Hurling in small football counties

[trailer]

It's a tricky one. If you're not from a hurling background at home it is difficult to keep momentum up past u14s. My wee lad played was handy enough but it started to clash with loads of other commitments Football, Soccer, other bits n pieces and he was always happy to leave the hurling. The games all tended to be a bit of a trek so as a parent I wasn't too bothered. They have tried hard in Tyrone but it'll be interesting to see if they really scratch the surface and can get one or two of those clubs through to adult. I severely doubt it. Your basically footballers playing hurling when they have a bit of spare time.

[trailer]

As solution is to merge a few counties, Fermanagh and Cavan maybe Monaghan. Armagh and Tyrone. Derry and Donegal. Compete in one league and then try and get a half decent county team out of that.

[Milltown Row2]

I must say I find it hilarious when hurling people get on their high horse about the state of hurling in Cavan and Fermanagh.

In Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary football has been treated like sh*t for years. Kilkenny don't even pretend to bother any more.

So I'll listen to arguments about what needs to be done for Cavan hurling when those counties treat football equally.

Did Tipp not play in an All Ireland semi final recently? Cork have won the All Ireland a good few times, Kilkenny compete in the lower end of football Junior I think, and have won it a few times, as for Limerick, they always had a decent team, maybe Waterford and Antrim would have been a better example of underperforming or underfunding ..

These things I wouldn't find hilarious, but each to their own

[johnnycool]

I must say I find it hilarious when hurling people get on their high horse about the state of hurling in Cavan and Fermanagh.

In Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary football has been treated like sh*t for years. Kilkenny don't even pretend to bother any more.

So I'll listen to arguments about what needs to be done for Cavan hurling when those counties treat football equally.

Did Tipp not play in an All Ireland semi final recently? Cork have won the All Ireland a good few times, Kilkenny compete in the lower end of football Junior I think, and have won it a few times, as for Limerick, they always had a decent team, maybe Waterford and Antrim would have been a better example of underperforming or underfunding ..

These things I wouldn't find hilarious, but each to their own

Limerick footballers are far better treated than the hurlers in loads of other counties, poor analogy there my Kerry friend.

Kilkenny are the only real outlier in there and should also be called out on that, but it won't be Croke Park to do it as they haven't the toy dolls.
Image saying to Kilkenny that all coaching funding will be pulled if they don't put a serious development plan in place for their footballers as they'd also have to threaten similar to 15 or 16 counties in the reverse situation.

Travelling is a major issue in developing hurling teams at county level let alone club level, especially in Ulster and it's hard to change that but what can change is forcing kids to chose one GAA sport over the other by putting a bit more thought into fixture calendars and the likes.
There has to be a will to do it though.

[bennydorano]

should they not have an ulster club league for hurling  antrim derry down can maybe keep their leagues and championships  the ulster club championship could be rest of ulster champions then down derry antrim champions.

There has been many formats over the years, there was a winter Ulster league (my last medal  ) that teams from all over played in prior to normal leagues.. nearly sure there was a mid Ulster league too..

Antrim caters for clubs from Armagh, Tyrone, Derry and Down, we are certainly doing our bit in Ulster and long gone are the days of all Antrim club's winning the grades in the Ulster club, so standards across Ulster has improved..

The problem for most clubs is the duality of the various clubs and fitting those fixtures into already busy leagues..

Don't think they allow teams in now, especially at underage level.

Dungannon and Na Magha (iirc) are in at league level but down the divisions at senior level.

Antrim happy enough not to promote other teams/counties which is fair enough.

Ulster League could be an option for the rest of the counties. Bit of travel but it could work.

They are in at the level they are at, the best way for them to improve is by beating better teams

Im sure that Dungannon pulled out of Antrim the season after the Damien Casey tragedy and Na Magha are withdrawing for next season.

Which leave the 3 Ards clubs in Division One, Bredagh and Carryduff in Div 3 and Div 2.

Cuchullains from Armagh will be plying their trade in Antrim Division 2 next season.

Strange that Keady & Middletown (Armagh) never bothered with the Antrim league, I assume this is a hangover from the 80s when Cuchulianns were the Armagh top dog. I can recall a conversation with a fine County & Middletown hurler who thought they were wasting their time in Antrim nowadays.

[seafoid]

Cork, Tipp,Limerick and Kerry have separate hurling and football areas.

Kilkenny play junior.

[Milltown Row2]

should they not have an ulster club league for hurling  antrim derry down can maybe keep their leagues and championships  the ulster club championship could be rest of ulster champions then down derry antrim champions.

There has been many formats over the years, there was a winter Ulster league (my last medal  ) that teams from all over played in prior to normal leagues.. nearly sure there was a mid Ulster league too..

