Railway Cup

rrs

Railway Cup is going ahead this year, after the weather put it aside last year.

Connacht were the last winners in 2014. Takes place 10th/11th of December Parnell Park.

rrs

Ulster v Munster
Leinster v Connacht

iDave

Saturday 10 December

Interprovincial SFC semi-finals
Munster v Ulster, Parnell Park, 4pm
Connacht v Leinster, Parnell Park, 6pm

Interprovincial SHC semi-finals
Munster v Ulster, Nenagh, 1pm
Connacht v Leinster, Nenagh, 2.45pm



Sunday 11 December

Interprovincial SFC final
Munster/UIster v Connacht/Leinster, Parnell Park, 2pm

Interprovincial SHC final
Munster/Ulster v Connacht/Leinster, Semple Stadium, 2pm

I'll definitely try and make some of the Parnell matches

thesultan

Went to the semis in fermoy one year. Very good standard. Should play a few national league hurling and football games cojoiningly and have it on the free weekends.

brocbrocach

Very good suggestion put forward by John Tobin that Railway Cup be played on Friday and Saturday of All-Ireland weekend. I think it's a great idea.
In the bottom section of this article from the Indo:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/tommy-walsh-tipped-for-kerry-return-after-joining-up-with-munster-35261392.html

CrabRevolution

Do other counties really keep the AI weekends free of championship fixtures? We don't here in Meath.

In any case I don't see much point in resurrecting the Inter Pros, wouldn't the fact that nobody cared too much about them being cancelled and not rescheduled last year not give a hint as to how unimportant they are?

The most common reason for keeping them seems to be "they used to be big", which is a fairly hollow reason. Their heyday was a long, long time ago, they were already in decline as far back as 1971 when they introduced a "Combined Universities" team to try and breath life back into the tournament.

I've nothing against them continuing, just that I see no point expending resources trying to fit them in during the real playing season. An end of season game like this is fine.

seligehgit

It's a shame there's no television coverage of the games.

rrs

Agree. Especially in December when there isn't much else on.

iDave

It definitely should have some TV platform alright.
In terms of the series people can take it or leave it. I prefer to take it.
So long as there is broad support from players it should continue.
Its better to have this than sending 60 odd plays plus coaches officials and blazers off to some junket in Abu Emirate Saudi Dhabi or wherever the All Star tour is. How much does that cost and not a sinner in the stand to watch it.

dixiefly

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Do other counties really keep the AI weekends free of championship fixtures? We don't here in Meath.

In any case I don't see much point in resurrecting the Inter Pros, wouldn't the fact that nobody cared too much about them being cancelled and not rescheduled last year not give a hint as to how unimportant they are?

The most common reason for keeping them seems to be "they used to be big", which is a fairly hollow reason. Their heyday was a long, long time ago, they were already in decline as far back as 1971 when they introduced a "Combined Universities" team to try and breath life back into the tournament.

I've nothing against them continuing, just that I see no point expending resources trying to fit them in during the real playing season. An end of season game like this is fine.

I agree, what is the point really?

Like in English soccer you dont have the various regions pulling teams together.

There are way way too many competitions and they are structured to ensure that some counties end up months and months withour a game.

I also believe that provincial club should be restricted to senior.

intermediate, junior etc is just bull**** stuff trying to extend the season for teams that already did well with a very difficult calibration of county standards resulting in pretty meaningless competitions.. There should be a Christy Ring equivalent for clubs in provinces.

I would also like to see the county league AND the championship tied hand in hand from February to September season with every second week approx set aside for club games. Club provincials etc to be played from mid september to mid november.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Surprised that TG4 aren't covering these games.

rrs

Munster Panel

Alan Campbell, Evan Comerford, Brian Fox, Michael Quinlivan, Conor Sweeney (Tipperary

Gary Brennan, Eoin Cleary, Kevin Hartnett, Jamie Malone, Keelan Sexton, David Tubridy (Clare)

Tom Clancy, Ruairi Deane, Conor Dorman, Colm O Dirscoll, Kevin O Driscoll (Cork)

Aidan O Mahoney, Tommy Walsh (Kerry)

Patrick Hurney, Tomas O Gorman Paul Whyte (Waterford)

The management team: Ger O Sullivan (Cork) Declan Browne (Tipperary) Dave Geaney (Kerry).

