Pre Season Comps - Mcgrath/McKenna/O Byrne/Walsh Cups etc

KevIRL

Inter county GAA kicks off again this weekend with a host of football games. Always love these tournaments, nice chance to get out to some games in freezing conditions and often get to see new players - might even get yer mugshot into the 2013 'Season of Sundays'

Saturday 5 January 2013
McGrath Cup SF Preliminary Round
Kerry v IT Tralee, Killarney, 2pm

Sunday 6 January
O’Byrne Cup SF round 1
Longford v Meath, Ballymahon, 2pm
Louth v UCD, Drogheda, 2pm
Carlow v Dublin, Carlow, 2pm
Wicklow v DCU, Greystones, 2pm
Offaly v Laois, Tullamore, 2pm
Westmeath v AIT, Athlone, 2pm
Wexford v DIT, Enniscorthy, 2pm
Kildare v Carlow IT, Newbridge, 2pm

McKenna Cup SF round 1
Monaghan v St Mary’s, Clones, 2pm
Queens v Armagh, Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Cavan v Down, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2pm
UUJ v Antrim, Casement Park, 2pm
Tyrone v Derry, Healy Park, 2pm

FBD FL round 1
NUIG v Galway, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
Sligo v Sligo IT, Kent Park, 2pm
Roscommon v Leitrim, Elphin, 2pm

McGrath Cup SF Preliminary Round
Clare v LIT, Miltown-Malbay, 2pm
Cork v CIT, Cork IT, 2pm

Fr Tod Umptious

Is it true that Mayo were kicked out of the FBD for failing to travel to NY the week after the all Ireland ?

iDave

New O'Byrne format. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

randd1

These pre-season tournaments are alright in their own way, but when you add in that most counties have 2/3 or more challenge matches after the league as well as these tournaments then it always made me wonder why don't the GAA expand the championship format to include a minimum 5 games a years?

Surely its better to have more competitive championship games rather than challenge matches and glorified challenge matches called pre-season tournaments?

iDave

randd1 wrote: »

These pre-season tournaments are alright in their own way, but when you add in that most counties have 2/3 or more challenge matches after the league as well as these tournaments then it always made me wonder why don't the GAA expand the championship format to include a minimum 5 games a years?

Surely its better to have more competitive championship games rather than challenge matches and glorified challenge matches called pre-season tournaments?

I'd push the boat out further and say 6 game minimums

namloc1980

iDave wrote: »

I'd push the boat out further and say 6 game minimums

How would that work?

Felexicon

I only go to these tounaments so when the championship comes around I can look down my nose and call everyone else fair weather supporters

dastardly00

Here's the fixture list for The Bord Na Mona Walsh Cup S.H. 2013:

1. Wexford v D.I.T., 20 Jan, venue: Wexford.
2. 1 v Offaly, 27 Jan, venue: Wexford/Tullamore.
3. Westmeath v N.U.I.G., 20 Jan, venue: Mullingar.
4. 3 v Kilkenny, 27 Jan, venue: Mullingar/Kilkenny.
5. Laois v U.C.D., 20 Jan, venue: Portlaoise.
6. 5 v Dublin, 27 Jan, venue: Portlaoise/Parnell Park.
7. Carlow v Antrim, 20 Jan, venue: Carlow.
8. 7 v Galway, 27 Jan, venue: Carlow/Belfast.

9. 2 v 4, 3 Feb, Home Venue 2.
10. 6 v 8, 3 Feb, Home Venue 6.

Final. 9 v 10, 10 Feb, Home Venue 9.

dastardly00

And The Bord Na Mona Kehoe Cup S.H. 2013:

1. St Pats, Drumcondra v Armagh, 20 Jan, venue: St Patricks.
2. Meath (Bye).
3. D.C.U. v Fingal, 20 Jan, venue: Fingal.
4. Wicklow v Down, 20 Jan, venue: Arklow.
5. Trinity v Derry, 20 Jan, venue: Trinity.
6. Roscommon v G.M.I.T., 20 Jan, venue: Roscommon.
7. Louth v Queens, 20 Jan, venue: Louth.
8. Kildare (Bye).
9. 1 v 2, 27 Jan, venue: TBC.
10. 3 v 4, 27 Jan, venue: TBC.
11. 5 v 6, 27 Jan, venue: TBC.
12. 7 v 8, 27 Jan, venue: TBC.

13. 9 v 10, 3 Feb, venue: TBC.
14. 11 v 12, 3 Feb, venue: TBC.

