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Minors footballers took one hell of a hammering yesterday. Doesnt bode well for them for the season especially seeing no score in the second half, scores at that age group seems to have been a problem the last few years but shipping 6 goals in a game is never good more4me (Carlow) - Posts: 109 - 09/02/2025 08:50:12 2590178 Link
I am surprised that nobody has questioned the structures at underage level. Back in the late 2000s, we started this 'elite' colts and foals programme. Is it yielding results? Or perhaps it's backfiring? Results seem to have dis-improved since then. In both codes. Also, is coaching perhaps the issue? Obviously, we will always struggle for numbers. And you'll only get a Brendan Murphy once in a blue moon. But if our coaching level is below other counties, that would be tragic. Also are we doing enough to promote GAA in the three towns? Bagenalstown seem to be struggling. Tullow don't even offer hurling and the football is weak. And what has happened to O'Hanrahan's? When I was growing up, 'the Blues' and Tullow provided most of the county football team. And most O'Hanrahan's guys were dual players who also played with Pearses/Carlow Town. Tullow also gave us hurlers like Pat Brophy. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 777 - 09/02/2025 10:58:26 2590188 Link
I had hoped this years minors might benefit from the regional championship at the end of last year as that was really good and has to have helped prepare players for county minor and their development. Also must have helped selectors to pick the right squad as that a great trial series. But if yesterday is anything to go by this could be another tough year at minor. Saying that I think even so we can't expect the regional championship to turns things around in one year but hopefully we'll stick with it and extend it to other age groups and for hurling. It takes a lot of organising however but seems a way forward that is a change from what we've been doing with colts etc and hopefully will see better results. Something I had mentioned before was getting our colts to enter the county leagues in other counties eg enter two squads in the Dublin U-16 league, two in the Kildare U-14 etc. Costly I know. Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1470 - 09/02/2025 13:14:08 2590229 Link
Replying To more4me: "Minors footballers took one hell of a hammering yesterday. Doesnt bode well for them for the season especially seeing no score in the second half, scores at that age group seems to have been a problem the last few years but shipping 6 goals in a game is never good" From what I hear, yesterday's team was full of u16s with some of age minor players that shone in the regional championship either left on the bench or played out of position, with the u16s looking completely out of their depth. And the 6-14 they conceded was mild as Louth didn't have their shooting boots on. Worrying signs for the year ahead for football but sure when does it ever change at minor level ? Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 09/02/2025 16:52:36 2590271 Link
Replying To Onion Breath: "I had hoped this years minors might benefit from the regional championship at the end of last year as that was really good and has to have helped prepare players for county minor and their development. Also must have helped selectors to pick the right squad as that a great trial series. But if yesterday is anything to go by this could be another tough year at minor. Saying that I think even so we can't expect the regional championship to turns things around in one year but hopefully we'll stick with it and extend it to other age groups and for hurling. It takes a lot of organising however but seems a way forward that is a change from what we've been doing with colts etc and hopefully will see better results. Something I had mentioned before was getting our colts to enter the county leagues in other counties eg enter two squads in the Dublin U-16 league, two in the Kildare U-14 etc. Costly I know." You would imagine that would be the case re picking the right squad but they seem to be more looking at blooding u16s for next year with the of age minors a secondary thought for now. That scoreline from yesterday won't be the last trouncing they get this year. Shameful given the talent available to management this year. Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 09/02/2025 16:55:42 2590272 Link
Replying To Bracker1984: "You would imagine that would be the case re picking the right squad but they seem to be more looking at blooding u16s for next year with the of age minors a secondary thought for now. That scoreline from yesterday won't be the last trouncing they get this year. Shameful given the talent available to management this year." Are there lots of players available that are not being picked, bracker?Hard to understand what the thinking behind this is! Anyone know who is over the team? Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 311 - 09/02/2025 18:09:11 2590286 Link
