Why are so many players leaving county panels?

[stew]

I think it should be pointed out that Begley has left due to injury and if can get back to fitness he will re-join the panel. I also think you are over stating the hardships of the inter county player.

I think you couldnt be more wrong.

[Zulu]

I think you couldnt be more wrong.

How so and are you presuming to speak for all inter county players?

[INDIANA]

6 days a week training in fairness zulu, i think the demands of managers are driving this towards professionalism and if you aren't close to the 15 after about 2 years you're notlikely to bother your arse the 3rd year you can't have a proper job and be an inter county player these days thats the reality

[Gnevin]

Panels are too big at 30 . Should be back down to 24 , at least with 24 you've got a starting 15 , a extra keeper meaning 3 backs,1 mid and 4 forwards . Most players should get a run based on does numbers .At 30 you've got 7 to 9 players say forwards how many have any chance of playing ?

[INDIANA]

need 30 for training gnevin unfortunately. you have to-recreate match conditions in training. no simple answer to this except to cut back the demands, but then wafflers like farrell and co would cry"what about the standard".to think i used to worship that tosser.

[Gnevin]

need 30 for training gnevin unfortunately. you have to-recreate match conditions in training. no simple answer to this except to cut back the demands, but then wafflers like farrell and co would cry"what about the standard".to think i used to worship that tosser.

How did teams train before then ? Why not play club sides or  have 6 "trainers"who would just be their to make up the numbers in mock matches at least that's being honest to the lads unlike now.

[mannix]

bust your ass and know its for nought as your county has no chance realistically
all you give up just to have a chance of wearing a county jersey
listen to poor managers telling you all is well when you are going to be a sub, subs bench sucks, no matter what else
gaa is becoming a bore, kerry for football or someone else when kerry are not feeling great,
kk or cork for hurling, i was a staunch fan but am getting tired of the predictability of the whole thing.
superstars looking very amateur in croker,
maybe I am in bad form but its getting a bit stale.

[Lar Naparka]

There’s a promising young player in Mayo; I don’t know the lad personally but his father and I were in school together and I know most of his neighbours fairly well. As far as I know he’s only 20 or maybe just into 21.
Now, he plays with his local club and was on the Mayo u-21 team this year. He also is a senior panellist. On top of all this he was on the Sigerson team for his third level college this year.
Okay; one night after his college side were knocked out of the Sigerson he went on the tear with a few of his colleagues and got into a spot of bother with the cops. Because of this he was left on the bench against Kerry in the u 21 semi final.
Maybe that was fair enough as he was not supposed to be drinking.
Jaysus, the stink that was kicked up by those on high horses was awful. You’d think the young lad had committed murder.
Remember he was playing for 4 different teams and training with all of them. The trip alone, over and back to Galway must have left him with a sore arse.
When you think of the time involved and the commitment needed from each team manager, it’s a wonder that he got time to drink a drop at all, never mind giving in on one occasion and letting go with his mates.
Thankfully a night in the slammer seems to have taught him a bit of sense and hasn’t affected his commitment to the game.
But I wouldn’t blame him one little bit if he ever decides that he’s had enough and starts living a normal life, without the criticism he had had to endure for supposedly letting the u 21 side down.
There are many others in the same boat as him and I think it’s no wonder that many bow out of the game. I’m not just thinking about students only. Lots of intercounty players and those playing club football also, have very long drives several times a week to train with their counties or local clubs. Along with that, some may have young families and hefty mortgages to contend with and the need to turn up for work in one piece the next day.
The price many players are being asked to pay is far too high for them to enjoy their game.

[mannix]

Lar na parka,
i agree wholeheartedly.
Dropped by a lameduck managment to teach him and the rest a lesson and it cost them all an allireland, why would he bother his barney with such ridiculous people.H e is finished at u21 now i imagine and gone with his underage status is the chance to be a champion at the level.
would cristiano ronaldo or lionel messi be asked to play for four teams and not allowed leeway?
Ciaran mac was dropped but not told he was dropped,  jom can squirm all he likes about the truth being thrown up on the table, more amateur bull from a supposedly great manager. That was a despicable way to treat any player, he busted his ass training and did not get the respect a dog would get.
Luckily though, karma is a real bitch.

[Zulu]

I seem to remember a debate here where a number of posters argued that club players were putting as much effort as IC players now it seems that IC players are being forced to endure impossible demands on their time and body's, so which is it? I know a number IC players from mid ranking teams and none of them train 6 nights a week, in saying that there are some players (U21's and college players) who are being asked to do too much but no-one is willing to take the necessary steps to deal with it. Quite simply a player should only be allowed to play and train with one county team (i.e minor, U21 or senior) and play only one code at IC level from minor up. All players playing Sigerson or Fitz should be allowed train with their college team only until those competitions are over and freshers should be banned from playing Sig/Fitz. There are other things that could and should be done but the above would be a good start.

[From the Bunker]

Reasons for leaving county panels

• Lack of success of if with a weaker county, means commitment will go unnoticed.

• Gap between Strong and weaker counties getting wider in both codes

• The chance of going to the states to play and make a few bob and get a mini holiday.

• Lack of Appreciation of Fans, many expect too much from amateur players.

• The unreasonable expectation of Fans.

• Lack of appreciation from the Press/media, many expect too much from amateur players.

• The negative analysing of amateur intercounty players.

• Loss of being able to Commit to club (often club will come second if playing intercounty).

• Loss of time with Family, friends and social occasions.

• Loss of Wages/Overtime due to games/Training.

• Fear of wages lost due to injury.

• Burn out, many good players have too much played too early in their career.

• Self employment, to hard for self employed to commit.

• Time and constraints of Modern life....Mortgages, work, travel, etc

[Gnevin]

Reasons for leaving county panels

• 
  Lack of success of if with a weaker county, means commitment will go unnoticed.
  
  Gap between Strong and weaker counties getting wider in both codes
  
  The chance of going to the states to play and make a few bob and get a mini holiday.
  
  Lack of Appreciation of Fans, many expect too much from amateur players.
  
  The unreasonable expectation of Fans.
  
  Lack of appreciation from the Press/media, many expect too much from amateur players.
  
  The negative analysing of amateur intercounty players.
  
  Loss of being able to Commit to club (often club will come second if playing intercounty).
  
  Loss of time with Family, friends and social occasions.
  
  Loss of Wages/Overtime due to games/Training.
  
  Fear of wages lost due to injury.
  
  Burn out, many good players have too much played too early in their career.
  
  Self employment, to hard for self employed to commit.
  
  Time and constraints of Modern life....Mortgages, work, travel, etc

Or more simply being the 10th choice forward or back and knowing you've f**k all chance under the current management . Getting sick of bench warming and breaking you balls simply to make up the numbers all while playing little to no clubs games are your county tied .

How many 1st choice starters have quit in the last few years and where 100% fit?