Final. 13 v 14, 10 Feb, venue: TBC.

rebel girl 15

Queens have pulled out of the McKenna cup because five players were unavailable to them due to county commitments, even though I'm fairly sure that colleges are supposed to have first call on players for these pre season competitions

Tom Joad

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Queens have pulled out of the McKenna cup because five players were unavailable to them due to county commitments, even though I'm fairly sure that colleges are supposed to have first call on players for these pre season competitions

Yeah it's all very bizarre - seems Tyrone wanted their panel together from the start of the year and pulled their players and yet the Ulster council seemed impotent to do anything despite expressing disapproval. Either the colleges have first call or they don't...

Always_Running

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Is it true that Mayo were kicked out of the FBD for failing to travel to NY the week after the all Ireland ?

Didn't get kicked out just received a fine that was less than it would cost to travel. Mayo's first FBD game is the following weekend as the whole panel are currently on holiday in Miami.

KevIRL

Kerry 4-22 IT Tralee 0-10 FT

Kerry goals scored by Paul Geaney (2), Mikey Geaney and Patrick Curtin. Kieran Donaghy went off with an ankle injury with 10 mins to go

Always_Running

KevIRL wrote: »

Kerry 4-22 IT Tralee 0-10 FT

Kerry goals scored by Paul Geaney (2), Mikey Geaney and Patrick Curtin. Kieran Donaghy went off with an ankle injury with 10 mins to go

Impressive start to the season for Kerry however, it must be said IT Tralee aren't up to much (currently 200-1 for the Sigerson Cup)

Badabing

Dublin beat Carlow handy Wexford lose to DIT.

KevIRL

Results of the day

Sunday 6 January
O’Byrne Cup SF round 1
Longford 1-07 1-09 Meath, Ballymahon FT
Louth 2-15 1-13 UCD, Drogheda FT
Carlow 1-12 3-13 Dublin, Carlow FT
Wicklow 1-12 2-09 DCU, Greystones FT
Offaly 1-11 1-08 Laois, Tullamore FT
Westmeath 1-22 0-13 AIT, Athlone FT
Wexford 1-11 1-15 DIT, Enniscorthy FT
Kildare 1-13 0-07 Carlow IT, Newbridge FT

McKenna Cup SF round 1
Monaghan 1-13 2-07 St Mary’s, Clones FT
Cavan 0-12 1-11 Down, Kingspan Breffni Park FT
UUJ 2-09 1-15 Antrim, Casement Park FT
Tyrone 0-12 0-13 Derry, Healy Park, 2pm

FBD FL round 1
NUIG 0-06 0-15 Galway, Pearse Stadium FT
Sligo 0-14 0-05 Sligo IT, Kent Park FT
Roscommon 0-05 0-06 Leitrim, Elphin FT

McGrath Cup SF Preliminary Round
Clare 1-19 1-02 LIT, Miltown-Malbay FT
Cork 1-15 0-11 CIT, Cork IT FT

Fireball07

LIT got fairly hammered in the football :eek: Micko's first game in charge?

RoscommonTom

ROSIES LOSING TO LEITRIM, EMBARASING. I SUPPOSE IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER FRPM HERE

Hammer Archer

RoscommonTom wrote: »

ROSIES LOSING TO LEITRIM, EMBARASING. I SUPPOSE IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER FRPM HERE

Always_Running

Offaly beating Laois is a shock are they going to turn things around this year? proud county like them shouldn't be playing Div 4 football.

cat in the sack

that wouldn't be a shock offaly could always beat Laois matter what division they are in.

meath12

i know its only january but i actually think offaly could do well this year, they could be a dark horse, theres been some very good minor and u21 squads in the past few years and those players should be coming through.
With a new manager on board and a good run in the league then who knows, theyre on the tougher side of leinster with dublin and kildare but id say they'd be capable of a good run in the qualifiers anyway.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Offaly were a good bit better than Laois yesterday and should have won by more than 3 points howeve we were pobably starting about 10 of our championship team whereas probably Laois only had a about 5 of their championship team starting.Offaly were a good deal fitter than they have been in the last few years and have been doing savage training in order to catch up.In the last 2 or 3 years Offalsy players just havent been fit enough and you cant expect to be competitive if players are nowhere near able to keep up with there opponents.Niall McNamee looks to have a spring in his step and scored 8 points yesterday.Offaly will definitley be better this year.

