? expand it to 7? How do you decide enough is enough
Ultimately this is about developing the game of Hurling. I would question that doing this at Senior level without development at all the age group levels makes sense. Minor includes these teams in a league structure but then U20 is knockout? before someone plays competitive at senior surly they need to be playing more competitive games at that level? I see the same problem in Football - the bridge between Minor and Senior - U20 is being treated as if it doesn't exist. Anyway there are a lot more reason why Hurling and Football for that matter doesn't develop in counties other than this but they get ignored."
Great post and valid points. I'd suggest a 10 year underage and club plan to promote hurling in all counties outside of the top tier but plan it properly. Plans take time to implement. It's obvious the big counties are bringing in all the revenue and that's why they're playing more games but not enough is being done with the counties from the lower tiers. I think some good work has certainly been done with the new cship and league structures over the last number of years but it needs to be brought up another couple of levels. We will never get a level playing field in hurling (or football) that just doesn't happen but I think with more effort we can bring hurling to higher levels in most of these counties.
Replying To tiobraid: "Great post and valid points. I'd suggest a 10 year underage and club plan to promote hurling in all counties outside of the top tier but plan it properly. Plans take time to implement. It's obvious the big counties are bringing in all the revenue and that's why they're playing more games but not enough is being done with the counties from the lower tiers. I think some good work has certainly been done with the new cship and league structures over the last number of years but it needs to be brought up another couple of levels. We will never get a level playing field in hurling (or football) that just doesn't happen but I think with more effort we can bring hurling to higher levels in most of these counties."
My soap box for a long time. Down at grass roots in the clubs of these counties. Hurling is a skillful game that has to be taught but also a confidence game. This confidence comes from success at a young age by being able to compete at a higher level. It may not be all about winning because as you pointed out that may not be feasible. Gear structures and competition in that direction.
"I know I've said this before but coming back to the cards, I think issuing cards and pointing to the sideline and all that is a demeaning exercise on players who have committed so much to the game and who give so much entertainment."
I will just use this as one example of why the game will never develop beyond its current boundaries. What parent in their right mind would allow their son to play a game where they can have lumps taken out of then and the only punishment to the other player is a free against them. Seriously he needs to get a grip unfortunately he is not the only one and its an attitude that prevails in the big hurling counties. What they don't get is that for a parent who has never played the game (and even the ones that have) safety of their child is of first importance. If the parent doesn't see this happening in the adult game on TV the kid won't be allowed anywhere near the game.
Replying To zinny: ""I know I've said this before but coming back to the cards, I think issuing cards and pointing to the sideline and all that is a demeaning exercise on players who have committed so much to the game and who give so much entertainment."
I will just use this as one example of why the game will never develop beyond its current boundaries. What parent in their right mind would allow their son to play a game where they can have lumps taken out of then and the only punishment to the other player is a free against them. Seriously he needs to get a grip unfortunately he is not the only one and its an attitude that prevails in the big hurling counties. What they don't get is that for a parent who has never played the game (and even the ones that have) safety of their child is of first importance. If the parent doesn't see this happening in the adult game on TV the kid won't be allowed anywhere near the game."
Well said again and true. What is his angle. Is it some kind of manliness theory that someone getting hit on the head indiscriminately is o.k.? I have worked along side ex inter county players (Kilkenny and Waterford) with disformed fingers from slashes on the hand away from the play and they tell you their story. Eddie wore a helmet himself eventually and I hope it contributed to the long and healthy life he is enjoying. Assume he approved of the helmet change. A great and admired man who was an idol in the game for many of us but can't support his view. It does not need to be cards or can but laying into some with a stick demands sending off. At the extreme it is criminal.