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Wexford Club Hurling Championships 2023

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Replying To ExiledInWex: "Not many clubs go back in January/February any more, in our club they don't anyway. No point training in Jan/Feb for a championship in July, league games or not. I didn't mean Naomh Eanna, I meant in general for the whole county. Even clubs who didn't even make quarters, they are done nearly a month already. Its better if people are hurling more for hurling in Wexford." Our club was February. I know some senior clubs were back before that. The only way we could get the club championship season stretched out further would be to have less intercounty games with club games in between. You came up with a good template on another thread, that I broadly agreed with at the time. The problem is none of the intercounty managements will though. Its not something we can just go ahead with in Wexford. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 21/08/2023 17:24:46 2501669 Link
Replying To ExiledInWex: "Not many clubs go back in January/February any more, in our club they don't anyway. No point training in Jan/Feb for a championship in July, league games or not. I didn't mean Naomh Eanna, I meant in general for the whole county. Even clubs who didn't even make quarters, they are done nearly a month already. Its better if people are hurling more for hurling in Wexford." With all due respect, I think you've answered your own suggestion there about winter leagues and the like. If clubs don't train in February for a league beginning in March, on the grounds that "sure the championship is ages away still", then how much of an effort are they going to make in November/December for a different league? And like many things, it's actually been tried before. About 12 years ago, there was a Floodlight Hurling tournament to be run on Friday/Saturday nights for much the reasons you're proposing a winter league now. I remember it because my own club was senior at the time, I was involved with the team, and we got to the final. Was no huge achievement to get to that final though, as out of 16 senior clubs at the time, only four entered it. I remember only four entered Intermediate as well, and then one of them pulled out. And there was no interest at all from Junior down (there was no Intermediate A at the time). Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2854 - 21/08/2023 20:59:33 2501692 Link
My idea was based on the premise that Wexford would have a floodlit 4G pitch. Have you ever played soccer on an astroturf pitch with floodlights compared to a boggy pitch? Different world in terms of how enjoyable it is. I think hurling and football could be the same. I can understand why no team would want to play a winter tournament on a frozen or boggy pitch. The worst thing in the world is winter hurling. ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1336 - 22/08/2023 11:28:04 2501737 Link
I do think county board needs to put on their thinking hats for the ACHL for 2024 - This years one was the biggest farce of all the years .. I don't know the answers but it offers little or no value currently to any club .. it has been dying a death for last few years and the constant chopping and changing aren't helping it .. I do think it somehow needs to embed into our championship .. but then if that is the case clubs won't play without their county players .. So no i don't have the answers but the current league isn't fit for purpose MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 182 - 22/08/2023 11:59:41 2501746 Link
Replying To Pikeman96: "With all due respect, I think you've answered your own suggestion there about winter leagues and the like. If clubs don't train in February for a league beginning in March, on the grounds that "sure the championship is ages away still", then how much of an effort are they going to make in November/December for a different league? And like many things, it's actually been tried before. About 12 years ago, there was a Floodlight Hurling tournament to be run on Friday/Saturday nights for much the reasons you're proposing a winter league now. I remember it because my own club was senior at the time, I was involved with the team, and we got to the final. Was no huge achievement to get to that final though, as out of 16 senior clubs at the time, only four entered it. I remember only four entered Intermediate as well, and then one of them pulled out. And there was no interest at all from Junior down (there was no Intermediate A at the time)." A lot of top hurlers do basic skill work by themselves over the winter. And gym work. Every winter. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 22/08/2023 12:50:47 2501761 Link
Sat down to pick a team of the year and not even sure of how to figure it based off some of those listed here. For me the 2 Recks, Liam Ryan, Paudie Foley, Chin, Charlie McGukckin, Rory O Connor, Liam Og McGovern were the players that had a standout year. Outside of that I don't read in to having one good game here or there. As regards lads stepping it up to intercounty or this belief that some lads are being wronged - it is a massive difference in pace and waltzing around on a hobby hurler compared to the Limericks/KKs etc is a different ball game but hopefully some make the step up. WX2017 (Wexford) - Posts: 13 - 22/08/2023 13:23:55 2501763 Link
Replying To MyOhMi: "I do think county board needs to put on their thinking hats for the ACHL for 2024 - This years one was the biggest farce of all the years .. I don't know the answers but it offers little or no value currently to any club .. it has been dying a death for last few years and the constant chopping and changing aren't helping it .. I do think it somehow needs to embed into our championship .. but then if that is the case clubs won't play without their county players .. So no i don't have the answers but the current league isn't fit for purpose" The Kilkenny model is a good one. In our case though it would mean clubs not having county players for a large chunk of the League part with the intercounty season as it is. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 22/08/2023 14:48:22 2501782 Link
