Messages

[meaningful/meaningless]

As a result of county football the county board have been forced to reduce the senior league and introduce subsidiary compos to give players games in the 8/9 week period of no league football. I am interested to hear what posters thoughts onare Lavey pulling out on block of the competitions that have been put in place for teams over the next 8/9 weeks.  I would like to know why they have done this, as without knowing their rationale its looks so disrespectful to clubs and the competitions the county board have provided.

Good question.  It does not fit with the "players want more games" theory.

I think you missed out one of two words there 'meaningful/meaningless'.  The former reduced by 4 from next season.  Barker can try to fool people all he likes, lets call it what it is, a 9 week break to suit the county team and to cram half a season into 4 weeks prior.

Sure were we not reared on the view that championship fixtures were the only meaningful games? And for half the league teams, that's 1 match per year! Stephen Barker is trying to work around the constraints of the club / county overlap. I wouldn't envy his job.
On paper, clubs have their county men when needed, and they'll also have matches arranged during the break. I've said before, the reserves mid-season cup should be scrapped for next year and run with 1 team / club.
What we've had this year (won't happen every year) is meaningful league matches in April / May, the leagues of Kilrea and 'Screen playing for their div 1 survival, indeed there's been management changes in Div 1 and Div 2 already due to the heat of relegation.   
The sooner there's shortened defined county season , finishing end of July, then club fixtures from then on 'til the October championship final the better.

What would your solution be Josey?

No club games 13 days before a Senior county game.  With this Super 8, Derry unfortunitley will never be able to compete again at the top level, given the money that will be involved and size of our County

Never is a biggin ! We'll be back in the top 8 at some stage

We may well be for a couple of the early years, as Derry has a good bit of young talent coming through.  In the long term, where the big counties will eventually becoming professional (perhaps not on paper), we won't have a hope.  The big 8 will gradually pull away.  There will be 'B' and 'C' championships etc which won't inspire anyone. Even as a club man first, I genuinely hope I'm wrong.

[meaningful/meaningless]

As a result of county football the county board have been forced to reduce the senior league and introduce subsidiary compos to give players games in the 8/9 week period of no league football. I am interested to hear what posters thoughts onare Lavey pulling out on block of the competitions that have been put in place for teams over the next 8/9 weeks.  I would like to know why they have done this, as without knowing their rationale its looks so disrespectful to clubs and the competitions the county board have provided.

Good question.  It does not fit with the "players want more games" theory.

I think you missed out one of two words there 'meaningful/meaningless'.  The former reduced by 4 from next season.  Barker can try to fool people all he likes, lets call it what it is, a 9 week break to suit the county team and to cram half a season into 4 weeks prior.

Sure were we not reared on the view that championship fixtures were the only meaningful games? And for half the league teams, that's 1 match per year! Stephen Barker is trying to work around the constraints of the club / county overlap. I wouldn't envy his job.
On paper, clubs have their county men when needed, and they'll also have matches arranged during the break. I've said before, the reserves mid-season cup should be scrapped for next year and run with 1 team / club.
What we've had this year (won't happen every year) is meaningful league matches in April / May, the leagues of Kilrea and 'Screen playing for their div 1 survival, indeed there's been management changes in Div 1 and Div 2 already due to the heat of relegation.   
The sooner there's shortened defined county season , finishing end of July, then club fixtures from then on 'til the October championship final the better.

What would your solution be Josey?

No club games 13 days before a Senior county game.  With this Super 8, Derry unfortunitley will never be able to compete again at the top level, given the money that will be involved and size of our County

As a result of county football the county board have been forced to reduce the senior league and introduce subsidiary compos to give players games in the 8/9 week period of no league football. I am interested to hear what posters thoughts onare Lavey pulling out on block of the competitions that have been put in place for teams over the next 8/9 weeks.  I would like to know why they have done this, as without knowing their rationale its looks so disrespectful to clubs and the competitions the county board have provided.

Good question.  It does not fit with the "players want more games" theory.

I think you missed out one of two words there 'meaningful/meaningless'.  The former reduced by 4 from next season.  Barker can try to fool people all he likes, lets call it what it is, a 9 week break to suit the county team and to cram half a season into 4 weeks prior.

3271 hungry,deprived Gaa Football supporters in the south derry club of Bellaghy today for a school Game. 570 in Celtic park last week for a county double header.

