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6 Teams Left In A Hurling May 24Th

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Replying To Seanfan:  "There's only 11 teams altogether !"
Not in the main competition- Mc Carthy Cup.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 681 - 26/06/2026 15:29:07    2682089

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "You keep saying that but that's how knockout championship works. Football is in the same boat as of last weekend"
There are still 10 counties involved in championship football games before the end of the season. 8 games.
There are 3 games of hurling left, involving 4 counties.
After May 31st there were 29 counties still involved in the Football Championship, while there were only 8 still involved in the hurling championship.
After the following weekend there were 25 counties still involved in the Football Championship, with numerous games left. But only 6 counties still involved in any kind of hurling championship action. And only 5 games left.
If you can't see that they are completely different boats then maybe a trip to specsavers is needed.....

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 15:53:38    2682098

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The hurling argument boils down to giving 2 teams an extra 2 weeks. The promotion of the sport probably needs the profile of those extra games.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9894 - 26/06/2026 15:56:40    2682099

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The All Ireland SFC has 16 teams and 6 rounds. 8 of 16 are out after round 3.
The hurling championship has 11 teams. It is no surprise that half the teams are out after half the time. That's the nature of group stage followed by knockout. The positive of 2 home games is taken for granted."
Im not just talking about top tier championships, but championships overall.
I get that home games are great, and it was a little unfair on Wexford that we only had 1 home game out of 5 championship games. But thats the luck of the draw, so no real complaints.
And as regards group stage followed by knockout in hurling, thats exactly what needs to change for the equal promotion of hurling by the GAA.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 15:58:38    2682100

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "How do you know? Do you have a joe McDonagh medal?
My point is that you set your ambition according to what you can achieve. I know a few lads here in Roscommon that have Nicky Rackard medals. I actually know a few that have the old All Ireland B medals aswell. Its their all ireland medal and they value it accordingly. You may not and that is your perogative but they do. They always knew that it was likely to be the highlight of their intercounty career and they got to win an all ireland in CP. Fair play to them and everyone else who achieve their ambition on the field and in CP. I think its very disrespectful of you to belittle something that you haven't achieved yourself.
Yes kids are attracted to the glamour. Its what promotes sport. As I've said many times though only 35 can be on an intercounty football panel at any one time and its an honour to represent your county in hurling aswell. Thankfully many kids still see it that way even if you dont.
A transfer system, now that is pie in the sky stuff. Especially in the direction you mean. There have been plenty of Galway hurlers that have chosen to represent Roscommon though and one serving limerick player who won a Ring with Kildare. He values thst medal highly too."
I didnt bother answering the transfer to win more point. If anything went against the whole ethos of the gaa then that would be it.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 16:00:35    2682102

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The hurling argument boils down to giving 2 teams an extra 2 weeks. The promotion of the sport probably needs the profile of those extra games."
Why arent the Ring, Meagher, Rackard and Joe Mac finals later in the year? What about introducing semifinals in these competitions? Maybe 2nd v 3rd as you yourself proposed?
And if we ran the Liam McCarthy as a standalone competition like all the other hurling tiers then there would be more top tier hurling games later in the year too.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 16:04:19    2682104

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Not in the main competition- Mc Carthy Cup."
Don't get you? There are actually 11 teams in the McCarthy Cup since the Round Robin system was introduced. There used to be more, as there are currently in Football.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 16:06:07    2682105

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Replying To Viking66:  "Im not just talking about top tier championships, but championships overall.
I get that home games are great, and it was a little unfair on Wexford that we only had 1 home game out of 5 championship games. But thats the luck of the draw, so no real complaints.
And as regards group stage followed by knockout in hurling, thats exactly what needs to change for the equal promotion of hurling by the GAA."
How did Wexford only have one home game? Didn't you play both Galway and Dublin at home? And doesnt that mean that you get Offaly, Kk and Laois at home next season?
We dont have the time in the season to have everyone back in after the provincials and a double elimination competition like football. The RR works well for hurling particularly in Munster. Its the best thing to happen to the game in decades.
I , personally, dont have a problem with 3rd v 4th on same weekend as provincials but it doesnt solve the quality discrepancy between the 2 championships. I dont see what is to be gained from it either if im honest. I dont see the KK or Waterford support licking their lips either.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 620 - 26/06/2026 16:22:06    2682107

