Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123793857#Comment_123793857

I think this is the major worry about club hurling in Waterford.

The past 5 or 6 county finals the smallest margin of victory was 11 points. Despite DLS pushing them this year they still ran out 6 points winners with 14 men.

The second best team in the county each year has been on the end of a comfortable victory for BG.

That was a ruthless display from BG today and Mount sion never looked up to the pace.

seananigans

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794183#Comment_123794183

i hope they back it up at Munster and AI level and don't bottle it . DLS gave them a good kick up the arse,and rightly so ..

while i would love a system liken tipp where anyone can go onto munster and be of equal quality , fact is the rest of the pack have had 12 years to catch up ,and havent

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794334#Comment_123794334

They have been trying to be fair. Look at Mount Sion, Roanmore and DLS, they don't have the squad like BG. (I'm picking the city teams as they were the semi finalists)

DLS, and Roanmore had to play 7 weeks in a row, the three clubs I mentioned their starting 15 is their best 15 and outside of that they struggle, where as BG have practically two senior teams to pick from.

BG also have to deal with the same number of games but they have the panel to cope with so many games in a short period

Roanmore looked very leggy last week. Mount Sion looked very leggy this week.

Mount Sion, Roanmore, DLS, St Saviours and Erins Own are all competing for players in the one area.

I think BG had 3 minor teams this season. It's not all purely down to numbers as BG have a very good structure in place, but having such a pool of players really helps.

Take a look at the schools, mount Sion caters for about 360 students, many Roanmore players also attend the school and being an inner city school other sports are also very popular.

I'm not sure on the numbers for DLS/St Stephens school.

Look at ballygunner primary, I think they are near 800 students now, combine that with the gaelscoil, they are constantly getting a large volume of kids through the club from the school.

A change of demographic in the city has played a big part as it has in other counties, corks north side clubs are a prime example.

Success builds success, if your someone in Mount sion, Roanmore, De La Salle and you are bet by BG from u10 right up to senior you will lack the belief and I think that was a major factor in the DLS game.

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794487#Comment_123794487

Finally to add, it wasn't long ago that BG were training in Carlow, they and so many players in various colleges they picked a central location for some training sessions.

I don't think any other city clubs could financially do similar.

914

The above comments is not me being bitter, as I have said they have a great structure in place and in full flow they are a joy to watch, I just think it's unfair when people make comments such as "12 years to catch up and they haven't"

Travel to any club in the city or county and you will see great work taking place, count the players at each club and you will see a significant difference, there is strength in numbers and I have already said numbers alone won't do it but it helps.

Asdfgh2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794502#Comment_123794502

that sounds like an urban myth….🥲

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794544#Comment_123794544

Not a myth, it might not have been regularly but it was done and not during county championship but the munster/AI stage of the club championship

Mastermcgrath

I don’t think the current structure is good. Playing off the hurling championship in such a condensed period seems crazy, club players waiting all year for a game then they’re asked to play 7 games in 8 weeks. Ballygunner have the numbers to cope with it as another poster said, but they’ve an 8 week break now until the Munster club championship. That’s not good for them and it’s no coincidence they have underachieved and don’t be surprised if they’re caught again this year

Motivator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123793834#Comment_123793834

absolutely not a dig at Austin Gleeson but he’s so far off what’s required for county hurling it’s not even funny. He’s 3 years away from it now, the days of players making comebacks after time out are gone. 3 years is a huge amount of time and sadly, despite his immense natural talent, he can’t rely on talent alone. He’s a great man to have for a 10 mins appearance off the bench but as far as being a starter he’s cooked unfortunately.

HikingBeatsSport

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794606#Comment_123794606

What changes would you suggest for the running of the hurling and Football championships?

spideyman92

Aside from extending it to give a few break weeks off in between, the club championship structures are very difficult to find a balance to improve. Hurling and football need to be played separately since there are so many dual players and it would ruin both competitions if you force them to choose one or the other. Maybe less so for city clubs but the likes of Clonea who had a very good championship run (but shot themselves in the foot with wides in the QF) will have players lining out for Rathgormack in the football. Likewise Fourmilewater lads for the Nire and so on.

Billy Ocean

Biggest concern looking from the outside is there's no light at the end of the tunnel for the rest, BG pretty much as dominant at underage I gather.

MUFC91CS

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794879#Comment_123794879

They don't need to be done separately. Other dual counties play both at the same time. It could easily be four weeks of hurling, football, hurling, football and then a weekend off. That's less game weeks in a row for dual players than they play now. That would be a bit easier by reducing the crazy structure they have in place currently and playing less SHC games. Six weeks and 30 games in before there is a real meaningful one.

PTH2009

Are the county leagues essentially 'challenge matches' for the non county players ?

Would there be many walkovers for lets just say 'Extracurricular/bonding weekends' ?

Mastermcgrath

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794687#Comment_123794687

They don’t need to be run off as intensely as they are at the moment and I wouldn’t split the entire hurling and football calendars. Also the structure of the hurling championship needs changing but that’s a different debate

I’d start with 3 rounds of hurling round robin

followed 3 rounds of football round robin

Return and finish both over 2/3 weeks

Then the knockout/relegation series every second weekend hurling/football. A team should be entitled to at least 2 weeks off to prepare for any county final and have a decent build up. Look at Mount sion this week they barely had time to put flags up in the school

I’d make sure there’s a couple of designated weeks off of club action in between to give teams a break particularly dual clubs

there’s no reason why you can’t work it out and have championships finished in time for Munster club

Mastermcgrath

or what MUFC said!

unbeknownist

Yes Ballygunner are amazing, no it’s not their fault, yes other clubs have to try and step up.

But realistically this is a disaster for Waterford club and intercounty hurling. What drives senior club players from other clubs now… in a world where there is much else they could be doing. Why commit to the slog of a year of hurling. That lack of drive will have a knock on effect intercounty level.

I think Stephen Bennett made 2 good points on commentary, it’s going to become harder to make the ballygunner team than the Waterford one and the subs the ballygunner team have would be the main forwards for every other club

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123795116#Comment_123795116

Very true

Then if Ballygunner B are playing Senior its another conundrum

KevIRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794975#Comment_123794975

Ballygunners record at underage this year is quite something

Minor - Division 1 champions and division 4 champions

U16 - In division 1 final this evening

U15 - Division 1 champions

U14 - In division 1 final and in division 3 final. Fielded 3 teams at U14

U13 - Tournament not yet started

Mastermcgrath

in the long run you’d like to think Ballygunners dominance will actually improve standards in the county. They are the standard bearers and if other clubs are to survive they have no choice but to strive to get up to that level.

In fairness there are signs that other clubs are trying hard look at the minor championship this year the standard was brilliant the other 3 city clubs were very strong and Dungarvan aswell. Albeit Ballygunner won it they didn’t run away with it.l by any manner of means

DiscoStew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123796426#Comment_123796426

Worth noting they won it (relatively comfortably) without the player voted the best U17 hurler in the country.