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Congrats to Westmeath - seems it was their first victory over the O'Moore men in 50 years. It certainly blows the round-robin wide open, even if Laois probably remain favourites. anciarraioch82 (Kerry) - Posts: 33 - 05/05/2018 19:48:32 2096841 Link 0 |
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revenge?
why (Kildare) - Posts: 142 - 05/05/2018 20:26:24 2096848 Link 1 |
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Well done to Westmeath and Antrim on today's victories. thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 05/05/2018 22:12:33 2096858 Link 0 |
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Served cold!
Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 06/05/2018 09:31:57 2096876 Link 1 |
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Antrim don't need to be talking about revenge over Meath, we were out hurled in the two CR matches and although gutted i was very impressed with the speed, movement, intensity and skill of Meath on both occasions. Big problem is still there: Not having one Loughgiel player in the starting 15 indicates that we have trouble getting the best players in the county playing for us, we're only at 70% of where we could be if we had all the best lads out. Also missing Ciaran Johnston of St John's who is solid and uses the ball brilliantly. Brian_Coyote (Antrim) - Posts: 346 - 07/05/2018 09:44:10 2097012 Link 0 |
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I agree its a strange one alright, and this is not new, however this is a question for those who are absent, for whatever reason. And there are many reasons why players/clubs do not make themselves available for their county. I don't think there is a county in Ireland that has their 'best' 15 available on a consistent basis, except maybe for the top 3 or 4 teams. This does widen the net and give those who can commit an opportunity. At the beginning of the competition most of the games could have been called either way, and still could. One swallow a summer does not make, but you have to admire how the team fought back after a very slow start on Saturday. Would they have managed the same performance last year, the year before? This is a very competitive competition and the scoring was very good from both sides. When we went 15 on 15 we got a flow and consistency going that I haven't seen for many a day. There is one aspect of our play that baffles me though. In order to "retain possession" we have a habit, I believe this is an intentional tactic, for short puck outs and to pass the ball backwards/ sideways to then strike the ball 20/30/40 yards forwards. Your touch has to be 100% or you get outmuscled and turned over. Which has happened a lot. Anyways, a good start and looking forward to next week Glensboy (Antrim) - Posts: 290 - 07/05/2018 12:24:26 2097067 Link 0 |
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Westmeath beating laois Saturday first time since 1968, last year beating laois in under 21 for first time in history, and in 2016 beating kilkenny for first time in under 21, plus the seniors beating offaly for first time since 1976, 2015 minors beating wexford for first time also.seem to be on a trend of making ground every year in patches preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 738 - 07/05/2018 14:11:40 2097082 Link 1 |
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These are fine wins but from our point of view all mixed up with very poor displays. We have some fine hurlers but if we are to make real progress we need more consistency. BTW it wasn't our first minor win over Wexford
jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1458 - 07/05/2018 17:17:55 2097117 Link 0 |
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Well done to Westmeath indeed. However, what remains as their realistic ambition going forward? A quick look at website shows only 16 adult teams across 11 or 12 clubs. At minor there are 6 teams with 12 at under 16 and same ar under 14. No doubt they have fine players and they are making the most of slim pickings. However, even if every club in the county fielded a hurling team, they would still be miles off Cork, Galway, Limerick etc. in terms of numbers. They have half of what Offaly have at present It might be a start to get more clubs playing. They will need to do that to consistently compete with even the Laois/Offalys. bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 07/05/2018 18:21:57 2097132 Link 0 |
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That's exactly what I mean jobber when I said in patches...they not winning enough still for the team they have....one another note I didnt know westmeath bet wexford minors before 2015! Westmeath were never too strong at minor only in 1999 and since 2009 have they been really competitive
preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 738 - 07/05/2018 19:38:45 2097141 Link 0 |
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offaly did what they did with about 5 teams in the 80's/90's
perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 08/05/2018 13:52:43 2097277 Link 0 |
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They didn't. You are miles off.
bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 08/05/2018 16:56:54 2097341 Link 0 |
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The Offaly winning team of 1985 came from 7 clubs. The team of 1994 from 6 clubs. Hardly "miles off" Maybe you could give us the figures for 1981 & 1998. Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2476 - 08/05/2018 21:51:17 2097405 Link 1 |
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Westmeath has fifteen hurling clubs ten of who compete in the senior championship with the other five along with second teams playing intermediate. The real challenge going forward will be to strengthen the urban teams of St Oliver Plunketts and Cullion both Mullingar and Southern Gaels(Athlone)All three are in a pretty bad place right now not even one starter last Saturday which makes our progress pretty good. Nevertheless the championship is always very competitive which is best shown by the list of senior winners. Brownstown lead with 15, Clonkill and Castlepollard both have fourteen With Raharney and Castletown Geoghegan on 13. jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1458 - 08/05/2018 23:33:51 2097418 Link 0 |
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13 or 15 hurling clubs? Michael Ryan says different on the homepage.
PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 09/05/2018 14:11:33 2097564 Link 0 |
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Look at Offaly GAA website and count for yourself! If you are able!
bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 09/05/2018 15:42:33 2097601 Link 0 |
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The website, I guess hasn't updated, the Junior leagues yet as there is no mention of those three clubs. A competitive championship is a good sign at least and the Westmeath champions have been reasonably competitive in Leinster without major victories. This provides some base. However if you are weak in urban areas and you have a small playing pool, how much will you achieve? I note Cullion, Southern Gael and Plunkett field teams at under 16 and play between themselves and Longford teams mainly (according to website). Currently Offaly have the lowest number of resources of all teams in Liam Mccarthy Cup but still have approximately 20 clubs and 40 teams playing at adult level. They are very poor and will most likely be bottom of the group and winless. If Westmeath take their place next year will they be able to do things different? I am not dissing Westmeath or knocking them in any way. They have done well but their seems to be a lot of patronising of Westmeath, Carlow, Offaly (after this year's league), Kerry etc after a few decent results. Intercounty can gloss over things a bit and give a false impression of how strong or otherwise things are. In Cork we have loads of participants but numbers and interest is dwindling (slowly but plenty of evidence of it). bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 09/05/2018 17:00:05 2097626 Link 0 |
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So you don't know?
Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2476 - 09/05/2018 17:20:07 2097629 Link 0 |
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It is irrelevant. You have gone off on a tangent. I never mentioned how many clubs supplied players to County teams. Offaly have a minimum of 20 clubs playing hurling. I can't imagine 15 of them have sprung up since 1998.
bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 09/05/2018 18:12:40 2097645 Link 0 |
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The two clubs missing are Southern Gaels and Turin who are playing division 3 league which for some reason is not on the site.Your points are well made the Joe Mcdonagh winners will face big problems in 2019 but the likes of Laois, Antrim Carlow Kerry, Meath and ourselves if we win deserve our chance to improve. I believe this competition will be excellent, very competitive and will give hurling in our counties a big boost. The fact that the final is on Leinster final day with the prospect of a home preliminary quarter final is all good. A bit more marketing would be a help as well.
jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1458 - 09/05/2018 18:44:56 2097651 Link 0 |