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Replying To richiepmurphy: "Think that was junior viking" You are right richiepmurphy. The Junior game between the 2 schools was fixed for yesterday initially but played Wednesday.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 25/09/2026 13:08:31
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Looks like Kieran's beat Counsel by 1-25 to 0-14" Get you now, that was Junior!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 25/09/2026 13:09:59
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Just a thought on the suggestions from formertownie and Viking66 of two groups of four, with 1st going straight to a semi-final, and 2nd and 3rd playing quarter-finals.
One word. Jeopardy.
Especially since we've been hearing so much about it in relation to our own club championships.
In the groups outlined by those other posters, barring a series of unlikely results, Dublin or Kilkenny would only have to beat one of Kildare or Carlow to be sure of a knockout spot. Could probably afford to lose to the other one.
We'd probably "only" have to beat Laois. Wouldn't matter if we lost heavily to both Galway and Offaly so long as they both beat Laois as well.
Top two straight to semi-finals, third goes out, and fourth to a Relegation Final would mean more jeopardy....and maybe a better championship?
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4126 - 25/09/2026 13:32:44
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Replying To Viking66: " Replying To Pikeman96: "I must really be getting old, because more and more, I find that I don't like change :D
I agree Group 1 would be a bit of a snooze fest, and I'm not sure Group 2 would be much better. Examiner tells how if it was in place based on this year's standings, the groups would be:
Group 1 - Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly
Group 2 - Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Wexford
Will consider ourselves first. Much as we've struggled in recent years, I and probably anybody else would still expect us to beat at least two of those other three teams in championship in any given year, and make a quarter-final. Same would go for any of the Group 1 teams there that might find themselves in Group 2 some year.
So really, what Group 2 becomes is a contest between three teams who've flitted between Leinster Championship and Joe McDonagh under the current structure, with a prize of a quarter-final spot for one of them, which they'd normally be expected to lose. It wouldn't be all that different from the system we've just gone away from, where Joe McDonagh winners or runners-up played 3rd in Leinster.
Group 1 would be basically three matches to decide whether you go straight to a semi-final, or go into a quarter-final where you'd probably be favourites to end up in a semi-final anyway. The competitive one would probably normally be expected to be any two of Dublin/Offaly/Wexford, but still, the Group 1 team would probably normally be the fancied one.
And overall, possibly the biggest issue is how if the idea of expanding the Leinster Championship is to "give more teams a chance to develop by playing at a higher level", it doesn't really achieve that. In the example here, Carlow, Kildare & Laois only get one game against a "higher level" county, and that's just against the fifth best in Leinster. They don't get the chance to test themselves regularly against the stronger counties at all.
One of them eventually gets one chance against a stronger county, but again, that's essentially a repeat of the old Joe McDonagh winners v 3rd in Leinster matches, and barring one surprise result back in 2019, we know how the rest of them went.
But hey, maybe I'm just getting too old and set in my ways, that I'm tending not to like change!" That sums up exactly what Id be thinking. Wouldn't it be better to have 2 seeded groups of 4, say 1, 3, 5, 7 in one group and 2, 4, 6 and 8 in rhe other? Top team into semis, 2nd play 3rd from the other group in QFs. Bottom teams into a relegation final. So Galway, Offaly, Wexford and Laois would be in one group and Dublin, Kilkenny, Kildare and Carlow would make up the other based on this years final placings."
They'd be better off adopting the current U20 structure if they went two groups of 4
I'm not against two groups of four but Munster is cut-throat and I think it's helping them big time, making Leinster into 1A and 1B would make Leinster even less cut-throat than it actually is (Which takes some doing)
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1572 - 25/09/2026 13:43:37
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@ElGranSenor - you're right, it's a lot like that U20 structure from 2023 all right. A lot of shadow-boxing in Group 1 where everybody would go through to the knockouts anyway, followed by the real business starting there.
Thing is, Offaly actually came through Group 2 to win it!