Reading Michéal Martins notes in the county final programme and his opinion is that the alternative weeks approach is the way forward .. I'd say for 2024 that is what will happen MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 182 - 22/08/2023 15:01:04 2501789 Link
Replying To ExiledInWex: "My idea was based on the premise that Wexford would have a floodlit 4G pitch. Have you ever played soccer on an astroturf pitch with floodlights compared to a boggy pitch? Different world in terms of how enjoyable it is. I think hurling and football could be the same. I can understand why no team would want to play a winter tournament on a frozen or boggy pitch. The worst thing in the world is winter hurling." I get that you're talking about floodlit 4G pitches, but I'd still make two points all the same: 1 - you'd still be talking about hurling on potentially cold, wet and windy nights in November or December, and that wouldn't be particularly attractive either, no matter how good the actual playing surface might be, 2 - even if you got round that by having the best indoor 4G arena in the country, I'd still wonder how much appetite there'd be for a new Winter League at completely the wrong end of the year where championship is concerned. Particularly when you consider that the new League would probably be poor second fiddle to the existing League, which is itself already poor second fiddle to the championship. Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2854 - 22/08/2023 15:16:38 2501790 Link
Replying To Pikeman96: "I get that you're talking about floodlit 4G pitches, but I'd still make two points all the same: 1 - you'd still be talking about hurling on potentially cold, wet and windy nights in November or December, and that wouldn't be particularly attractive either, no matter how good the actual playing surface might be, 2 - even if you got round that by having the best indoor 4G arena in the country, I'd still wonder how much appetite there'd be for a new Winter League at completely the wrong end of the year where championship is concerned. Particularly when you consider that the new League would probably be poor second fiddle to the existing League, which is itself already poor second fiddle to the championship." 100% agree . We need to sort out our existing league and championship before even thinking of something like this. As a club player myself I wouldnt see the appeal of a winter league and I know most lads would feel the same Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 22/08/2023 15:26:29 2501791 Link
Replying To MyOhMi: "Reading Michéal Martins notes in the county final programme and his opinion is that the alternative weeks approach is the way forward .. I'd say for 2024 that is what will happen" That will be good news for the Harriers, Rathnure, Oulart and the big clubs who have less cross over between their hurling and football 1st teams. Bad news for smaller dual clubs. And might be very bad news for Tara Rocks if alot of the Kilanerin men stick to the big ball. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 22/08/2023 15:26:53 2501792 Link
Replying To Pikeman96: "I get that you're talking about floodlit 4G pitches, but I'd still make two points all the same: 1 - you'd still be talking about hurling on potentially cold, wet and windy nights in November or December, and that wouldn't be particularly attractive either, no matter how good the actual playing surface might be, 2 - even if you got round that by having the best indoor 4G arena in the country, I'd still wonder how much appetite there'd be for a new Winter League at completely the wrong end of the year where championship is concerned. Particularly when you consider that the new League would probably be poor second fiddle to the existing League, which is itself already poor second fiddle to the championship." Also as intercounty lads are back with the county at the end of November, Champion clubs will be playing in Leinster, and lads at college will be hurling at college, will the standard be up to much, if the aim is to improve the standard of club hurlers? Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 22/08/2023 15:29:31 2501795 Link
Replying To MyOhMi: "I do think county board needs to put on their thinking hats for the ACHL for 2024 - This years one was the biggest farce of all the years .. I don't know the answers but it offers little or no value currently to any club .. it has been dying a death for last few years and the constant chopping and changing aren't helping it .. I do think it somehow needs to embed into our championship .. but then if that is the case clubs won't play without their county players .. So no i don't have the answers but the current league isn't fit for purpose" In fairness, they put their thinking hats on every year, as there are always a number of motions from clubs and from CCCC on how to try change the Leagues to make them more attractive, more meaningful, and more competitive. And have to say I don't understand how you call for change with one hand, but then complain about "constant chopping and changing" with the other. You acknowledge the difficulties yourself with tying League performance to the championship. Only other thing that ever seems to be suggested here is "meaningful" prizes like a team holiday for the winners, but nobody who's suggested it has ever explained how that would work or how it would be funded. Would probably cost minimum €300 to €400 per head to send a team on even a weekend break somewhere in Ireland. To put that into context, if you win a senior championship title, you get a medal that's worth approx. €80. Would you really have a prize fund for the League that would be so many multiples of your championship? Overall - and don't take this personally, because it applies across the board - your post sums up all that makes it so difficult to try improve the Leagues. Easy to say that things have to change, but not so easy to suggest practical and workable changes themselves. Have said it before, but I've seen all sorts of things tried in the more than 30 years since I first lined out in a League match myself, and there's never been a year where everybody said "wow, the Leagues were great this year, we have it all sorted out now." Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2854 - 22/08/2023 15:32:50 2501798 Link