Replying To Bracker1984: "You would imagine that would be the case re picking the right squad but they seem to be more looking at blooding u16s for next year with the of age minors a secondary thought for now. That scoreline from yesterday won't be the last trouncing they get this year. Shameful given the talent available to management this year." The manager that is there was brought in as he was over them at colts level, very strange if they are using more from the previous year. And considering there are three involved full time coaches with the gaa they should really be having a tough look at themselves to wonder wbat they are doing at the moment, underage in carlow has gone backward massively in the last ten years, everyone knows that but full time coaches should really be getting the best out of the players available to them more4me (Carlow) - Posts: 109 - 09/02/2025 18:12:09 2590287 Link
Replying To more4me: "The manager that is there was brought in as he was over them at colts level, very strange if they are using more from the previous year. And considering there are three involved full time coaches with the gaa they should really be having a tough look at themselves to wonder wbat they are doing at the moment, underage in carlow has gone backward massively in the last ten years, everyone knows that but full time coaches should really be getting the best out of the players available to them" There seems to be no targets laid out for these full time coaches. Surely the 1st thing to lookat is are we getting any value out of these appointments. If we are to judge on our underage results over last number of years we are throwing good money after bad. Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 311 - 09/02/2025 20:35:41 2590304 Link
Replying To Overthebar53: "There seems to be no targets laid out for these full time coaches. Surely the 1st thing to lookat is are we getting any value out of these appointments. If we are to judge on our underage results over last number of years we are throwing good money after bad." Excellent comment. In fairness they have put money into the minors and 20s this year for a change, buses, gear etc. But like you say wheres the value in it now getting beaten by 30 points ? Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 09/02/2025 22:31:39 2590315 Link
Replying To Overthebar53: "Are there lots of players available that are not being picked, bracker?Hard to understand what the thinking behind this is! Anyone know who is over the team?" At the risk of sounding like Carps it's very much an Eire Og Management team.... Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 11/02/2025 20:27:33 2590665 Link
Replying To Overthebar53: "There seems to be no targets laid out for these full time coaches. Surely the 1st thing to lookat is are we getting any value out of these appointments. If we are to judge on our underage results over last number of years we are throwing good money after bad." They have targets laid out for them but the full time coaches ultimate job is to maintain and increase participation and improve coaching. An impossible task to do when club coaches never bother their ** to turn up to the workshops and courses. Several courses and workshops the GDAs put on last year were cancelled due to low interest….coaches at county level in Carlow are always hamstrung because they spend months on getting lads skill levels and fitness levels up. While other counties can focus on game plans, building a squad etc. until clubs actually realise this we're going nowhere. And before anyone comes at me I fully understand alot of club coaches are parents that are doing the jobs no one else wants but having lived in Dublin for years and been involved up there club teams are streets ahead in every aspect of our own lads. GPOs are well respected and the coaches tend to attend coaching courses etc. benchtoaster (Carlow)** - Posts: 43 - 12/02/2025 09:31:31 2590706 Link
That's disappointing to hear about the minors. Hopefully that improves. From what I heard a lot of the stronger lads were left on the bench maybe they are trying things out but as far as I know now they have been training all winter so you would expect them to be a bit stronger than they are. I was surprised to see so many from what would be this year's 16s on it. I'm not sure we rewarded players that played well in the regional tournaments. Hopefully this is a blip and things improve. Carlow gaa can be a bit of a closed shop for coaches as you get to minor level. It's very much a case of being in the clique. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1688 - 12/02/2025 09:33:12 2590707 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "That's disappointing to hear about the minors. Hopefully that improves. From what I heard a lot of the stronger lads were left on the bench maybe they are trying things out but as far as I know now they have been training all winter so you would expect them to be a bit stronger than they are. I was surprised to see so many from what would be this year's 16s on it. I'm not sure we rewarded players that played well in the regional tournaments. Hopefully this is a blip and things improve. Carlow gaa can be a bit of a closed shop for coaches as you get to minor level. It's very much a case of being in the clique." Closed shop!! Underage football in Carlow is a closed shop for years now.. being used by the two super club to develop their own players.. have a look at the numbers from these clubs picked on county panels over past 10 years even when they've weren't wining club titles.. anyone following knows this.. Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 51 - 12/02/2025 11:20:08 2590722 Link
