This has not been mentioned yet so here goes. While the pitch looked good there didn't seem to be much bounce in the ball. this caused no end of problems for the players and I would say caused Cavan at least 2 scores and probably caused the Armagh goal. even on a wet pitch there should be some bounce. There was a time early on when Keating hopped the ball and it died. it happened a few more times afterwards too.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5524 - 20/05/2013 20:09:40    1387786

i dont know where you have been for the past few weeks never mind months, but it has been raining - a lot - and there isnt a pitch in the country that is in "perfect" condition. Your club must have amazing facilities when you can knock the pitch on Sunday. Get a grip man !! KBP looked brilliant on Sunday. This was commented on by a number of Armagh supporter who were behind me in the stand. Well done to all the staff who not only had the pitch looking great but the entire complex.

StirringIt (Cavan) - Posts: 374 - 21/05/2013 08:49:03    1387958

this strand is ridiculous.

sceptical (Cavan) - Posts: 544 - 21/05/2013 10:24:52    1387994

Prunty pitchs have a life of 10-15 years depending on how well it's maintained. Breffni was done in 1996 so it is due to be done again.

hoy (Cavan) - Posts: 307 - 21/05/2013 10:29:56    1387996

I'd actually agree, the pitch needs to be relayed. That is no disrespect to the groundsmen working on it, but as commented a good prunty pitch would be due an upgrade. It is in serious nick considering the weather but if you compared it to a pitch layed 3-4 years there is a massive difference on the sole.

ballygowanwater (Cavan) - Posts: 207 - 21/05/2013 10:54:38    1388015

Have to agree with Hoy an S Goldrick ,the pitch is as dead as elvis even in the summer time when weather is good! StirringIt there is a big difference in what it looks like an is actually like to play on. any pitch looks good if its level, rolled with stripes and freshly cut.

Footballisgood (Cavan) - Posts: 21 - 21/05/2013 13:01:31    1388142

Have to agree with SGoldrick that it occured to me when the forwards like Dunne were taking frees and bouncing the ball it dident seem to come up. Maybe some experts have some complicated reason but I dont. Even on soft pitches the ball will always bounce back up. Not on Sunday. Look at the tape of the game and you will see what he is talking about!!! Yes the pitch looked great.

Brownred (Cavan) - Posts: 229 - 21/05/2013 13:36:10    1388177

StirringIT and sceptical. I am not having a go and I agree, the pitch did LOOK in great nick but as pointed out above there is a difference in looking good and playing good. It is very dead and I am well aware of the recent weather thank you. I was just wondering if we could have an expert opinion on it, thats all, as it definitely effected the bounce of the ball in my opinion.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5524 - 21/05/2013 14:52:01    1388267

pitch very poor at moment in my opinion .seen a cavan man sunday losing ball due to bump.unacceptable for such a wonderful grounds to have a bumpy pitch.but hang on guys the blame is with the people who authorised the junior football all Ireland semi this year in a flood last febuary.there was a downpour all week before.any wonder we get so many bad ankles.

hurler40 (Cavan) - Posts: 450 - 21/05/2013 16:17:45    1388374

Good point, when I watched the game on tv when I got home, notice when dunne was taking the frees, his routine of bouncing the ball. The lad had to really drive it hard to get it back into his hands. During free play, players bouncing the ball regularly undid them.

milhouse (Cavan) - Posts: 469 - 21/05/2013 16:19:16    1388377

I think youre trying to rise a reaction!! The problem with a natural pitch is just that - Its natural - it will never be the same on 2 different days. Its going to be affected by rain, heat, wind etc. To have a pitch which will perform consistantly you are looking at the much maligned 3g pitch, which also has its own issues. With the amount of rain we had recently i was surprised the pitch wasnt cut up badly after playing 2 games on it.
I dont know if you went on to the field in Brewster on the night of this years u21 final. There was more clay that grass on it. Lucky there was no rain on the night or it would have been a mess.
My point is that if this weather continues, KBP, and every other ground in the country, prunty pitch or not, will dry out, the surface will firm up and the ball will bounce once again to catch out forwards and backs alike.

