There's a fair few questions there GalwayMan but just to add some information to the topic..
Westmeath won a minor All-Ireland back in 1995. Nine years later, we won a Provincial title. Not one player from the minor side of 1995 started in the Leinster Final in 2004.
Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 23/10/2019 15:07:13
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They don't have the resources or the ability to turn these guys into semi pros to maximise their potential. Rightly they focus those on the hurlers as they have a chance of winning Liam.
The Tipp team had relative success a few years ago, they were great. Its a pity it couldnt be sustained. Munster like Leinster is a tough nut to craic to build momentum.
To be honest i think with out knowing for certain, many players plans for "traveling" is essentially going away to play the game for a few bob. A far better offer for their lifestyles then staying at home at play ining ameutuer both for environment and financial gain.
Its a massive problem creeping into the GAA that no one seems to want to acknowledge, or address. Think it will get worse before it gets better. Im not saying this is the case with Quinlivan but its increasingly creeping in.
Replying To Ban: "There's a fair few questions there GalwayMan but just to add some information to the topic..
Westmeath won a minor All-Ireland back in 1995. Nine years later, we won a Provincial title. Not one player from the minor side of 1995 started in the Leinster Final in 2004."
Hi Ban, I went off on a tangent! That is a remarkable stat for Westmeath. Didnt ye win an All Ireland U21 in between?
Replying To TheUsername: "The Tipp team had relative success a few years ago, they were great. Its a pity it couldnt be sustained. Munster like Leinster is a tough nut to craic to build momentum.
To be honest i think with out knowing for certain, many players plans for "traveling" is essentially going away to play the game for a few bob. A far better offer for their lifestyles then staying at home at play ining ameutuer both for environment and financial gain.
Its a massive problem creeping into the GAA that no one seems to want to acknowledge, or address. Think it will get worse before it gets better. Im not saying this is the case with Quinlivan but its increasingly creeping in."
They were brilliant in 2016 and gave Galway a bit of a trimming in the All Ireland quarter final.
Hurling is number 1 and there was huge focus on football until Liam Cahill got his way and forced minors to pick hurling or football (this move was completely unacceptable for any county). It has sucked the life out of football in Tipp and arguably driven hurling to a new level. This all happened after we lost both minor football and hurling finals in 2015. We also reached an U21 final.
The minor team from 2011 beat arguably one of the best minor teams ever in Dublin.
Losing Colin O'Riordan to Aussie Rules was also massive. He was on his way to being one of the greats and I dont say that lightly. From a small playing pool we also lost Acheson, O'Brien to hurling (when he was flying) and Ciaran McDonald was eventually forced to retire with hip problems. The two McGraths were always going to pick hurling too.
Unfortunately, I'd tend to agree with the initial post. We didnt get enough players from that team and the huge support from the county board seems to now have waned dramatically. Their fantastic year in 2016 was for them unfortunately overshadowed by the hurling all ireland.
I think Peter Acheson leaving after 2016 was the beginning of the end of that team. He was the heart and lungs around the middle of the field and they just weren't the same after. They also lost a very promising player to the AFL whose name escapes me.They had potential if they could have kept the team together but it was always going to be difficult in a hurling first county.
This is a huge huge problem outside the top couple of counties. The level of commitment now required is nearing professional but the incentives just aren't there to match it.