It's common enough around the Country. Cork do it and I think Galway.
Sidenote: does anyone know where the County Board publishes their disciplinary info? Years back you'd see in the Celt weekly who was banned, for how long and so on after a red card (Joe Bloggs - rest of game, AN Other - 2 weeks etc). I can't see this anymore, yet I saw Damien Barkey play and score a (very important) goal for Ramor last weekend after a straight red the week before. Was he banned, was it appealed, or in process of appeal so he could play in the meantime? Does he miss a dead rubber game next week instead?
Who knows. He was No. 30 in the programme and then came on and made an impact. So he seems to have been initially left out (he's normally a nailed on starter) but did play. Clear as mud as usual
I don’t remember the Gaels team of the noughties being angels when they were dominating Cavan football.
Or the Gowna team of the 90s
Hopefully nothing like this happens with the last rounds in Cavan this weekend, some mess to sort out!
https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/longford-football-championship-thrown-into-chaos-over-disputed-half-time-score-as-tv-footage-reviewed/a120797114.html
Any winning team has an edge to them, it’s a fact of the game. My issue is clubs crying foul when another does it.
You’ll often find the best loved players in clubs are those that other teams hate because they play on the edge.
I always find that the players who play on the edge are the biggest gentlemen of pitch and wouldn't say boo to anyone.
Every winning side does do it alright. I'd just feel it's annoying to see refs sometimes in awe of some teams and letting them nearly do whatever
What happened with the transfers of the Maghera players to Cucu's? Are those players playing any football currently or in the reserve championship?
No transfer yet County board put a stop to it. At least one is training away with Cuchulainns and won't play again for Maghera.
Never said they were. Never said they didn't lose their discipline and take the bait at the weekend. Never said Gowna were wrong.
I said the referee was a disgrace and ruined the game.
Keith Greene is the successful candidate for the Cavan GAA Performance/Talent Development Lead role if the grapevine is to be believed..
https://cavangaa.ie/2024/06/job-opportunity-gaa-performance-talent-development-lead-in-county-cavan/
Seems a messy enough situation. Adam Reilly would have played underage with Maghera and switched to Cuchulainns after Minor level. I don't think there was an issue then.
I'd say Maghera are totally screwed to be honest at this stage although that has been said many times over the years and they have managed to keep it going.
Maghera & Corlough are both playing in the junior shield. Mountnugent loosing all 4 games and conceding 16 goals in 2 games plus Killeshandra loosing their four games has to set alarm bells ringing in the county board. Teams and clubs can get into trouble very quickly - playing numbers are down and if there isn't a meaninful action more and more small clubs will fall by the wayside and we'll be left with just the big town teams fielding huge amount of underage teams and 2 or 3 adult teams.
What meaningful action can be taken?
Let’s call a spade a spade here, Munterconnaught and Maghera have no excuse. They are in an area of huge population growth with large, well attended schools in both parishes.
For clubs like Corlough, the population just isn’t there and we are going to continue to see demographics come into play in the coming years.
I think the problem with Maghera is lads do go to school in Maghera, but play with Lurgan/Ramor
The first thing that should be done is regrade the league to give more teams a chance of actually winning something. To many club players from every club go through their whole playing career without actually winning a medal. I can't remember the last time a club like Shannon Gaels, Kildallan, Mountnugent won anything at senior.
I would open it up to at least 8 divisions in the same style that Meath do so that clubs can find their level. Clubs like Maghera & Corlough may end up in Division 5 or 6 but at least then they would be competitive and can move up the leagues if they improve. Other clubs that haven't won anything in 30 years may find themselves winning a league title. Larger clubs second teams can also have meaningful league which would enable them to hold on to the age group just after minor where they loose so many that have no chance of making their senior teams.
I would also have 4 championships 12 clubs in senior, 10 in Intermediate 10 in Junior and 8 in Junior B. teams in Junior B could also look at amalgamations for senior championship like in Kerry to allow their best players get a good crack at playing a higher standard.
I would also look at the current transfer system that is in place and see if there is something that could be altered within this system - Make it easier for reserve players from larger clubs to go to smaller rural teams to gain first team football. I'm not sure how something like that would work but a smaller club acting as a feeder club within the same parish might enable the smaller club to gain more playing numbers..
There may not be any answers in the short term but not just in Cavan the GAA are walking blindly into a problem of playing numbers. we see it at underage with more and more amalgamations. Something needs to change in my opinion.
After this weekend some Clubs won't have much football for the rest of the year, bar maybe or 1 or 2 Relegation play off games depending on how they go. It's a long enough gap until the League start end of March or April. Meath run a Divisional Championship at the end of the year for Junior and Intermediate players to impress the County managament.
Roscommon have amalgamations in their Club championship a smilar sized County to Cavan.
Just looking from outside are Killeshandra in trouble?
Maybe they should go and talk to reps from Killygarry & Butlersbridge. It doesn’t seem to be an issue down that way where those two clubs are benefitting greatly from the children of former Gaels players who went to their national schools.
Donegal use a similar system and seed teams
Maghera are not gonna be able to hold on to any good underage players because there’s not a real possibility of winning games never mind silverware, it’s unfortunate. As for corlough you have to admire the commitment, men in there 50s playing to keep the club going, population against them, are they still joining with templeport next year ?
Maghera had Graham Reilly the ex Meath player managing them this year. They must have been offering good money because I don't know how he took on that role.
I see the GAA are pulling the plug on the pre season competitions next year. No standing in the cold in the first week in January for a McKenna Cup game.
Yeah I replied that after. 16 teams and seeded in theirs
Killygarry seem to crumble when the pressure is on. They were coasting against Ballinagh in League Semi. 5 up against Gowna today and Gowna hit 5 or 6 without repay.
A poor championship for Kingscourt after a decent start against Gowna
Gowna through having won one game. They just seem to time it. Interesting quarter finals apart from Crosserlough Ballinagh.
Ryan Donahoe made a few great catches in the second half. Conor Casey was good when introduced. Both players are over 6f. Killygarry lack a bit of height.
Arva look the team to beat in Intermediate.
Could be some decent quarter finals. Was at the Ramor Geals game. Hard to know what to take from it, Ramor didn't need to win but I'd be concerned enough over the last four games showed some real sloppy play and without Liam Brady look very weak from the kickout and again today a massive concern.
Great to see some youth coming again. Young McCrystal has grabbed the No 14 shirt from Ado I think.
Crosserlough seem like the team to beat at the minute but there's be alot of teams just doing enough these past few weeks and likely a lot of shadow boxing.
Good to see Mullahorn back competing again, Ballyhaise look like they could be a coming force very very good midfielder and a big old style full forward.
Still I think the last four will be The Lough, Gowna, Ramor and the Geals.