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Replying To Viking66:  "Why arent the Ring, Meagher, Rackard and Joe Mac finals later in the year? What about introducing semifinals in these competitions? Maybe 2nd v 3rd as you yourself proposed?
And if we ran the Liam McCarthy as a standalone competition like all the other hurling tiers then there would be more top tier hurling games later in the year too."
The provincial hurling groups have finals 2 weeks later. If they were All Ireland groups, would you be talking 2nd v 3rd in quarter finals two weeks after the group stage? An All Ireland group stage of 2 x 6 is keeping 12 counties going for 2 weeks longer. The All Ireland in 2 groups of 6 probably would finish on the weekend of June 7th, the weekend that the provincial finals were on this year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9894 - 26/06/2026 16:41:41    2682112

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I don't like some of the modern emphasis on possession in hurling but what passes as Gaelic football is nothing short of fisted soccer.

Crashingwaves (Galway) - Posts: 356 - 26/06/2026 17:12:57    2682116

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Replying To Viking66:  "Why arent the Ring, Meagher, Rackard and Joe Mac finals later in the year? What about introducing semifinals in these competitions? Maybe 2nd v 3rd as you yourself proposed?
And if we ran the Liam McCarthy as a standalone competition like all the other hurling tiers then there would be more top tier hurling games later in the year too."
Afaik those semi finals are coming in. The reason the finals are in june is to allow the club championships get a head start in football country. Afaik kerry has started, Roscommon starts next weekend etc. If they didnt they would be squeezed out( in Roscommon anyway).

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 620 - 26/06/2026 17:48:55    2682119

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The provincial hurling groups have finals 2 weeks later. If they were All Ireland groups, would you be talking 2nd v 3rd in quarter finals two weeks after the group stage? An All Ireland group stage of 2 x 6 is keeping 12 counties going for 2 weeks longer. The All Ireland in 2 groups of 6 probably would finish on the weekend of June 7th, the weekend that the provincial finals were on this year."
It cant replace the current round robin. Its too successful in Munster. You wont replicate that.
Whatever happens has to happen between the provincial finals and AI semifinals. So there is a window of 4 weeks. 5 if you include the provincial finals weekend. Its not a lot of time especially if you keep semi finals. Its also asking a lot of the players. Hurling is a high intensity, high energy extremely physical game. They need time to recover. In an ideal world you would have a week off between every game but the CPA ensured that wont happen and the GPA are holding us to it. There isnt a lot that can be done in McCarthy Cup other than a preliminary quarter final.
It is what it is.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 620 - 26/06/2026 19:09:59    2682126

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Its amazzing how many non hurling people from non hurling counties blame hurling people in hurling counties for hurlings problems. How bizzare and what a cop out.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 711 - 26/06/2026 19:11:50    2682127

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Replying To Crashingwaves:  "I don't like some of the modern emphasis on possession in hurling but what passes as Gaelic football is nothing short of fisted soccer."
Definitely a few years ago. Gaelic football is much better since the new rules came in though. More enjoyable to play and watch. Attendances are up, goals are up, 1-on-1 contests are up. No point comparing it to hurling, but football is in a better place now than it was for a long time.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2914 - 26/06/2026 19:13:34    2682128

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "How do you know? Do you have a joe McDonagh medal?
My point is that you set your ambition according to what you can achieve. I know a few lads here in Roscommon that have Nicky Rackard medals. I actually know a few that have the old All Ireland B medals aswell. Its their all ireland medal and they value it accordingly. You may not and that is your perogative but they do. They always knew that it was likely to be the highlight of their intercounty career and they got to win an all ireland in CP. Fair play to them and everyone else who achieve their ambition on the field and in CP. I think its very disrespectful of you to belittle something that you haven't achieved yourself.
Yes kids are attracted to the glamour. Its what promotes sport. As I've said many times though only 35 can be on an intercounty football panel at any one time and its an honour to represent your county in hurling aswell. Thankfully many kids still see it that way even if you dont.
A transfer system, now that is pie in the sky stuff. Especially in the direction you mean. There have been plenty of Galway hurlers that have chosen to represent Roscommon though and one serving limerick player who won a Ring with Kildare. He values thst medal highly too."
You dont need to have a Joe McDonagh medal to know that a Liam Mcarthy medal is more valuable ,after all the whole point of winning the Joe Mc competition is to get out of the bloody thing.

