So what do people think of Galway's unanimous decision last night to play in 1 province and 1 only?
From a Wexford perspective, I was embarrassed to see Liam Griffin, etc throwing up a white flag to Galway being increased competition. I think increased competition is good for Leinster, Wexford, Kilkenny, Dublin, etc. It is also good for Galway.

I would support Galway in at every level, including provincial club championships, but are we then heading down a route where the Leinster and Munster champions play on St. Patricks day as a result? I would not support removing the knock-out nature of this championship.
I can see not any reason why Galway should not be in Leinster hook line and sinker.

But the flip side, is this yet again Galway blaming somebody else for their own falings? They blamed Anthony Cunningham, players, and now they are blaming the fact that they don't get a home game? The last time I looked, Croke Park is not in Galway and that is the sword on which they fall every time.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 13/12/2016 11:00:46    1939841

Galway minor, u21, intermediate and senior hurlers should play in Leinster and be allowed have home games when appropriate, GAA should force the issue. Club hurling structure should remain as is - winners from 4 different provinces over the last 5 years indicates that the club championship is fine, leave it alone.

McFan88 (Limerick) - Posts: 447 - 13/12/2016 11:15:31    1939847

I can see both sides of it,
From a Galway perspective its ridiculous that their u21's and minors are homeless, the u21 's and minors get 1 game a year against a team that might have played 3 games, when was the last time Galway had a championship game in Galway City? for promotion of the game alone that would be worth gold.
On the other hand I can see where Wexford, Offaly etc. are coming from - Wexford are trying to develop the game at underage but its not worth much if they meet Galway at minor and get knocked out in April or May at a quarter final, same with u21's, the answer, as always, needs to be a comprehensive restructure of the games competitions at all levels by Croke park guaranteeing games for underage etc. that all counties can get behind.

73forever (Limerick) - Posts: 89 - 13/12/2016 11:42:35    1939857

Its not Galways fault they are isolated in their province as the only county with a strong hurling tradition.
They need to be accommodated by a province and accommodated fully. Leinster is the best option.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 13/12/2016 12:11:45    1939862

It boils down to basic fairness. Home and home is the fairest way as demonstrated by almost every and any sport. Not JUST for the players but for fans too. No hurling matches in Connacht is disgraceful and not good for the game at all. Let's make it as fair as possible please.

WoodlawnPat (Galway) - Posts: 288 - 13/12/2016 12:16:31    1939868

Is the home games things though really a huge issue?

I mean Galway have never really had home championship games even when they werent in Leinster.

Underage should be allowed in lock stock and barrel in my opinion.

The things is home and away agreements have nothing to do with Leinster Council or counties as a whole. Its up to each county themselves to come to those arrangements. Its not up to Leinster Council to dictate those terms, thats between Counties themselves.

Have Galway approached other counties proposing a home and away arrangement or are they waiting on Leinster Council to decree thats how it should be?

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1327 - 13/12/2016 12:37:47    1939873

Wexford, and also Dublin's point, is that they are trying to develop Dual players all the way up to Minor (and some degree U21). They argue with KKs pure focus on hurling they are at a disadvantage. They argue that Galway would make this worse becuase Galway is not a dual county but a county split between two different codes.

This is why they have been blocking the underage particaption.

You can argue the rights and wrongs of it but this is the fundemental blocking point

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 13/12/2016 13:06:27    1939879

Hurling people go on about the game etc but over the years they have done very little to help and accommodate in my opinion two strong counties with the potential to be major contenders Galway and Antrim. From the late 1980's on both could have done with help to be amalgamated properly into the championship. Both were isolated outside the main areas and both needed help. I just wish the powers that be would listen to former Antrim great Sambo McNaughton for instance on some of the problems faced by those outside the pale. Galway shold be allowed to play home games in Leinster and play in Minor, U21 etc.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 13/12/2016 13:08:40    1939881

Why should the club championship be left alone? Galway champions have to win 2 matches to win an All-Ireland, Oulart or Ballyea have to win 2-3 to win a province and then 2 more.
Why should this imbalance be tolerated, if Galway's quest is for fairness.
I for one would love a trip to Salthill, I've never been there and will go there in Feb for a match but I want to go there in the middle of summer.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 13/12/2016 15:15:39    1939911

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 13/12/2016 15:51:00    1939920

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4208 - 13/12/2016 16:30:31    1939938

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4208 - 13/12/2016 16:37:49    1939940

Just remove the label 'provincial championship' and have galway play with the teams from Leinster. Every effort should be made to accommodate Galway at every level. Keeping them out of competitions in case they might prevent other teams winning is ridiculous. I wouldn't mind atall if they were in Munster but better to keep things balanced they stay in Leinster.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 13/12/2016 17:31:23    1939954

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 13/12/2016 18:25:00    1939961

An open draw is the elephant in the room no one in hurling wants to talk about, especially down in Munster even though it has lost a bit of its magic due to the backdoor system. None of the traditional hurling counties will vote to do away with the Munster and Leinster finals even if in reality it would benefit hurling over the long term.

As for Galway, they should row in with Leinster with all intercounty teams, but I can see why the likes of Westmeath, Carlow and the lesser lights wouldn't want it as its another hurling power house they need to get over to get to a final.
BUT,
That leaves the GAA with a major conundrum in relation to Ulster hurling. What would happen the Ulster U21 and Minor hurling champions? Where's their development opportunity? Another nail would be driven into the coffin of Ulster hurling like the gradual downgrading of the Ulster senior championship is now arséboxing, the players, counties and even the Ulster Council has no interest in. Would it be a B championship or the likes?

Major structural changes are required in hurling to allow the weaker counties to develop, but the traditional counties won't allow them to happen...

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 14/12/2016 11:26:06    1940047

Very straight forward situation. Basic fair play is either include or exclude Galway. If Galway are in it should be on equal footing.

The argument from some counties is short sighted and not for the good of the game. It is also symptomatic of a larger problem in the GAA and that is OneEyedness (a new word i invented!). the most successful counties long term are progressive and inclusive. Look at Cody's attitude to Galway. Bring them in he says. Not surprising he is so successful.

Wexford etc you may win more provincial championships without Galway but if Galway took that attitude we'd stay playing Roscommon to win the Connacht championship!

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1826 - 14/12/2016 12:54:54    1940061

I love how people casually say 'scrap the provincials' 'open draw' 'play provincials separately' etc. As if it could be so easily done.
The GAA president when put on the spot recently said they might have a review of flags and anthems if a new political settlement was arranged and the whole GAA fraternity loses they collective minds about it.
And then people here think 'scrapping the provincials' can be done on the stroke of a pen without protest.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 14/12/2016 13:34:00    1940070

Lets face it lads, both provincial championships have been absolutely awful for the past few years.
Why is everybody so anti-change? Even if it was a 3 year trial, would the sun fail to rise tomorrow morning if we abandoned the Munster championship?
There were people who said we couldn't open Croke Park to rugby and soccer, it has been done.
If the product is failing, and the interest and attendances are also failing to back this up, why do we not think the product should be changed?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 14/12/2016 15:03:45    1940107

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 14/12/2016 15:54:45    1940126

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4208 - 14/12/2016 16:50:54    1940141