Colleges in Club Championship

Sligoper · July 28, 2008, 09:41:25 PM

What do people think? I mean they are counties in the FBD league and O'Byrne Cup but they are clubs in the local championship??

Orior · July 28, 2008, 09:51:55 PM

It works okay for FDB, O'Byrne and McKenna (and Munster?) but it should be left at that.

Hell, they're even trying to dislodge the Tommy Murphy counties from the championship. Could Antrim give Crossmaglen a good game?

Zulu · July 28, 2008, 10:04:20 PM

I think it is a good thing myself but it is obviously up to each county to decide if their clubs are capable of competing against their colleges. I would however have some restrictions on player eligibility as some players were playing for years with different colleges.

magpie seanie · July 28, 2008, 10:12:18 PM

Personally don't agree with it and would hate to see it happen in Sligo (couldn't see the clubs allowing it though). Good luck to lads that make use of the rule to play with their colleges though.

INDIANA · July 28, 2008, 10:15:04 PM

absolute disgrace, we had to put up with the likes of ucd in 21 championships in dublin taking county medals off lads. my club lost 6 county finals to UCD in 8 years. They are an absolute no=no, i would argue it with anyone. you train your bollox off all year only to be beaten by a bunch of supserstars who can play in 2 county championships a season, something that is not allowed for any other club player.Joke.

screenexile · July 28, 2008, 10:29:15 PM

Don't agree with it at all! Surely Colleges get enough football/hurling without this and as for entering U21 Championships it is grossly unfair on a local club. They shouldn't be allowed near the club championship. Colleges aren't even running in the summer when the championship is on yet lads are still travelling from all around the country to play for their college in an alien club championship... absolute madness and I think it's a practice that should be abolished throughout the country!

Zulu · July 28, 2008, 10:29:57 PM

I wouldn't accept they are a bunch of superstars Indiana though with the increase of scholarships that has probably changed a bit. I was involved with my college in the county championship and most years we were well beaten but one year all the players committed to playing and they won the county championship and I think it drove the clubs on and helped increase standards within the county. I can see some of the arguments aginst they're inclusion but I think they can be a positive influence also.

INDIANA · July 28, 2008, 10:34:30 PM

having UCD in the dublin hurling championship was a farce, a weak county championship until recently they ritually hammered clubs in the final. i know lads who gave up because of it. You take your chances with club teams beating you, at least they are on the same level as you. but having guys playing in your county championship and being allowed to do the same back at home was soul destroying. There was the famous case of one inter county footballer playing for UCD who hadn't attended university for 2 years and was working on the family farm at home, yet he won a football championship with UCD and played a prominent role in it. Farcical.

Zulu · July 28, 2008, 10:52:01 PM

I'd accept that those situations are farcical, but I refered to those in my first post. A county should only allow the colleges in their championship if their clubs can compete and some restrictions should be applied to players so only primary degree students can play.

INDIANA · July 28, 2008, 11:05:31 PM

you wouldn't believe the loopholes zulu, they aren't as tight as college competitions ironically. they can play even if they dropped out months ago.

TacadoirArdMhacha · July 28, 2008, 11:44:28 PM

Don't see the point in it myself. They aren't clubs in the true sense of the word in that they have no underage structure and have a transient playing population. QUB and UUJ would quite possibly make a shambles of the Antrim championship were they to play there.

Sligoper · July 29, 2008, 12:13:38 AM

A strong county like Galway could handle NUIG but if Sligo IT played in the Sligo SFC it would be a disaster. There are pro's to it though and our four lads playing for NUIG are playing in a stronger club championship then the Sligo one and this can only be good for them!

GaillimhIarthair · July 29, 2008, 08:28:56 AM

Quote from: Sligoper on July 29, 2008, 12:13:38 AM
A strong county like Galway could handle NUIG but if Sligo IT played in the Sligo SFC it would be a disaster. There are pro's to it though and our four lads playing for NUIG are playing in a stronger club championship then the Sligo one and this can only be good for them!

NUIG's participation in the Galway championship is a time bomb just waiting to explode right now! A lot of clubs are opposed to them being allowed to take part as they can practically field 15 players with intercounty experience, where as the majority of ordinary senior clubs wouldn't even come half way to matching that! Personally, I dont agree with their participation as I thing they have sufficient competioions in the Higher Education Leagues, Sigerson and FBD.