And yes,words like pride and ethos and jersey and parish are great but a players ambition and achievements should be ceilinged by his talent and not by county boundaries, i know thats a minority opinion on a GAA forum but its what i believe.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 61 - 26/06/2026 19:40:02    2682132

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The provincial hurling groups have finals 2 weeks later. If they were All Ireland groups, would you be talking 2nd v 3rd in quarter finals two weeks after the group stage? An All Ireland group stage of 2 x 6 is keeping 12 counties going for 2 weeks longer. The All Ireland in 2 groups of 6 probably would finish on the weekend of June 7th, the weekend that the provincial finals were on this year."
No Id be proposing playing the Provincial Championships as kno out, as in Football. Then an AI Round Robin with 2 groups of 6.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 22:13:11    2682150

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "How did Wexford only have one home game? Didn't you play both Galway and Dublin at home? And doesnt that mean that you get Offaly, Kk and Laois at home next season?
We dont have the time in the season to have everyone back in after the provincials and a double elimination competition like football. The RR works well for hurling particularly in Munster. Its the best thing to happen to the game in decades.
I , personally, dont have a problem with 3rd v 4th on same weekend as provincials but it doesnt solve the quality discrepancy between the 2 championships. I dont see what is to be gained from it either if im honest. I dont see the KK or Waterford support licking their lips either."
No we were home to Limerick. We were away to Louth, Fermanagh, Leitrim and Offaly.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 22:14:29    2682151

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Afaik those semi finals are coming in. The reason the finals are in june is to allow the club championships get a head start in football country. Afaik kerry has started, Roscommon starts next weekend etc. If they didnt they would be squeezed out( in Roscommon anyway)."
Its the intercounty window, so intercounty games should take priority.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 22:15:50    2682152

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "It cant replace the current round robin. Its too successful in Munster. You wont replicate that.
Whatever happens has to happen between the provincial finals and AI semifinals. So there is a window of 4 weeks. 5 if you include the provincial finals weekend. Its not a lot of time especially if you keep semi finals. Its also asking a lot of the players. Hurling is a high intensity, high energy extremely physical game. They need time to recover. In an ideal world you would have a week off between every game but the CPA ensured that wont happen and the GPA are holding us to it. There isnt a lot that can be done in McCarthy Cup other than a preliminary quarter final.
It is what it is."
Do away with League finals, and start the Provincial Championships 2 weeks earlier.
Then a standalone AI series like we have in Football. Plenty of time for it.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20094 - 26/06/2026 22:17:31    2682154

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Replying To Seniorleague:  "You dont need to have a Joe McDonagh medal to know that a Liam Mcarthy medal is more valuable ,after all the whole point of winning the Joe Mc competition is to get out of the bloody thing.

And yes,words like pride and ethos and jersey and parish are great but a players ambition and achievements should be ceilinged by his talent and not by county boundaries, i know thats a minority opinion on a GAA forum but its what i believe."
For gods sake, they dont have a McCarthy medal. They won the all ireland that they could and they value it accordingly. Its the pinnacle of their career. They were never going to win a McCarthy and knew that from day one in an intercounty set up. Therefore they value it in the same way as someone values a McCarthy medal that actually won one. Why? Because it is their All Ireland and they worked just as hard and made similar sacrifices to achieve their medal. Do you understand now?
On the other matter, thankfully it doesnt really matter what you believe or i for that matter. Its not allowed and I agree with that.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 620 - 26/06/2026 23:03:37    2682160

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