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Carlow GAA thread

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Replying To CRTW:  "How is lads not playing meaningful games for 7 months going to raise the standard of hurling? In some cases you could argue lads aren't playing meaningful games for 10 months, Carlow's club hurling league is anonymous. I'm not sure what Wexford club is like I've no interest in it so you could be right, maybe Wexford's club scene has regressed, I'd just like to see alternate weeks again for a few years, for Carlow I think it needs a change anyway"
If you do away with the split season and spend that entire time hurling, as they do in Kilkenny, or Football as they do in many counties, then yes I can see the argument for doing away with the split season.
If you are still playing the same number of games of both football and hurling in the same time period with largely the same players then they aren't playing any more meaningful games of either than they were when there was a split season.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 19/11/2024 16:38:29    2580337

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Replying To Barrowsider:  "There is so much plain wrong thinking in this split season idea. You're not going to promote hurling by playing a compact micro season that's over in summer. You need a longer campaign where clubs get a chance to actually build over the season. As its stands that can't happen in either code. A good win is quickly put to one side as the next game is so close. You don't really get a chance to sort out any issues that arise in games either as its so compact You're lucky if you can get one quality session in between games. A hamstring injury is now a season ender which is ridiculous. By having such a compact season your social media exposure is cut and local media time is lessened which surely must have an effect on promotion of the game.
As for football. Well you play a league that ends in may and you don't have a competitive game until near the end of August. Absolute madness. You play your 3 group games in 3 weeks with quarter final the following week by which time only 4 teams are left. You get no sense of build up to games and very little chance to fix problems. I would like to see a fixed season where both sports get some room to breathe but an end to the split season"
You need to extend the club season then, not end the split season. We had games every weekend this year, same as last year. No more time for injured lads to heal up etc.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 19/11/2024 16:39:47    2580338

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Replying To carlowman:  "The basic point remains. Bring back the old system and you kill hurling.
What is the GAA about - is it winning championships or involvement through active participation ?
Our hurlers representing our county have been way more successful than our footballers.
Yet when our 3 football teams have recently played out their championships none of them could muster a win and 2 of them were paying in NCP !

A good friend of mine has a saying- the biggest problem hurling has is football.
If we were to listen and follow footballs lead.we would win nothing in hurling either.
Don't kill hurling !"
This is attitude of it's football vs hurling doesn't help anything, my opinion is that the split season harms both codes, you're tone would suggest that I think football should run all and I was the one who started ash dieback to curtail hurling. I love both codes and I think in a perfect world all clubs and counties would be dual, unfortunately it isn't the case and I don't think going back to alternate weeks or some sort of season where it's more spread out will "kill hurling". What would kill hurling is if it isn't promoted to kids. People can make their own choices when they're adults and there's nothing we can do about that. I've previously posted here that all clubs should offer dual and if they don't they should be made release players on agreed nights to clubs who do. People will pick a code when their older that they enjoy more simple as but too many kids grow up in this county and indeed country who never got the opportunity to play hurling. A split season is currently hindering our adult players and that's why I think it needs to go.

CRTW (Carlow) - Posts: 19 - 19/11/2024 16:46:03    2580339

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Replying To carlowman:  "The basic point remains. Bring back the old system and you kill hurling.
What is the GAA about - is it winning championships or involvement through active participation ?
Our hurlers representing our county have been way more successful than our footballers.
Yet when our 3 football teams have recently played out their championships none of them could muster a win and 2 of them were paying in NCP !

A good friend of mine has a saying- the biggest problem hurling has is football.
If we were to listen and follow footballs lead.we would win nothing in hurling either.
Don't kill hurling !"
Once again, how has the split season made hurling better?

1) Our champions are performing more poorly in Leinster than they did before it was introduced. Do you disagree? If so, why?

2) You say Carlow Town has improved. But a) it's only a little bit, they are still far off senior and b) it's mostly based on better underage. Do you disagree? If so, why?

3) Naomh Brid are now even worse off than before. They had a small bounce at first, but this year they couldn't even field a team. Do you disagree? If so, why?

4) Burren Rangers have improved. But is this down to the split season or down (again) to good underage? I'd say the latter. Do you disagree? If so, why?

5) You say Kildavin are back hurling - and yeah it's great - but Palatine have stopped. So where is the gain here?

