National Forum

Official Croke Park Challenge Games In Hurling?

(Oldest Posts First)


Some counties don't get an opportunity to play in Croke Park too often. Some have said the Clare hurlers v Kilkenny were a bit overawed by being in Croke Park.
The GAA cannot win. They brought the Clare footballers to Croke Park and they were criticised. The GAA could host challenge games in Croke when there is not a natural curtain raiser. This weekend just gone could have seen 4 hurling counties get a challenge game in Croke Park.
Football is probably ok because of the league finals and the now inclusion of Tailteann semi-finals in Croke Park.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 04/07/2022 08:32:38    2429545

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Some counties don't get an opportunity to play in Croke Park too often. Some have said the Clare hurlers v Kilkenny were a bit overawed by being in Croke Park.
The GAA cannot win. They brought the Clare footballers to Croke Park and they were criticised. The GAA could host challenge games in Croke when there is not a natural curtain raiser. This weekend just gone could have seen 4 hurling counties get a challenge game in Croke Park.
Football is probably ok because of the league finals and the now inclusion of Tailteann semi-finals in Croke Park."
Or they could put the Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard finals on before the semi finals as was the original plan many moons back .

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2183 - 04/07/2022 13:53:05    2429638

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Fairly simple stuff, make an All-Ireland semi final and you'll play there! Its a privilege, not a right!

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1279 - 04/07/2022 14:40:21    2429658

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Fairly simple stuff, make an All-Ireland semi final and you'll play there! Its a privilege, not a right!"
That's fair enough too!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 04/07/2022 16:47:42    2429705

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Replying To Bon:  "Or they could put the Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard finals on before the semi finals as was the original plan many moons back ."
It's funny how as soon as the president came from a "traditional" hurling county that was stopped and no one said a word about it.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1522 - 05/07/2022 09:19:14    2429776

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Replying To oneoff:  "It's funny how as soon as the president came from a "traditional" hurling county that was stopped and no one said a word about it."
Too many tiers added since those days.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 05/07/2022 11:17:47    2429807

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Fairly simple stuff, make an All-Ireland semi final and you'll play there! Its a privilege, not a right!"
Dublin appear to be very privileged then..

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2524 - 05/07/2022 11:34:12    2429813

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Replying To oneoff:  "It's funny how as soon as the president came from a "traditional" hurling county that was stopped and no one said a word about it."
Are you saying that Nickey Brennan stopped the plan to let the Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard finals be played before the senior AI semi finals?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2691 - 05/07/2022 13:16:41    2429864

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Are you saying that Nickey Brennan stopped the plan to let the Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard finals be played before the senior AI semi finals?"
He banished them to the wilderness.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 06/07/2022 08:25:07    2429993

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Replying To legendzxix:  "He banished them to the wilderness."
Banished them? They were always, and still are, in 'the wilderness'. Nickey Brennan stepped down as president of the GAA 13 years ago.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2691 - 06/07/2022 09:36:02    2429999

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Banished them? They were always, and still are, in 'the wilderness'. Nickey Brennan stepped down as president of the GAA 13 years ago."
Check your history. The inaugural Ring and Rackard finals were curtain raisers to All-Ireland semi-finals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 06/07/2022 11:40:26    2430051

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Check your history. The inaugural Ring and Rackard finals were curtain raisers to All-Ireland semi-finals."
Yes, I stand corrected. But, it still doesn't explain why Nickey Brennan is blamed for them not being played before the semi-finals nowadays. There have been 5 more presidents since he stepped down.

By the way, I'm all for them being curtain raisers to All-Ireland semi-finals. A fuller stadium making for a better atmosphere, and a great day out at Croke Park for the players and fans of lesser hurling teams.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2691 - 06/07/2022 12:42:18    2430071

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Yes, I stand corrected. But, it still doesn't explain why Nickey Brennan is blamed for them not being played before the semi-finals nowadays. There have been 5 more presidents since he stepped down.

By the way, I'm all for them being curtain raisers to All-Ireland semi-finals. A fuller stadium making for a better atmosphere, and a great day out at Croke Park for the players and fans of lesser hurling teams."
NB relegated the finals. He is to blame. It allowed it to become established. County boards then are delighted to have less costs for longer. NB is to blame.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 06/07/2022 15:04:35    2430114

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Why aren't they before big matches?

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1279 - 06/07/2022 15:44:27    2430127

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Yes, I stand corrected. But, it still doesn't explain why Nickey Brennan is blamed for them not being played before the semi-finals nowadays. There have been 5 more presidents since he stepped down.

By the way, I'm all for them being curtain raisers to All-Ireland semi-finals. A fuller stadium making for a better atmosphere, and a great day out at Croke Park for the players and fans of lesser hurling teams."
But none of them have shown any interest in changing his call to change them back to being before the All Ireland semi finals.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1522 - 06/07/2022 16:18:32    2430144

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Why aren't they before big matches?"
I think, and I'm not saying it was fully the reason, I remember at the time the traditional counties got the hump because they were getting less tickets as the finals replaced the minor semi finals.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1522 - 06/07/2022 16:22:10    2430145

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Replying To legendzxix:  "NB relegated the finals. He is to blame. It allowed it to become established. County boards then are delighted to have less costs for longer. NB is to blame."
"NB relegated the finals. He is to blame. It allowed it to become established"
Become established? Anything can be changed if the will is there.

"County boards then are delighted to have less costs for longer"
I don't get this, what costs?

"NB is to blame"
Nickey Brennan is to blame for the 2022 Ring and Rackard finals not being played before the All-Ireland semi-finals, even though he hasn't been president for 13 years? Will you still be blaming him in 50 years time?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2691 - 06/07/2022 17:09:02    2430153

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Check your history. The inaugural Ring and Rackard finals were curtain raisers to All-Ireland semi-finals."
Think it was only for the 1st few years. It was played before our AISF against Kilkenny in 2007 anyway.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15047 - 06/07/2022 18:17:23    2430164

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""NB relegated the finals. He is to blame. It allowed it to become established"
Become established? Anything can be changed if the will is there.

"County boards then are delighted to have less costs for longer"
I don't get this, what costs?

"NB is to blame"
Nickey Brennan is to blame for the 2022 Ring and Rackard finals not being played before the All-Ireland semi-finals, even though he hasn't been president for 13 years? Will you still be blaming him in 50 years time?"
You seem to be very upset with this. Why is that?

The fact is Nickey Brennan is the one who made the changes in the first place. Other presidents could have changed it back? Yes but why would they when someone else made the call for them.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1522 - 06/07/2022 18:53:21    2430174

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Replying To oneoff:  "I think, and I'm not saying it was fully the reason, I remember at the time the traditional counties got the hump because they were getting less tickets as the finals replaced the minor semi finals."
Now that minor finals have been removed from being paired with senior, it would be an opportunity to play lower championship finals before the senior semi-finals.
An 8 team McDonagh that guarantees the winner promotion, can have a final on the semi-final weekend. The trade off would be no more preliminary quarter-finals.
The Ring could also be an 8 team championship, with the final prior to a senior semi-final.
The Ring and Rackard then can be played prior to the Leinster final.
McCarthy - 11 teams in 2 provincial championships.
McDonagh - 8 teams, 7 group matches, top 4 into semi-finals.
Ring - 8 teams, 7 group matches, top 4 into semi-finals.
Rackard/Meagher - 1 group of 8 teams. Each team only plays 4 opponents. Top 4 into Rackard semi-finals. Bottom 4 into Meagher semi-finals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8573 - 06/07/2022 19:02:27    2430175

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