Growing up and going to matches with my father, there was always a minor match before senior inter county games.

I was away from GAA for many years, but now my son plays and we try to get to as many club and county games as we can. In the past few years, there's been precious few minor matches.

Is this a policy thing? A provincial thing? I like to get to grounds early for parking, good seats etc. it would be nice to have a bit of entertainment, and good exposure for the younger players.

TearsIn85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 193 - 05/05/2019 20:33:48    2182017

The formats of the 2 competitions don't really match up so it's not always possible. The Leinster Senior Football is a straight knockout starting in early May and running till the final in late June. The Leinster Minor Football is a group stage in April/ May followed by a 3 week break for exams before resuming to play the last group games in late June by the time the Senior Championship is already nearly over.

It'd also depend on the matchups of the teams in question. Imagine Wicklow minors got knocked out in the first round, then later on Wicklow Seniors have a home match. Who do you even put as a curtain raiser if their minors are out? Or say Wicklow minors are still in the competition, but have to play away. Does some other minor team have to give up home advantage and head to Wicklow to play their game?

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 05/05/2019 21:05:45    2182023

Those old, decent traditions have long been sacrificed on the altar of mammon! Minors are little people, the only surprise when they dropped the age limit to under 17 was that they did not change the name to "Minnow". Back when the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard competitions were introduced, Central Council gave a solemn commitment that the finals of those two new competitions would be curtain raisers to the two All Ireland hurling Semifinals, the commitment lasted three years. If I go any further this post won't be made public.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1061 - 05/05/2019 21:50:30    2182035

the problem with curtain raisers is that the gap between the 2 games is too long.
a match at 2 and another at 4 generally results in a huge gap between the 2 games.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 07/05/2019 18:27:35    2182349