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21 clubs in Longford. 16 are GFC's and 5 are dual clubs. Of the 5 dual clubs, 3 have competitive hurling from adult to underage (Longford Slashers, Clonguish and Wolfe Tones) and that number hasn't changed in 25 years. The other two dual clubs just started hurling at go-games last year (Dromard and Rathcline).
Our underage hurling championships were scrapped last year in favour of leagues involving the 3 main hurling clubs and teams from Leitrim - which is the only viable solution for underage hurling competition. On the football side, a majority of the 21 clubs in the county have to amalgamate to compete in underage Football Championships because they don't have the numbers to operate under their own steam.
This proposed new Liam Griffin rule would fine up to 16 GFC's in Longford for not fielding a hurling team. The fine is €250 per club in first year, and doubles each year after.
Now start adding up how much those fines would be annually and over say 5 years... for a county in the bottom division of football, hurling and ladies football, with dwindling crowds at games and clubs struggling on and off the field. Where are the extra kids coming from to avoid compounding an existing challenge? Where are the extra mentors coming from? Will Kilkenny be handed a bill for all the hurling clubs who don't field football teams? Which bright spark determined that forcing youngsters into a sport is the winning strategy?
And to add insult to injury, after playing all rounds of the Lory Meagher, a team like Longford will advance to the semi-final only to encounter a parachuted team that hasn't played any rounds, thanks to another brainwave from hurling's elite. Competition becomes undermined, more lads throw in the towel, the challenge of promoting hurling becomes ever tougher, but hey we have those fines to look forward to I guess.
Never has a set of motions so clearly demonstrated how little hurling bosses know or care about how to advance the game in real terms in smaller counties. It's embarrassing.
LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 591 - 20/02/2025 19:13:56
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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú: "21 clubs in Longford. 16 are GFC's and 5 are dual clubs. Of the 5 dual clubs, 3 have competitive hurling from adult to underage (Longford Slashers, Clonguish and Wolfe Tones) and that number hasn't changed in 25 years. The other two dual clubs just started hurling at go-games last year (Dromard and Rathcline).
Our underage hurling championships were scrapped last year in favour of leagues involving the 3 main hurling clubs and teams from Leitrim - which is the only viable solution for underage hurling competition. On the football side, a majority of the 21 clubs in the county have to amalgamate to compete in underage Football Championships because they don't have the numbers to operate under their own steam.
This proposed new Liam Griffin rule would fine up to 16 GFC's in Longford for not fielding a hurling team. The fine is €250 per club in first year, and doubles each year after.
Now start adding up how much those fines would be annually and over say 5 years... for a county in the bottom division of football, hurling and ladies football, with dwindling crowds at games and clubs struggling on and off the field. Where are the extra kids coming from to avoid compounding an existing challenge? Where are the extra mentors coming from? Will Kilkenny be handed a bill for all the hurling clubs who don't field football teams? Which bright spark determined that forcing youngsters into a sport is the winning strategy?
And to add insult to injury, after playing all rounds of the Lory Meagher, a team like Longford will advance to the semi-final only to encounter a parachuted team that hasn't played any rounds, thanks to another brainwave from hurling's elite. Competition becomes undermined, more lads throw in the towel, the challenge of promoting hurling becomes ever tougher, but hey we have those fines to look forward to I guess.
Never has a set of motions so clearly demonstrated how little hurling bosses know or care about how to advance the game in real terms in smaller counties. It's embarrassing." Did you actually read the motion at all? By the sound of your post you didnt.
There's no forcing young lads at all. It's up to them if they participate or not. The point of the motion is that there are large areas of the country where a young lad can't take up hurling even if he wants to.
Any of the GFCs near any of the clubs who provide hurling as an option wouldn't have to provide hurling. That's in the motion too.
New York shouldn't be parachuted in to the Lory Meagher. And maybe won't be.
There's nothing stopping 2 or 3 neighbouring GFCs banding together to provide hurling to young lads who want to hurl in their area under the terms of the motion.
