National Forum

How Do We Take Hurling On From Here

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Replying To tearintom:  "No offence meant to the poster here but if you want to grow hurling we need to get away from this thinking.

This idea that its unique, can't be learned unless you have a hurl from birth, its not possible unless you've done this or that by whatever age etc etc.

Its the same elitist message hurljng has a tendency to preach which hinders the very development of the game. Clubs hear this and say sure why bother? No point, its too late.

The message should be yes, you can hurl, anyone can hurl, you can start hurling whenever you want, its isnt this mystical achievement beset by rules of engagement, just get them playing the game and jt will grow.

Hurling loves nothing more than putting up barriers of greatness to people and wonder why we can't grow the game."
I lived with 2 Aussies and brought them to the park some evenings with 3 hurls.
By the end of it, 1 of them was hitting the ball really well on one side out of his hand. He never held a hurl although he did play cricket.
My father asked a Polish family who moved to our village and their boy was 9-10 and somebody in the village told him to go play soccer because it was "too late" for him to start hurling. Where do we get these numpties.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1977 - 20/03/2026 14:38:42    2661941

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Replying To omahant:  "Recent Div 1A result
Galw 0-35 Kilk 0-17

That's 52 scores with no goals.

If football brings in 4-pts goals, it may not be enough incentive in hurling - should hurling go to 5-pts goals?"
Interesting that certain teams seem to target goals more than others. Cork certainly, Dublin in the lower division.

Cats were always great men for the goals but only four in five games so far!

Limerick have since Kiely taken the % view that point taking is the optimum strategy and they have the capability of running up huge totals,

Goals certainly add to the game and would be very dull if trend continues.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4082 - 20/03/2026 15:41:34    2661949

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Replying To legendzxix:  "They should grow a pair and push for an expanded Leinster. It is a Leinster matter.

1. Antrim home semi final v Westmeath
2. Carlow home semi final v Laois
3. Laois
4. Westmeath
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5. Down
6. Kerry
7. Meath
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8. London relegated to Ring.

GAA HQ were considering a later Joe Mac final a few years back if the preliminary quarter finals were chopped. Would like to see a later Joe Mac final back on the agenda with 2 more counties included."
If that ever happens then leinster should be stripped of one of their all ireland series places. Only the leinster finalists qualifying for the quarter finals or something like that.
The reason for the introduction of the christy ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher cup championships and later the Joe McDonagh is to ensure merit based competition. I get that you dont like it that Kerry are now in the Christy Ring cup but if your proposition ever sees the light of day then the Bob O Keefe cup will become the Joe McDonagh and will have to be treated accordingly.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 85 - 20/03/2026 16:13:33    2661962

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "I lived with 2 Aussies and brought them to the park some evenings with 3 hurls.
By the end of it, 1 of them was hitting the ball really well on one side out of his hand. He never held a hurl although he did play cricket.
My father asked a Polish family who moved to our village and their boy was 9-10 and somebody in the village told him to go play soccer because it was "too late" for him to start hurling. Where do we get these numpties."
There's plenty of them around sadly. We have a couple of Ukrainians and a Nigerian on our u14 panel who only started hurling last year. One of them made the county u14 Football squad this year, a brilliant achievement after only playing football for a year. If they keep improving at the rate they have over the last year they will be better than half the lads who are with us since u8. They are better than some of them already, but thats because they pay close attention in training, and practice what they are shown at home.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18790 - 20/03/2026 16:34:11    2661966

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Replying To omahant:  "Recent Div 1A result
Galw 0-35 Kilk 0-17

That's 52 scores with no goals.

If football brings in 4-pts goals, it may not be enough incentive in hurling - should hurling go to 5-pts goals?"
Or would that just result in teams setting up even more defensively to prevent goals?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18790 - 20/03/2026 16:35:19    2661967

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "If that ever happens then leinster should be stripped of one of their all ireland series places. Only the leinster finalists qualifying for the quarter finals or something like that.
The reason for the introduction of the christy ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher cup championships and later the Joe McDonagh is to ensure merit based competition. I get that you dont like it that Kerry are now in the Christy Ring cup but if your proposition ever sees the light of day then the Bob O Keefe cup will become the Joe McDonagh and will have to be treated accordingly."
The following was based on no changes to the Munster and Leinster championships.

Joe Mac (1 single group of 8 teams over 7 rounds)
1. Antrim home semi final v Westmeath
2. Carlow home semi final v Laois
3. Laois
4. Westmeath
--------
5. Down
6. Kerry
7. Meath
--------
8. London relegated to Ring.

Joe Mac winner promoted to their provincial championship.

Kerry in the Ring is like Wexford relegated from Leinster. We'll get on with it but are the tiered structures overly tiered..

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9543 - 20/03/2026 16:59:12    2661970

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Interesting article on GAA.ie yesterday about Mount Sion CBS. Its one of the pillars of waterford hurling traditionally but competed in the All Ireland D final today against Ballyhale. Thats a strange line up for a D Final tbh but anyway. There are 480 boys in the school and only about 10% hurl. Thats a frightening statistic. The Mount Sion Gaa catchment area is now an older area population wise but , clearly, the city clubs are not getting the young people in. The school traditionally had players from Mount Sion, Roanmore, Erin's Own and St Saviours but now those that hurl are almost exclusively Mount Sion players. No wonder Ballygunner are so dominant. Waterford need a strong Mount Sion and hurling needs a competitive Waterford.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 85 - 20/03/2026 17:45:03    2661974

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