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Club Championships 2018-19

Hammer Archer

So end of the intercounty season means that the real business of the club championships are going to take centre stage.

In the Meath senior football championships, after the ridiculously convoluted group stages, we've reached the quarter final stages this weekend.

Summerhill v St. Colmcille's
Summerhill were last years beaten finalists while Cilles narrowly avoided a relegation playoff having reached the 2017 All Ireland Intermediate final. Summerhill topped their group while Cilles came second to Ratoath. Should be a very interesting game. Summerhill have the experience over Cilles but Cilles will have the likes of Graham Reilly, Ben Brennan and James Conlon in the forward line who'd be a handful for any defence. Think the 'Hill will have enough to get by.

Dunboyne v Gaeil Colmcille
The Kells side beat Wolfe Tones in the preliminary quarter final just last night. They were also involved in an intermediate hurling quarter final on Saturday meaning a lot of their players will be playing their third knockout game in 7 days. Dunboyne are favourites for the championship and were comfortably top of their group while never really impressing. I'd say they're slowly building as the season goes on and I'd expect them to account for Gaeil Colmcille. Kells however have a habit of causing upsets in quarter finals.

Skryne v Simonstown Gaels
Simonstown are going for their third championship in a row after winning their first ever in 2016. Skryne came close to ending their 80 year uninterrupted stint in Senior football by being involved in a relegation playoff last year. They're a different side this year with Darragh Campion and Paddy O'Rourke scoring freely in the forwards. Simonstown were without the likes of Padraic McKeever and Seán Tobin for the majority of the group stage but rumour has it they're back in the team for the weekend. But Skryne are flying at the moment and I can see them ending Simonstown's reign as champions.

Ratoath v Donaghmore/Ashbourne
Massive local derby in this game. Ratoath topped their group while Ashbourne came third in theirs. Both sets of players will know each other very well with lots of them being involved in underage finals over the last 10 years or so. Ratoath have the likes of the Wallaces and Conor McGill while Don/Ash have Brian Menton and Andrew Tormey in their ranks. Neither team has yet reached the adult heights that their recent underage successes have promised but the winner of this game will have an excellent chance of making the final at least. Don/Ash's experience of winning knockout games to count here.

Semis predictions are:
Dunboyne - Skryne
Don/Ash - Summerhill

Dunboyne to win it outright, finally.

In the hurling, it's at the semi final stage.

Ratoath v Kiltale
Ratoath haven't reached the senior hurling final since 1969 but topped the group while beating Kiltale along the way. In Gavin McGowan, they have probably the most lethal forward in the county. Kiltale, on the other hand, are going for their 5th title in a row and their 6th in 7 years. But they only scraped through the group stages in 4th winning only 2 of their 5 games. But they were back on form in their last two games against Killyon and Longwood, scoring 8-40 and conceding only 18 points. They're peaking at the right time and can't see Ratoath getting a second win against them.

Trim v Kildalkey
Trim came second in the weaker group B but managed to overcome Killyon in the quarter final. They're getting their main players back to fitness and will definitely put it up to Kildalkey. But Kildalkey will feel they left last year's championship behind them and I can't see them not making the final.

Kiltale seem to be coming into form at the right time so I'd tip them to win their 5 in a row against Kildalkey in the final.

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Bonniedog

Looks like the disparity at inter county level is being replicated at club.

Financial doping ore perhaps the pursuit of excellence?

OldMrBrennan83

Bonniedog wrote: »

Looks like the disparity at inter county level is being replicated at club.

Financial doping ore perhaps the pursuit of excellence?

#splitcorofin

spurshero

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Have the provinces been drawn yet for the club hurling semis?

Leinster v Munster Connacht v ulster

TrueGael

County Champions of a proud Football County in Meath hammered at home by a Superclub and it doesn't even warrant a mention........

I guess everybody is desensitised to the constant domination at this stage............

OldMrBrennan83

TrueGael wrote: »

County Champions of a proud Football County in Meath hammered at home by a Superclub and it doesn't even warrant a mention........

I guess everybody is desensitised to the constant domination at this stage............

With the world's tiniest violin playing the world's saddest song in the background. Dry your eyes for once.

PTH2009

spurshero wrote: »

Leinster v Munster Connacht v ulster

Tasty semi final in store between Leinster vs Munster champs

Could be NP/Ballygunner vs Ballyhale

Although Cushendal won't be any walkovers the Galway champs will fancy themselves getting to an All Ireland final

cantwbr1

TrueGael wrote: »

County Champions of a proud Football County in Meath hammered at home by a Superclub and it doesn't even warrant a mention........

I guess everybody is desensitised to the constant domination at this stage............

Or maybe people are wondering at the hammerings that multiple All Ireland winners St Finbars and multiple finalists Clann na Gael got

Bonniedog

cantwbr1 wrote: »

Or maybe people are wondering at the hammerings that multiple All Ireland winners St Finbars and multiple finalists Clann na Gael got

Wouldn't be huge Kilmacud supporter myself, but truth is that Killarney Crokes, Barrs, and Clann na Gael could all be described as in one way or another "superclubs." Likewise Moorefield in Newbridge who were beaten yesterday, and Portlaoise.

