Top hurling referee thinks Hurling is in crisis... Here are his views..

Hurling is in a crisis state across the country... the basic skills are not been mastered, while managers are tatical geniuses"

I can't recall when I last saw a hurley break or an overhead strike in the air... how many counties can realistically say they'll contest an All-Ireland minor or senior final in September? Clare had a few hundred supporters in Cork last night, Offaly beaten by 23 points today (by Galway), Westmeath beaten too at home by Carlow who have made great strides."

"We are fascinated with the growth of the game in Asia and worldwide, but we've taken our eye off the ball in our native counties, despite all the funding that has been pumped in."


What do we think of these comments

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 12/02/2017 17:26:11    1955376

Every time offaly lose a game its seen as the end of hurling.

He seems upset about westmeath losing to carlow as well. Personally I was delighted

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 12/02/2017 18:02:34    1955421

He does have a point though. Some skills of the game have definitely died out. And when you break it down outside of Tipp and Kilkenny who is really thinking we have a chance this year? Waterford and maybe Galway.. Dublin Laois Offaly Wexford onlookers in Leinster cork a shadow of themselves Limerick can't ven get out of 1b. No he definitely has some fair points

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 12/02/2017 18:45:47    1955473

Rohanhorsemaste (Tipperary) - Posts: 26 - 12/02/2017 19:03:41    1955498

He's just an old schooler, reminds me of me da who wanted any handling of the sliotar banned completely.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8584 - 12/02/2017 19:10:15    1955503

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2443 - 12/02/2017 19:17:06    1955507

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 12/02/2017 19:26:51    1955513

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2443 - 12/02/2017 19:32:05    1955519

I think he has a point re the uncompetitive nature now of a lot of games. Funding and support is very patchy and a lot of counties seem to be unable to improve the standard in the county. But then again the Waterford v Kk game today was terrific apart from the ref. Skill requirements are changing players are coached to catch rather than bat with hurl in the air. But game is changing more athletic, short passing, support play etc but yeah he has a point re lits of people taking eye of the ball re hurling.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 12/02/2017 19:50:02    1955537

Some rule changes in the past 15 years or so have guaranteed that the number of teams with the capacity to be competitive would decrease and that an elite would emerge. Specifically, the rule change increasing the amount of subs allowed from 3 to 5 was always going to benefit the strong counties and ensure that counties with fewer resources would fall away from the top table. This change alone has raised the bar too much for counties like Offaly,Laois, and Antrim who have a very small hurling pick. Back in the 80's and 90's Offaly had great hurling teams but I wonder would they have won any of the 3 All Ireland's they have had the 5 subs rule applied back then. Definitely I don't think they'd have won in 98 anyway! I listened today to the Offaly manager saying that he is struggling to get 30 players for his squad. I can say with absolute certainty that Offaly (or Antrim or Laois for that matter) will not contest an All Ireland hurling final in the next 100 years and that no other team will rise to the top table. The 5 subs rule by itself guarantees this -- and that's even before you look at pumping in resources for coaching etc to give counties like these the leg up to become more competitive.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1901 - 13/02/2017 00:19:33    1955840

In fairness there is only Kerry capable of beating Dublin in football over the next two years or so. Waterford, Galway, Clare would all be confident of beating Tipp/KK on any given day

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 13/02/2017 10:13:46    1955965

Both ground hurling and overhead pulling have gone from the game because they are inefficient ways of playing.

Striking on the ground is now reserved for a quick flick to someone in space or a strike for a goal in or around the large square. Overhead pulling is only seen now with a high ball into the square.

As players become more and more inclined to rise the ball at every opportunity though we'll probably see less than we see now. A lot of inter county players wouldn't be confident enough in their skill to attempt a quick ground stroke at goal from more than about 8/9 yards now and goal chances are going begging because of it sometimes.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 13/02/2017 12:53:07    1956089

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 13/02/2017 18:11:31    1956302

I kind of agree with the overall sentiment of his post, the specifics he mentioned are debatable. As for the lost skills he lamented, often when we do see players indulge in skills like overhead strikes, or even just pulling on a loose ball in close quarters, they're blown up for dangerous play. And I don't think he needs to call out overseas development as a distraction from growing the game at home, it doesn't have to be either or. If hurling can be grown overseas, that's a good thing regardless.

But when it comes to overall attention being given to hurling, and its growth, there is a case to be answered. You only just have to look at the clamour around restructuring the football championship, by both the GPA and GAA. Now, if they can improve the football structure, and grow the game, that's great. But why is there not a similar impetus to bring the hurling championships into the 21st century? There are far less top flight inter-county hurling games per year than football, and only 2 provincial championships in the AI series. Surely hurling is in as much need for outside the box thinking as football, right? When you have a Munster team playing in the Leinster championship, its time to take stock. From a national audience point of view, the hurling championship is becoming a one game a year sport; if the AI final is half way competitive, hurlings deemed to be doing ok (even if its the same 2/3 teams involved every year).

So, I do think the status of hurling as the secondary sport is becoming more cemented, and that's worth calling out.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 13/02/2017 19:30:09    1956332

gormdubhgorm (Dublin) - Posts: 990 - 14/02/2017 11:37:25    1956595