Replying To Viking66: "That will be good news for the Harriers, Rathnure, Oulart and the big clubs who have less cross over between their hurling and football 1st teams. Bad news for smaller dual clubs. And might be very bad news for Tara Rocks if alot of the Kilanerin men stick to the big ball." it is the bigger dual clubs who blocked this last year .. the current system suits them as they can concentrate on one code .. smaller dual clubs might not bother with football .. call a spade a spade but it plays second fiddle By the way - Oulart have two adult football teams entered this year! MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 182 - 22/08/2023 15:44:04 2501800 Link
Replying To MyOhMi: "Reading Michéal Martins notes in the county final programme and his opinion is that the alternative weeks approach is the way forward .. I'd say for 2024 that is what will happen" He stated that last year aswel in an interview with Peter Mernagh and Ed Rowsome, vote the subsequental winter was decided by only 1 vote. I taught there would definitely be a change but opinion seems split on the whole thing. TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 22/08/2023 15:47:11 2501801 Link
Replying To Viking66: "From the county point of view it would be better for hurling to be strong in all 4 districts, not just 3. Simple mathematics Beano! Yes I agree any new clubs making the breakthrough or rising up through the grades is good for hurling in the county in general. Fact is most of these clubs are in Ross District, Fethard, Gusserane, Taghmon, St. James, Horeswood, have all risen through the grades at hurling the last 10 years or so while Tara Rocks are probably the only non Ross District club to rise from Junior to Intermediate A to Intermediate in the same period." Just out of interest I looked up who had won the Senior Hurling title each year since Independence for the 26 counties. Ross District teams won 15 of the 1st 20 Senior hurling championships up until the end of WW2, but have only won 1 since! Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15669 - 22/08/2023 16:03:17 2501802 Link
One reason there is no appetite for it is because it would be played on a muck bath as Wexford does not have a 4G pitch. I'd feel the same if I was a player. But. I play astro turf football which will start in 2 weeks and will continue until next April-May, hail rain or shine bar its a storm. There is never any lack of appetite for it. Because its on a good surface, a good workout and gives the week a focus. We have a WhatsApp group with other games and there is always people taking us up and vice versa if short a man. Some of these lads are club players and will join up as soon as the football ends. Some play hurling only and don't play football. We've rang lads with an hours notice and they've joined us. Lads are happy to get out and do something and I'd say over the typical winter there would be 4-5 wet nights, 2-3 freezing nights but the rest of the nights are grand. More hurling = better championships in my view. And to be frank, I've seen the odd ACHL match even earlier this year and they are about as weak and lacking in intensity as any match you could ever play. I'm not saying its a panacea by any stretch to the current issues but is it better that players have no competitive hurling until next Spring while soccer and rugby clean up? Maybe it would be a farce, maybe it would not work, but try something different to see what works. Even if it was from Jan-April ahead of the ACHL. Like the combined schools, its time to think a bit outside the box. Its not even an argument until a 4G pitch would be available in any case, but that current players won't have a competitive hurling until next April or next June/July depending on your opinion of the ACHL is just plain madness. ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1336 - 22/08/2023 16:04:54 2501803 Link
Replying To MyOhMi: "Reading Michéal Martins notes in the county final programme and his opinion is that the alternative weeks approach is the way forward .. I'd say for 2024 that is what will happen" Delighted to hear this, championship over in a few week. Bit of common sense, lads gets injured and misses all his championship. Every club favours one code over the other so see no issue with this. alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 475 - 22/08/2023 16:05:22 2501804 Link
Replying To MyOhMi: "I do think county board needs to put on their thinking hats for the ACHL for 2024 - This years one was the biggest farce of all the years .. I don't know the answers but it offers little or no value currently to any club .. it has been dying a death for last few years and the constant chopping and changing aren't helping it .. I do think it somehow needs to embed into our championship .. but then if that is the case clubs won't play without their county players .. So no i don't have the answers but the current league isn't fit for purpose" The football league especially has been a joke. I did a post earlier in the year showing the drop off of clubs entering in the football league. Hopefully when it returns to alternative weekends next season, at least clubs playing football league will be playing towards championship, not waiting around for 9 weeks before they play again. alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 475 - 22/08/2023 16:09:51 2501805 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Also as intercounty lads are back with the county at the end of November, Champion clubs will be playing in Leinster, and lads at college will be hurling at college, will the standard be up to much, if the aim is to improve the standard of club hurlers?" A fair point too. Also take out the lads who actually prefer to play soccer at that time of year, as a change from hurling. You could end up with more of a "social hurling" kind of thing than something that would be taken seriously any way at all. Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2854 - 22/08/2023 16:10:56 2501806 Link