(Don't know what playing numbers Corofin have.)

Point is they are big and successful because they put the work in. As someone who was involved in smaller club in Dublin it is difficult competing against the bigger guns, but every club finds its own level and outside of senior mens SHC and SFC there is good spread.

cantwbr1

Bonniedog wrote: »

Wouldn't be huge Kilmacud supporter myself, but truth is that Killarney Crokes, Barrs, and Clann na Gael could all be described as in one way or another "superclubs." Likewise Moorefield in Newbridge who were beaten yesterday, and Portlaoise.

(Don't know what playing numbers Corofin have.)

Point is they are big and successful because they put the work in. As someone who was involved in smaller club in Dublin it is difficult competing against the bigger guns, but every club finds its own level and outside of senior mens SHC and SFC there is good spread.

I think that the OP was hinting that KMC are using
unfair means to enhance their team when in reality as you said they are most likely putting the work into their underage and reaping the benefits.

The match they referenced wasn’t even the most one sided match of the weekend and was in fact more competitive than the super club clashes in Munster and Connacht

jr86

Bonniedog wrote: »

(Don't know what playing numbers Corofin have.)

Massive, should be two clubs really - Belclare and Corofin

funkey_monkey wrote: »

I presume St Thomas is favouriate to beat Liam Mellows based on their previous encounter? I hope this will be shown on TG4.

Thomas's will be favourites but that group game is no guide, Mellows were missing a few through injury and took a lot of time off in the summer

Bonniedog

Wouldn't be that familiar with Galway but Corofin be smallish population would it not, relative to Killarney, Kilmacud, Roscommon town etc?

Anyway, it is club that didn't sit around waiting for things to happen out of the blue.

jr86

Corofin fielded 4 adult teams this year, Salthill are probably the only others in Galway - if anyone - who have as many adult teams and players

From being involved with underage Galway club teams in recent years, Corofin would generally have over 30 players togged on underage sides

They have no town but a very big geographical area

By the way what they're achieving is phenomenal I'm not taking away from the trojan work being done in the club

TrueGael

So Corofin a small rural village in Galway and Dr Crokes (who are basically 1 club out of 4 in the Killarney 'metropolis' of 14,000) are even remotely comparable to a Superclub whose catchment area alone dwarfs most counties but also benefits from quality club/IC players from around the country supplementing the already huge pick???????

It may come as a shock to some,but having 200 kids at every age and having multiple thousand members isn't a possible reality for Culchie clubs the only club outside the Pale that could be considered a superclub is Nemo and maybe Na Piarsaigh in Limerick

Forgot to mention that paid coaches (GDAs) from Croke Park are a pipedream for Culchie clubs

Bonniedog

It takes real dedication to achieve that sort of success. Kilmacud would not be too popular among a lot of clubs in Dublin, but often overlook the fact their own clubs have far lower playing numbers from similar population areas.

Reason: Because they have lost contact to some extent with the communities and schools they are in. Some once highly successful clubs in Dublin working class areas simply stopped putting in the effort. Now, there are other social reasons for that, but clubs like Finbarrs in Cabra and Peregrines in the vastness of outer Blanchardstown are thriving because they are dedicated.

Kilmacud and others make such connections a priority, hence their success, and success brings more human and financial resources. But it is the intent to become good that is the key to it all.

Utopia Parkway

TrueGael wrote: »

So Corofin a small rural village in Galway and Dr Crokes (who are basically 1 club out of 4 in the Killarney 'metropolis' of 14,000) are even remotely comparable to a Superclub whose catchment area alone dwarfs most counties but also benefits from quality club/IC players from around the country supplementing the already huge pick???????

Corofin are a rural club yes but I wouldn't call them a small club. They cover quite a large area south of Tuam. By rural club standards I'd say they actually have quite a big pick. Not Kilmacud Crokes big though granted.

willietherock

TrueGael wrote: »

It may come as a shock to some,but having 200 kids at every age and having multiple thousand members isn't a possible reality for Culchie clubs the only club outside the Pale that could be considered a superclub is Nemo and maybe Na Piarsaigh in Limerick

Why are Nemo Rangers a "super club" and other Cork City clubs aren't?

downthemiddle

Lucan Sarsfields have a pick of 17 primary schools and 7 secondary schools. Mullinaghta have 38 children in the local primary school. Numbers do not equate to success.

TrueGael

Difference is Lucan are competing with a bunch of Superclubs to win the County Championship as opposed to IC where is there one Monster and there is the rest.....

theoneeyedman

Bonniedog wrote: »

Wouldn't be that familiar with Galway but Corofin be smallish population would it not, relative to Killarney, Kilmacud, Roscommon town etc?

Anyway, it is club that didn't sit around waiting for things to happen out of the blue.

Roscommon Town not a massive population, and in truth not a massive GAA club (Roscommon Geals). Clan by far the largest population centre in Roscommon, with Monkland the largest urban population (a de facto suburb of Athlone.