Antrim caters for clubs from Armagh, Tyrone, Derry and Down, we are certainly doing our bit in Ulster and long gone are the days of all Antrim club's winning the grades in the Ulster club, so standards across Ulster has improved..

The problem for most clubs is the duality of the various clubs and fitting those fixtures into already busy leagues..

Don't think they allow teams in now, especially at underage level.

Dungannon and Na Magha (iirc) are in at league level but down the divisions at senior level.

Antrim happy enough not to promote other teams/counties which is fair enough.

Ulster League could be an option for the rest of the counties. Bit of travel but it could work.

They are in at the level they are at, the best way for them to improve is by beating better teams

Im sure that Dungannon pulled out of Antrim the season after the Damien Casey tragedy and Na Magha are withdrawing for next season.

Which leave the 3 Ards clubs in Division One, Bredagh and Carryduff in Div 3 and Div 2.

Cuchullains from Armagh will be plying their trade in Antrim Division 2 next season.

Strange that Keady & Middletown (Armagh) never bothered with the Antrim league, I assume this is a hangover from the 80s when Cuchulianns were the Armagh top dog. I can recall a conversation with a fine County & Middletown hurler who thought they were wasting their time in Antrim nowadays.

I'm nearly sure Keady (at some point played in Antrim leagues) Can never remember Middletown being in the leagues. Cuchulianns dipped their toe in and out of the leagues over the years, played a few games at the athletic grounds back in the day.. Sean Tracey's would have entered too

[seafoid]

It wouldn't be hard to twin hurling counties with the 5 counties concerned. Get communication going, ogranise weekends, expose kids to hurling culture. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. Hurling people are very decent.

[Ciarrai_thuaidh]

I must say I find it hilarious when hurling people get on their high horse about the state of hurling in Cavan and Fermanagh.

In Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary football has been treated like sh*t for years. Kilkenny don't even pretend to bother any more.

So I'll listen to arguments about what needs to be done for Cavan hurling when those counties treat football equally.

Did Tipp not play in an All Ireland semi final recently? Cork have won the All Ireland a good few times, Kilkenny compete in the lower end of football Junior I think, and have won it a few times, as for Limerick, they always had a decent team, maybe Waterford and Antrim would have been a better example of underperforming or underfunding ..

These things I wouldn't find hilarious, but each to their own

"Kilkenny compete in the Junior"..😂😂😂 Well - you really disproved my argument, I surrender.
In case you're not aware, that competition is for native born Americans and English players and is played semi-final/final on same weekend like some Féile blitz. That's the level of effort Kilkenny are putting into football. What about club football in Kilkenny? How is that organised pray tell?

I've lived in Tipperary and Cork. Both county boards completely dominated by hurling heads. Officials and coaches in both counties actively discourage dual players playing football. That's quite well known.

There are hardcore football clubs and people in both counties, especially in West Cork which is a heartland of football but the board has treated them like shit to varying degrees over the years. Cork should be a dominant football county but aren't. Why? I could fill a book with stories.
A few years ago at one state the Senior hurlers were training in a college gym in Cork city, paid for by board - while the footballers were forced to rent a warehouse in Fermoy and kit it out themselves. Look up how far Fermoy is from Castlehaven, Bantry or Rosscarbery where footballers were travelling from.
As soon as any talented dual player enters a Cork squad system they are told giving up football is one of the keys to progressing. The large traditional hurling Clubs like Midleton, Sars, Blackrock, Glen Rovers, Na Piarsaigh treat football with absolute spite. The irony being that the one true dual city club who don't - St Finbarrs - excel in both codes because of it.

So to be perfectly honest laughter is all I offer when I hear hurling heads bleating about Leitrim or Cavan hurling. If Hurling snobs ran the GAA and got their wish, football would be banned.
Hurling is a good sport and anyone who wants to play it should be given the opportunity to do so but what hurling people don't seem to get or want to admit though is that
north of the Dublin-Galway line - as Martin Fogarty outlined in many interviews since quitting his role with GAA - there is very little interest in hurling. Hurling is strong in the rich farming counties mainly. There are well documented historical reasons for this.

[seafoid]

Dual players are not feasible any longer with the intensity of club and county.

Half of Cork is football. They have a problem with finals.

[didlyi]

I must say I find it hilarious when hurling people get on their high horse about the state of hurling in Cavan and Fermanagh.

In Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary football has been treated like sh*t for years. Kilkenny don't even pretend to bother any more.

So I'll listen to arguments about what needs to be done for Cavan hurling when those counties treat football equally.

Did Tipp not play in an All Ireland semi final recently? Cork have won the All Ireland a good few times, Kilkenny compete in the lower end of football Junior I think, and have won it a few times, as for Limerick, they always had a decent team, maybe Waterford and Antrim would have been a better example of underperforming or underfunding ..