StirringIt (Cavan) - Posts: 374 - 21/05/2013 16:32:14    1388402

Brownred
County: Cavan
Posts: 78

1388177
Have to agree with SGoldrick that it occured to me when the forwards like Dunne were taking frees and bouncing the ball it dident seem to come up. Maybe some experts have some complicated reason but I dont. Even on soft pitches the ball will always bounce back up. Not on Sunday. Look at the tape of the game and you will see what he is talking about!!! Yes the pitch looked great.

____________

ahem ... the pitch was water logged, with water.

thank you

Con Cavan (Cavan) - Posts: 894 - 21/05/2013 17:48:20    1388485

Con Cavan
County: Cavan
Posts: 845

____________

ahem ... the pitch was water logged, with water.

thank you

the pitch was NOT "waterlogged"

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5524 - 22/05/2013 10:17:39    1388731

s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 1994

1387786
This has not been mentioned yet so here goes. While the pitch looked good there didn't seem to be much bounce in the ball. this caused no end of problems for the players and I would say caused Cavan at least 2 scores and probably caused the Armagh goal. even on a wet pitch there should be some bounce. There was a time early on when Keating hopped the ball and it died. it happened a few more times afterwards too.

As you know I am responsible for the main pitch and only me so I will give you the reasons why there was no bounce on the pitch.
First last Wednesday 4 weeks the pitch had several ton's of sand put on it and there was a new layer of stitched sprouting grasses put into it. This takes 8 weeks to establish a sod but unfortunately as you can read it had only 4 weeks.
You are aware that the weather has been the worst we have ever experienced for the month of May when there would be a great growth but it had not happened up to last Sunday. The farmers are importing silage the weather and growth has been that bad.
The rain was that bad the town end of the park was flooded.
I got the park lined by 2110 Saturday evening I thought I would have to do it Sunday morning it was that bad.
The pitch was not a stranger to the Cavan county teams as both trained on it Tuesday evening and they would have know what the bounce was like.
Its a petty nit picking issue complaining about the pitch. I take pride in what I do and with the support of Tom Reilly our first class chairman and the understanding of Mr Hyland the senior manager and Garry Donahue the minor manager the pitch looked well and was a good advertisement for the county set up.
We Cavan got two fantastic wins last Sunday and if the condition of the pitch was a factor I am well pleased with the results, long may it continue.
Is mise Sean O'Rinn

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4602 - 22/05/2013 13:05:24    1388897

Well said Sean. The pitch not only looked great but the entire complex was a credit to you and your team.
As i said earlier in this stupid thread, its a natural surface, and with the rain we have had recently and poor growth it was amazing that the pitch stood up to two games, plus as you say, training by both teams on Tuesday night.
Well done Sean, keep up the good work!!

StirringIt (Cavan) - Posts: 374 - 22/05/2013 14:28:52    1388997

The boss has spoken that should be the end of the pitch talk.

RHF (Cavan) - Posts: 891 - 22/05/2013 15:00:04    1389031

The pitch looked great and was as good as could be got given the weather.

End of discussion, leave it at that.

accessit (Cavan) - Posts: 42 - 22/05/2013 15:10:02    1389043

As mentioned by the BBC presenter, the pitch and facilities are the best that he has come across.

Keep up the good work John and team.

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 295 - 22/05/2013 17:42:02    1389235

Just outta curiousity if it takes 8 weeks to grow sod properly then why was it only done 4 weeks ago? For the record I'm not complaining about the pitch I just found that odd in your answer.

JamsieMac (Cavan) - Posts: 482 - 22/05/2013 18:09:47    1389285

JamsieMac
County: Cavan
Posts: 249

1389285
Just outta curiousity if it takes 8 weeks to grow sod properly then why was it only done 4 weeks ago? For the record I'm not complaining about the pitch I just found that odd in your answer.

Because the seniors last match was a home match in the National league and the U21 team used it to train before they played Cork as there was no other pitch available because of the weather conditions. There was no point in doing anything until they were finished, also the weather was a huge factor this year for everyone and their grounds. As I stated the pitch was stitched with new seedlings in a new layer of sand and if you used it too soon you would move the seedlings all over the park and end up with pockets of lush sods and bare patches. I hope this helps you.

The Quiet Man (Cavan) - Posts: 4602 - 22/05/2013 19:41:12    1389343