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4126 - 25/09/2026 13:57:04
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Replying To ElGranSenor: " Replying To Viking66: "[quote=Pikeman96: "I must really be getting old, because more and more, I find that I don't like change :D
I agree Group 1 would be a bit of a snooze fest, and I'm not sure Group 2 would be much better. Examiner tells how if it was in place based on this year's standings, the groups would be:
Group 1 - Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly
Group 2 - Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Wexford
Will consider ourselves first. Much as we've struggled in recent years, I and probably anybody else would still expect us to beat at least two of those other three teams in championship in any given year, and make a quarter-final. Same would go for any of the Group 1 teams there that might find themselves in Group 2 some year.
So really, what Group 2 becomes is a contest between three teams who've flitted between Leinster Championship and Joe McDonagh under the current structure, with a prize of a quarter-final spot for one of them, which they'd normally be expected to lose. It wouldn't be all that different from the system we've just gone away from, where Joe McDonagh winners or runners-up played 3rd in Leinster.
Group 1 would be basically three matches to decide whether you go straight to a semi-final, or go into a quarter-final where you'd probably be favourites to end up in a semi-final anyway. The competitive one would probably normally be expected to be any two of Dublin/Offaly/Wexford, but still, the Group 1 team would probably normally be the fancied one.
And overall, possibly the biggest issue is how if the idea of expanding the Leinster Championship is to "give more teams a chance to develop by playing at a higher level", it doesn't really achieve that. In the example here, Carlow, Kildare & Laois only get one game against a "higher level" county, and that's just against the fifth best in Leinster. They don't get the chance to test themselves regularly against the stronger counties at all.
One of them eventually gets one chance against a stronger county, but again, that's essentially a repeat of the old Joe McDonagh winners v 3rd in Leinster matches, and barring one surprise result back in 2019, we know how the rest of them went.
But hey, maybe I'm just getting too old and set in my ways, that I'm tending not to like change!" That sums up exactly what Id be thinking. Wouldn't it be better to have 2 seeded groups of 4, say 1, 3, 5, 7 in one group and 2, 4, 6 and 8 in rhe other? Top team into semis, 2nd play 3rd from the other group in QFs. Bottom teams into a relegation final. So Galway, Offaly, Wexford and Laois would be in one group and Dublin, Kilkenny, Kildare and Carlow would make up the other based on this years final placings."
They'd be better off adopting the current U20 structure if they went two groups of 4
I'm not against two groups of four but Munster is cut-throat and I think it's helping them big time, making Leinster into 1A and 1B would make Leinster even less cut-throat than it actually is (Which takes some doing)"]It depends what is more important. Tadg2020 put it well, a 5 team Leinster Championship with no promotion or relegation would be the best option to make those 5 counties more competitive. But where does that leave everyone else?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 25/09/2026 16:19:47
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Just a thought on the suggestions from formertownie and Viking66 of two groups of four, with 1st going straight to a semi-final, and 2nd and 3rd playing quarter-finals.
One word. Jeopardy.
Especially since we've been hearing so much about it in relation to our own club championships.
In the groups outlined by those other posters, barring a series of unlikely results, Dublin or Kilkenny would only have to beat one of Kildare or Carlow to be sure of a knockout spot. Could probably afford to lose to the other one.
We'd probably "only" have to beat Laois. Wouldn't matter if we lost heavily to both Galway and Offaly so long as they both beat Laois as well.
Top two straight to semi-finals, third goes out, and fourth to a Relegation Final would mean more jeopardy....and maybe a better championship?" It would for sure.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 25/09/2026 16:20:45
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Replying To Pikeman96: "@ElGranSenor - you're right, it's a lot like that U20 structure from 2023 all right. A lot of shadow-boxing in Group 1 where everybody would go through to the knockouts anyway, followed by the real business starting there.
Thing is, Offaly actually came through Group 2 to win it!" Yeah, best team should still win it anyway but I just think 1A is a waste of time, teams will know that too, won't be rushing players back and will basically look at it like a knockout competition (Not unlike how some viewed our Championship structure both last year and the year before)
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1572 - 25/09/2026 18:16:18
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Replying To Viking66: " Replying To ElGranSenor: "[quote=Viking66: "[quote=Pikeman96: "I must really be getting old, because more and more, I find that I don't like change :D
I agree Group 1 would be a bit of a snooze fest, and I'm not sure Group 2 would be much better. Examiner tells how if it was in place based on this year's standings, the groups would be:
Group 1 - Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly
Group 2 - Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Wexford
Will consider ourselves first. Much as we've struggled in recent years, I and probably anybody else would still expect us to beat at least two of those other three teams in championship in any given year, and make a quarter-final. Same would go for any of the Group 1 teams there that might find themselves in Group 2 some year.