Same As

Looking forward to heading along to this this weekend - Any other updates on the other panels?

statto25

Any word on either of the Connacht Panels?

rrs

https://t.co/SCHi00LQc7

breffni bogballer

anyone going is encouraged to bring their boots and ID, so they can tog out for their respective province. A complete waste of time this time of year!

rrs

Due to the funeral of Ulster GAA Secretary, Danny Murphy, the Ulster v Munster GAA Football inter-provincial semi-final will now take place on Sunday, 11 December in Parnell Park at 2.00pm.

The Ulster v Munster GAA Hurling inter-provincial semi-final will take on Sunday in Thurles at 1.45pm.

The CCCC will meet on Sunday evening to determine the dates and times for the Interprovincial Finals.

The Leinster v Connacht fixtures remain as scheduled for Saturday, 10 December, with the hurling taking place in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh at 2.45pm and the football taking place in Parnell Park at 6.00pm.

iDave

Never mind Mayo it's the inter pros that are cursed.

rrs

Ulster inter-provincial football squad: Kevin Niblock (Antrim), Niall McKeever (Antrim), Tony Kernan (Armagh), Charlie Vernon (Armagh), Killian Clarke (Cavan), Conor Moynagh (Cavan), Enda Lynn (Derry), Darren O’Hagan (Down), Ryan Johnston (Down), Gerard McGovern (Down), Aiden Breen (Fermanagh), Michael Jones (Fermanagh), Tomas Corrigan (Fermanagh), Chris Snow (Fermanagh), Eoin Donnelly (Fermanagh, Captain), Declan McCusker (Fermanagh), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Tiernan McCann (Tyrone), Niall Morgan (Tyrone), C

rrs

No word on Leinster or Connacht squads , yet.

feargale

I wonder if Kerry's hurling achievements in 2016 will be rewarded.

In fairness the Leinster hurling selectors have regularly recognised exceptional individuals from weaker counties.

That is in sad contrast to the hurling powers of Galway who seem to think that they own Connacht.

Mehapoy

feargale wrote: »

I wonder if Kerry's hurling achievements in 2016 will be rewarded.

In fairness the Leinster hurling selectors have regularly recognised exceptional individuals from weaker counties.

That is in sad contrast to the hurling powers of Galway who seem to think that they own Connacht.

Ya it makes (even more) of a mockery of it to see galway use the inter pros as a warm up for themselves with the galway management over it, at the very least Connaught should have to select a neutral manager and players from Mayo and Roscommon aswell.
Hurling inter pros are a farce anyway, there's only 2 provinces really

arctictree

rrs wrote: »

Ulster inter-provincial football squad: Kevin Niblock (Antrim), Niall McKeever (Antrim), Tony Kernan (Armagh), Charlie Vernon (Armagh), Killian Clarke (Cavan), Conor Moynagh (Cavan), Enda Lynn (Derry), Darren O’Hagan (Down), Ryan Johnston (Down), Gerard McGovern (Down), Aiden Breen (Fermanagh), Michael Jones (Fermanagh), Tomas Corrigan (Fermanagh), Chris Snow (Fermanagh), Eoin Donnelly (Fermanagh, Captain), Declan McCusker (Fermanagh), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Tiernan McCann (Tyrone), Niall Morgan (Tyrone), C

No Donegal players?!

CrabRevolution

If the interpros are meant to be the cream of each province, the sad fact is that almost nobody from Mayo or Roscommon would get onto the Connacht panel on merit.

Look at the Connacht intermediate club championship for example. In the 11 years it has been run, the senior champions of Mayo and Roscommon haven't managed to beat the Galway intermediate champions even once. If the best teams in Roscommon or Mayo can't beat the 25th best team in Galway, it says a lot about the depth of talent Galway have compared to their neighbours.