Likewise clubs with insufficient numbers, demographically speaking, would be exempt.
Finally there are actually very few clubs in Kilkenny that don't field football teams at all . Carrigeen, Cloneen, Dunnamaggin, Three Castles. Only 4 out of 41 clubs. Carrigeen is less than a mile from Mooncoin, Cloneen is the sister club of Railyard, who are football only. They are only a mile or 2 apart. Dunnamaggin is only a 6 minute drive from Kilmoganny, Threecastles is less than an 8 minute drive from St Lachtains, it's less than 5 miles pitch to pitch.
There are plenty of myths around Kilkenny clubs and Football.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 20/02/2025 20:28:51
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Sometimes you wonder what suggested rule change people are watching when looking at the game. In theory forcing of the player to use the hand not holding the ball to pass might sound good but is impossible most of the time. The player cannot get one hand free never mind two with being bottled up by four players. A recent game totally demonstrated it. The player could not lift either hand to get rid of the ball and the ref gave a free against him. How about you can not interfere with a player getting rid of the ball from his hand. You can hook or block once out of the hand and if held in the hand too long a free. Rucks would decrease because no point in them and also illegal hand passes decrease. Then if it has to be a transfer to the other hand maybe would work but as proposed a waste of effort.
Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2944 - 20/02/2025 20:47:36
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Replying To anotheralias: "Not really a practical idea. Whats the penalty for a club that doesnt comply. And its not a case that a club can easily just turn out a team to tick the box. i.e who supplies/funds the helmets/hurleys if lads dont want to play.
There are other ways of incentivising participation and development....but mandates are not the way to go" https://www.gaa.ie/article/hurling-starter-packs-now-available-to-clubs
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 20/02/2025 21:14:21
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Replying To Viking66: "Did you actually read the motion at all? By the sound of your post you didnt.
There's no forcing young lads at all. It's up to them if they participate or not. The point of the motion is that there are large areas of the country where a young lad can't take up hurling even if he wants to.
Any of the GFCs near any of the clubs who provide hurling as an option wouldn't have to provide hurling. That's in the motion too.
New York shouldn't be parachuted in to the Lory Meagher. And maybe won't be.
There's nothing stopping 2 or 3 neighbouring GFCs banding together to provide hurling to young lads who want to hurl in their area under the terms of the motion.
Likewise clubs with insufficient numbers, demographically speaking, would be exempt.
Finally there are actually very few clubs in Kilkenny that don't field football teams at all . Carrigeen, Cloneen, Dunnamaggin, Three Castles. Only 4 out of 41 clubs. Carrigeen is less than a mile from Mooncoin, Cloneen is the sister club of Railyard, who are football only. They are only a mile or 2 apart. Dunnamaggin is only a 6 minute drive from Kilmoganny, Threecastles is less than an 8 minute drive from St Lachtains, it's less than 5 miles pitch to pitch.
There are plenty of myths around Kilkenny clubs and Football." Cloneen and Railyard are in the same parish, same players. Likewise Dunnamaggin and Kilmoganny.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 20/02/2025 21:52:30
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Replying To Doylerwex: "Does football really need more attention nationally? The crown jewel of the GAA needs support or it will die. Anybody can pick up a football." More arrogance from a hurling snob. We have two great sports and we are blessed to have them. The equivalent should be introduced for football. If Kilkenny had to provide football Wexford would have a far better chance in Leinster.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6161 - 21/02/2025 03:19:10
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Typical hurling superiority complex.
You'd swear the sport was some ancient artform that should be protected at all costs because its dying a death, when in reality its more popular now than ever before.
Far more pressing issues need to addressed across the organisation than this, starting with the welfare of our robots, sorry I meant players.
beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1465 - 21/02/2025 05:04:27
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Replying To Greengrass: "More arrogance from a hurling snob. We have two great sports and we are blessed to have them. The equivalent should be introduced for football. If Kilkenny had to provide football Wexford would have a far better chance in Leinster." Kilkenny do provide football. Read my post above.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 21/02/2025 07:35:53
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Replying To beano: "Typical hurling superiority complex.