Yip. Youse south Derry wans need to have a look st yourself

570 at a double header.  30 per panel including management team * 2.   
Given each player would probably have 6-7 family/friends there to watch them.
60 * 7 = 420

So 150 non related spectators to either of the teams.  Looks to me like Derry City ones wont even go out the front door to support a team.

Its time to stop this 30 year experiment and pull down the white elephant that is Celtic Park.  Its just unfortunate that the County board did not have the foresight to sell Celtic Park to the Derry City Council.  The council could have used it as the new Brandywell and saved them redeveloping the old one.  It would then have had a few thousand of a crowd in it every week.

Maybe Josey they don't have as many friends as you think.

Anyways; I'll always stand up for our county ground being Celtic Park as I am a city slicker and proud of it. When GAA people ask me what club I am from, I reply:

"Steelstown Brian Ogs, Derry City".

(Incidentally, I interviewed Pat Spillane about GAA matters and he asked me

"Where you from?"

I replied

"Derry City"

And remarked

"Jesus Christ")

A lot of gaels who I know and since have passed on, have fought tooth and nail to keep the ground running through the war and when it fell into disrepair, got it redeveloped again. It since has turned out to best the best overall ground in the county. It pains me to see that gaels on this board failing to attend because it is a 30 mile jaunt up the road every second week for 4 weeks of the year, barring championship.

It bugs me that the county board still ignore the city. They should be pulling out every stop to promote Gaelic games in the city by investing in more CDAs, funding you name it.

Not only does the fact that there is only one hurling club in the city look bad on the city, but it reflects bad on the county.

Every club in the county has them gaels and respect to them all.  It still doesn't give Celtic Park the right to hold every County game when next to no one in the City will go to the games.  Last weeks double header proof of this.

3271 hungry,deprived Gaa Football supporters in the south derry club of Bellaghy today for a school Game. 570 in Celtic park last week for a county double header.

Yip. Youse south Derry wans need to have a look st yourself

570 at a double header.  30 per panel including management team * 2.   
Given each player would probably have 6-7 family/friends there to watch them.
60 * 7 = 420

So 150 non related spectators to either of the teams.  Looks to me like Derry City ones wont even go out the front door to support a team.

Its time to stop this 30 year experiment and pull down the white elephant that is Celtic Park.  Its just unfortunate that the County board did not have the foresight to sell Celtic Park to the Derry City Council.  The council could have used it as the new Brandywell and saved them redeveloping the old one.  It would then have had a few thousand of a crowd in it every week.

[And it isn't going to change for the foreseeable future whilst the matches are played at Celtic park.]

The surface in Celtic park is no longer the best in Derry. It resembled a bog in places yesterday. A fine total of 570 paid in,570. When are we going to learn. On a positive note at least we won. A fine start and a good finish but we were poor in between. But I could see signs of improvement

Interesting comment. . . which pitch in Derry do you think would have been better than Celtic Park yesterday?

Any highlights I saw of matches over the weekend the pitches were all bogs all over the place!

Supposedly,there was a school game played on Celtic park on the Saturday and then they played the Hurling before the Derry v Offaly game. That was silly at best. The pitch surface was terrible. My point is and always will be,if the pitch in Celtic park is like it was yesterday then why take the matches there as no-one wants to travel. Derry,as a team would gain an advantage by playing in frount of a bigger crowd at a South Derry venue. 570 people attended that Double header yesterday,that number is pathetic. And it isn't going to change for the foreseeable future whilst the matches are played at Celtic park.

The matches are going to be at Celtic Park for the foreseeable future though. Maybe it's the attitude of the South Derry 'supporters' that needs to change?

Given there were 550 at the match i think the North Derry (including a City with over 100k people) supporters attitude needs to change especially when its only 10 mins away from them.

Take your anti-city bias and ram it up your hole.

I want to apologise to everyone for my bad language last night and to restore pride. I was having a few drinks and you know the craic like, so I would like to say this in response

Take your anti-city bias and ram it up your hole.

Thanks y'wall

To it starts producing county footballers you can ram your city up your hole.