I'd love for it not to be the case, but arguing for token inclusions from other counties just seems ridiculous to me.

paul0103

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Look at the Connacht intermediate club championship for example. In the 11 years it has been run, the senior champions of Mayo and Roscommon haven't managed to beat the Galway intermediate champions even once. If the best teams in Roscommon or Mayo can't beat the 25th best team in Galway, it says a lot about the depth of talent Galway have compared to their neighbours.

I think that is a little unfair. Rarely are the intermediate champions in any county actually worse than the bottom half of the teams in the senior championship. Quite often you will see intermediate champions make the knock out stages of the senior championship in the following year.

Just because the overall standard (and depth of players) of Mayo, Roscommon etc. club championship may be relatively poor doesn't mean that there are not one or two players in each of the counties good enough to be included in the inter-provincial squads.

The Leinster squads for both football and hurling have been named. Good to see two Meath players selected in the hurling squad:

LEINSTER FOOTBALL INTER-PROVINCIAL SQUAD : 1. Alan Mulhall (Offaly) 2. Padraig Rath (Louth) 3. Donal Keoghan (Meath) 4. John Small (Dublin) 5. Darren Daly (Dublin) 6. Shane O'Rourke (Meath) 7. Brian Malone (Wexford) 8. John O’Loughlin (Laois) 9. Paul Sharry (Westmeath) 10. James Dolan (Westmeath) 11. John McGrath (Wicklow) 12. Graham Reilly (Meath) 13. Donie Kingston (Laois) 14. John Heslin (Westmeath) 15. Kieran Martin (Westmeath) 16. Paddy Colloum (Longford) 17. Johnny Byrne (Kildare) 18. Neil Flynn (Kildare) 19. Daniel St Leger (Carlow) 20. Graham Guilfoyle (Offaly) 21. Declan Byrne (Louth)22. Dean Healy (Wicklow)23. Kevin Meaney (Laois)24. Nigel Dunne (Offaly)25. Peter Cunningham (Offaly) 26. Darragh Foley (Carlow)



LEINSTER HURLING SQUAD V CONNACHT: 1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) 2. Shane Barrett (Dublin) 3. Tommy Doyle (Westmeath)4. Liam Ryan (Wexford) 5. Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny) 6. Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny) 7. Chris Crummey (Dublin) 8. Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny) 9. Sean Ryan (Offaly) 10. Walter Walsh (Kilkennny) 11. Lee Chin (Wexford) 12. Charles Dwyer (Laois) 13. Shane Dooley (Offaly) 14. Conor McDonald (Wexford) 15. Colin Fennelly (Kilkenny) 16. James Dooley (Offaly) 17. Eamon Dillon (Dublin) 18. Adam Gannon (Meath) 19. Robbie Greville (Westmeath) 20. Damien Healy (Meath) 21. Martin Kavanagh (Carlow)22. Gerry Keegan (Kildare) 23. David King (Offaly) 24. Dennis Murphy (Carlow)25. Ryan O’Dwyer (Dublin) 26. Matthew Whelan (Laois)

paul0103

arctictree wrote: »

No Donegal players?!

I think the Donegal players are getting an extended break. They are playing their U-21s in the McKenna cup.

tanko

arctictree wrote: »

No Donegal players?!

None from Monaghan either, years ago Railway cup teams used to have the very best players in the province on them now they struggle to put out a team.

Always_Running

tanko wrote: »

None from Monaghan either, years ago Railway cup teams used to have the very best players in the province on them now they struggle to put out a team.

