National Forum

The Rise Of Offaly Hurling

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Offaly are on the cusp of qualifying for their first ever McDonagh Cup final. They last played in Leinster in 2018. Their minors got to the All-Ireland final last year. Their U20 hurlers are going well this year.
Offaly won Division 2A and have a 100% record after 3 rounds of the McDonagh. Offaly incredibly played for 7 weekends in a row between league R4, R5, semi-final, final, McDonagh R1, R2 and R3. Offaly appear to be on the way back. 3rd in Munster or Leinster will be travelling to Tullamore for a preliminary quarter-final this year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 03/05/2023 16:56:02    2475485

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Offaly are on the cusp of qualifying for their first ever McDonagh Cup final. They last played in Leinster in 2018. Their minors got to the All-Ireland final last year. Their U20 hurlers are going well this year.
Offaly won Division 2A and have a 100% record after 3 rounds of the McDonagh. Offaly incredibly played for 7 weekends in a row between league R4, R5, semi-final, final, McDonagh R1, R2 and R3. Offaly appear to be on the way back. 3rd in Munster or Leinster will be travelling to Tullamore for a preliminary quarter-final this year."
A Kerry supporter stating how great Offaly hurling is .... you wouldn't guess Kerry are playing Offaly this Weekend!

Firceall (Offaly) - Posts: 35 - 03/05/2023 17:52:40    2475506

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Offaly are on the cusp of qualifying for their first ever McDonagh Cup final. They last played in Leinster in 2018. Their minors got to the All-Ireland final last year. Their U20 hurlers are going well this year.
Offaly won Division 2A and have a 100% record after 3 rounds of the McDonagh. Offaly incredibly played for 7 weekends in a row between league R4, R5, semi-final, final, McDonagh R1, R2 and R3. Offaly appear to be on the way back. 3rd in Munster or Leinster will be travelling to Tullamore for a preliminary quarter-final this year."
We have your own county in Tullamore on Sunday Legend, and then off to Carlow in the final game. Nothing won yet, but we are moving in the right direction. The U 20 hurlers had a good win over Galway, and face Dublin in the semi final at Glenisk OCP on Wed. 10th May. I will take that.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 03/05/2023 19:23:47    2475521

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It is great to see Offaly coming back, most of us remember those great teams of the 80's and 90's.
But, as I just said to on the Hurling championship board, are we going to crucify them when they possibly become a yo-yo team, or are we going to do everything to help Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath, etc take that step up and give them a championship structure which allows them to flourish and rewards them for the efforts, or are we going to listen to token jargon in the media about it?

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1336 - 04/05/2023 09:00:10    2475566

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "It is great to see Offaly coming back, most of us remember those great teams of the 80's and 90's.
But, as I just said to on the Hurling championship board, are we going to crucify them when they possibly become a yo-yo team, or are we going to do everything to help Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath, etc take that step up and give them a championship structure which allows them to flourish and rewards them for the efforts, or are we going to listen to token jargon in the media about it?"
I don't see any change in the format coming any time soon unfortunately. By rights there should just be an open draw with two groups of 6-7 teams to allow more of the second tier teams to maintain a foothold at senior, but I don't see Munster surrendering their championship for the good of hurling

Báireoir (Dublin) - Posts: 80 - 04/05/2023 10:25:12    2475583

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Dublin v Offaly next Wednesday promises to be a cracker. Dublin going well and few gave Offaly (or indeed ourselves) a chance of beating Galway who were one of favourites for All Ireland.

Hard one to call. Hope it does not turn out like last year's minor game, but wouldn't be surprised although a think Dublin might shade it.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3506 - 04/05/2023 11:10:39    2475606

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "It is great to see Offaly coming back, most of us remember those great teams of the 80's and 90's.
But, as I just said to on the Hurling championship board, are we going to crucify them when they possibly become a yo-yo team, or are we going to do everything to help Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath, etc take that step up and give them a championship structure which allows them to flourish and rewards them for the efforts, or are we going to listen to token jargon in the media about it?"
Antrim are leading the chasing pack in closing the gap to the top 9. Offaly are probably next on the list. They appear to be building for a sustained push to retain Leinster status. Antrim and Offaly can potentially put pressure on Dublin and Wexford's Leinster status.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 13:38:30    2475662

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Antrim are leading the chasing pack in closing the gap to the top 9. Offaly are probably next on the list. They appear to be building for a sustained push to retain Leinster status. Antrim and Offaly can potentially put pressure on Dublin and Wexford's Leinster status."
That's a good thing overall, but then what does it say for the GAA if say Dublin or Wexford were relegated? Is it a good thing that we've less competitive hurling counties? Why should that fate befall Wexford or Dublin or Antrim while other counties are immune from this risk?
Its not going to do hurling any good in these counties if they get relegated, the GAA need to come up with something better across the board.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1336 - 04/05/2023 14:32:06    2475687

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "That's a good thing overall, but then what does it say for the GAA if say Dublin or Wexford were relegated? Is it a good thing that we've less competitive hurling counties? Why should that fate befall Wexford or Dublin or Antrim while other counties are immune from this risk?
Its not going to do hurling any good in these counties if they get relegated, the GAA need to come up with something better across the board."
It would be up to us to fight our way back up. Same for Dublin. Agreed there ought to be promotion and relegation from Munster if we end up with say 12 McCarthy standard counties.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 04/05/2023 15:02:04    2475704

