took a trip last saturday to see our neighbours play in division 3b v warwickshire .(i thought they just played cricket).what drew me to the game was 2 things . firstly it was a top of the table clash . secondly i see Ray Gavin was in charge of Longford . Listening to the locals things are progressing down in Longford hurling wise and both teams will play in the division league final later on .
But i couldnt help feeling that something was amiss here and on further inquiry i saw that Warwickshire have some big names on their teamsheet which didnt play and the locals had it that more big name were going to appear for the final as the rumour is that these players are getting well looked after if you know what i mean .
Some were saying that when the final comes around that warwickshires team will be so packed out with better players that they could win division 2a dont mind 3b . to me if that happens it seems a bit unfair in a division where hurling is probably still pure and struggling to survive in these counties .
i wonder is this being policed or is it so far down that nobody is watching or cares . by the look of ray gavin when it was over he new that something is going on here and from the terrace it looked like Warwickshire were arrogant and holding back even though Lonford won .

mowinbardown (Meath) - Posts: 8 - 15/03/2017 07:56:09    1967162

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 703 - 15/03/2017 11:10:27    1967205

I'd be surprised if the stories of players being looked after had much truth in it - I never got the feeling Warwickshires GAA scene had any great financial backing. In any case these players are more likely to be getting recruited for the club scene here than the intercounty scene. I've mentioned it on here before but I think it's worth considering not having the Britain champions enter the club All-irelands, to ensure club competitions over here remain vibrant.
What did you think of the standard of the game anyway? It would be great if 3B and 3A could be scrapped with just an 8 team division 3 instead, but not sure if 3B sides are strong enough yet for that.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 15/03/2017 11:14:00    1967206

See, I am not surprised that W'shire didn't play the likes of Watson (assuming that it was a tactical decision). Going in to the game W'shire were already guaranteed their place in the Final and Longford had one foot in it - so the fact that they were more than likely due to meet in a couple of weeks in a game which was more important than the meeting this weekend past then of course mind games etc are going to come in to play. Further add to this that W'shire losing would guarantee both teams are playing in the final then you can see why they might play about with the team a bit as that result wasn't overly important to them.

Similar thing happened with ourselves and Offaly a couple of years back when we played them one weekend in the final game of the league knowing we were to play them again the next weekend in the Playoff. Offaly won the last league game by 21 points but then went down by 4 in the playoff with the Antrim team different the second day to the first.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 15/03/2017 14:27:33    1967294

Regarding players being "looked after": if I had the money (and I'm talking an awful lot of money), I'd get the recent good and great of Leitrim football, some of whom have emigrated, employee them as part-time tea drinkers and TV watchers in Leitrim (but with different titles of course, such as "farm labourer") and "look after" them very well, not pay them for full-time training (because that's against the rules of course), and watch them become much better than ever before.

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1029 - 15/03/2017 18:38:47    1967368

mowin.bar.down (Meath) - Posts:3,

"Listening to the locals things are progressing down in Longford hurling wise"

Yes, what with 5 Westmeath club players & a Limerick man on the team the locals would indeed be sure to say that, alright. Did these same Longford hurling connoisseurs also proclaim that despite having just 3 senior clubs in the county & only 2 clubs fielding at underage that we are currently on something like the crest of a wave?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 16/03/2017 00:30:02    1967437