More like decades ago.

rrs

The Connacht GAA Football squad for this weekend’s GAA Interprovincial campaign will be captained by Galway stalwart Gary O’ Donnell and will include three members of the 2014 successful winning panel. Reigning champions Connacht meet Leinster in Parnell Park at 6pm on Saturday, while Ulster meet Munster in the second semi-final on Sunday at 2pm in Parnell Park. Team Management John Tobin along with Martin Carney and Ja Fallon have selected the following squad;

Damien Comer, Danny Cummins, David Wynne, Gary O’ Donnell, Johnny Heaney, Adrian Varley(Galway), Emlyn Mulligan, Donal Wrynn(Leitrim), David Clarke, Jason Doherty, Conor O’ Shea(Mayo), Fintan Cregg, Niall Daly, Kevin Higgins, Niall McInerney, John McManus, Sean Mullooly, Ciaran Murtagh, Diarmuid Murtagh, Darren O’ Malley, Enda Smith(Roscommon), Kevin McDonnell, Niall Murphy(Sligo).

theoneeyedman

rrs wrote: »

The Connacht GAA Football squad for this weekend’s GAA Interprovincial campaign will be captained by Galway stalwart Gary O’ Donnell and will include three members of the 2014 successful winning panel. Reigning champions Connacht meet Leinster in Parnell Park at 6pm on Saturday, while Ulster meet Munster in the second semi-final on Sunday at 2pm in Parnell Park. Team Management John Tobin along with Martin Carney and Ja Fallon have selected the following squad;

Damien Comer, Danny Cummins, David Wynne, Gary O’ Donnell, Johnny Heaney, Adrian Varley(Galway), Emlyn Mulligan, Donal Wrynn(Leitrim), David Clarke, Jason Doherty, Conor O’ Shea(Mayo), Fintan Cregg, Niall Daly, Kevin Higgins, Niall McInerney, John McManus, Sean Mullooly, Ciaran Murtagh, Diarmuid Murtagh, Darren O’ Malley, Enda Smith(Roscommon), Kevin McDonnell, Niall Murphy(Sligo).

What a joke, 10 Roscommon players, some of whom are bearly 1st choice for Roscommon, and one who played little or no football this year.
Says it all really, wrong structure at the wrong time of the year.

Always_Running

theoneeyedman wrote: »

What a joke, 10 Roscommon players, some of whom are bearly 1st choice for Roscommon, and one who played little or no football this year.
Says it all really, wrong structure at the wrong time of the year.

O Shea,Varley not first choice for their counties either. Tommy Walsh picked for Munster eventhough Kerry dropped him after the NFL.

Time of year won't change much the competition is done and time has come to scrap it.

aidan24326

Always_Running wrote: »

O Shea,Varley not first choice for their counties either. Tommy Walsh picked for Munster eventhough Kerry dropped him after the NFL.

Time of year won't change much the competition is done and time has come to scrap it.

Agreed, it's a competition that passed its sell by date a long time ago and is a dead duck at this stage. Done properly with the very best players from each province and played at the right time of year it could be good. But there's no room for it in the current schedule and playing it now near Christmas with watered-down squads is a waste of time. Clearly most of the Mayo lads had little interest in being involved with Connaught.

statto25

aidan24326 wrote: »

Agreed, it's a competition that passed its sell by date a long time ago and is a dead duck at this stage. Done properly with the very best players from each province and played at the right time of year it could be good. But there's no room for it in the current schedule and playing it now near Christmas with watered-down squads is a waste of time. Clearly most of the Mayo lads had little interest in being involved with Connaught.

The majority of Mayo lads were at Alan Dillons wedding yesterday which was organised a hell of a long time before the inter pros were announced.

aidan24326

statto25 wrote: »

The majority of Mayo lads were at Alan Dillons wedding yesterday which was organised a hell of a long time before the inter pros were announced.

Fair enough, I assumed that most of them either weren't available or just weren't interested after a long season (which would be quite understandable).

rrs

The Gaa is awash with money as it is,they are going to be generating more money with the new RTE and Sky deals, Why not offer the winners of the Railway Cup a financial reward?. 1,500 to each player on the panel. It might appeal more to the players after a long hard season...

CrabRevolution

rrs wrote: »

The Gaa is awash with money as it is,they are going to be generating more money with the new RTE and Sky deals, Why not offer the winners of the Railway Cup a financial reward?. 1,500 to each player on the panel. It might appeal more to the players after a long hard season...

What's the urgent need? Why the desperation to try and promote a pretty unpopular and moribund competition? Do people get some sort of fuzzy feeling in their stomach looking at high attendances at old Inter Provincial games?

