Messages

cft21

There can't be an alternative way of doing things unless there's a change in mindset of hundreds of people. A mindset change that would require years of commitment both in time as well as financial. Thats a big ask and is not going to happen. Too many sitting back lamenting at the lack of quality in their clubs or the county (many are doing their lamenting whilst on the golf course or out on a 50 mile bike ride these days...no time to help you see )

Re: Antrim U14s this year (note 3-4 very strong U14 teams this year in Antrim with Div 2 Feile winning Rossa being a good head above the rest), yes there was plenty of development squad training done, but the same was true of the U16's. Difference was that the attendance/commitment between the 2 (also some club politics at play from one club). Will this years group of U14s be any different in 2 years time or will they stick together? Will the parents get fed up taking them? Problem is there's never been the right sort of year in year out continuity. One man decides to step away for a year and "a structure" falls to an arse. We've next to no proper back up. No one queuing up to be the next man to push things on. We've a passion group of hurling men out there and they're doing a super job considering the lack of resource but our structures are fragile.

Its a numbers game in regards to coaches. If you haven't enough coaches within most clubs it a difficult job to find the excess to properly assist development squad work to the degree that Clare do.

Just to many ifs buts and maybes out there for any dreams to get to reality. Keep plugging away with what you have.

You are right to a degree skull, while still 'doing my bit' at the club I've come away from the coaching managing side of things, maybe recharging the batteries I suppose, Having 2 girls and my big lad not interested in playing anymore it means at juvenile level I've less of a pull to be at the club more often. I've promised to get back into it with my cousin at some point and try and get a big team of parents helpers and coaches to run with a set of kids. But that's the way it goes, as you say cycling running and golf can be what a lot of our ex senior players are doing and committing to, that will always happen.

Hard to get people to buy in and stay at it, it needs to be from under 8 through to senior in my opinion with new bunch of people with the other teams coming through. We seem to have a good bunch and then it slides for a few years ffs

Mayo by 6 points, start brilliantly allow Dublin back into the game then finish strong, Dubs to have player sent off and controversy over a penalty. Heard it here first

[Also Double Connacht Champions 2013 (hurling)]

Tipperary 5-22 : 0-12 Galway (All-Ireland final)

Was there much talk of Galway's poorer performance in 2010?

The chances are that over a 10 year spell Galway would beat Tipp as often as Tipp would beat Galway.
Antrim wouldn't.
If ye think the U21 hurling set up is daft - what about the U21B.
Kerry won it by playing ONE FCUKIN GAME.
The sooner this minority stick sport is jettisoned by the GAA the better.( Better put in one of these for the pedantic Awlsther bies) so they can concentrate on developing the one truly National sport of football.
And anyway this should all be in the Hurling section.

says the one who has this at the bottom of his posts

Home of the 2013 All Ireland SFC Champions.
Also Double Connacht Champions 2013 (hurling) 

Both codes can go hand in hand ffs, problem being the competitiveness of it all has ensured this won't take place as county boards will throw their eggs in one basket, Cork, Dublin, and Galway can to a certain point have success with both codes. Then we have Laois, Antrim, Kildare, Rosscommon, Carlow and other such counties that won't win either put promote it as best they can but overall fail because they are spreading their resources, frustrating as a supporter

For anyone with an ankle/knee injury I find the swimming a great way of keeping fit/strengthening it during rehab. Near died in my first pool session after 30 lengths. 2 weeks later I'm up to 40 and loving it!!

Doing rightly, 30 lengths is half mile so it's always tough if you're not a natural swimmer like me. What time you do it in?

Certainly not a natural swimmer. Done 40 in around 35 minutes yesterday. 20 then a break of a minute or so then another 20. No idea if thats good or bad to be honest.

Yeah thats the way to do it, they say (the natural swimmers lol) 20 at pace break 20 normal break for 45 seconds then hard again. Mixing it up with breast stroke, I can't breast stroke at all (only with the missus lol) so I'm full pelt with the front crawl, that's me target this year to sort that out and improve my open water swims. It's a great work out.

[if you're not a natural swimmer like me]

For anyone with an ankle/knee injury I find the swimming a great way of keeping fit/strengthening it during rehab. Near died in my first pool session after 30 lengths. 2 weeks later I'm up to 40 and loving it!!

Doing rightly, 30 lengths is half mile so it's always tough if you're not a natural swimmer like me. What time you do it in?

No need to boast!

