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The big issue is that the fixtures are set for mid week games. I dont know many lads who can play a match 2/3 hours away with work mid week. For Louth to play down in Wexford youd need to take a half day from work to just get there on time and then not get home until the small hours. Players have jobs, kids and lives too. bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4624 - 11/01/2023 16:20:52 2452085 Link 3 |
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Back then it was straight knockout with first round losers participating in O'Byrne Cup Shield. This gave veryone at least two matches. The group phase gives teams 3 matches all played in space of 7-8 days. Bit much at this time of year. If a team loses the first two matches, I can see why they may not travel to play a third meaningless match three days later. Old format gave teams at least two matches. If they lose the two mattches then if they want additional matches prior to league they can organise a challenge at their convienance B&G (Longford) - Posts: 276 - 11/01/2023 18:36:43 2452098 Link 1 |
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Do you really think Louth would care if we were thrown out of the competition? It's just glorified challenge matches leading into the league. If certain counties place importance on it then fair enough. If the GAA want to avoid this happening then don't put games on in midweek.
PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1653 - 12/01/2023 08:21:00 2452109 Link 1 |
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Do they not provide funds for injured players etc
oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 12/01/2023 08:35:43 2452112 Link 0 |
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They're pre-season tournaments, challenge matches. If you do so, you'll only cause teams to look for challenge matches in late December early January instead. Leave them as it is, they serve a purpose. They are literally warm up matches to try things. Things are just fine the way they are. Although maybe the O'Byrne Cup could have a different format to prevent these dead rubbers
Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2382 - 12/01/2023 09:16:34 2452113 Link 0 |
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Probably not. So why not give the games to teams that want them. Why did ye enter at all?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 12/01/2023 09:34:33 2452115 Link 2 |
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Keep the group stage and use scoring difference instead of head to head. If this was the case the Wexford/Louth and Kildare/Westmeath matches could of going ahead.
Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 784 - 12/01/2023 09:44:46 2452122 Link 0 |
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You are correct, in theory it is still registered as a financial support for injured players.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 12/01/2023 09:47:53 2452124 Link 0 |
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I said already that the purpose of the competition was to play glorified challenge matches and prepare for the league. If Louth didn't take part in it then they would have no one to play challenge matches against as every other county would be involved in a pre season competition. It seems as though you're placing importance on a non important competition. Also, if the game had been called off last night due to inclement weather, would you be asking for the game to be made up? After all it would have to be for the intergrity of the competition if I follow your logic.
PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1653 - 12/01/2023 10:00:47 2452129 Link 0 |
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O'Byrne Cup Shield was a very recent and short lived thing. Started in 2006, ended in 2012. The old format from 1950's until 2005 was straight knockout and that's it, which meant 1 game for many. For almost all of the 1990's for example, Longford played 1 game per year in O'Byrne Cup and was out. For most of that time we only had 1 game in Leinster too and then out. So more games for a county like Longford to gel prior to the league, is vital. Many including myself are happy with the current group format, but Leinster Council need to take action against those taking the law into their own hands and refusing to fulfill fixtures. I would also revisit the logic of playing games mid-week.
LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 471 - 12/01/2023 10:18:36 2452132 Link 2 |
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Agree on mid week games in mid January storms a joke tba. Also apart from amateur players not being able to make it due to work commitments, what about the fans. Wanted to go to the Wexford game away but midweek due to work not a runner with two and a half hour drive each way. Games should be weekends only for intercounty for all concerned, the whole thing is just too squashed. ninjasmyth (Louth) - Posts: 714 - 12/01/2023 10:51:45 2452140 Link 0 |
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Lads, they're pre-season games. Players would be travelling to training anyway if not to one of these mid-week matches. I really don't get the bruhaha over mid-week pre-season games to get lads up to speed. There's not enough weekends pre League, and you'd find most lads would rather play these games than train. Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2382 - 12/01/2023 11:29:56 2452153 Link 1 |
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So it's #### the Wexford lads we will pick and choose what fixtures we play in the O Byrne Cup because we are more important than everyone else?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 12/01/2023 12:45:05 2452168 Link 0 |
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They are obviously not taken as seriously as league or championship, but what happens is if a team wins there group and makes a semi they take it more seriously. skirge7 (UK) - Posts: 248 - 12/01/2023 13:37:54 2452188 Link 0 |
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Spot on. Look, it is bad enough counties pulling out when they cannot qualify for the next stage of the competition, but for Louth to pull out of a game and Still be allowed to play in a semi is just plain wrong. They could have fielded a 2nd, 3rd, or development team. TBH - I would have thrown them out of the competition, and not let them play this wkend. And this isnt an anti-Louth thing. If the Dubs did it, I would be saying the same. This competition is for 2 purposes, pre season games for county teams and also the gate receipts go to the player injury fund, afaik. Precedents have been set now, so it is a free for all to pull out of games going forward at this rate, if both teams cannot qualify for the next round etc. Every county has a development squad - use them in this ffs.... No player would turn down the opportunity to play for their county if offered a game. I know I wouldnt... Games are much better than a training session for assessing players, so this opportunity should be used to try players out. You wont get that chance in the league with so much at stake..... One thing I would change though - have all games at the wkend - even if it means starting the competition a week earlier. Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3727 - 12/01/2023 14:26:13 2452194 Link 2 |
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You are correct, the O'Byrne Cup in football as well as the Walsh and Kehoe Cups in hurling were meant to finance or at least part fund the Leinster Council's Accident Fund. However this aspect of the competitions appears to have been lost in recent years culminating in this year's walkovers. Probably a symptom of our recently acquired affluence and I wouldn't rule out county management teams doing their own thing either.
MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 12/01/2023 15:30:10 2452216 Link 1 |
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The GAA already set a precedent in 2018 when they just arbitrarily cancelled games in division 4 when they weren't going to influence promotion. That was a shambolic decision. I would agree that counties who withdraw from a dead-rubber game shouldn't be allowed continue in the competition. Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 522 - 12/01/2023 15:34:42 2452218 Link 4 |
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Surely if Louth withdrew from playing wexford then they are out of the competition simple as
mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1800 - 12/01/2023 16:19:27 2452227 Link 2 |
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What does it matter whether the game is midweek or not? They are travelling as it is midweek for gruelling sessions
liosbreac6265 (Longford) - Posts: 212 - 12/01/2023 16:56:22 2452234 Link 0 |
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Lies, lies and more lies. Who do these people think they are fooling about availability ? Certainly not the guy on the 40 member extended panel who knows that he is available and 20 more of his mates. Now he knows that the same regime is using him as training fodder. If lying about one thing then there is a trend and why would he thrust any thing. Probably many will get the smell and move on. On top of that the GAA who want to project the image of a professional organization tolerate this nonsense. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2658 - 12/01/2023 20:35:20 2452261 Link 1 |