Is connaught the most competitive provincial club championship

the Deel Rover · October 23, 2007, 10:36:08 AM

Going on the last 10 years the connaught club championship seems to be the most competitive provincial championship. Since 1998 when Corifin were the 1st team to bring the Andy Merrigan cup across the Shannon 4 other teams have also won the cup. Crossmolina , Ballina , Caltra and Salthill. Crossmolina and Ballina have also lost in 2 finals.

whiskeysteve · October 23, 2007, 10:44:28 AM

no

Gnevin · October 23, 2007, 12:33:53 PM

Quote from: whiskeysteve on October 23, 2007, 10:44:28 AM
no

I dont think i'll be as definitive as or too the point as steve . Connaught has certain produce some good clubs in the All-Ireland stage , this list below shows the winners form the 4 province over the last 10 years .

1996-97 Éire Óg (Carlow)    Laune Rangers, Killorglin (Kerry)    Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh)    Knockmore (Mayo)
1997-98    Erins Isle (Dublin)    Castlehaven (Cork)    Dungiven (Derry)    Corofin (Galway)
1998-99    Éire Óg (Carlow)    Doonbeg (Clare)    Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh)    Ballina Stephenites (Mayo)
1999-2000    Na Fianna (Dublin)    U.C.C. (Cork)    Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh)    Crossmolina (Mayo)
2000-01    O'Hanrahans (Carlow)    Nemo Rangers (Cork)    Bellaghy (Derry)    Crossmolina (Mayo)
2001-02    Rathnew (Wicklow)    Nemo Rangers (Cork)    Ballinderry (Derry)    Charlestown (Mayo)
2002-03    Dunshaughlin (Meath)    Nemo Rangers (Cork)    Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone)    Crossmolina (Mayo)
2003-04    St. Brigid's (Dublin)    An Ghaeltacht (Kerry)    An Lúb (Derry)    Caltra (Galway)
2004-05    Portlaoise (Laois)    Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare)    Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh)    Ballina Stephenites (Mayo)
2005-06    Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin)    Nemo Rangers (Cork)    St. Gall's (Antrim)    Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway)
2006-07    Moorefield (Kildare)    Dr. Crokes (Kerry)    Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh)    St. Brigid's (Roscommon)

The spread in Connaught and Leinster seem to be similar the big difference being the 5 All-Ireland won in 10 years .

magpie seanie · October 23, 2007, 12:42:39 PM

Connacht club football is pretty strong alright. Connacht football in general is pretty good for a province with only 5 counties. If you compare the progress of Connacht champions in recent years v. Leinster champs then the Connacht teams have done better (got to a few finals and actually won an AI this decade).

heineken_on_tap · October 23, 2007, 02:21:35 PM

Quote from: magpie seanie on October 23, 2007, 12:42:39 PM
Connacht club football is pretty strong alright. Connacht football in general is pretty good for a province with only 5 counties. If you compare the progress of Connacht champions in recent years v. Leinster champs then the Connacht teams have done better (got to a few finals and actually won an AI this decade).

Think it shows club football is alive and well in Galway and Mayo over the last decade, not so sure about Ros, Sligo and Leitrim. Other than Bridgits last year there has been no surprises.

Lone Shark · October 23, 2007, 06:41:04 PM

It depends on what you mean by competitive. On any given year the club champions in both Mayo and Galway tend to be very strong, with both usually in the shortlist for potential All Ireland winners. Against that, wins for clubs from any of the other three counties against either of those are all too rare.

If by competitive, you mean that the eventual winner tends to be strong, then unquestionably yes. If by competitive you mean that the Connacht Club championship has real depth and tends to have 3/4 strong teams out of 5 every year, then no.

GalwayBayBoy · October 23, 2007, 07:11:36 PM

Well if you look at the bare stats which are that 5 different club teams from Connacht have won the All-Ireland club title over the past 10 years then you'd have to say yes.

Against that is that 3 of those teams have been from Galway and 2 from Mayo with Mayo clubs also having lost a further 2 finals. This tends to indicate that the Galway and Mayo club championships are highly competitive and of a high standard but the rest of the club championships in Connacht probably lack the quality and depth of the big two.

Owenmoresider · October 23, 2007, 08:15:31 PM

True enough, Mayo and Galway clubs are quite successful, and both have very competitive club Championships. While the other three may not be as strong in general, they are putting it up to them, e.g. last year Brigid's beat both Cross and Corofin, while in 02 Eastern Harps beat Corofin and 03 saw Curry give Ballina a right beating. Same team won the AI a year later. Granted Sligo teams haven't had much success in Connacht, that Mary's side apart, but they are much better than things were in the 90's. Wouldn't rule out Tourlestrane beating Ballina, though they will have it tough. Ultimately the Mayo and Galway teams will be more likely to come through barring a very strong team emerging from the others, like in the 80's when Clann na Gael (Ros) and St. Mary's (Sligo) were the leading lights in Connacht, only Garrymore sneaked a Connacht away from them in that decade.

FWIW since 1997, Connacht has been represented in all the finals bar 2000, 02, and 07, with six different clubs. Good going by any rate.

umgolaarmagh · October 25, 2007, 01:06:31 AM

Get a alife will you!!!

FFS Connaught football is a joke!!

At every level

Only for the ladies you would be f^cked

GalwayBayBoy · October 25, 2007, 11:52:16 AM

Quote from: umgolaarmagh on October 25, 2007, 01:06:31 AM
Get a alife will you!!!

FFS Connaught football is a joke!!

At every level

Only for the ladies you would be f^cked

Here you go. More your level over here.

www.hoganstand.com

the Deel Rover · October 25, 2007, 11:58:24 AM

Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on October 25, 2007, 11:52:16 AM
Quote from: umgolaarmagh on October 25, 2007, 01:06:31 AM
Get a alife will you!!!

FFS Connaught football is a joke!!

At every level

Only for the ladies you would be f^cked

Here you go. More your level over here.

www.hoganstand.com