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Non-Gaa Forum - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Doylerwex: "Ah the old bootstrap mantra. The tiny minority of people from disadvantaged backgrounds who become a great success do so in spite of the system not because of it." What 'system' is in place to prevent those people becoming successful?
Free primary education
Free secondary education
HEAR scheme (which allows them entry into a 3rd level course with LESS points than others)
Grants for 3rd level study (SUSI Grant, student assistance fund, 1916 Bursary, free fees initiative, etc.)
What exactly is it about the system, and not the individual, that holds them back?
cavanman47 (National) - 09/04/2026 08:19:25
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Non-Gaa Forum - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Freethinker: "You are quite right. I too know many such, but I think tour reply to Barneys post is a mile away from the gist of that post." It's not. Its the nonsense that's continuously spouted. People that have every opportunity available to them are quick to come up with the same old excuses as to why they can't or won't. Generations after generations of them.
ThePowerhouse (National) - 09/04/2026 10:01:22
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Wexford Hurling Thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Viking66: "Agree that we are in general too nice. Some of that is due to the way our refs ref the games too. Bringing ingredients the young lads up to tournaments in Tipp and Kilkenny last year really opened our eyes to this, and reinforced something Ive been saying for years.
As regards our u14s we have had 2 good u14 teams in a row, hopefully this years will be a 3rd good team. We werent hectic before that at u14. We were OK, competitive, but didnt reach finals like we did the last 2 years. The current minor team were decent at u14 for example.
It would be great to get a group like Offaly did that wins all the way up, but thats hard to get. Every county is hoping to get that. And it doesn't always work out at minor anyway. The last group that were a bit like that from u14-u16 were Tipps minors of last year, and they never made it out of the Munster Minor Round Robin and lost all their games." Everyone in Wexford GAA is too nice. I'm not encouraging dirty play or anything but I know people involved in Dublin underage teams always say to hit Wexford, annoy them, lay down a marker, they don't like it.
I think this is true, Wexford need to develope more kill or be killed attitude. This is a competitive arena and if you don't like being hit or hitting, maybe GAA is not for you. Some parents are the worst in this regard.
I am not advocating off the ball hitting, dangerous play, etc but nice guys finish last. If you are giving a free, as storeytash says make the opponent feel it don't just pull his jersey and let them get the point from the free.
ExiledInWex (National) - 09/04/2026 10:35:51
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Roscommon GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Panel and management flying over today. The 36 player championship panel has been published to public.
GoalKeepers - Conor Carroll,Aaron Brady
Defenders - Paddy Gavin,Eoin McCormack,Niall Higgins,Colin Neary,Eoin Ward,Ruaidhri Fallon,Robbie Dolan,Brian Stack,Pearse Frost,Ronan Daly,Declan Kenny,Caelim Keogh,Oisin Cregg,Senan Lambe,Tim Lambe,
Midfielders - Shane Cunnane,Conor Ryan,Keith Doyle, Ultan Harney
Forwards - Darragh Heneghan,Rob Heneghan,Enda Smith,Daire Cregg,Cian McKeon,Ciaran Lennon,Diarmuid Murtagh,Conor Cox,Jack Duggan
Ben O'Carroll,Conor Hand,Eoin Colleran,Paul Carey,Dylan Ruane,Cathal Heneghan.
22 of the 36 are aged 20 to 25. While 5 players are in their early 30s.
Best wishes to the players,Management and all supporters travelling over to New York
The_analyser (National) - 09/04/2026 13:16:02
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Mooo: "Another great result for westmeath underage" Huge week for Westmeath Football , shows the hard work thats going into our underage structures from coaching perspective. We hadnt beaten a Dublin team in minor for 30 years and 26 years in u21/u20 (correct me if Im wrong). We were the better team last night and fully deserved it , real swagger and confidence about the way they play. Matthew Thornton was man of the match , absolutely outstanding and mention for Kealen Connell and young Ormsby. Hopefully the seniors can feed off this and get a result at the weekend . It is going to be an extremely tight game against Longford.
A_Chairde (National) - 09/04/2026 11:55:40
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Non-Gaa Forum - 1 Like(s)
Replying To BarneyGrant: "You missed the point. Of course there are lots of people from other than 'privileged' backgrounds who have done well.
