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2024 Fitzgibbon Cup thread

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Caught my eye that last week University of Galway had 14 Galway players in their starting team and same number of Cork players in the UCC team today.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 24/01/2024 20:25:43    2521951

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Caught my eye that last week University of Galway had 14 Galway players in their starting team and same number of Cork players in the UCC team today."
That's pretty usual for both those teams isn't it TFW? More than 10 anyway most years.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 24/01/2024 21:31:59    2521957

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's pretty usual for both those teams isn't it TFW? More than 10 anyway most years."
They would have big contingents but not almost a whole squad, usually a good Waterford representation in UCC for example.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 24/01/2024 22:13:02    2521959

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's pretty usual for both those teams isn't it TFW? More than 10 anyway most years."
Actually had a look at the last time Galway won the competition in 2010, there team in the final was 7 from Galway and Clare and 1 from Tipp.

When UCC won in 2020 it was 9 Cork, 3 Tipp, 2 Limerick and 1 Kerry in the 15.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 24/01/2024 22:29:09    2521962

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "They would have big contingents but not almost a whole squad, usually a good Waterford representation in UCC for example."
Would Waterfords elevation to a University have anything to do with it? Or would most of the lads prefer to be nearer home for county and club training?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 24/01/2024 22:32:51    2521965

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Actually had a look at the last time Galway won the competition in 2010, there team in the final was 7 from Galway and Clare and 1 from Tipp.

When UCC won in 2020 it was 9 Cork, 3 Tipp, 2 Limerick and 1 Kerry in the 15."
14 is unusually high then. Why do you think that is?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 25/01/2024 08:16:48    2521982

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Replying To Viking66:  "14 is unusually high then. Why do you think that is?"
Could be cost of accommodation meaning lads are choosing to stay at home too.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 25/01/2024 09:53:03    2521995

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Replying To Viking66:  "14 is unusually high then. Why do you think that is?"
It seems to have been more common for University of Galway in recent years, to be mainly Galway players. Last year's team which lost the final to UL had 14 starters from Galway, with one from Clare. All the subs brought on were Galway lads too.
UL had a real mix, with players from Galway, Clare, Limerick, Tipp, Cork, Waterford, Offaly, Kilkenny and Laois.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2187 - 25/01/2024 10:19:52    2522001

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Could be cost of accommodation meaning lads are choosing to stay at home too."
I'm not going to say any thing about accommodation in case Tonydoranfan gets upset again;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 25/01/2024 12:36:50    2522016

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The last few years at Freshers and Fitz level it's been UL v UG in most of the finals. Galway have some amount of young lads at a good level without any mega standout superstar prospect....bar of course the best minor of the last 10 years Aaron Niland but he's so young and still in School for another year or two. Even on the UL panel they've usually one of the highest representatives. Probably only Cork or maybe Tipp who'd be close to that number but I think Cork might have a few more lads who'd make main stays of a senior intercounty team and might have a higher ceiling. Still not a bad position to be in and probably lead to great standard club hurling and a lot of lads capable of playing senior intercounty without maybe making too big a impact. GMIT have been quite strong at Fitz last few years and they're nearly 100% Galway too. Some depth of players in a county.
UL are always going to get superstars from all the counties nearby from Tipp, Clare, Limerick, Galway and loads more from others. UCD have not been too big a force for a long time now and you'd have to wonder is the cost of Dublin a lot of the reason lads not going, DCU offer a great number of scholarships so helps them offset that a bit. UCC kinda a bit like UG where it's nearly like a Cork development squad but maybe with a few more "outsiders". The old ITs will always get a strong bunch now and then, especially Carlow with Kilkenny and Wexford and of course Limerick.
Fitzgibbon is a great competition but a lot of its just pure luck who decides to go to what college and hopefully have some half decent coach who'll play it right. Don't think it's at the same level of importance that it was 10 years ago and with so many development squads and underage teams it's maybe not the hunting ground for undiscovered talent that it was 10 or more years ago. Gillane probably the last lad who got a name from Fitz after not being a regular county hurler but that's about 7 years ago now. Still it's a great watch and lads love playing it and hopefully it's doesn't become a victim of county game and lads maybe not giving it the respect it deserves.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 277 - 25/01/2024 13:55:53    2522034