6) Myshall and Ballinkillen have both actually gone backwards in the past few years. Do you disagree? If so, why?

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 727 - 19/11/2024 19:16:04    2580357

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Replying To CARPS:  "Once again, how has the split season made hurling better?

1) Our champions are performing more poorly in Leinster than they did before it was introduced. Do you disagree? If so, why?

2) You say Carlow Town has improved. But a) it's only a little bit, they are still far off senior and b) it's mostly based on better underage. Do you disagree? If so, why?

3) Naomh Brid are now even worse off than before. They had a small bounce at first, but this year they couldn't even field a team. Do you disagree? If so, why?

4) Burren Rangers have improved. But is this down to the split season or down (again) to good underage? I'd say the latter. Do you disagree? If so, why?

5) You say Kildavin are back hurling - and yeah it's great - but Palatine have stopped. So where is the gain here?

6) Myshall and Ballinkillen have both actually gone backwards in the past few years. Do you disagree? If so, why?"
I say again- if you want to kill hurling - go on and bring back the former system.
I

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1849 - 19/11/2024 22:08:40    2580376

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Replying To carlowman:  "I say again- if you want to kill hurling - go on and bring back the former system.
I"
So, in other words, you can't answer my points. All you can do is issue a doomsday soundbyte which you're unable to back up with any facts.

Case rested, m'lord, etc.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 727 - 20/11/2024 09:38:51    2580403

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Replying To CARPS:  "Once again, how has the split season made hurling better?

1) Our champions are performing more poorly in Leinster than they did before it was introduced. Do you disagree? If so, why?

2) You say Carlow Town has improved. But a) it's only a little bit, they are still far off senior and b) it's mostly based on better underage. Do you disagree? If so, why?

3) Naomh Brid are now even worse off than before. They had a small bounce at first, but this year they couldn't even field a team. Do you disagree? If so, why?

4) Burren Rangers have improved. But is this down to the split season or down (again) to good underage? I'd say the latter. Do you disagree? If so, why?

5) You say Kildavin are back hurling - and yeah it's great - but Palatine have stopped. So where is the gain here?

6) Myshall and Ballinkillen have both actually gone backwards in the past few years. Do you disagree? If so, why?"
1 is debatable. MLR lost to Ballyhale in 2021 who went on to lose the AI final by a point after an injury time Ruddle goal. St Mullins beat the Wexford Champions in 2022, befire losing to the Dublin Champions. MLR lost to OLG last year, who went on to lose the AI final by a point.
2- would they be putting in the same effort at underage if it wasn't for the split season. Also with the split season only being 3 years old how have underage changes impacted Adult already?
3-not being able to field a team points at other issues in that club.
4-see 2 above
5-did Palatine stop on account of the split season? I find that hard to believe!
6- Ballinkillen is a very small club/parish. Hard to sustain success with such small underage numbers. Again, absolutely SFA to do with the Split Season.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 20/11/2024 14:40:45    2580458

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Replying To CARPS:  "Once again, how has the split season made hurling better?

1) Our champions are performing more poorly in Leinster than they did before it was introduced. Do you disagree? If so, why?

2) You say Carlow Town has improved. But a) it's only a little bit, they are still far off senior and b) it's mostly based on better underage. Do you disagree? If so, why?

3) Naomh Brid are now even worse off than before. They had a small bounce at first, but this year they couldn't even field a team. Do you disagree? If so, why?

4) Burren Rangers have improved. But is this down to the split season or down (again) to good underage? I'd say the latter. Do you disagree? If so, why?

5) You say Kildavin are back hurling - and yeah it's great - but Palatine have stopped. So where is the gain here?

6) Myshall and Ballinkillen have both actually gone backwards in the past few years. Do you disagree? If so, why?"
1 is debatable. MLR lost to Ballyhale in 2021 who went on to lose the AI final by a point after an injury time Ruddle goal. St Mullins beat the Wexford Champions in 2022, befire losing to the Dublin Champions. MLR lost to OLG last year, who went on to lose the AI final by a point.
2- would they be putting in the same effort at underage if it wasn't for the split season. Also with the split season only being 3 years old how have underage changes impacted Adult already?
3-not being able to field a team points at other issues in that club.
4-see 2 above
5-did Palatine stop on account of the split season? I find that hard to believe!
6- Ballinkillen is a very small club/parish. Hard to sustain success with such small underage numbers. Again, absolutely SFA to do with the Split Season.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 20/11/2024 14:57:28    2580465

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Replying To CARPS:  "So, in other words, you can't answer my points. All you can do is issue a doomsday soundbyte which you're unable to back up with any facts.

