Christy Ring

[INDIANA]

the beginning of the end of the competition, which was one of the brighter ideas in recent times by the association. It only proves my point about a cabal. What the hell do cork,kilkenny and tipp men know about hurling in the weaker counties. F*** all. and yet they make all the decisions for them. Beggars belief.
I think its not before a an all-ireland hurling semi because Cork want a double header instead? Wouldn't surprise me, with the cloak and daggers bullshit that surrounds the Gaa.  They claim to want to increase participation in hurling, well from my experiences on the ground in Dublin, most of the hierachy within the big 3 would enjoy seeing the status quo remain. This only proves that point.

[magpie seanie]

They claim to want to increase participation in hurling, well from my experiences on the ground in Dublin, most of the hierachy within the big 3 would enjoy seeing the status quo remain.

I would suspect you are correct and have done for some time. The day Dublin beat one of them at senior level will be a great one. Here's hoping.

[Galforever]

Could be a ticket issue?? With the Dubs in action they are probably likely to get limited tickets although I doubt there would be big demand in both counties anyway

I would have imagined that Carlow might bring a few fans. No expert on Carlow but surely they would bring a crowd considering that they are in so few finals.

[INDIANA]

i would imagine they want if before an all-ireland hurling semi, and so it should be. before a dublin game is pointless. you can't get our lads into the stadium on time to watch us never mind anyone else. dublin will cream off the tickets , it won't be on TV on a saturday and a national final will feel like a challenge game. Don't know why they don't go the whole hog and partition the Dail to ban the sale of hurleys outside the top 6. I've never seen a association with a capacity to shoot itself in the foot continuosly.

[Owenmoresider]

A shambles and a slight to those who promote hurling in the weaker counties, our final is on at 12 noon next Sunday, before two qualifers, not even QF's if you don't mind. But the Friday night plan beggars for the CR final belief, even worse than fixing your senior league final for a Tuesday night like some did. Brennan's reign is one which makes Gordon Brown look like Churchill by comparison.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Christy Ring Cup final switched
30 July 2008

It has emerged that the controversial fixture for this weekend's Christy Ring Cup final between Westmeath and Carlow has been switched to this Sunday, August 3, at Tullamore.

The decider had originally be fixed for this Friday evening, August 1, at Croke Park but following pressure from both counties since, the match has now been re-fixed for 6.00pm at the neutral grounds of Tullamore in county Offaly.

Fears that the original fixture would struggle to attract a crowd of 1,000 people in Dublin seem to have influenced the CCCC's decision to change the game's date in the space of two days.


You'd have to wonder why this solution wasn't reached before the Friday date was originally released. Still nowhere near the warm up act to an AI SF that was originally promised though...

[Mentalman]

Christy Ring Cup final switched
30 July 2008

It has emerged that the controversial fixture for this weekend's Christy Ring Cup final between Westmeath and Carlow has been switched to this Sunday, August 3, at Tullamore.

The decider had originally be fixed for this Friday evening, August 1, at Croke Park but following pressure from both counties since, the match has now been re-fixed for 6.00pm at the neutral grounds of Tullamore in county Offaly.

Fears that the original fixture would struggle to attract a crowd of 1,000 people in Dublin seem to have influenced the CCCC's decision to change the game's date in the space of two days.


You'd have to wonder why this solution wasn't reached before the Friday date was originally released. Still nowhere near the warm up act to an AI SF that was originally promised though...

Heard this mooted this morning. Have a reception that night but will stil make it down for the match. As you said, far from the semi-final curtain raiser, it seems we're settling for less and less with each passing year, will they even bother with the Ring and Rackard cups in a few years...

[stevecw]

So thats it then throw it on at 6pm on a Sunday evening in Tullamore. No double or triple header in Croke Park, no live TV! At start of the year the hurlers of these counties expected a game before the AI semi live on tv, and now we have this!
While ok its better than a Friday night in front of 300 people in Croker, its still nowhere near good enough.

Also why Tullamore? Thats right next to Westmeath & a long way from Carlow. Portlaoise is the obvious mid point between both counties. Even that much they couldn't get right.

[Lone Shark]

Also why Tullamore? Thats right next to Westmeath & a long way from Carlow. Portlaoise is the obvious mid point between both counties. Even that much they couldn't get right.

i know this is an aside from the main issue, but it would have been a toss up between the two venues and rightly so. Portlaoise is 45 miles from Mullingar and 23 miles from Carlow town, Tullamore is funnily enough the exact opposite - 23 from Mullingar and 45 from Carlow. Factor in that Tullamore is the better stand where 90% of the crowd will be and you have your answer.