You'd swear the sport was some ancient artform that should be protected at all costs because its dying a death, when in reality its more popular now than ever before.
Far more pressing issues need to addressed across the organisation than this, starting with the welfare of our robots, sorry I meant players." Why are player welfare and trying to promote hurling equally with football mutually exclusive Beano?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 21/02/2025 07:37:09
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Replying To beano: "Typical hurling superiority complex.
You'd swear the sport was some ancient artform that should be protected at all costs because its dying a death, when in reality its more popular now than ever before.
Far more pressing issues need to addressed across the organisation than this, starting with the welfare of our robots, sorry I meant players." Hurling is superior, vastly so. And it is an ancient artform that needs to be protected and promoted at all costs. Everything else is just light entertainment.
Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2154 - 21/02/2025 09:01:19
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Replying To Greengrass: "More arrogance from a hurling snob. We have two great sports and we are blessed to have them. The equivalent should be introduced for football. If Kilkenny had to provide football Wexford would have a far better chance in Leinster." I will openly admit I'm a hurling snob. I also acknowledge it's very much a minority sport which is our nation's greatest shame
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3373 - 21/02/2025 09:16:25
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Why is it that hurling is nt played more countrywide .
It is a great spectacle and great game to play .
Is it because the skill level is too high , non exposure to it at young age .
So many people that promote or say its their choosen sport to watch never played it .
Can they answer the question of why they did nt play it or why they may have played but packed it in .
You need to understand why people don't play or why they quit before you can understand how it can be promoted and played more widely .
To enjoy playing hurling you have to master the basics and as a coach I see that is not that easy and takes dedication and a will .
Most will try it very few master it.
Even to play at basic level at adult u need to gave mastered the basics never-ending at highest level .
I think you either love it for the playing of it or love it for the spectacle different scenarios with an overlap .
Know lots of lads that played to decent level but once finished playing lost interest . Might watch it on the tv that's it .
But definitely over the last decade in particular there has been an us v them in hurling and football .
Both sides will get very defensive if they feel they are in some way being critised or downgraded .
That's not just a county countrywide aspect that's in dual clubs too .
To develop both they need to be on the same page if not other sports will be the only beneficiary .
Anyone that knows mr griffin knows he has no love of football .
Been better off calling it the Jimmy Barry Murphy or teddy mc carthy motion .
Not to put football people on the defensive from the off by naming it after a hurling snob.
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 336 - 21/02/2025 10:38:23
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Replying To Formertownie: "Why is it that hurling is nt played more countrywide .
It is a great spectacle and great game to play .
Is it because the skill level is too high , non exposure to it at young age .
So many people that promote or say its their choosen sport to watch never played it .
Can they answer the question of why they did nt play it or why they may have played but packed it in .
You need to understand why people don't play or why they quit before you can understand how it can be promoted and played more widely .
To enjoy playing hurling you have to master the basics and as a coach I see that is not that easy and takes dedication and a will .
Most will try it very few master it.
Even to play at basic level at adult u need to gave mastered the basics never-ending at highest level .
I think you either love it for the playing of it or love it for the spectacle different scenarios with an overlap .
Know lots of lads that played to decent level but once finished playing lost interest . Might watch it on the tv that's it .
But definitely over the last decade in particular there has been an us v them in hurling and football .
Both sides will get very defensive if they feel they are in some way being critised or downgraded .
That's not just a county countrywide aspect that's in dual clubs too .
To develop both they need to be on the same page if not other sports will be the only beneficiary .
Anyone that knows mr griffin knows he has no love of football .
Been better off calling it the Jimmy Barry Murphy or teddy mc carthy motion .
Not to put football people on the defensive from the off by naming it after a hurling snob." Liam Griffin has proposed the motion through his club, St Mary's Rosslare.
Agree 100% the GAA should be promoting both codes equally. It was set up to do just that.