These things I wouldn't find hilarious, but each to their own

"Kilkenny compete in the Junior"..😂😂😂 Well - you really disproved my argument, I surrender.
In case you're not aware, that competition is for native born Americans and English players and is played semi-final/final on same weekend like some Féile blitz. That's the level of effort Kilkenny are putting into football. What about club football in Kilkenny? How is that organised pray tell?

I've lived in Tipperary and Cork. Both county boards completely dominated by hurling heads. Officials and coaches in both counties actively discourage dual players playing football. That's quite well known.

There are hardcore football clubs and people in both counties, especially in West Cork which is a heartland of football but the board has treated them like shit to varying degrees over the years. Cork should be a dominant football county but aren't. Why? I could fill a book with stories.
A few years ago at one state the Senior hurlers were training in a college gym in Cork city, paid for by board - while the footballers were forced to rent a warehouse in Fermoy and kit it out themselves. Look up how far Fermoy is from Castlehaven, Bantry or Rosscarbery where footballers were travelling from.
As soon as any talented dual player enters a Cork squad system they are told giving up football is one of the keys to progressing. The large traditional hurling Clubs like Midleton, Sars, Blackrock, Glen Rovers, Na Piarsaigh treat football with absolute spite. The irony being that the one true dual city club who don't - St Finbarrs - excel in both codes because of it.

So to be perfectly honest laughter is all I offer when I hear hurling heads bleating about Leitrim or Cavan hurling. If Hurling snobs ran the GAA and got their wish, football would be banned.
Hurling is a good sport and anyone who wants to play it should be given the opportunity to do so but what hurling people don't seem to get or want to admit though is that
north of the Dublin-Galway line - as Martin Fogarty outlined in many interviews since quitting his role with GAA - there is very little interest in hurling. Hurling is strong in the rich farming counties mainly. There are well documented historical reasons for this.

Not sure how you can draw a comparison between Tipp and Cork and Cavan and Louth. Tipp and Cork like most of the hurling counties have a healthy respect for football and the numbers participating is testament to that. Just because its not the holy grail as it is in Kerry should be no reason to have a cut at them. We all know the same is not true of Cavan and Louth where hurling is almost non existent. Maybe its just a Kerry thing, hurling somehow undermines their superiority complex.

[Ciarrai_thuaidh]

I must say I find it hilarious when hurling people get on their high horse about the state of hurling in Cavan and Fermanagh.

In Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary football has been treated like sh*t for years. Kilkenny don't even pretend to bother any more.

So I'll listen to arguments about what needs to be done for Cavan hurling when those counties treat football equally.

Did Tipp not play in an All Ireland semi final recently? Cork have won the All Ireland a good few times, Kilkenny compete in the lower end of football Junior I think, and have won it a few times, as for Limerick, they always had a decent team, maybe Waterford and Antrim would have been a better example of underperforming or underfunding ..

These things I wouldn't find hilarious, but each to their own

"Kilkenny compete in the Junior"..😂😂😂 Well - you really disproved my argument, I surrender.
In case you're not aware, that competition is for native born Americans and English players and is played semi-final/final on same weekend like some Féile blitz. That's the level of effort Kilkenny are putting into football. What about club football in Kilkenny? How is that organised pray tell?

I've lived in Tipperary and Cork. Both county boards completely dominated by hurling heads. Officials and coaches in both counties actively discourage dual players playing football. That's quite well known.

There are hardcore football clubs and people in both counties, especially in West Cork which is a heartland of football but the board has treated them like shit to varying degrees over the years. Cork should be a dominant football county but aren't. Why? I could fill a book with stories.
A few years ago at one state the Senior hurlers were training in a college gym in Cork city, paid for by board - while the footballers were forced to rent a warehouse in Fermoy and kit it out themselves. Look up how far Fermoy is from Castlehaven, Bantry or Rosscarbery where footballers were travelling from.
As soon as any talented dual player enters a Cork squad system they are told giving up football is one of the keys to progressing. The large traditional hurling Clubs like Midleton, Sars, Blackrock, Glen Rovers, Na Piarsaigh treat football with absolute spite. The irony being that the one true dual city club who don't - St Finbarrs - excel in both codes because of it.

So to be perfectly honest laughter is all I offer when I hear hurling heads bleating about Leitrim or Cavan hurling. If Hurling snobs ran the GAA and got their wish, football would be banned.
Hurling is a good sport and anyone who wants to play it should be given the opportunity to do so but what hurling people don't seem to get or want to admit though is that
north of the Dublin-Galway line - as Martin Fogarty outlined in many interviews since quitting his role with GAA - there is very little interest in hurling. Hurling is strong in the rich farming counties mainly. There are well documented historical reasons for this.