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "The last few years at Freshers and Fitz level it's been UL v UG in most of the finals. Galway have some amount of young lads at a good level without any mega standout superstar prospect....bar of course the best minor of the last 10 years Aaron Niland but he's so young and still in School for another year or two. Even on the UL panel they've usually one of the highest representatives. Probably only Cork or maybe Tipp who'd be close to that number but I think Cork might have a few more lads who'd make main stays of a senior intercounty team and might have a higher ceiling. Still not a bad position to be in and probably lead to great standard club hurling and a lot of lads capable of playing senior intercounty without maybe making too big a impact. GMIT have been quite strong at Fitz last few years and they're nearly 100% Galway too. Some depth of players in a county.
UL are always going to get superstars from all the counties nearby from Tipp, Clare, Limerick, Galway and loads more from others. UCD have not been too big a force for a long time now and you'd have to wonder is the cost of Dublin a lot of the reason lads not going, DCU offer a great number of scholarships so helps them offset that a bit. UCC kinda a bit like UG where it's nearly like a Cork development squad but maybe with a few more "outsiders". The old ITs will always get a strong bunch now and then, especially Carlow with Kilkenny and Wexford and of course Limerick.
Fitzgibbon is a great competition but a lot of its just pure luck who decides to go to what college and hopefully have some half decent coach who'll play it right. Don't think it's at the same level of importance that it was 10 years ago and with so many development squads and underage teams it's maybe not the hunting ground for undiscovered talent that it was 10 or more years ago. Gillane probably the last lad who got a name from Fitz after not being a regular county hurler but that's about 7 years ago now. Still it's a great watch and lads love playing it and hopefully it's doesn't become a victim of county game and lads maybe not giving it the respect it deserves."
I think Fitzgibbon along with u20 produces some of the best games of hurling to watch, especially considering the time of year its played.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 25/01/2024 15:09:10    2522046

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Viking 66 I agree the hurling in some of the games is unbelievable..most managers of Fitz teams seem to let fellas free and just hurl off the cup..I have heard that players on county panels at the moment are training very hard and a few of the managers are not anxious to release players especially for the freshers championship..if that is attitude it's awful because fellas are better off playing rather than be flogged in training..Fitz and freshers hurling for me isn't far below inter county senior hurling

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2379 - 25/01/2024 15:31:07    2522052

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Viking 66 I agree the hurling in some of the games is unbelievable..most managers of Fitz teams seem to let fellas free and just hurl off the cup..I have heard that players on county panels at the moment are training very hard and a few of the managers are not anxious to release players especially for the freshers championship..if that is attitude it's awful because fellas are better off playing rather than be flogged in training..Fitz and freshers hurling for me isn't far below inter county senior hurling"
It's above it hurling entertainment wise, but there's many players who did well at Fitzgibbon level that never made the same impact at Senior Intercounty.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 25/01/2024 18:55:30    2522084

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Viking 66 I agree the hurling in some of the games is unbelievable..most managers of Fitz teams seem to let fellas free and just hurl off the cup..I have heard that players on county panels at the moment are training very hard and a few of the managers are not anxious to release players especially for the freshers championship..if that is attitude it's awful because fellas are better off playing rather than be flogged in training..Fitz and freshers hurling for me isn't far below inter county senior hurling"
Yeah that would be an awful pity, I think 3rd level competitions could do alot for a players development.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 25/01/2024 22:43:03    2522114

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I seen somewhere (Maroon & White podcast - and It could be wrong) but there are 60 Galwegians registered for Fitzgibbon Cup this year!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 735 - 26/01/2024 16:18:04    2522217

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NUIGs main pull is from football counties. Outside of Galway and Clare. There's not going to be many from the rest of Connacht, Kerry or Donegal playing in the fitzgibbon. In the sigerson their teams have not nearly as dominated by Galway.

