Meath Forum

Club Leagues 2022

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "You're missing nothing in my opinion. That's exactly how I see it. Seems like there's pro hurling agenda. No danger of the non first team hurlers being shafted like this"
Yes it looks pro hurling to me and to free up hurling slots. I think you've have hit the proverbial on the head there Blackspot. Total joke

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 21/01/2022 10:28:15    2395831

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "You're missing nothing in my opinion. That's exactly how I see it. Seems like there's pro hurling agenda. No danger of the non first team hurlers being shafted like this"
Yes it looks pro hurling to me and to free up hurling slots. I think you've have hit the proverbial on the head there Blackspot. Total joke

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 21/01/2022 11:29:33    2395843

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Can't believe reading all the above, So no B League? The Premier has been a joke of a competition imo. Maybe suited the odd club, but has downgraded the whole thing. Could see the merit in not mixing 2nd and thirds teams when brought in. But but don't see it anymore.. If a lad from a strong club can't make first team , there's no incentive playing premier comp.

Least when their 2nd team was Junior, Junior B or lower still had cracking games against small clubs in championship.

Jimmycricket (Meath) - Posts: 113 - 21/01/2022 11:47:04    2395850

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Should this have not all been sorted out last November/December? I know there was uncertainty with the pandemic situation, but still have it ready to go if things (as they have turned out) can run as normal? Some clubs like Dunshauglin, Dunboyne, St Colmcilles, O'Mahonys, Ratoath and Don/Ash need a league for second team players as well as a championship as they have so many players to cater for and how could you keep a player interested in playing if they only had nine games or so for the year? They are right in my opinion to demand a more comprehensive schedule of matches. Some smaller clubs however would be more than happy to have no leagues for second teams as it is struggle for them to field a second team alongside a first team.

I thought the B'leagues and Junior A,B,C & D championships were far more appealing competitions for second team players, as it offers you a chance to have a mirrored schedule of games to a first team and also a chance to progress up the divisions/grades, and test themselves against first teams. What would motivate say Dunboyne this year to go out and win a premier championship division 1 again when they just won it last year? The premiers are just a dead end of a competition. It would give a second team player in any club more pride to win a Junior A,B,C or D championship than winning a premier championship. Wolfe Tones for example in the period between 2005-2012 maybe brought there second team from Junior D right up to Junior A and now have a third team as well. Don/Ash went from Junior B to Intermediate and Dunboyne from Junior A to Intermediate. What was letting these competitions down was bad planning from the CC and county board in general. Send out a fixture schedule at the start of the year for Football and Hurling, League, championship and cups and get on with it.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 21/01/2022 12:08:34    2395851

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "Should this have not all been sorted out last November/December? I know there was uncertainty with the pandemic situation, but still have it ready to go if things (as they have turned out) can run as normal? Some clubs like Dunshauglin, Dunboyne, St Colmcilles, O'Mahonys, Ratoath and Don/Ash need a league for second team players as well as a championship as they have so many players to cater for and how could you keep a player interested in playing if they only had nine games or so for the year? They are right in my opinion to demand a more comprehensive schedule of matches. Some smaller clubs however would be more than happy to have no leagues for second teams as it is struggle for them to field a second team alongside a first team.

I thought the B'leagues and Junior A,B,C & D championships were far more appealing competitions for second team players, as it offers you a chance to have a mirrored schedule of games to a first team and also a chance to progress up the divisions/grades, and test themselves against first teams. What would motivate say Dunboyne this year to go out and win a premier championship division 1 again when they just won it last year? The premiers are just a dead end of a competition. It would give a second team player in any club more pride to win a Junior A,B,C or D championship than winning a premier championship. Wolfe Tones for example in the period between 2005-2012 maybe brought there second team from Junior D right up to Junior A and now have a third team as well. Don/Ash went from Junior B to Intermediate and Dunboyne from Junior A to Intermediate. What was letting these competitions down was bad planning from the CC and county board in general. Send out a fixture schedule at the start of the year for Football and Hurling, League, championship and cups and get on with it."
Well I hate to say it but I told you so. The premier division was always a joke in my opinion. When I said it here 3 years ago I got very little support. The consenses then was that the junior clubs were being unfairly treated by being drawn against second teams in the first couple of rounds. Even with all the second teams put in the same division they still weren't happy. No thought given to the case of second team players not getting to play in a proper championship. The premier grade is a total joke in my opinion and needs to be scrapped immediately. We need to go back to the old system with some small tweaks. Get rid of the semi finals and finals, teams that finish on top are the winners. After all isn't that the whole point of a league.

latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 532 - 21/01/2022 17:48:20    2395898

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Replying To latouche25:  "Well I hate to say it but I told you so. The premier division was always a joke in my opinion. When I said it here 3 years ago I got very little support. The consenses then was that the junior clubs were being unfairly treated by being drawn against second teams in the first couple of rounds. Even with all the second teams put in the same division they still weren't happy. No thought given to the case of second team players not getting to play in a proper championship. The premier grade is a total joke in my opinion and needs to be scrapped immediately. We need to go back to the old system with some small tweaks. Get rid of the semi finals and finals, teams that finish on top are the winners. After all isn't that the whole point of a league."
Nailed it lad. I'd love it went back to the way it was. Unlikely but it should. Premier Championship a shambles for so many reasons. Lack of interest. Groups of 8 so you can lose 3 games and still get out of the group. Home and away basis and alot of the time on Sunday mornings.

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1003 - 21/01/2022 19:47:05    2395907

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Leave the premier leagues as is.
It's only right to punish the larger clubs for their population growth by stifling Gaa development in those areas. How dare they.

GenderNeutral (Meath) - Posts: 114 - 23/01/2022 21:59:10    2396142

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The "Premier League" competition is a total farce. Old system was the fairest possible. Cut throat and if you're good enough, you're good enough. Meaningful football for second team players at every club.

Anmhi364 (Meath) - Posts: 65 - 24/01/2022 10:55:05    2396168

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Replying To Anmhi364:  "The "Premier League" competition is a total farce. Old system was the fairest possible. Cut throat and if you're good enough, you're good enough. Meaningful football for second team players at every club."
Fully agreed !!

Jimmycricket (Meath) - Posts: 113 - 24/01/2022 13:20:03    2396206

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Replying To Anmhi364:  "The "Premier League" competition is a total farce. Old system was the fairest possible. Cut throat and if you're good enough, you're good enough. Meaningful football for second team players at every club."
Meaningful football for all players outside of the Senior team in the club! That is a huge point - in a lot of the larger clubs, lads moving from Minor to Senior football need to play 2nd or 3rd team football first. We run the risk of losing these guys if we don't have meaningful games for them! Last year we won the Minor All Ireland - how many of that squad will start on their Senior teams this year. If those that don't, aren't exposed to meaningful games we run the risk that they walk away! While some in the county might be happy with that as it is the larger teams who lose them , ultimately it could be to county set up the suffers!!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 511 - 24/01/2022 13:34:51    2396211

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Premier championship should be got rid of , nobody wants to play it , too many games , with it played before 1st team champ it leaves it open to dud first 15 panels named etc.

go back to junior b / c / d and play it at same weeknds as the 1st team football as it was.


Not sure why hurling is been blamed here.
There is to many a league football games with 13 teams in div.
Drop it back to 7 or 8 teams and bring back b league , with 7 or 8 team group also.

Hurling only 7 team leagues so much easier with fixtures and not as many dud games.

hurlit (Meath) - Posts: 424 - 24/01/2022 15:28:31    2396244

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Will cup competitions happen in February and will a fixture planner be released soon?

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 24/01/2022 16:35:17    2396261

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "Meaningful football for all players outside of the Senior team in the club! That is a huge point - in a lot of the larger clubs, lads moving from Minor to Senior football need to play 2nd or 3rd team football first. We run the risk of losing these guys if we don't have meaningful games for them! Last year we won the Minor All Ireland - how many of that squad will start on their Senior teams this year. If those that don't, aren't exposed to meaningful games we run the risk that they walk away! While some in the county might be happy with that as it is the larger teams who lose them , ultimately it could be to county set up the suffers!!"
I think we all agree here that the premier competition is a farce and needs to go. I think that's a first for this site. maybe with the new year and easing of restrictions we can agree more and look forward to a bright future for all Meath football and hurling. that includes the ladies as well.

latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 532 - 24/01/2022 16:49:06    2396269

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "Will cup competitions happen in February and will a fixture planner be released soon?"
Cup comps start first weekend in Feb and then league starts first weekend in March. Surprised there has been no fixtures for cup competition yet. Should be in the next few days

Barney12345 (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 24/01/2022 21:10:59    2396294

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Thankfully common sense seems to have prevailed and there will be league games for the non first teams and cup games for 4th teams or something like that.