As for the main issue, it's awful bad form. Going out of their way to make sure Cork fans don't have to travel twice, when only a few weeks ago Offaly fans (and a lot of other Ring/Rackard counties as well) were being expected to perform bilocation.

Indiana, I too would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[INDIANA]

I remember a conversation i had with supporters from one of the big 3 counties.  They described hurling outside the top 6 as a waste of good ash! Thats the attitude you're dealing with, don't think the hierachy think any different.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Could they not have played it as part of a triple header before the Tipp Waterford AI semi final?

[glens73]

According to this Carlow won AET.

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/rte2/241-01.html

Sounds like a cracker, should have been at Croke Park live on TV, had the GAA any interest in promoting hurling across the country.

[slow corner back]

Fair play to Carlow, sounds like a cracking match alright

Sunday, 3 August 2008 21:29
An amazing game that went to extra-time saw Carlow lift the Christy Ring Cup for the first time with a hard-fought three-point victory over holders Westmeath at O'Connor Park in Tullamore.

There was nothing to separate the sides in the opening half, with Carlow recovering from an indifferent start to level matters by the break at 1-10 apiece.

Eoin Price opened the scoring for Westmeath inside the opening minute, with Mark Brennan getting Carlow off the mark with a point on five minutes.

The first goal arrived after ten minutes with some route one hurling paying off for the Lake County.

Mark Briody's puck out fell to Brendan Murtagh who set up Derek McNicholas and the corner-forward slipped the ball to the net to put Westmeath 1-03 to 0-03 ahead. Two further Murtagh points stretched the lead to five but Westmeath then had to wait a further ten minutes to score as Carlow took command.

Jim Greene's men scored a 1-04 without reply to lead by two points with 20 minutes gone as Craig Doyle raised the green flag with a neat finish from close range after good work from Robert Foley in the build up. Westmeath then outscored Carlow before the half time whistle by 0-05 points to 0-02 to leave the score level at half-time.

A scoring blitz on the resumption of play saw Carlow score 2-04 without reply in the first ten minutes. Foley and Doyle found the net as Carlow lead by ten points against the bewildered Lakesmen.

The holders, however, were not about to hand over the cup without a fight and had reduced the deficit to just three points with ten minutes remaining, helped by 1-02 from star forward Murtagh.

Carlow edged further in front as full-time approached but in an amazing five minutes of stoppage time Westmeath forced extra-time with a goal from John Shaw and a last gasp converted penalty from Murtagh which ended the contest in normal time at 3-18 to 4-15.

A missed penalty for Westmeath in the third minute of extra-time ultimately proved costly as goalkeeper David Miley made the save from Murtagh's strike.

Paul Greville got the only score in the first period with a point for Westmeath, but four unanswered points in the second period from Carlow sawGreene's men win by three points and lift the Cup with Craig Doyle pointing for the last score of the game.

Westmeath: M Briody; G Gavin, P Greville (0-01), A Price; B Connaughton, D McCormack, P Dowdall; L Smyth (0-01), P Clarke; A Mitchell, B Murtagh (2-10, 0-07f), E Price (0-03); R Jackson, D McNicholas (1-01), J Shaw (1-00).

Subs used: B Smyth (for Jackson 24 mins), C Jordan (for Greville 42), N Gavin (for G Gavin 49), P Gilsenan (for Smyth 57), Greville (for Mitchell 70), C Flanagan (for Smyth extra-time).

Carlow: D Miley; A Gaul (0-01), D Shaw, J Rodgers; E Coady, S Kavanagh (0-04, 0-03f), R Coady (0-01); D Roberts (0-01), A Brennan; R Dunbar (0-03), C Hughes (0-07, 0-04f), M Brennan (0-02); J Coady, R Foley (1-01), C Doyle (2-01).

Subs used: J Hickey (for Brennan 60 mins), K English (for Dunbar 61), D Murphy (for Foley 63), B Lawler (for J Coady 70), S Murphy (0-01) (for Roberts 73), J Doran (for R Coady extra-time), Foley (for Hughes extra-time), Dunbar (for Murphy extra-time).

[Lecale2]

Well done Carlow.

[Franko]

Congrats to Steve and Carlow! Fair play! Pity the fuc**rs in the big house didnt think it was worth televising. Instead we have Fermanagh v Kildare - score after 24 minutes... 0.00 to 0.00. What bollo*ks!