Bonniedog

TrueGael wrote: »

Difference is Lucan are competing with a bunch of Superclubs to win the County Championship as opposed to IC where is there one Monster and there is the rest.....

Lucan are a big club, as in they have lots of players and as above pointed out, a large catchment area. They are just not that good at the moment.

You seem to define "superclubs" as big clubs who are successful.

Oh, and of course they only exist in Dublin :rolleyes:

Jaden

TrueGael wrote: »

So Corofin a small rural village in Galway[/I]

There is nothing small about Corofin's catchment area or setup. Sure their training grounds in Belclare must be 7 or 8 miles from the town itself, and is still in the catchment area.

That's roughly the same distance as separates NaFianna's ground with Ballybodens - on opposite sides of the city.

EICVD

Bonniedog wrote: »

It takes real dedication to achieve that sort of success. Kilmacud would not be too popular among a lot of clubs in Dublin, but often overlook the fact their own clubs have far lower playing numbers from similar population areas.

Reason: Because they have lost contact to some extent with the communities and schools they are in. Some once highly successful clubs in Dublin working class areas simply stopped putting in the effort. Now, there are other social reasons for that, but clubs like Finbarrs in Cabra and Peregrines in the vastness of outer Blanchardstown are thriving because they are dedicated.

Kilmacud and others make such connections a priority, hence their success, and success brings more human and financial resources. But it is the intent to become good that is the key to it all.

I’m a Peregrines man, we’re actually f****d!

Bonniedog

EICVD wrote: »

I’m a Peregrines man, we’re actually f****d!

Doh!

Sorry to hear that. Thought you were going reasonably well.

EICVD

Bonniedog wrote: »

Doh!

Sorry to hear that. Thought you were going reasonably well.

Div 3 team avoided relegation the last few years, still relying on ‘red lad’ who’s around 40 for scores, div 5 team isn’t a team, usually 16 different players each week, still in that league only because there was no relegation due to lack of teams. Junior B & C holding their own but the Bs being cut next season so we’ll actually have a Junior A team but the average age will be about 40 so we won’t be winning many, no potential young lads coming through either. Once our superstar is gone from the Dubs panel he’ll head across the border to join his brothers.

Gael85

EICVD wrote: »

Div 3 team avoided relegation the last few years, still relying on ‘red lad’ who’s around 40 for scores, div 5 team isn’t a team, usually 16 different players each week, still in that league only because there was no relegation due to lack of teams. Junior B & C holding their own but the Bs being cut next season so we’ll actually have a Junior A team but the average age will be about 40 so we won’t be winning many, no potential young lads coming through either. Once our superstar is gone from the Dubs panel he’ll head across the border to join his brothers.

Sorry to hear that. Saw against Good Counsel and was surprised how bad ye were. Ciaran McGuinness was going well. Hynes the Dublin lad on u20s was poor that day. Lowndes didn't stand out. Like a lot of Dublin lads who struggle when go back to clubs. Robbie McCarthy and the Lowndes brothers were huge loses when left years ago. Where did Karl O'Connor go to? Remember him playing midfield with Dublin minors about 10 years ago.

GalwayLurker

Jaden wrote: »

There is nothing small about Corofin's catchment area or setup. Sure their training grounds in Belclare must be 7 or 8 miles from the town itself, and is still in the catchment area.

That's roughly the same distance as separates NaFianna's ground with Ballybodens - on opposite sides of the city.

There's no town in Corofin, it's a rural village. Corofin is made up of 2 half parishes. This talk within the county of the club being too big and should be split is also nonsense, Salthill and St James would have bigger playing numbers but still don't have a patch of the success Corofin do, what Corofin do have is a serious underage development structure which has seen them become the success that they are. If you even look at this year more talented youngsters like Dylan Canney and Darragh Silke are stepping up when it matters, the conveyor belt keeps going.

Bonniedog

Mmmm. Split the successful club/county to give the others a chance.

Rings a bell!

downthemiddle

EICVD wrote: »

Div 3 team avoided relegation the last few years, still relying on ‘red lad’ who’s around 40 for scores, div 5 team isn’t a team, usually 16 different players each week, still in that league only because there was no relegation due to lack of teams. Junior B & C holding their own but the Bs being cut next season so we’ll actually have a Junior A team but the average age will be about 40 so we won’t be winning many, no potential young lads coming through either. Once our superstar is gone from the Dubs panel he’ll head across the border to join his brothers.

Vinnie's parting shot was a classic though!!!

Jaden

GalwayLurker wrote: »

There's no town in Corofin, it's a rural village. Corofin is made up of 2 half parishes

I was using the word town loosely. Still it's bigger than Belclare, which is essentially 3 buildings.

As for splitting? When someone mentions the need to split a team, then you know that team is doing something right.

GalwayLurker

The village of Corofin? Pretty much the same size as Belclare village with a church, a pub, a shop and the GAA pitch. The surrounding villages stretch further than those around Belclare alright.