Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 2011-2012

robopaddy wrote: »

From what I can see the ref was completely out of order here. Ive seen a game abadoned before but that was after a melee which went for about 20 mins and it was obvious that parity was not going to be restored. It seems here that the ref walked off the field after just 3 minutes.

Who knows maybe he was having a bad day and just said to hell with this, or else he just felt he wasn't going to be able to gain control of the game. If so he shouldnt be there in the first place. A lot a junior games are like that where theres a couple of early flakes fellahs are too wound up and its up to the ref to nip it in the bud early on.

Well, I thought the ref was quite within his rights to do what he did. There was only three minutes gone and already there had been a massive brawl (caused by two lads going at each other as if they were trying to knock each other's block off), a thistle-cutting hack at a lad's hand, and a back ploughing full force into a sparrow-fart of a corner forward as if said forward had made his sister pregnant. I'm sorry I came off as sneery at Junior hurling in what I wrote, but I make no apologies for being amazed that two teams with no obvious grudge against each other should go at it hammer-and-tongs in a group game. Just mad.

Mountainlad wrote: »

Wow, look down your noses at them why don't you!

Is that comment saying that Tramore and Bonmahon are not allowed have a scuffle, but Ballygunner and Roanmore's Senior team's are because they're "more important"?

Surprised at that post Hardy. People can say what they like about Junior hurling and the fights, but I see easily as many Senior club fights as I do at Junior.

First of all, I've played at both levels, and I wouldn't be looking down my nose at anyone. What you're saying there is putting words in my mouth slightly. I should also point out that I don't support indiscipline at any level.

In my experience, I'd also say that more punishment is dished out in senior, but I was actually responding to someone who found that a lot of bad behaviour among junior teams is very common, as lads are too wound up.

Is there more at stake playing on your club's first team at senior level - yes I think so. Lads are training harder, making more sacrifices. There is more pressure on you from the community, it's the biggest thing going on in the club. The motivation and drive of the senior player is half the reason why he got there in the first place, and he's more likely to be wound up and volatile.

Playing on a 2nd or 3rds team, you've got a different mix of individuals. Some are young and hoping to step up, some are entering their twilight years, others are playing at their level. It's as much about playing for fun and keeping fit for a lot of people.

Lads I know who play Junior B do so because they enjoy the game, enjoy playing with their friends and want to be active in the club. If they go out and win they'll enjoy the victory, if not they won't lose any sleep over it.

If you can't go out any play a game without resorting to punching lads and putting in crazy tackles, you should probably examine your motives for playing sport at all.

ollie the Saint wrote: »

ref came to game 15 minutes late, threw in ball and only dished one yellow card when brawls broke out 2 minutes in, bonmahon sideline mentors mnagers and all ran in and threw flakes. Ref took no control of the game not one red card in site,he walked off pitch and hoped into his car and tore off, a sterner ref which i could name a few in the county (and which are good ) would have taken care of the situation.

I bet they'd be delighted to hear you think so well of them - but funnily enough, it never seems to be after a game they've reffed

robopaddy wrote: »

Ok you were there fair enough so you have more of an idea. But in your opinion did the ref walk off to make a stand against what was going on or because he just didnt feel like dealing with it?

I don't know him and what motivates him. Perhaps he has a record for dummy-spitting. However once he missed the start of the big brawl - and the lads who started it were not shoving each other with their hurleys, they were beating each other like they were spring-cleaning a rug - and couldn't identify who had started it, he was damned if he did etc. He couldn't have been certain of the correctness of any cards he would have been dishing out and you'd have had people fuming that they'd been shown the line even though they hadn't started it. I'm pretty sure I heard his comment as he marched off correctly - “None of ye want to play the game, so just forget about it” - and I think it was fair comment.

ollie the Saint wrote: »

most matches has a little bite a bit of "get to know you kinda stufff" to it and im not condoning the timber sheding at the start of this particualr match but ive been in games where a more experienced ref would have nipped this in the bud very quickly.

Aye, fair enough. If you've been to one Tramore match in the last decade that's one more than me :rolleyes:

robopaddy wrote: »

Refereeing is a thankless job. I have the
I do not agree with what happened in this game however. The whole concept of having a referee is to maintain law & order in a game and see that the rules are applied fairly to both teams. If every ref was to walk away everytime tempers were raised then where would we be at. It seems to me that the ref lost control of this and let himself, the law abiding players and people who paid into the match down by walking away from it. Given the match was only 3 minutes old its hard to defend it no matter what the circumstances

I'd like to know what poor sap paid to get in!

jive wrote: »

the lad who posted the report on the previous page... for one..

if this was directed at me then your wrong i never said i paid to get in oh and btw i didnt pay

Mountainlad wrote: »

Just thought I'd highlight this. Now, joe.ie don't bother me too much because to be honest it's not exactly cutting edge journalism and I've seen them make mistakes before. I heard the RTE Radio 1 Championship preview piece however with Donal Og Cusack and this is a quote from him "It seems as if there's a tough road ahead, it seems as if the challenge of Clare will be hard enough to get over".

If I had the hurleys with me I'd be wearing them off the walls. I know people more rationale than me would say this is perfect, but no matter how hard I try stuff like this will always anooy the sh*t out of me :mad:

I don't know whether it was said in such a way to write us off or maybe it was just ignorance on his part that he didn't know Waterford were on the same side of the draw as Clare and Cork.
Either way though, hopefully the management team get word of it and pin it on the dressing room wall.

Psychedelic wrote: »

Tony Browne officially back for another championship! From WLR:

amazing player he must be the oldest and longest player to be playing in both Football and Hurling championships.

Pity he might never get an all ireland medal.

This must be his last year.

Can see Seamus Prendergast and The Brick going this year as well

PTH2009 wrote: »

amazing player he must be the oldest and longest player to be playing in both Football and Hurling championships.

Pity he might never get an all ireland medal.

This must be his last year.

Can see Seamus Prendergast and The Brick going this year as well

Christy Ring played his last championship game for Cork when he was 43.

ManFromCheese wrote: »

is that young lad thats hurling with lismore, jordan shanahan any relation of dan and maurice?

He is a first cousin to Dan & Maurice. I think he's only about 16 or 17. He seems to be maturing in to a fine hurler and only made his debut for the lismore senior team this year.

Just looking over a couple of the senior hurling results, and looks like there were a couple of hidings handed out already. Ring and Roanmore would look to be a bit off the pace, even at these early stages.

Without wanting to instigate another large debate over structures, has anyone had a look at the games this year, and be able to comment? Are games as competitive/less competitive than other years?