Again, I've nothing against the Inter Provincials, I just that they belong as an end of season curiosity, rather than interrupting county or club games during the real season.

rrs

The competition is still played, despite the flak it gets.. So if it is going to continue, have some merit for it..

Peter Harte, Michael Quinlivan , Mattie Donnelly were All Stars this year. They obviously want to play in it. Other players don't for various reasons, injuries, holidays, time off after a long season.

I don't see why you are getting so worked up about, if you don't care about it.

Dirty Dingus McGee

rrs wrote: »

The Gaa is awash with money as it is,they are going to be generating more money with the new RTE and Sky deals, Why not offer the winners of the Railway Cup a financial reward?. 1,500 to each player on the panel. It might appeal more to the players after a long hard season...

But it will never have any appeal to fans which is what it needs to be revived.

rrs

Good promoting and it might, because they made little effort this year.

The All Ireland Club finals are going to be played in the one calendar year soon. so the St Patricks day slot will be free.

They could all run it off on the All Ireland final weekend either . like they do with the Kilmacud 7s.

CrabRevolution

I don't mind it as a competition, I'm just disagreeing with the suggestions of throwing money at it or moving it to other parts of the year.

The whole "players love it" line is a bit weak too. I'd love it too, what's not to love about being called up to your province? Free gear, free food, minimal to no training, a weekend away up the country, it's much more casual than a usual match, it's a break from your own county's pre-season training, nobody criticises your performance, nobody cares if you lose etc.

rrs

Sure they throw money at the International Rules . What benefit is it to GAA? It benefits Australia, as they poach the countries best young players.

Dirty Dingus McGee

rrs wrote: »

Sure they throw money at the International Rules . What benefit is it to GAA? It benefits Australia, as they poach the countries best young players.

€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€


People want to go to the International Rules games.

rrs

Because its promoted well in advance, and the people going are hoping for a row breaking out like 7/8 years ago. Not for the quality of the stop - start football.

Dirty Dingus McGee

rrs wrote: »

Because its promoted well in advance, and the people going are hoping for a row breaking out like 7/8 years ago. Not for the quality of the stop - start football.

Nobody cares about the interprovincial games anymore.It's like flogging a dead horse at this stage.

rrs

Well you more or less said that already.

Anyways. Connacht leading 1-16 to 1-15,

rrs

Now Connacht 2-16 to 1-15

rrs

Connacht 2-17 Leinster 1-18. result.

Always_Running

statto25 wrote: »

The majority of Mayo lads were at Alan Dillons wedding yesterday which was organised a hell of a long time before the inter pros were announced.

The wedding is only a excuse. Last year Mayo only sent 3 players off to play for Connacht and one was Douglas whom wasnt on their panel.

Simply put Rochford and co has no time for this competition.

iDave

Another kick in the nuts for Leinster football.

statto25

Always_Running wrote: »

The wedding is only a excuse. Last year Mayo only sent 3 players off to play for Connacht and one was Douglas whom wasnt on their panel.

Simply put Rochford and co has no time for this competition.

Lads aren't sent, they are invited. If they choose not to go then that's their perogative. It's been a few long seasons for the Mayo lads and I'm sure they treasure these months off. Cut them some slack. As other posters said, if they played this during the season rather than jam it into December then they would probably attract far more interest

ProudDUB

Mad time of year to be holding it. With just 2 weekends to go 'till Christmas, both the players and the spectators have better things to be doing with their time. All the big name players are taking a break, rehabbing injuries and going to each others weddings.

I was at the 2013 Leinster v Connacht semi final in Longford. The game featured at least 10 Dublin and Mayo players, who played in the 2012 All Ireland semi final. They were big name players too, not the u21's and "B" team fringe panelists. The games were played during the 3 week break between the first couple of rounds of the league and rounds 3-7. Lads were returning from the long winter break and were obviously mad for the road. The crowd was piss poor, given the over all quality on the pitch, which was an awful pity. But the marketing and promotion of the series was virtually non existant, just as it is now, so it wasn't surprising.