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "That's a good thing overall, but then what does it say for the GAA if say Dublin or Wexford were relegated? Is it a good thing that we've less competitive hurling counties? Why should that fate befall Wexford or Dublin or Antrim while other counties are immune from this risk?
Its not going to do hurling any good in these counties if they get relegated, the GAA need to come up with something better across the board."
The McDonagh is part of the MacCarthy Cup. Dublin and Wexford should follow the path of Offaly if they happen to finish 6th. It cannot be one rule for one and another rule for another.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 15:12:40    2475709

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The McDonagh is part of the MacCarthy Cup. Dublin and Wexford should follow the path of Offaly if they happen to finish 6th. It cannot be one rule for one and another rule for another."
The elephant in the room is then Munster. There ought to be promotion and relegation there too then.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 04/05/2023 15:18:27    2475712

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The McDonagh is part of the MacCarthy Cup. Dublin and Wexford should follow the path of Offaly if they happen to finish 6th. It cannot be one rule for one and another rule for another."
The point is that the likes of Antrim can realistically take points from Dublin or Wexford, but not from Kilkenny or Galway. Whereas Dublin and Wexford can take points from Kilkenny or Galway. I don't think Antrim (or Westmeath, Offaly etc.) have the player base to realistically challenge for Leinster titles, something that both Dublin and Wexford have been able to do in the last number of years. Thus, Wexford or Dublin ending up in the Joe Mc would make Leinster less competitive overall. But obviously if either were relegated they would just have to get promoted the same as Offaly are trying to do.

Báireoir (Dublin) - Posts: 80 - 04/05/2023 15:27:17    2475716

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Replying To Viking66:  "The elephant in the room is then Munster. There ought to be promotion and relegation there too then."
I don't think there necessarily has to be relegation, they should just let Kerry play in their own bleedin' province. Then there could be 6 teams in Munster, 6 in Leinster and 6 in Joe Mc

Báireoir (Dublin) - Posts: 80 - 04/05/2023 15:28:29    2475717

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Replying To Viking66:  "The elephant in the room is then Munster. There ought to be promotion and relegation there too then."
That equality has finally been put in place. If Kerry win the McDonagh this year, Munster '24 will have 6 teams and one relegation place. Leinster '24 will have 5 teams and no relegation.
All provinces have the equality that the top 5 retain provincial status. Whoever finishes 6th in the 6 team championship is relegated.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 16:15:18    2475734

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Replying To Báireoir:  "I don't think there necessarily has to be relegation, they should just let Kerry play in their own bleedin' province. Then there could be 6 teams in Munster, 6 in Leinster and 6 in Joe Mc"
One provincial championship has to have 5 teams so that the 6th team in the 6 team championship is always relegated. It is the fairest implementation and the GAA has finally agreed!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 16:16:58    2475735

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Replying To Báireoir:  "The point is that the likes of Antrim can realistically take points from Dublin or Wexford, but not from Kilkenny or Galway. Whereas Dublin and Wexford can take points from Kilkenny or Galway. I don't think Antrim (or Westmeath, Offaly etc.) have the player base to realistically challenge for Leinster titles, something that both Dublin and Wexford have been able to do in the last number of years. Thus, Wexford or Dublin ending up in the Joe Mc would make Leinster less competitive overall. But obviously if either were relegated they would just have to get promoted the same as Offaly are trying to do."
That's just the way it is. Dublin and Wexford can challenge Kilkenny and Galway. Westmeath and Antrim can challenge Dublin and Wexford. Laois and Offaly can challenge Westmeath and Antrim.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 16:18:47    2475737

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Replying To legendzxix:  "That equality has finally been put in place. If Kerry win the McDonagh this year, Munster '24 will have 6 teams and one relegation place. Leinster '24 will have 5 teams and no relegation.
All provinces have the equality that the top 5 retain provincial status. Whoever finishes 6th in the 6 team championship is relegated."
That would be grand if there were 3 teams in the Joe Mac that might get promoted to the Munster Championship and 3 that might get promoted to Leinster. Otherwise Munster is still likely to stay the closed shop it is now.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 04/05/2023 16:42:38    2475746

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Replying To legendzxix:  "That's just the way it is. Dublin and Wexford can challenge Kilkenny and Galway. Westmeath and Antrim can challenge Dublin and Wexford. Laois and Offaly can challenge Westmeath and Antrim."
And who challenges the 5 Munster counties?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 04/05/2023 16:43:13    2475747

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Replying To Viking66:  "That would be grand if there were 3 teams in the Joe Mac that might get promoted to the Munster Championship and 3 that might get promoted to Leinster. Otherwise Munster is still likely to stay the closed shop it is now."
Look, Kerry have made 3 finals. Quality over quantity. We are not like Kilkenny who have totally abandoned football! ;-)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 18:01:38    2475768

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Replying To Viking66:  "And who challenges the 5 Munster counties?"
An All-Ireland in 2 groups of 12 is probably the best route forward if there was a change. The current Munster is dog eat dog. The gate receipts are strong though. It's the carrot they will chase more!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 04/05/2023 18:03:46    2475769

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