CPA Derry representative - An ex County player for many years - He should never have been allowed to speak for club players in Derry given his heavy bias towards county football down the years
Barker and CCC - Over 2 months without a competitive game after the 1st week in May.  Fantastic work guys.
Barker and CCC - Reduction in league games from next year by 30%.  Fantastic work guys.   
Barker and CCC - Next to no reserve games in div 2 at present.  Drag another 4 clubs into the mix to miss out on reserve football from 2019. Fantastic work guys.

Lenny is clearly a CB man or a big supporter of their approach as any club man can clearly see how our club football is being dismantled.

I personally feel clubs should take a stand and make a statement to our county board, maybe something as simple as boycott the Larkin Cup this season to see if they get the message, if the same shite is in situ next season boycott the league. How else can it be turned around, talking isn't working as no one is listening

Maybe club members should boycott County games until the county board starts listening.  Its risky though, as no one may notice, given that i believe this is already happening with the attendances at these games.

Barker and the complete County board don't give one dam about clubs.  Its all about the County and croke park.

Used to be clubs would have made a bit of much needed money by being given the odd club championship match.  They have taken all that now and the club even have to pay the ref for championship matches while the County board pocket all the gate recipts. 

Also im trying to remember but wasn't there a case recently where clubs voted a certain way for a motion, but our Country board delegated went down to croker and voted against the will of the club vote.  Can someone let me know what this motion was?

Was doing abit of asking about and it was the black card motion our County board Croke Park representitive went against the vote of the Co Derry clubs and voted differently.  Not 100% sure but i think it was Gerad O'Kane.

The Larkin Cup is a load of shite lads, lets be honest.

Maybe clubs should put more emphasis on these competitions considering the lack of competitive games compared to training that is apparent.

Totally agree. If you think this competition is rubbish it will be. If you take it seriously it can be a good competition and clubs can get a lot out of it. It will get much increased kudos from being a stand alone competition in the middle of the season. In previous seasons it just got in the way of important league games.

Lenny, its a crap competition. How are teams expected to take it serious when their county men aren't able to play in it. e.g you could play a =Slaughtneil side missing 7 players.

It's purpose was a pre season comp, similar to Hughes/McElwee in minors.

95% of players aren't county players. What are those players supposed to do in the 8 or 9 week break. With this competition in place they are going to get regular games. It's nowhere near as important as league or championship but the players will enjoy getting regular games even without county men.

Larkin cup, wise up. 

The players shouldnt have to do anything as there shouldnt be a 9 week break.  Also what about the respective club spectators who have given there all for their club for 60 to 70 years.  Are they just expected to sit for nearly 3 months at the height of the good weather and watch meaningless dung, not even mentioning the reduction of 15 competitive games a year to 11?

Barker and the complete County board don't give one dam about clubs.  Its all about the County and croke park.

Used to be clubs would have made a bit of much needed money by being given the odd club championship match.  They have taken all that now and the club even have to pay the ref for championship matches while the County board pocket all the gate recipts. 

Also im trying to remember but wasn't there a case recently where clubs voted a certain way for a motion, but our Country board delegated went down to croker and voted against the will of the club vote.  Can someone let me know what this motion was?

A squad of 45 named in the new minor squad. Very noticeable the amount from South Derry on it-33 from South Derry,12 from North Derry. This squad has been picked by a Donegal man and a Tyrone man so no biased opinions this time

No surprise in that, south derry has always been where the football strong hold is in the county, your stating the obvious, however I fully take your point that it has been selected by a Donegal man.

Why does it matter where in Derry they are from? So long as the best players are picked I couldn't care less if they are from Bellaghy or Magilligan.

I was just stating the facts. It was very obvious and really stood out to me.

Take a look at the grading of teams from u14 to senior. More South Derry than North Derry teams in Divison 1 at every age group. Meaning the teams from South Derry are the stronger teams, because they have the better player and obviously if we are picking a panel of the best players their is going to be more from South Derry?

it's the exact same in the senior panel announced this morning.

Having read this post,isn't it ironic that the county training facility is in in North Derry and our County pitch is in Derry city. It makes you wonder. They invest so much money in the city yet all we have as a county to show for it so far is Neil Forester.

I'm not from the city but that's a negative post. There is some good work going on in the city and coaching at underage level in the city clubs has improved greatly. 3 city players on the minor squad just announced. There is a great opportunity to improve our Derry teams through the city and it is only beginning to be realised in my opinion.

I've been hearing the exact same comments for the past 30 years and nothing has changed.