Despite the stifling attitude of much of the professional and financial elite which did not support the sort of indigenous enterprise that Lemass and others tried to stimulate. It was that attitude that led Lemass to turn to foreign investment.
Landlords, barristers, accountants, chartered surveyors and civil service mandarins do not create enterprise and employment. They thrive off getting a cut from those who do." How are any of those people going to prevent a person from making a success of themselves? It's just another excuse. How is a person from South County Dublin that's been born onto affluence going to stop somebody else making a success of themselves? There are plenty of routes to success. Begrudging somebody else because of their good fortune is going to prevent your own progress.
ThePowerhouse (National) - 09/04/2026 16:12:51
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Non-Gaa Forum - 1 Like(s)
Could Mc Ilroy be handing over the green jacket to Shane Lowry come late Sunday night?
Saynothing (National) - 09/04/2026 15:22:40
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Non-Gaa Forum - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Viking66: "All those schemes arent available to everyone who qualifies on financial grounds. And lads from poorer families often have to go out to work at 16 or 18 anyway." Again I'll ask: what part of the 'system', as opposed to personal choice, is forcing them to do that?
And what part of the 'system' stops a working individual from upskilling via, say, an online course in the evenings/weekends?
cavanman47 (National) - 09/04/2026 15:04:48
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Non-Gaa Forum - 1 Like(s)
Replying To BarneyGrant: "You missed the point. Of course there are lots of people from other than 'privileged' backgrounds who have done well.
Despite the stifling attitude of much of the professional and financial elite which did not support the sort of indigenous enterprise that Lemass and others tried to stimulate. It was that attitude that led Lemass to turn to foreign investment.
Landlords, barristers, accountants, chartered surveyors and civil service mandarins do not create enterprise and employment. They thrive off getting a cut from those who do." Enterprise being anything business that exports goods or services abroad, thus bringing cash into the Country, and thus feeding those other services you mentioned. In the past there may not have been sufficient support for indigenous enterprise, but that has changed over the last 20 years, the IDA and other government groups are extremely willing to support any venture that has decent export potential.
The problem with Ireland is that we have a super bloated public sector, with too many admin roles, which for some unknown reason are commanding better wages and less work hours than seen in the private sector. Government is afraid to address it, Unions are paid to protect it, and it creates a false wage bubble that is no longer based on the Supply/Demand nature of things.
Commodore (National) - 09/04/2026 13:21:47
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Bryson: "Any idea what the Dublin minor hurlers are like this year??" Expectations are good. Some good schools teams and competitive county championship. Very difficult to predict of course at that age.
BarneyGrant (National) - 09/04/2026 12:48:34
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Non-Gaa Forum - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Viking66: "All those schemes arent available to everyone who qualifies on financial grounds. And lads from poorer families often have to go out to work at 16 or 18 anyway." Schemes usually have specific criteria for a target demographic etc, but we all have the same opportunities at primary and secondary education and free 3rd level options which are means tested.
I disagree with a general statement that most lads from poor families have to go out to work at 16 or 18 anyway, this is usually more to do with personal choice, like maybe because they struggled academically and had no desire to pursue 3rd level education. Most families can still claim children's allowance and other benefits while a child is living at home and not working until they are 18.
Commodore (National) - 09/04/2026 12:46:42
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Dublin u19 development team play their league final v Kilkenny in Nowlan Park tonight @ 6.30pm, best of luck to the team and, management.
DUBJOHN (National) - 09/04/2026 12:42:17
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Leitrim GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To eoinog: "I am agreeing with you on the way the GAA is ran." But yet can't resist a dig at people complaining about the cost of tickets and the kicker, coming over to let us know how many games we'll be having this year in the championship.
Got it.
Square_B (National) - 09/04/2026 12:22:23
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Fionn: "Apparently we have a conveyor belt of endless talent coming through, or so the scare mongers would have you believe.... ;o)
They have all gone very quiet now.
As have the Split Dublin in 2 or 3 spin doctors....
And the Let's get the Dubs out of Croke Park brigade....
None of the above was going on when the Dubs were winning sweet f all......