Not sure how you can draw a comparison between Tipp and Cork and Cavan and Louth. Tipp and Cork like most of the hurling counties have a healthy respect for football and the numbers participating is testament to that. Just because its not the holy grail as it is in Kerry should be no reason to have a cut at them. We all know the same is not true of Cavan and Louth where hurling is almost non existent. Maybe its just a Kerry thing, hurling somehow undermines their superiority complex.

The bolded bit is absolute nonsense. I've lived in Cork for a long time and been involved in GAA at club level.
As I outlined in previous posts, Football is looked on with disdain by the hurling dominated board in Cork (and Tipp) and any meagre success is in spite of this and down to a handful of hardcore football people largely from West or Northwest of Cork or other isolated pockets like Nemo Rangers in the city.

Anyone prepared to discuss how football is treated in Kilkenny? I won't hold my breath.

[seafoid]

West and Southwest Cork is football country. The county is like Galway,  divided in 2 GAA regions. Cork have a very decent number of football all Irelands compared to the other second line counties.  I don't see why a ciarraíoch has to claim the Béal bocht on their behalf. 

Getting rid of the provincial championship is what they actually need.

[didlyi]

I must say I find it hilarious when hurling people get on their high horse about the state of hurling in Cavan and Fermanagh.

In Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary football has been treated like sh*t for years. Kilkenny don't even pretend to bother any more.

So I'll listen to arguments about what needs to be done for Cavan hurling when those counties treat football equally.

Did Tipp not play in an All Ireland semi final recently? Cork have won the All Ireland a good few times, Kilkenny compete in the lower end of football Junior I think, and have won it a few times, as for Limerick, they always had a decent team, maybe Waterford and Antrim would have been a better example of underperforming or underfunding ..

These things I wouldn't find hilarious, but each to their own

"Kilkenny compete in the Junior"..😂😂😂 Well - you really disproved my argument, I surrender.
In case you're not aware, that competition is for native born Americans and English players and is played semi-final/final on same weekend like some Féile blitz. That's the level of effort Kilkenny are putting into football. What about club football in Kilkenny? How is that organised pray tell?

I've lived in Tipperary and Cork. Both county boards completely dominated by hurling heads. Officials and coaches in both counties actively discourage dual players playing football. That's quite well known.

There are hardcore football clubs and people in both counties, especially in West Cork which is a heartland of football but the board has treated them like shit to varying degrees over the years. Cork should be a dominant football county but aren't. Why? I could fill a book with stories.
A few years ago at one state the Senior hurlers were training in a college gym in Cork city, paid for by board - while the footballers were forced to rent a warehouse in Fermoy and kit it out themselves. Look up how far Fermoy is from Castlehaven, Bantry or Rosscarbery where footballers were travelling from.
As soon as any talented dual player enters a Cork squad system they are told giving up football is one of the keys to progressing. The large traditional hurling Clubs like Midleton, Sars, Blackrock, Glen Rovers, Na Piarsaigh treat football with absolute spite. The irony being that the one true dual city club who don't - St Finbarrs - excel in both codes because of it.

So to be perfectly honest laughter is all I offer when I hear hurling heads bleating about Leitrim or Cavan hurling. If Hurling snobs ran the GAA and got their wish, football would be banned.
Hurling is a good sport and anyone who wants to play it should be given the opportunity to do so but what hurling people don't seem to get or want to admit though is that
north of the Dublin-Galway line - as Martin Fogarty outlined in many interviews since quitting his role with GAA - there is very little interest in hurling. Hurling is strong in the rich farming counties mainly. There are well documented historical reasons for this.

Not sure how you can draw a comparison between Tipp and Cork and Cavan and Louth. Tipp and Cork like most of the hurling counties have a healthy respect for football and the numbers participating is testament to that. Just because its not the holy grail as it is in Kerry should be no reason to have a cut at them. We all know the same is not true of Cavan and Louth where hurling is almost non existent. Maybe its just a Kerry thing, hurling somehow undermines their superiority complex.

The bolded bit is absolute nonsense. I've lived in Cork for a long time and been involved in GAA at club level.
As I outlined in previous posts, Football is looked on with disdain by the hurling dominated board in Cork (and Tipp) and any meagre success is in spite of this and down to a handful of hardcore football people largely from West or Northwest of Cork or other isolated pockets like Nemo Rangers in the city.

Anyone prepared to discuss how football is treated in Kilkenny? I won't hold my breath.

I wont disagree with you but honestly is their respect for football any worse than Kerrys respect for hurling?

[Milltown Row2]

This guy would ban hurling given half the chance. Wouldn't care too much on his views..