Replying To Tadhg2020: "Where did I ever say that I think its fine for the 5th team in leinster to be relegated? I have been very consistent on this. There are 6 teams in Leinster. There should only be 5. That was what was intended and you chose to change it. While there are 6 teams in Leinster relegation from Munster isnt even up for discussion. Thats my opinion. Is that clear enough? If there are ever 5 teams in Leinster again then a conversation can be had on relegation but not until then. Ladd go on podcasts and get asked on the spot questions all the time. They give off the cuff opinions that they may or may not have fully developed. It doesnt mean that they will stand by them when examined deeper."
Motion 59 at GAA Congress in 2020 was voted on by all counties. There were plenty down here in Wexford not happy with it. And it wasnt voted in for being a safety net by or for us, we were the then current Leinster Hurling Champions who narrowly lost an AISF to Tipp only a few months previously.
Replying To LimerickandProud: "A bit harsh on Cork Hurling.
In Fairness I would be first to call out bad behaviour amongst supporters (and to be clear we have some wrong ones in Limerick occasionally as well), but since I have called out a certain element of the Cork Support in recent years (for booing and generally unnecessarily abusing opposition players etc.), I have to say I didn't see much of it down the Pairc on Sunday.
It was a great occasion very colourful. We had great banter with all the Cork supporters I met before and after the match (similar to how it was in years gone by) no nastiness what so ever just and appreciation for two class teams. Unlike recent years, I would be very happy to get the opportunity go back down again if we re lucky enough to make a Munster Final against Cork."
I think a lot of the eradication of that behaviour has been down to the distribution of the tickets being through the county boards and clubs initially. Im not sure if any/many went on sale on ticket master fot this game. It does seem to make a difference to fan behaviour.
Replying To StoreysTash: "Tadhg2020 : "Every serious competition the world over has different levels."
Every serious competition in the world has a level playing field. Equal rules for each competitor. Merit based systems, you find your level and when relegated you take your medicine and try to get back up.
You don't see anybody in the Premier League saying "Spurs were in a champions league final a few years ago, we can't possibly relegate them and they sell out 50k every week".
You are talking out of about 3 different ends of your mouth, you are talking about the 6th team in Leinster diluting the competition and providing a safety net yet, yet you think the 5th team in Munster should have no risk of relegation or any punishment for coming last. But you deem it fine to relegate the 5th team in Leinster just because "well they should be relegated", why do you think it would be OK for Wexford or Offaly to be relegated yet Waterford have won 4 games in the round robin since it was brought in? Which is it?
You talk about Kildare making progress yet relegating them back to Joe McDonagh will do not one thing to develop them. Westmeath, Antrim, Laois, Carlow are testament to that. The gap just gets bigger when you are not playing them.
I'm not old enough to remember the 80s and early 90s when Tipp and Cork won every Munster title for 10 years, or when Waterford were terrible. The Munster championship is riding the crest of a wave (and well deserved) but look at the attendances just 10 years ago, it wasn't always so and it was knock-out back then.
Colin Ryan the former Clare hurler was on the Wexford Hurling Pod a while ago and said he'd love to see "people get out of their own head" and develop a game which was knock-out provincials and then may the best team win the All-Ireland from there. Rank the teams based on provincial if I recall.
I think what you really want is the "I'm alright jack, Munster hurling is great so let the counties trying to develop and grow the game go to hell" status quo."
Whatever happens let's hope we never go back to knock out provincials Round robin best thing that ever happened to hurling More games means the cream rises to the top, more interest from fans, more home games for places like Ennis and Waterford and Kilkenny that in the old days would be lucky to get a home game every couple of years I remember well the old knockout system - yes it was great for the build up as you would be looking forward to it for a month. And then one game and more often than not you were done and it felt like the summer was over before it had even begun. You had top class players over their careers playing a handful of Championship games. The issue is imbalance between the 2 provinces - not the number of high level games. Straight provincial knockouts just makes what we have worse not better - for all its faults the current system is far superior to what we used to have. And right now Galway, Dublin and Offaly are improving even as Kilkenny and Wexford slip back
Replying To Tadhg2020: "I think a lot of the eradication of that behaviour has been down to the distribution of the tickets being through the county boards and clubs initially. Im not sure if any/many went on sale on ticket master fot this game. It does seem to make a difference to fan behaviour."
It definitely does. Another factor with big city and town teams is that "marginalised youth" have no interest in any type of sport.
Sloppy drunks on long hot days are main pain but there's rarely enough of them to cause serious trouble.
Was a few at Gaelic grounds for league finals and stewards and guards nipped any potential in the bud very quickly.
Replying To Tadhg2020: "Where did I ever say that I think its fine for the 5th team in leinster to be relegated? I have been very consistent on this. There are 6 teams in Leinster. There should only be 5. That was what was intended and you chose to change it. While there are 6 teams in Leinster relegation from Munster isnt even up for discussion. Thats my opinion. Is that clear enough? If there are ever 5 teams in Leinster again then a conversation can be had on relegation but not until then. Ladd go on podcasts and get asked on the spot questions all the time. They give off the cuff opinions that they may or may not have fully developed. It doesnt mean that they will stand by them when examined deeper."
I thought you meant 5 with promotion and relegation. I didn't chose to change anything, I really thought that was how you meant it. Yes that's clear. But if there's no relegation, you think Galway, Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford and Offaly should be the 5 counties I am guessing. So Kildare, Laois, etc just not bother? How do these counties progress in the hurling world? Or Kerry for that matter? Use the ash for firewood?
Replying To Viking66: "Motion 59 at GAA Congress in 2020 was voted on by all counties. There were plenty down here in Wexford not happy with it. And it wasnt voted in for being a safety net by or for us, we were the then current Leinster Hurling Champions who narrowly lost an AISF to Tipp only a few months previously."
I never said it was a safety net for Wexford either. I believe that it acts as a safety net for the team that finishes 5th whoever that may be.