Masters

macslash

I dont think there is a thread for this but if there already is apologies, but Galway won the final for the 3rd year in a row today against Mayo in Clonberne, Co. Galway. Some achievement!! Galway had a panel of 52 for the year!
Tyrone beat Cavan in the Shield final.

Both matches were shown live on Irish TV ch.191

Rob Thomas

It's a great achievement for Galway and I know a couple of the guys on it and they put in a decent effort over the past 2-3 months to be fair to them. And it was an exciting game, albeit the quality was low, mainly due to the very bad weather conditions.

The Gaelic Masters Association have made great strides in the past couple of years getting this competition back going but it needs to get recognised by the GAA if it's going to grow any further. I'm delighted Galway won but it's a little devalued by the low number of counties which are involved. That won't grow drastically unless the GAA come on board.

The GAA concerns were around insurance and injuries to older guys who still think they are 21 and play with little regard for their or others safety. And to be fair there were two instances today where players could have been badly hurt when they were clattered by one of their own players who was trying to "do" one of the opposing teams but arrived a few seconds late!

The two associations need to meet and iron out a set of rules which satisfies everyone and then the competition could have a great future.

But a great day for Tyrone and Galway and well done also to Irish TV for showing the games.

macslash

Ya you said everything there perfectly. The Tyrone captain said its about time that they were recognised in his speech. A few of the Galway lads are from my GAA club also so I was delighted for them!

paul0103

But in reality is official recognition going to make any difference? It's a fairly minor competition, and the GAA really have more important things to be spending their money on. I'd much prefer my own county put money into preparing underage hurling and football teams than spend money on preparing an over 40's team for what is really a mickey mouse competition.

CrabRevolution

Rob Thomas wrote: »

It's a great achievement for Galway and I know a couple of the guys on it and they put in a decent effort over the past 2-3 months to be fair to them. And it was an exciting game, albeit the quality was low, mainly due to the very bad weather conditions.

The Gaelic Masters Association have made great strides in the past couple of years getting this competition back going but it needs to get recognised by the GAA if it's going to grow any further. I'm delighted Galway won but it's a little devalued by the low number of counties which are involved. That won't grow drastically unless the GAA come on board.

The GAA concerns were around insurance and injuries to older guys who still think they are 21 and play with little regard for their or others safety. And to be fair there were two instances today where players could have been badly hurt when they were clattered by one of their own players who was trying to "do" one of the opposing teams but arrived a few seconds late!

The two associations need to meet and iron out a set of rules which satisfies everyone and then the competition could have a great future.

But a great day for Tyrone and Galway and well done also to Irish TV for showing the games.

No offence to them, but the reason for the poor quality is nearly entirely down to the fact the players are all over 40 years old.

I admire and applaud their effort, but I dont understand how people try to portray this competition as meaning anything. Leave them at it under their own organisation and all that, but the GAA have no real need to get involved. Talk all you like about spirit, heart etc. but those masters teams would have rings run around them by a decent junior club team.

Also I've never heard of a masters club match. Is the only level of masters competition the inter county All Ireland, that most counties dont even enter?

TCDStudent1

Talk all you like about spirit, heart etc. but those masters teams would have rings run around them by a decent junior club team.

No, they wouldnt. I know that most of the Galway players still play on their junior teams and are usually the best players on that team.

These guys have given terrific service to their club and county over the years.

Iecrawfc

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

No, they wouldnt. I know that most of the Galway players still play on their junior teams and are usually the best players on that team.

These guys have given terrific service to their club and county over the years.

Really it should be about keeping guys who are pushing on involved in the GAA who otherwise would drift away and play 5 a side soccer etc. as they may have no interest in administration, it doesn't have to be about the standard, what about the guy who wants a puck around of a Sunday and keep reasonably fit, why not provide them with an outlet to keep playing GAA in their 40s, I think a few clubs in each county setting up masters competitions would be a great boost to numbers playing hurling/football, in Australia masters afl competitions are everywhere, of course there the culture isn't to give up exercising when you get to 40 and put up a huge beer gut!

boosabum

If there was official recognition it might entice more players into training with their counties and increase the standard.
Pat Fallon and George Stagg of the Mayo team won a masters title in 2006, begs the question where are all the guys similar to trevor burke who would have been playing a high levle of club football and just turned 40 gone to. I know at that age there is young families to contend with but it's no more of an effort then trainig with your junior team.