Point is all players will have more than just 7 guaranteed games this year. Don't know if the CCC realised they were completely wrong in what they were trying to do and that it was grossly unfair so reversed their decision or else they realized they weren't gonna get away with the fast one they were trying to pull on the non first team players . Either the right result has been achieved in the end,.

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1003 - 25/01/2022 09:27:07    2396309

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "Thankfully common sense seems to have prevailed and there will be league games for the non first teams and cup games for 4th teams or something like that.

Point is all players will have more than just 7 guaranteed games this year. Don't know if the CCC realised they were completely wrong in what they were trying to do and that it was grossly unfair so reversed their decision or else they realized they weren't gonna get away with the fast one they were trying to pull on the non first team players . Either the right result has been achieved in the end,."
Prem 1 and 2 looks to be groups of 4 as well with only 3 group games, similar to Senior championship which means it will actually be a meaningful championship competition this year with every game counting for something.

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 25/01/2022 09:41:15    2396313

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Replying To Barney12345:  "Cup comps start first weekend in Feb and then league starts first weekend in March. Surprised there has been no fixtures for cup competition yet. Should be in the next few days"
Sadly it is not a surprise that fixtures have not been released yet.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 25/01/2022 10:00:54    2396315

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Replying To latouche25:  "I think we all agree here that the premier competition is a farce and needs to go. I think that's a first for this site. maybe with the new year and easing of restrictions we can agree more and look forward to a bright future for all Meath football and hurling. that includes the ladies as well."
I think you are right . Possibly the first time ever on here that everyone seems to be in agreement about any topic.

The premier championships were created as an incentive for the junior clubs in particular to vote for the restructuring proposal . Getting rid of second teams like Dunboyne Ashbourne etc from the Intermediate and Junior championships was the carrot for them.

The reality is the Junior championship has been worse off since the restructuring with some Clubs bumped up from Junior B who judging by their results clearly were not good enough to be up at Junior A level.

Having big club 2nd teams straight into junior groups with first teams was unfair because 1 junior club could get a dunboyne 2nd team stacked with senior lads in the first group game then another junior club could get them 2 games later in the last group and 9 or 10 of those lads could be gone senior so the system was most definitely unfair but they fixed it perfectly by putting all 2nd teams in the one group and by the time they reached the 1/4 finals they had the panel sorted for the rest of the Competition and any who was going to play senior that year was gone.

It was working fine and they messed it all up to ensure they got the Senior grade to 4 groups of 4 because this would improve the standard of Meath Club football. Perhaps it's too early to judge but I have yet to see any improvement in the standard of club championship games at senior level .

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1003 - 25/01/2022 10:32:38    2396318

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Replying To ratlag:  "Prem 1 and 2 looks to be groups of 4 as well with only 3 group games, similar to Senior championship which means it will actually be a meaningful championship competition this year with every game counting for something."
That's even better news . At least it will resemble some kind of proper championship. Scrap the home and away part of it in favour of neutral venue and the sunday mornings 11 am throw ins and lads might buy into it a bit more. All this is totally doable.

My next suggestion is probably a bit more far fetched but how about the winner of the premier 1 championship gets into the knockout stages of the junior championship and gets an opportunity to win it that year? Obviously they can't get promoted to intermediate but it could be an incentive for lads to buy into it more . As it stands why would say Dunboyne 2nd team lads bother this year after winning the Premier Div 1 last year?

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1003 - 25/01/2022 10:51:15    2396330

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The only thing about a clubs second team is that the squad changes each year with lads coming up for minor or third teams, going up to senior panels and then lads leaving by dropping down to thirds/retiring or older senior lads dropping down the grades. The incentive for a second team player is t play well enough to make the first team, the actual championship itself is secondary really. The Dunboyne 2nd tea will have new faces this year as will all clubs second team and these lads won't care how the team did last year, they will want to win again this year themselves to try and get the call up to the first team and if not, win a championship to make the year worth while.
Obviously its not as attractive as winning Junior A or Intermediate but once you start training, you want to win your championship, regardless of the grade

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 25/01/2022 11:36:23    2396338

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