I'm not a natural swimmer was what I meant!! lol

For anyone with an ankle/knee injury I find the swimming a great way of keeping fit/strengthening it during rehab. Near died in my first pool session after 30 lengths. 2 weeks later I'm up to 40 and loving it!!

Doing rightly, 30 lengths is half mile so it's always tough if you're not a natural swimmer like me. What time you do it in?

Tipperary 5-22 : 0-12 Galway (All-Ireland final)

Was there much talk of Galway's poorer performance in 2010?

I don't think the normal route to the semi finals is the best or fairest way, again an open draw would solve a lot of problems, you can have your Munster, Ulster and Leinster as a side. We done really well this year I believe down to the fact that these lads were preparing hard for their club championships. As preparation was exactly as Ryan had said, rubbish

Where they not training hard for clubs the last few years when they were getting hammered in U-21 semis ?

The dates aren't really set in stone for under 21, there would have been big breaks between leagues games and championship games, various reasons. This year it worked out well

I don't think the normal route to the semi finals is the best or fairest way, again an open draw would solve a lot of problems, you can have your Munster, Ulster and Leinster as a side. We done really well this year I believe down to the fact that these lads were preparing hard for their club championships. As preparation was exactly as Ryan had said, rubbish

Not a mention about Aileen Reid on her silver in London yesterday, fantastic result and some effort put in by her this year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYhrxbAD05Y

The mens was a cracking finish also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_b4LusGFQw

Watched the both of them. Aileen put in a super shift and sat in very well and timed her move to perfection. Great finish for her and to be ranked overall 8th in the world is a huge marker for her. If she improves as much next year, she'll see the podium alot more.

The mens was a great finish. Gomez recovered well from an average swim but he know he had to get involved with the bike leg from the outset and done that. I was surprised that Alister Brownlee was so insistant that Johnny should have just sat on his shoulder till the last 50m, as the commentators had it different and could only see Gomez winning in the sprint. Keane had a poor swim but recovered well to work his way up the field.

Aye got tactics wrong I thought, Gomez has had a great season to be fair. Aileen said she was freezing and couldn't warm up!! the crashes added to the excitement

Not a mention about Aileen Reid on her silver in London yesterday, fantastic result and some effort put in by her this year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYhrxbAD05Y

The mens was a cracking finish also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_b4LusGFQw

Ok, show me the post where you put it down in writing?

Well, considering I haven't been posting here that long, I won't be able to give you written proof of what I thought 25 years ago. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Galway got automatic entry to the 1955 and 1958 All-Ireland hurling finals under the provincial rotation system, as Ulster teams didn't compete, and the Leinster champions played the Munster champions in the All-Ireland semi-finals in those years.


Why should Galway and Antrim not compete in Leinster at under-age level, now that they're there at senior level?

Why only Antrim?


Galway also competed in the Munster senior championship for years and never won a game.

For what its worth I think you have a point but the Leinster/Munster thing stunts the potential for growth outside those invited to the top hurling party.

What's next? Club championship hurling?

Aye that be next, the 'elitist' would love that, Though the Down and Antrim champions would account for a right few club teams

It's pretty simple. The notion that any team should gain automatic entry to an All-Ireland semi-final belongs to the 1950s.

So what's your plan? Give losing teams another chance to get to the final? Is this not just a way of making sure teams are not caught on the hop again?

I'm all for change but giving the teams second chances is not one of them, An open draw is the way forward. Once you're out you stay out. With an open draw Antrim could have met all Leinster teams and got to the final only to lose to Clare

No way... He was a county minor last year! Hopefully be a good one. The brother can be frustrating. On his day could roast anyone but a bit inconsistent at times.

Defo under 16, he's a goodin surely. Very natural gifted player, I think he scored couple of goals today.

The senior games next week should be belters, really looking forward to them, think I'll take in Saturday's game, Dunloy will love the fact that they have been given the underdogs tag. If the Dall manage to get a good start and push on they should win handy, watched the league game this year and they couldn't push on though didn't look like losing it.

The referee obviously thought the Dall were going to win so made sure of it ..................

Mccambridge is a minor isn't he and on the senior team? Yeah christy mcnaughton looks a good one. Looks a good bit bigger than the brother shane. Wonder how long till he breaks into the senior team.

Aye he might even end up better than Shane, he'll be on senior team next year, he's still under 16 ffs!! Otherwise I'd say he'd make the odd appearance on the seniors