Case rested, m'lord, etc."
I will tell you what Carps-
Why don't you go for county chairman and actually get things changed !
You seem to have all the answers!

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1849 - 20/11/2024 18:40:02    2580490

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Some interesting points over the last couple of day's.
The way I see it is.
Unless you win the hurling all senior, intermediate and Junior players play for 5 weeks of the year. Now how dose anyone improve with a hurling window so small. Especially for a game the requires far more practice than football.
Actually what could happen is the quality in the traditionally strong hurling club's (Mlr, Mullins, Myshall & Ballinkillen) could fall. Let's face it if hurling drops in south Carlow we are in deep deep trouble. Carlow gaa have to prioritise these areas.

Lads saying split season has allowed more players to play and that may be true. But will we ever end up with quality players or team's in a 5 week season??
More players is not an indication of where hurling is at.

If anyone wants prof of where the priorities of our country board are

Just take a look at our u16 regional football competition (great idea by the way) but the amount of coverage it gets including live broadcast is in complete contrast to the underage hurling competitions.
The minor hurling finals in Carlow have been played on a Monday for the last 3 years.
B final at 6 with a small crowd as people can't possibly make it on time.
And A final at 8 making it very unattractive to younger and older supporters.
Get the basics right 1st. And start looking after what we have before it's to late.

Skippy2 (Carlow) - Posts: 69 - 20/11/2024 21:34:00    2580500

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Good interview with Darragh Foley on the Left Half Back podcast for anyone who heard it. Some commitment from that man for over a decade , some good insights on what is needed to succeed, seems a gentleman to boot. I feel he has more to offer in the years ahead involved in teams.

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 561 - 21/11/2024 00:25:51    2580513

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Replying To carlowman:  "I will tell you what Carps-
Why don't you go for county chairman and actually get things changed !
You seem to have all the answers!"
He certainly has more answers than you anyway.All you have said here is abandon the split season and you kill hurling. Please explain how playing hurling for 6 weeks in the year is promoting it. Take your time.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 284 - 21/11/2024 00:57:44    2580514

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Replying To Overthebar53:  "He certainly has more answers than you anyway.All you have said here is abandon the split season and you kill hurling. Please explain how playing hurling for 6 weeks in the year is promoting it. Take your time."
That's down to the lack of clubs that it only takes 6 weeks. They could extend it out and give break weekends to keep the season running longer and let injuries heal alright.

If we move away from the split season we'll never expand that number. That's the whole point. Week on week off or 2 on 2 off makes it impossible for dual clubs and clubs like NB and Burren to keep developing because the truth is the football fraternity in those areas are sticking their nose in and trying to stop lads from playing and that's the reality. Carlow town lads the same they know well they'll struggle to make their football team if they take a week off to go train for hurling. The split season prevents those clashes and makes it easier for hurling clubs to operate in their own space. Look over the border in Wicklow. It's 3 weeks of football league to one week hurling. Same come
championship. They've played 2 rounds of hurling then 2 rounds of football for the first 4 weeks then it went 2 football 1 hurling and look how far back their hurling has fallen. They're struggling to stay in Christy ring.

benchtoaster (Carlow) - Posts: 37 - 21/11/2024 09:32:43    2580535

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Replying To Skippy2:  "Some interesting points over the last couple of day's.
The way I see it is.
Unless you win the hurling all senior, intermediate and Junior players play for 5 weeks of the year. Now how dose anyone improve with a hurling window so small. Especially for a game the requires far more practice than football.
Actually what could happen is the quality in the traditionally strong hurling club's (Mlr, Mullins, Myshall & Ballinkillen) could fall. Let's face it if hurling drops in south Carlow we are in deep deep trouble. Carlow gaa have to prioritise these areas.

Lads saying split season has allowed more players to play and that may be true. But will we ever end up with quality players or team's in a 5 week season??
More players is not an indication of where hurling is at.