Steven81

Offaly footballers depend on 2 things, one is Nialler being fit which he is and the other is that they are not out drinking every sat night which happened all last year.

cormac halpin

Steven81 wrote: »

Offaly footballers depend on 2 things, one is Nialler being fit which he is and the other is that they are not out drinking every sat night which happened all last year.

iDave

Offaly have been at a low ebb for a while now but consider Donegal were ranked 19th at one stage and had a reputation for being party boys it shows how things can be turned around.
Delighted to have GAA back.
Meath get off to a winner and have Louth at home next which is always juicy

cormac halpin

iDave wrote: »

Offaly have been at a low ebb for a while now but consider Donegal were ranked 19th at one stage and had a reputation for being party boys it shows how things can be turned around.

Donegal won an Ulster MFC in 06, an NFL in 07 and contested an All Ireland U21 Final in 2010. Not exactly Division 4.

Bizzum

I think the malaise the effected Offaly football in recent years was and still is deeper than just at senior level. But I think the example being now set by our seniors will ultimately help all levels below.
I'm not gonna come on here in Jan and fly the flag and think we will beat all before us, but it's positive that the current management are going about team preparation at a level that is required of a senior county squad. Something that, sadly, was amiss in recent years.
I see a lot of very good work at underage level going on, and those young lads can only benefit from looking up at our seniors behaving in a manner befitting the Offaly jersey.
Ultimately a lot of work has to be done at senior level. At least it looks like there is an appetite for it there.

manofwisdom

Wasn't Niall McNamee injured last year? on form he's as good as any forward in Leinster.

Fireball07

manofwisdom wrote: »

Wasn't Niall McNamee injured last year? on form he's as good as any forward in Leinster.

As good as? I'd say he's probably the best tbh. Real class act.

A fully in-form Bernard Brogan might be around the same level.

blackbelt

Fireball07 wrote: »

As good as? I'd say he's probably the best tbh. Real class act.

A fully in-form Bernard Brogan might be around the same level.

How are things in the land of nod?

Dirty Dingus McGee

blackbelt wrote: »

How are things in the land of nod?

McNamee is a gifted player who's progress has been stifled by being in such a poor team for so long.He has been a one man band in Offalys forward line since 06 which was the last time we had a good team.He is probably the best ball winning corner forward in Ireland.He is about the only player who could reasonably claim to have played well for Offaly over the last few years and with his personal troubles being put behind him I think his form will improve this year.Even while not quite at his brilliant best in the last few years he was still an outstanding player.One one leg in 2010 he single handedly ripped Meaths full back line to shreds.He is a brilliant player at bringing others into teh game aswell.

Bernard Brogan is the only forward in Leinster I would have a ahead of him and McNamee since the summer looks revitalised which is a frightening prospect for corner backs everywhere

ciarriaithuaidh

Fireball07 wrote: »

As good as? I'd say he's probably the best tbh. Real class act.

A fully in-form Bernard Brogan might be around the same level.

I genuinely think this isn't an exaggeration..would rate Niall as high as any inside forward in the country on form. Would love to see Offaly play more big games in Croker if only to see him play. The way he carries the ball, his technique in turning and finishing with both feet..its absolutely marvellous to watch and a great example to younger players.

Bizzum

ciarriaithuaidh wrote: »

The way he carries the ball, his technique in turning and finishing with both feet..its absolutely marvellous to watch and a great example to younger players.

That same "lazy" style the great Matt Connor had. Niall can win his own ball too. He is a class act, and a certainty on any team in the country.

Fireball07

blackbelt wrote: »

How are things in the land of nod?

Well who would you have ahead of him?

McNamee is pure class- wins his own ball, can score off either foot, and is a threat anywhere inside the 45. His movement is excellent, and he's got a good burst of acceleration which gives him the space he needs to get shots away.

cormac halpin

Fireball knows the score. McNamee is unplayable on form and when things are right in the head, etc. Say no more. Tremendous talent. Hope things look up for him and Offaly, a thoroughly alright sort of a county.