I grew up in Africa and went to boarding school in England. I played Rugby as I didnt get the opportunity to play hurling, but far prefer hurling to watch since I saw my first game in 1989 when I moved to Belfast. It's an absolute tragedy that young children born and bred here don't get the opportunity to play the game if they want to.
I never even picked up a ball with a hurl until my eldest son started playing, late on account of covid. I spend more than an hour a day with a hurl in my hands, as do the kids most days. They all play football also. I coach both too.
I find pucking a ball great for clearing the head. If I'm getting hardship with a job in work I'd often puck a ball off the wall outside the workshop for 15 minutes. Unfortunately today its xxxxxxx miserable outside, so I'm spending too much time on this forum!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 21/02/2025 11:12:10
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Replying To Viking66: "Liam Griffin has proposed the motion through his club, St Mary's Rosslare.
Agree 100% the GAA should be promoting both codes equally. It was set up to do just that.
I grew up in Africa and went to boarding school in England. I played Rugby as I didnt get the opportunity to play hurling, but far prefer hurling to watch since I saw my first game in 1989 when I moved to Belfast. It's an absolute tragedy that young children born and bred here don't get the opportunity to play the game if they want to.
I never even picked up a ball with a hurl until my eldest son started playing, late on account of covid. I spend more than an hour a day with a hurl in my hands, as do the kids most days. They all play football also. I coach both too.
I find pucking a ball great for clearing the head. If I'm getting hardship with a job in work I'd often puck a ball off the wall outside the workshop for 15 minutes. Unfortunately today its xxxxxxx miserable outside, so I'm spending too much time on this forum!" You never got the chance and understandable but don't think anyone would doubt your love for the game.
Unfortunately not everyone shares that love.
There has never been as much exposure to hurling .
Although I would argue at present the tv coverage could be more balanced. Comes down to economics I presume. Most counties play football and with new rules there is an added interest good play by football men to give it the exposure and improve the game. People watching to learn the new rules as much as interest in any particular games and how it develops as a spectacle . How different teams adapt to new rules etc . A great marketing initiative.
The hurling community needs to promote the game in a revolutionary way don't just assume because its hurling it ll be a success. Think outside the box .
Every child in a hurling county would certainly get the opportunity to play never more obvious than now with the work going in the schools etc .
U know better than anyone if the parents don't buy in the child won't get that opportunity to attend club training etc schools are the key
By giving them the opportunity from my experiences .not every child wants to play or is capable of playing .
You can put a hurl in a child's hand but it's up to them then whether they use it to pretend to play guitar, pretend gun, cut down long grass . We only hope it's the start of a love that only grows for hurling .
I think u either love playing hurling or you don't there's no in between . Thats completely Separate from watching ,supporting and attending games .
I ve seen so many talented young players just give up its so hard to watch it happen and very little you can do despite every effort . Then later they come back to help promote coach and regret stopping to play when they could sometimes it s just life takes over and can't give it the time it needs unlike other sports it's hard to just step back in to play you lose that touch .
You can't force it .
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 336 - 21/02/2025 12:01:10
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Replying To Viking66: "Liam Griffin has proposed the motion through his club, St Mary's Rosslare.
Agree 100% the GAA should be promoting both codes equally. It was set up to do just that.
I grew up in Africa and went to boarding school in England. I played Rugby as I didnt get the opportunity to play hurling, but far prefer hurling to watch since I saw my first game in 1989 when I moved to Belfast. It's an absolute tragedy that young children born and bred here don't get the opportunity to play the game if they want to.
I never even picked up a ball with a hurl until my eldest son started playing, late on account of covid. I spend more than an hour a day with a hurl in my hands, as do the kids most days. They all play football also. I coach both too.
