Replying To TheChampion: "In the senior championship, I believe the teams will play each other once on a league basis before proceeding to the knockout stages, where as the intermediate teams were split into two groups of four resulting in half as many fixtures as the senior championship. Maybe the lack of referee's in the county might have something to do with it but I think it comes down to lack of effort in promoting hurling. Bray's intermediates do play in a Dublin league but the Wicklow league should take precedence. Would the county board be happy for all Wicklow clubs to abandon the Wicklow leagues to play in surrounding counties for more games or do Bray have a special exception?"
Your post highlighted the lack of competitive games in the county. My point is if there are insufficient teams to generate more games why not compete in leagues outside the county. I'm not advocating that these outside games replace internal league games but complement those games. In the past teams sourced challenge games to get game times - is this an option? Maybe there is a lack of an appetite for hurling from some clubs as they'd rather stick to playing football.
Replying To wicklowsupport: "Your post highlighted the lack of competitive games in the county. My point is if there are insufficient teams to generate more games why not compete in leagues outside the county. I'm not advocating that these outside games replace internal league games but complement those games. In the past teams sourced challenge games to get game times - is this an option? Maybe there is a lack of an appetite for hurling from some clubs as they'd rather stick to playing football."
This already happens. Bray, Eire Og and even St Pats I think competed in Dublin competitions last year , although I believe with the stipulation that they have to play all their matches away. The Leinster Hurling league used to be a great competition played in early Spring giving our teams games against strong opposition from the like of Laois, Offaly, Wexford etc. I don't see as much coverage of that these days , so I don't know if that bit the dust with the new split season. Carlow clubs have gotten great benefit from proximity to Kilkenny and competing to some extent there. I don;t know why Carnew have never pursued this option more being located within a stone's throw of several solid hurling clubs in Wexford.
Replying To Hawkeye2: "This already happens. Bray, Eire Og and even St Pats I think competed in Dublin competitions last year , although I believe with the stipulation that they have to play all their matches away. The Leinster Hurling league used to be a great competition played in early Spring giving our teams games against strong opposition from the like of Laois, Offaly, Wexford etc. I don't see as much coverage of that these days , so I don't know if that bit the dust with the new split season. Carlow clubs have gotten great benefit from proximity to Kilkenny and competing to some extent there. I don;t know why Carnew have never pursued this option more being located within a stone's throw of several solid hurling clubs in Wexford."
I think Bray are or were in a final of a league which is to be played as a curtain raiser to a Kilkenny match ??
Replying To Hawkeye2: "This already happens. Bray, Eire Og and even St Pats I think competed in Dublin competitions last year , although I believe with the stipulation that they have to play all their matches away. The Leinster Hurling league used to be a great competition played in early Spring giving our teams games against strong opposition from the like of Laois, Offaly, Wexford etc. I don't see as much coverage of that these days , so I don't know if that bit the dust with the new split season. Carlow clubs have gotten great benefit from proximity to Kilkenny and competing to some extent there. I don;t know why Carnew have never pursued this option more being located within a stone's throw of several solid hurling clubs in Wexford."
That Leinster league still exists but it's mostly midland clubs from Offaly, Leix and an odd one from north Kilkenny that enter it. It's not great and is mostly midweek matches with long journeys involved so take up from clubs is low.
Kiltegan entered the league in Carlow last year (known as Bolger Cup) but as far as I recall they failed to field either at all or in most matches and pulled out of it before the end anyway.
FYI the problems with growing hurling in counties like CW and WW where football is traditionally more popular in large parts has been discussed recently on the Carlow thread.
Replying To Onion Breath: "That Leinster league still exists but it's mostly midland clubs from Offaly, Leix and an odd one from north Kilkenny that enter it. It's not great and is mostly midweek matches with long journeys involved so take up from clubs is low.
Kiltegan entered the league in Carlow last year (known as Bolger Cup) but as far as I recall they failed to field either at all or in most matches and pulled out of it before the end anyway.
FYI the problems with growing hurling in counties like CW and WW where football is traditionally more popular in large parts has been discussed recently on the Carlow thread."
I am a follower of the Carlow site, simply because I feel you have similar problems to ourselves, particularly in football. Also I enjoy the banter among some of your posters. I also admire the number of posters willing to commit their thoughts to paper. It's a much more active site than ours, it must be said.