KevIRL

Midweek fixtures

Wednesday 9 January
O’Byrne Cup SF round 2
Meath v Louth, Navan, 7.30pm
UCD v Longford, Killoe, 7.45pm
Dublin v DCU, Parnell Park, 7.30pm
Wicklow v Carlow, Bray, 7.30pm
Laois v Westmeath, Portlaoise, 7.30pm
Offaly v AIT, Gracefield, 7.30pm
Wexford v Carlow IT, Bunclody, 7.30pm
Kildare v DIT, Athy, 7.30pm

McKenna Cup SF round 1
Fermanagh v Donegal, Brewster Park, 7.30pm

jdooley28

Another win for Offaly, it's not often we win back to back games whatever the competition

Hammer Archer

Anyone know what criteria is used to separate two teams on equal points? Is it points difference or the result between the two teams?

rebel girl 15

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Anyone know what criteria is used to separate two teams on equal points? Is it points difference or the result between the two teams?

Unusual that its not mentioned at all on the Leinster GAA website, presume it will be the same as the national league.

cat in the sack

jdooley28 wrote: »

Another win for Offaly, it's not often we win back to back games whatever the competition

thats 4 in a row didn't they beat louth and Meath in a tourament just
before christmas, good to see a county with the history offaly have
on the way back leinster needs them back for a good championship.

Hammer Archer

Meath and Louth drew 1-8 to 11 points in Navan tonight. Louth were 8 points to 2 up at half time. The Louth keeper made some fantastic saves as well as saving a penalty late in the second half. Paddy Gilsenan got the Meath goal well into injury time to move a point up before Louth won the resulting kick out and scored the equalizer.
Louth have a +3 points difference advantage over Meath going into the last game. But Longford still have a chance of progressing while UCD are out. The winners of the group play Dublin.

premierstone

cat in the sack wrote: »

thats 4 in a row didn't they beat louth and Meath in a tourament just
before christmas, good to see a county with the history offaly have
on the way back leinster needs them back for a good championship.

Go away out of that your just hoping they pool all their energies into the football and neglect the hurling

Guess what though some counties are able to manage two codes :eek:

lol

Bizzum

premierstone wrote: »

Guess what though some counties are able to manage two codes :eek:

lol

No one with as small a population as Offaly managed the same success though:p

Would it crass to mention the first county to fill every All Star position in hurling and football..............:D

Lets not get too carried away though, the amount of work ahead of Offaly football is huge to get back to a level of respectability. Little acorns and all that!

The Ferrit

In the event of counties finishing with equal points for Qualification for the Semi Finals the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:-
(a) Where two counties only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous game in the Competition.
(b) Scoring Difference (subtracting the Scores Against from total Scores For).
(c) Highest Total Score For.
(d) A Play-Off.

cat in the sack

premierstone wrote: »

Go away out of that your just hoping they pool all their energies into the football and neglect the hurling

Guess what though some counties are able to manage two codes :eek:

lol

whats more when they were a powerful force in hurling in the early 80's
or 90's there was no sign of tipp either:D

as an offalyman once said to me we have beaten the kings of football and hurling in all irelands finals in Kilkenny;) and Kerry what more can we do.

KevIRL

Weekend fixtures

Sunday, 13 January 2013
O’Byrne Cup SF round 3
Meath v UCD, Navan, 2pm
Louth v Longford, Drogheda, 2pm
Dublin v Wicklow, Parnell Park, 2pm
Carlow v DCU, Carlow, 2pm
Westmeath v Offaly, Mullingar, 2pm
Laois v AIT, Portarlington, 2pm
Kildare v Wexford, Newbridge, 2pm
Carlow IT v DIT, Carlow IT, 2pm

McKenna Cup SF round 2
Fermanagh v St Mary’s, Brewster Park, 2pm
Donegal v Monaghan, Pairc MacCumhaill, 2pm
Antrim v Tyrone, Casement Park, 2pm

FBD FL round 2
Sligo v NUIG, Tourlestrane, 2pm
Galway v Sligo IT, Tuam, 2pm
Leitrim v Mayo, Ballinamore, 2pm
Roscommon v GMIT, Strokestown, 2pm

McGrath Cup SF quarter-finals
Limerick v Clare, TBC, 2pm
UCC v Kerry, TBC, 2pm
Tipperary v Cork, TBC, 2pm
UL v Waterford, Waterford venue, 2pm

Tom Joad

Results from McKenna Cup tonight

Armagh 1-11 Cavan 3-9
Derry 1-13 UUJ 0-6

rambojon

any fancies kev.........

KevIRL

rambojon wrote: »

any fancies kev.........

Dont know too much about football, but Meaths results so far have been good.

Hammer Archer

Meath beat UCD by 1-13 to 15 points in Navan. UCD had a pretty strong team out with a fair few intercounty players on show.
Not enough to make it to the semi finals as Louth were easily beating Longford with time nearly up.