Sssthe (Mayo) - Posts: 58 - 26/01/2024 18:57:11    2522239

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "It seems to have been more common for University of Galway in recent years, to be mainly Galway players. Last year's team which lost the final to UL had 14 starters from Galway, with one from Clare. All the subs brought on were Galway lads too.
UL had a real mix, with players from Galway, Clare, Limerick, Tipp, Cork, Waterford, Offaly, Kilkenny and Laois."
Well of course Galway have the second highest Hurling Population in the country and several clubs that have won Club All Irelands at different levels. They should definitely be doing better at Senior Level, but maybe that might start to happen soon as well.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4467 - 26/01/2024 21:50:53    2522263

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Well of course Galway have the second highest Hurling Population in the country and several clubs that have won Club All Irelands at different levels. They should definitely be doing better at Senior Level, but maybe that might start to happen soon as well."
I think we have the 4th largest, according to an article I read last year. Cork, Tipp and Dublin have a larger hurling population than us.
Just found the article:
'Indeed, Limerick (9,980) has the sixth largest hurling playing population in Ireland currently, behind Cork (25,600), Tipperary (14,260), Dublin (13,980), Galway (12,520), and Kilkenny (10,080).'

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2187 - 27/01/2024 13:36:48    2522365

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "I think we have the 4th largest, according to an article I read last year. Cork, Tipp and Dublin have a larger hurling population than us.
Just found the article:
'Indeed, Limerick (9,980) has the sixth largest hurling playing population in Ireland currently, behind Cork (25,600), Tipperary (14,260), Dublin (13,980), Galway (12,520), and Kilkenny (10,080).'"
Any account which says Limerick has only one Hundred Hurlers less than Kilkenny is absolutely mad. I have lived in Carlow for years and anytime I go to KK,there are young lads clearly to be seen walking about with Hurleys, no such sight will be seen in Limerick. Hurling is all but non existent in Limerick City. Once fine Senior Clubs like Claughaun, Young Irelands, Treaty Sarsfields, St Patricks, and Old Christians are either disbanded or struggling at Junior Level. Adare, Hannons Club, which won five County Championships in the Oughties are almost totally Gaelic Football now and the towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle and Abbeyfeale are all Football towns. So those figures can be discounted.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4467 - 27/01/2024 21:59:10    2522516

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Any account which says Limerick has only one Hundred Hurlers less than Kilkenny is absolutely mad. I have lived in Carlow for years and anytime I go to KK,there are young lads clearly to be seen walking about with Hurleys, no such sight will be seen in Limerick. Hurling is all but non existent in Limerick City. Once fine Senior Clubs like Claughaun, Young Irelands, Treaty Sarsfields, St Patricks, and Old Christians are either disbanded or struggling at Junior Level. Adare, Hannons Club, which won five County Championships in the Oughties are almost totally Gaelic Football now and the towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle and Abbeyfeale are all Football towns. So those figures can be discounted."
This was the article from which the numbers were quoted: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0322/1287753-hurling-census-2022-population-hurlers-density/#:~:text=Indeed%2C%20Limerick%20(9%2C980)%20has,%2C%20and%20Kilkenny%20(10%2C080).
It's based on hurling teams fielded, so in fairness it would be a lot more accurate than anecdotal evidence, or looking at how many lads walk around with hurls. The Galway numbers don't surprise me. Hurling isn't played to any serious level in vast swathes of our county. We're absolutely still a big county, but in pure pick terms we're behind Cork, Tipp and Dublin, and not that far ahead of Kilkenny.
It's also interesting that Mayo has more registered adult footballers than Galway. People often assume we're the bigger county, purely for geographical reasons.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2187 - 28/01/2024 08:21:38    2522556

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