So really, what Group 2 becomes is a contest between three teams who've flitted between Leinster Championship and Joe McDonagh under the current structure, with a prize of a quarter-final spot for one of them, which they'd normally be expected to lose. It wouldn't be all that different from the system we've just gone away from, where Joe McDonagh winners or runners-up played 3rd in Leinster.
Group 1 would be basically three matches to decide whether you go straight to a semi-final, or go into a quarter-final where you'd probably be favourites to end up in a semi-final anyway. The competitive one would probably normally be expected to be any two of Dublin/Offaly/Wexford, but still, the Group 1 team would probably normally be the fancied one.
And overall, possibly the biggest issue is how if the idea of expanding the Leinster Championship is to "give more teams a chance to develop by playing at a higher level", it doesn't really achieve that. In the example here, Carlow, Kildare & Laois only get one game against a "higher level" county, and that's just against the fifth best in Leinster. They don't get the chance to test themselves regularly against the stronger counties at all.
One of them eventually gets one chance against a stronger county, but again, that's essentially a repeat of the old Joe McDonagh winners v 3rd in Leinster matches, and barring one surprise result back in 2019, we know how the rest of them went.
But hey, maybe I'm just getting too old and set in my ways, that I'm tending not to like change!" That sums up exactly what Id be thinking. Wouldn't it be better to have 2 seeded groups of 4, say 1, 3, 5, 7 in one group and 2, 4, 6 and 8 in rhe other? Top team into semis, 2nd play 3rd from the other group in QFs. Bottom teams into a relegation final. So Galway, Offaly, Wexford and Laois would be in one group and Dublin, Kilkenny, Kildare and Carlow would make up the other based on this years final placings."
They'd be better off adopting the current U20 structure if they went two groups of 4
I'm not against two groups of four but Munster is cut-throat and I think it's helping them big time, making Leinster into 1A and 1B would make Leinster even less cut-throat than it actually is (Which takes some doing)"]It depends what is more important. Tadg2020 put it well, a 5 team Leinster Championship with no promotion or relegation would be the best option to make those 5 counties more competitive. But where does that leave everyone else?"]I dont think I actually said no promotion or relegation but I do think that the 5 team championship goes a long way towards the cut throat nature of Munster. I know it doesnt always work out that way but the promise of it drives the interest. I dont know how leinster addresses the attendance issue( that adds significantly to the Munster championship experience) but I think 5 teams creates a quality balance that's lacking atm. I think that qualification for the McCarthy/leinster championship should be by beating the bottom team and taking their place from them.
As for the proposal of 8 teams. I think that adapting it only confirms leinster championship as a development competition. If i was a leinster hurling man I would want to be moving away from that perception rather than embracing it. Im not though so its your funeral.
It also damages the structure of every tier below the leinster championship. Take the 2 best teams out of every championship and you weaken every level.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 769 - 28/09/2026 20:38:37
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Per Leinster GAA, Kieran's beat Peter's by 1-19 to 1-17 in the Senior A league
Should've said last week that that Kieran's-Counsel game was Junior
Counsel up against Kilkenny CBC in the Senior A league this week per the fixture list
Peter's up against Mountrath in Junior A
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1572 - 29/09/2026 08:58:25
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@Tadhg2020 - just to point out that re. your last line, this proposed new structure wouldn't actually weaken every other lower level.
The "next four" (i.e. teams 9 to 12) would still compete in a Joe McDonagh Cup group, with two of them going through to semi-finals against teams coming down from Group 2. Team 13 downwards would still be in the Christy Ring Cup etc., rather than two from each being "artificially promoted" to a higher grade.
I still don't like it, though.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4126 - 29/09/2026 10:35:42
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Replying To Pikeman96: "@Tadhg2020 - just to point out that re. your last line, this proposed new structure wouldn't actually weaken every other lower level.