I find pucking a ball great for clearing the head. If I'm getting hardship with a job in work I'd often puck a ball off the wall outside the workshop for 15 minutes. Unfortunately today its xxxxxxx miserable outside, so I'm spending too much time on this forum!" The GAA should be promoting Football & Hurling equally however there is a reality to the suitation. To do this you'd have to divert resources from both hurling & football. Can you say, hand on heart, that clubs & counties would be happy with this? Giving the example of Leitrim again, even to get a couple more clubs going (back to 4) would require serious multi year investment.... quite possibly a 10-15 year project. The coaching knowledge in Leitrim is thin on the ground with so few clubs that people would need to be paid to coach at grassroots and train others before you'd even think of doing anything else. It's a lovely idea but not practical in my opinion.
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1150 - 21/02/2025 12:05:14
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Replying To Square_B: "The GAA should be promoting Football & Hurling equally however there is a reality to the suitation. To do this you'd have to divert resources from both hurling & football. Can you say, hand on heart, that clubs & counties would be happy with this? Giving the example of Leitrim again, even to get a couple more clubs going (back to 4) would require serious multi year investment.... quite possibly a 10-15 year project. The coaching knowledge in Leitrim is thin on the ground with so few clubs that people would need to be paid to coach at grassroots and train others before you'd even think of doing anything else. It's a lovely idea but not practical in my opinion." The GAA should be funding this centrally. They've replaced perfectly good plastic seats in Croke Park in order to get a Green Stadium certificate, not sure how that makes any sense from an environmental point of view tbh, at great expense. That money surely would've been better spent promoting both codes at grassroots level in the clubs around the country.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 21/02/2025 12:55:47
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Replying To Viking66: "The GAA should be funding this centrally. They've replaced perfectly good plastic seats in Croke Park in order to get a Green Stadium certificate, not sure how that makes any sense from an environmental point of view tbh, at great expense. That money surely would've been better spent promoting both codes at grassroots level in the clubs around the country." I don't know the ins & outs of what happened there... the seats have a shelf life anyhow and would have needed to be replaced regardless. So back to the practicalties of all this... how would it work?
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1150 - 21/02/2025 13:18:34
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Replying To Square_B: "I don't know the ins & outs of what happened there... the seats have a shelf life anyhow and would have needed to be replaced regardless. So back to the practicalties of all this... how would it work?" I'm not too sure about the geography and demographics of Leitrim, but in practice it would go something like this. if you had 3 neighbouring GFCs, with no hurling club nearby, only one would have to provide hurling. Or all 3 together. If it was an area with very low population, and there were barely enough lads between 2 or 3 clubs even to field a football team, then there is an exemption.
If you had a bigger club in a larger catchment area with multiple football teams and no hurling club nearby, then you get one of your club hurling starter packs, liase with your GPO, and try run some one hour starter sessions for u7s up to u10s. Obviously if the motion is passed then the GAA centrally would have to provide GPOs and coaching courses to coach any prospective coaches. And County Boards would have to provide go games for these teams to play in.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14771 - 21/02/2025 13:37:32
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Replying To beano: "Typical hurling superiority complex.
You'd swear the sport was some ancient artform that should be protected at all costs because its dying a death, when in reality its more popular now than ever before.
Far more pressing issues need to addressed across the organisation than this, starting with the welfare of our robots, sorry I meant players." There is a serious issue with football in the South East of the country. Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Waterford and Tipperary all based in division 4. Kilkenny don't field a football team. Wexford county board for the last few years have tried their damndest to run football into the ground. The motion should be coupled with a taskforce for the regeneration of football in the South East of ireland. Lots of provisions for hurling and the promotion of hurling but very little for football. The likes of Griffin and Co. run down football any chance they get in the belief that there is no other game than hurling. Pure snobbery. The people doing the most damage to hurling are hurling people themselves. The analysis offered on the Sunday game is wojus. Donal Og is always whinging and never offering anything constructive. Wexford county board offered a player of the week award for hurling during the championship and nothing for football. They only started offering one after a few ex county footballers started promoting one. Mr. Griffin and Mr. Fenlon should make sure their is equal treatment of both codes in their own county before pontificating to anyone else about the promotion of hurling.
FootballRising (Wexford) - Posts: 29 - 21/02/2025 14:50:18
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