Anyone in the know, knew this was coming down the tracks...
It isnt a shock to us Dubs at all... It was actually predicted by many of us.
However, I do believe with the very new recent structures put in place by the Dublin CB, that things at underage will definitely change for the better in the near future.
#Patience" There's still a few Croke Park home advantage merchants on this site. One in particular from the southwest who's like a dog with a bone about it.
Leaving aside all the nonsense from outside noises, you would have to wonder what has happened at underage. Even at minor level this year, there's one absolutely outstanding player carrying the team, who's still U16 as it happens, but outside of that nobody who seems to be a standout.
While Kerry haven't won a lot underage in recent years, they've been very consistent in getting to All-Ireland semis and finals, and running the likes of Tyrone very close. Some obvious talents in a lot of those teams. Tyrone and Derry up in Ulster and Donegal also with some strong teams. Louth seem to have improved massively at underage over the past few years, and Kildare and Meath have had some good teams. Out our way, we've been very patchy but more competitive this year. Roscommon punching above their weight as usual and Mayo have good talents coming through.
A lot of the star underage players in Dublin were well known before they even played senior intercounty. Hard to think of anyone in that bracket over the last 5 years.
WanPintWin (National) - 09/04/2026 12:19:42
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Does Anyone See Past Limerick Winning The Hurling All Ireland? - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Doylerwex: "Just to note since the introduction of the round robin we've qualified more often than Dublin or Galway.
I expect Kilkenny will be in an Ireland semi final. They usually are.
Dublin are the most settled team in Leinster, but I don't see them beating Kilkenny in a final.
Galway are a match for anyone but you never really know what you're going to get. That being said I've been impressed with them this year.
I have no Idea what we're going to do. If we somehow get to a Leinster final we'll win it. We could just as easily finish 5th." Silly contradiction to say that a team is a match for anyone, but you never know what you'll get.
You double down on the irony then, claiming that Wexford are capable of winning the Leinster title, but 'could just as easily finish 5th'. Isn't that 'you never really know what you're going to get' on steroids?
Pope_Benedict (National) - 08/04/2026 23:24:48
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Sligo GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To MrUnderhill: "I'd agree. Mayo Galway are always as good as many in the country so if we are disappointed not the win we are competitive which is something we were not for many years in the 00 and 10s at minor and U20. There is no reason why we will not be competing seriously in senior Connaught completion this decade if we nurture these lads." Sligo U20s were good last night unlucky not win, the big goal chances not taken at the end of both halves and gifting one to Galway proved costly.
That they were so competitive against Galway and Mayo makes me wonder what happened in the game against Roscommon. The success of this grade is how many will go on to be established county Seniors and Sligo should have a handful from this years U20 crop including Eli Rooney who missed the last two games through injury.
Drax_the_destroyer (National) - 09/04/2026 11:55:39
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Galway Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Hurler20: "Well not from Galway just looking at the schools how to the clubs go between the two Loughrea schools gort and athenry all pretty close together would there be much if your from this club you go to that school. I know with Kilkenny cbs and Kieran's if your from o loughlins gaels you go to cbs and kind of vice versa with James Stephen's and Kieran's so just wondering" Think alot of Boro players go to CBS too?
Viking66 (National) - 09/04/2026 11:28:09
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Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Safe travelling to all Rossies who are making the trip over to New York today and tomorrow. No doubt there is a good run on the bars in Dublin and Shannon airports at the moment!!
letsgetgoing (National) - 09/04/2026 10:19:46
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Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
First 20 minutes they couldn't win a kickout, totally dominated. They were far too passive when Sligo had the ball, Galway played like they thought they were always going to win and were nearly caught in the end. Outside of the 3 lads on the senior panel though Coen stood out which is no surprise and expect him to be part of the senior panel next year.
Going to have to play a lot better to beat Mayo next week.
TheBishop (National) - 09/04/2026 08:51:14
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Carlow GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Genuinely what new initiative has been put in place in Carlow to develop hurling in the last 5 years? 10years? We've left it all to MLR and St Mullins to do the work for us propped up by the better lads from other clubs. That's our strategy as a county. It's soul destroying
benchtoaster (National) - 09/04/2026 08:35:58
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