If anyone wants prof of where the priorities of our country board are

Just take a look at our u16 regional football competition (great idea by the way) but the amount of coverage it gets including live broadcast is in complete contrast to the underage hurling competitions.
The minor hurling finals in Carlow have been played on a Monday for the last 3 years.
B final at 6 with a small crowd as people can't possibly make it on time.
And A final at 8 making it very unattractive to younger and older supporters.
Get the basics right 1st. And start looking after what we have before it's to late."
Do you have no club hurling League up there?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 21/11/2024 09:40:49    2580538

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Replying To Viking66:  "Do you have no club hurling League up there?"
We play the Bolger cup which is same teams as champo without county players. Kiltegan from Wicklow played in it this year but they'd a Bagenalstown man over them & their games clashed with Wicklow fixtures and didn't get to play every game.

benchtoaster (Carlow) - Posts: 37 - 21/11/2024 14:32:56    2580584

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Replying To Skippy2:  "Some interesting points over the last couple of day's.
The way I see it is.
Unless you win the hurling all senior, intermediate and Junior players play for 5 weeks of the year. Now how dose anyone improve with a hurling window so small. Especially for a game the requires far more practice than football.
Actually what could happen is the quality in the traditionally strong hurling club's (Mlr, Mullins, Myshall & Ballinkillen) could fall. Let's face it if hurling drops in south Carlow we are in deep deep trouble. Carlow gaa have to prioritise these areas.

Lads saying split season has allowed more players to play and that may be true. But will we ever end up with quality players or team's in a 5 week season??
More players is not an indication of where hurling is at.

If anyone wants prof of where the priorities of our country board are

Just take a look at our u16 regional football competition (great idea by the way) but the amount of coverage it gets including live broadcast is in complete contrast to the underage hurling competitions.
The minor hurling finals in Carlow have been played on a Monday for the last 3 years.
B final at 6 with a small crowd as people can't possibly make it on time.
And A final at 8 making it very unattractive to younger and older supporters.
Get the basics right 1st. And start looking after what we have before it's to late."
This makes sense. By playing such a short season you may actually damage hurling in the strong areas. So how do you go about giving both codes a longer season and still try to develop it in less traditional areas or stronger footballing areas. I just think this split season was the easiest option so they went with that. I can't see why in a small county we can't work out a season that keeps everyone happy.

I think the regional competition will be rolled out to the hurlers next year this was a trial and it's easier start it up with football as we have more of them. Agree it's a brilliant competition. Kilkenny 16s have steadily improved through it too which shows the value of quality games. Could see this doing wonders for underage hurling with some crossborder teams coming in to make a competitive league

Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1661 - 21/11/2024 15:00:57    2580596

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Been reading the comments on the split season with interest. My playing days are long gone but would be interesting to know what the dual player thinks, whether they approve or not. I agree that the regional competition is a great idea. The games seemed entertaining and should benefit all involved. Getting it up and running for hurling too in the near future would also benefit the game greatly.

Unusedsub (Carlow) - Posts: 91 - 21/11/2024 16:10:09    2580608

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Replying To benchtoaster:  "We play the Bolger cup which is same teams as champo without county players. Kiltegan from Wicklow played in it this year but they'd a Bagenalstown man over them & their games clashed with Wicklow fixtures and didn't get to play every game."
So you do have hurling throughout the year?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 21/11/2024 16:29:58    2580613

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Replying To benchtoaster:  "We play the Bolger cup which is same teams as champo without county players. Kiltegan from Wicklow played in it this year but they'd a Bagenalstown man over them & their games clashed with Wicklow fixtures and didn't get to play every game."
and Carlow clubs also get a lot of matches the Kilkenny leagues.

They are not only hurling for five weeks.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 727 - 21/11/2024 16:50:25    2580617

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Replying To Viking66:  "So you do have hurling throughout the year?"
Carlow clubs play in the Kilkenny leagues and we have our own league too.

The problem is that for most club players, the off season now runs for over six months.

They finish up around the start of August and they don't have a proper game again until the following March. If the championship ran into late October or early November, you'd extend the hurling season by two months.

Even a lot of county players have basically a four month off season - although they would be back in training in December.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 727 - 21/11/2024 16:53:27    2580619

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