Replying To Carlowtothecore1: "Closed shop!! Underage football in Carlow is a closed shop for years now.. being used by the two super club to develop their own players.. have a look at the numbers from these clubs picked on county panels over past 10 years even when they've weren't wining club titles.. anyone following knows this.." Yes this has been the case although it has improved in recent years with a greater balance but it was a case on some panels that 20 could come from 2 clubs which has consequences for the other players Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1688 - 12/02/2025 12:32:05 2590743 Link
Replying To Bracker1984: "At the risk of sounding like Carps it's very much an Eire Og Management team...." Let me translate that into English. You mean: "Carps was right about all this." Thanks. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 777 - 12/02/2025 12:58:17 2590747 Link
Article in the examiner praising the work you are doing in schools/underage Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14832 - 12/02/2025 13:25:50 2590752 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "That's disappointing to hear about the minors. Hopefully that improves. From what I heard a lot of the stronger lads were left on the bench maybe they are trying things out but as far as I know now they have been training all winter so you would expect them to be a bit stronger than they are. I was surprised to see so many from what would be this year's 16s on it. I'm not sure we rewarded players that played well in the regional tournaments. Hopefully this is a blip and things improve. Carlow gaa can be a bit of a closed shop for coaches as you get to minor level. It's very much a case of being in the clique." I'd be interested to see how many lads that were previously not on a Colts squad but performed well in the Regionals were actually called up to minors. Defeats the purpose of that tournament if they have just gone and picked u16s just because they are from Pal and Eire Og. Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 12/02/2025 14:54:42 2590761 Link
Replying To Bracker1984: "I'd be interested to see how many lads that were previously not on a Colts squad but performed well in the Regionals were actually called up to minors. Defeats the purpose of that tournament if they have just gone and picked u16s just because they are from Pal and Eire Og." To the best of my knowledge the answer is none Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1688 - 12/02/2025 16:02:09 2590770 Link
Replying To benchtoaster: "They have targets laid out for them but the full time coaches ultimate job is to maintain and increase participation and improve coaching. An impossible task to do when club coaches never bother their ** to turn up to the workshops and courses. Several courses and workshops the GDAs put on last year were cancelled due to low interest….coaches at county level in Carlow are always hamstrung because they spend months on getting lads skill levels and fitness levels up. While other counties can focus on game plans, building a squad etc. until clubs actually realise this we're going nowhere. And before anyone comes at me I fully understand alot of club coaches are parents that are doing the jobs no one else wants but having lived in Dublin for years and been involved up there club teams are streets ahead in every aspect of our own lads. GPOs are well respected and the coaches tend to attend coaching courses etc." This is the nuts and bolts of it. The standard of underage coaching across the county is absolutely dreadful, apart from 2 clubs. I've seen young lads who are on colts panels being completely let down by poor coaching. Clubs need to look at themselves rather than blaming county managers. It's not their fault that they have to work on skills, basic tactical concepts and S&C while other counties develop strategies and plans knowing that the players already are coming to them with the required skill set for inter county level. CW88 (Carlow)** - Posts: 33 - 12/02/2025 18:51:36 2590784 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "To the best of my knowledge the answer is none" Ben Curry was a non colt, currently playing midfield on the team. Wasn't on the colts due to soccer. Overall, Carlow is not big enough for that. All underage coaches know the players. The current management did a huge amount of work during the round robin of the u16 championships in September/October and made countless phonecalls around the county about games. CW88 (Carlow) - Posts: 33 - 12/02/2025 19:17:01 2590787 Link