ahsure, because the are upto the age limit allowed for them, they win it! if you are going to be a real competitive force in colleges a, you ll need the vast majority of lads upto the age. most winning teams have that going for them.

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2630 - 16/02/2012 12:27:02    1112793

St. Colman's College, Newry had boys playing last year who had won a Hogan Cup medal the previous season, likewise this year. In fact, this year's Cpt. Ryan Johnson, who started in both previous campaigns, has two MacRory and two Hogan medals. The reality is that class is making the difference and not age - many of St. Colman's current squad are not in their final year at college. Best of luck to Violet Hill in their semi-final against Maghera, after last night's performance I'd say the treble is still on. Coláiste Cholmáin abú!

peter_venkman (Down) - Posts: 320 - 16/02/2012 14:46:01    1112908

A lot of kids in the 26 counties go to college at 17. In fact I know of kids who started college as 16 year olds! Very few lads are still in secondary school at 18 and a half.

so if they were playing football in college, they would have been a lot younger than players on most Ulster schools teams.
It should be a level playing field for everyone.

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 16/02/2012 15:09:51    1112925

Ashure - Galway -
"Any Northern team that has every got into the All Ireland Hogan Cup series, their team comprises of almost 15 starters aged 18 - 18 1/2. It is almost unheard of in the Republic"

I have two hogans from way back in the 90's, the winning team on the second team consisted of the following ages; 15 (x2), 16 (x2), 17 (x7) <18 (x4). We also had to deal with losing our captain, and full back and three of our first choice subs (only three subs allowed at the time, those were the days)

So to suggest that northern teams win because they are older is BS.

It usually has more to do with a school having 2-3 years of good talent at the school at the same time, and that applied to both northern and southern schools

CSC (None) - Posts: 17 - 16/02/2012 16:23:06    1112991

just noticed a few spelling mistakes, my bad

CSC (None) - Posts: 17 - 16/02/2012 17:21:40    1113047

I was 17 starting college as well.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 16/02/2012 19:49:17    1113170

i wont comment on the football, but from a hurling point of view, most winning teams are fairly well upto the age.. even in my own spot, and we d be an average A football school team, our teams tend to be to the age. our juvenile team had only 2 starting first years. most schools do offer ty now, especially those who want to win titles!

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2630 - 16/02/2012 20:06:53    1113187

CSC
County: All

I have two hogans from way back in the 90's, the winning team on the second team consisted of the following ages; 15 (x2), 16 (x2), 17 (x7) <18 (x4). We also had to deal with losing our captain, and full back and three of our first choice subs (only three subs allowed at the time, those were the days)

So to suggest that northern teams win because they are older is BS.

It usually has more to do with a school having 2-3 years of good talent at the school at the same time, and that applied to both northern and southern schools

------

Your simply wrong CSC! No, I am kidding, fair play to you on winning two Hogans, especially after all the set-backs you mentioned.

What you have told me about the age bracket of your winning team has enlightened me somewhat, but I still think the age has a big say.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1673 - 16/02/2012 21:02:59    1113250

what about the fact that most GAA schools in the north play very little of anything else?

PE is also taken far more seriously in the north.
And also, they have fantastic facilities, with many of them having gyms and top class indoor halls

my old secondary school didn't even have a proper field for us to train on.

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 16/02/2012 21:07:50    1113253

maghera man?

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2630 - 16/02/2012 21:12:42    1113257

was doing a bit of browsing on the hogan cup and came upon a reference to dermot mcnicholl. its amazing the way you forget what an unbelievable player he was! what he won and at what an age was unbelievable.

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2630 - 16/02/2012 21:26:38    1113275

Any more results to report ???

monitor (Down) - Posts: 209 - 20/02/2012 09:25:53    1114734

omagh cbs have been re instated on appeal after st michaels enniskillen fielded unregistered players. Another chance for Omagh

Goals_Will_Come (UK) - Posts: 375 - 20/02/2012 14:16:02    1114950

2 DAYS AWAY FROM THE BIG ONE MEN. ANY PREDICTIONS? ILL BE IN THE CROWD CHEERING ON JARLATHS HOWEVER I FEEL WE'LL BE UP AGAINST IT.

Footballguy123 (Galway) - Posts: 31 - 20/02/2012 19:30:53    1115206

Cap lock?? St Jarlaths to win by small margin on Wednesday & to win the Connacht final by a large margin one of the Ulster side will win the Hogan cup.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3606 - 20/02/2012 20:18:35    1115243

Wanted to get my comment across . Fair comment, I feel it will be CBS Ros by small margin, Large margin victory in final and Either Moate CC / CBS Ros to win it out overall. I hope Jarlaths win it though by my heart tells me that will be the outcome .

Footballguy123 (Galway) - Posts: 31 - 20/02/2012 20:44:58    1115258

Goals_will_come where did you hear that? It's the first i've heard of it. Was asking the wee bro and he is at the school, he hadn't heard anything either. It's 2012 not 2006.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 20/02/2012 20:52:10    1115260

Real shame that Abbey got put out due to a point with the last kick of the ball against Maghera. Lot of people dont know though that the Abbey squad was weakened due to the fact that Cormac Linden son of Mickey, was inmjured, and in my opinion could of made that lasting difference. Brendan McCormick was also injured and could have made a telling contribution. Unlucky Abbey ,could have went all the way!

rflynn781 (Down) - Posts: 24 - 21/02/2012 09:01:13    1115331

agreeing with rflynn, abbey put up a massaive fight and took part in a great game, flynn forget to mention tommy trimble who came on in the second half for the abbey and made a huge difference, a young 5th form lad from dromintee. maghera are a strong team and i have to say theyn are the favourites atm, players like conor hoey and martin o'conor are strong in the air, seen the pats navan play a challange up in cooley not a while ago and definitly are a bigger outfit, this years hogan will be tough, best of lucks to all teams across the country

southernercull (Louth) - Posts: 27 - 21/02/2012 10:06:10    1115353

With a full team to choose from i would fancy Roscommon CBS to win however they will be missing three key players so i believe that will swing it for the Galway students. (of course i hope i'm wrong but it's rare when i get any predictions wrong.)

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 21/02/2012 18:37:43    1115707