The "next four" (i.e. teams 9 to 12) would still compete in a Joe McDonagh Cup group, with two of them going through to semi-finals against teams coming down from Group 2. Team 13 downwards would still be in the Christy Ring Cup etc., rather than two from each being "artificially promoted" to a higher grade.
I still don't like it, though." Hes right that the rest of the teams wont get to play the 2 coming down. Only the top 2 will.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 29/09/2026 12:05:33
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@Viking66 - yes, I realise that, in relation to who from Group 2 gets to play somebody from Group 1.
But what I meant was I'm taking it he thought that since two Joe McDonagh teams would move into Leinster, two Christy Ring Cup teams would move into the McDonagh to make up the numbers there, two Nickey Rackard Cup teams would move into the Ring, and two Lory Meagher Cup teams would move into the Rackard. And that this would have the effect of weakening those three lower grades as well. I was just pointing out that wouldn't be the case.
Anyway, am sure he can speak for himself, and he might be along soon.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4126 - 29/09/2026 13:14:44
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Replying To Pikeman96: "@Viking66 - yes, I realise that, in relation to who from Group 2 gets to play somebody from Group 1.
But what I meant was I'm taking it he thought that since two Joe McDonagh teams would move into Leinster, two Christy Ring Cup teams would move into the McDonagh to make up the numbers there, two Nickey Rackard Cup teams would move into the Ring, and two Lory Meagher Cup teams would move into the Rackard. And that this would have the effect of weakening those three lower grades as well. I was just pointing out that wouldn't be the case.
Anyway, am sure he can speak for himself, and he might be along soon." No doubt :-)
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 29/09/2026 15:01:13
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Don't know if they'll be able to pull it off but our County Board should be campaigning with the GAA for three double-headers in the league next year, think we've three home games in both hurling and football
Dublin have been able to play double-headers in Croker for years, think we've Waterford, Offaly, and Kerry at home in the hurling league next year so might be able to get decent crowds for the first two games but we'll have some home games against good teams in the football so might be able to draw in some crowds if we go for double-headers, we should be able to do it if Dublin are able to do it
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1572 - 30/09/2026 12:34:14
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Don't know if they'll be able to pull it off but our County Board should be campaigning with the GAA for three double-headers in the league next year, think we've three home games in both hurling and football
Dublin have been able to play double-headers in Croker for years, think we've Waterford, Offaly, and Kerry at home in the hurling league next year so might be able to get decent crowds for the first two games but we'll have some home games against good teams in the football so might be able to draw in some crowds if we go for double-headers, we should be able to do it if Dublin are able to do it" Fully agree with you there . Dont see any reason why we should be able to do this . The Waterford and Offaly games in the hurling will decide our promotion hopes and the footballers have some huge games to look forward to. When are the league fixtures normally announced? Looking forward to it already. I expect Derek McGrath to look to hit the ground running.
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1147 - 30/09/2026 13:01:39
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Don't know if they'll be able to pull it off but our County Board should be campaigning with the GAA for three double-headers in the league next year, think we've three home games in both hurling and football
Dublin have been able to play double-headers in Croker for years, think we've Waterford, Offaly, and Kerry at home in the hurling league next year so might be able to get decent crowds for the first two games but we'll have some home games against good teams in the football so might be able to draw in some crowds if we go for double-headers, we should be able to do it if Dublin are able to do it" We have the changing rooms now to do it.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 30/09/2026 14:23:51
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Peter's lost to Mountrath by 5-13 to 3-07 in Junior A hurling
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1572 - 01/10/2026 08:41:44
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Replying To Viking66: "We have the changing rooms now to do it." I do think something like this needs a vision and a push from inside and outside of Wexford GAA - attractive double headers in Wexford Park would possibly attract 5/7k people to the park and the town on a Saturday night. It's a big boost for the pubs / restaurants in what is traditionally a quiet time.
MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 385 - 01/10/2026 10:15:35
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Peter's lost to Mountrath by 5-13 to 3-07 in Junior A hurling" Seen that yesterday. Laois had a good u16 team this year too.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20799 - 01/10/2026 10:46:42
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