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Replying To Sliotharyslope: "Our local media are referring to the Fethard v Rapparees game this week as a relegation final. As everyone will agree, finals are played by the 2 teams who have been unbeaten ( or in the modern round robin set up in some sports, lost the least amount of games). The Rapparees have won 1/5 games, whereas Fethard have lost all 5. How then can this relegation game to maintain senior status be called a final. It is a very important game for both clubs, but should only be referred to as a relegation playoff.
Does insisting on it being called a final reward mediocrity and failure to call a spade a spade. Of course both teams will not be happy with their performances to date, but what does insisting on such events say about our level of ambition or even our mindset as a county?
Good luck to whoever wins, but I would hope that the victors feel a sense of relief rather than feel they have any reason to celebrate avoiding relegation." Its a final as in final game of the series. The word final doesn't imply anything great about a game.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 10/09/2026 10:35:42
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Replying To Sliotharyslope: "Our local media are referring to the Fethard v Rapparees game this week as a relegation final. As everyone will agree, finals are played by the 2 teams who have been unbeaten ( or in the modern round robin set up in some sports, lost the least amount of games). The Rapparees have won 1/5 games, whereas Fethard have lost all 5. How then can this relegation game to maintain senior status be called a final. It is a very important game for both clubs, but should only be referred to as a relegation playoff.
Does insisting on it being called a final reward mediocrity and failure to call a spade a spade. Of course both teams will not be happy with their performances to date, but what does insisting on such events say about our level of ambition or even our mindset as a county?
Good luck to whoever wins, but I would hope that the victors feel a sense of relief rather than feel they have any reason to celebrate avoiding relegation." I can be nit-picky myself about terminology etc., but that one goes beyond the level of anything even I'd reach! :D
The official fixtures spreadsheet sent to clubs calls them Relegation Finals. I see that they're listed on the Wexford GAA website and social media as relegation finals too.
Quick browse of websites of a couple of other counties where I know they've had relegation "finals" recently (Waterford hurling & Kerry football) shows that the deciding games are listed as "finals" there too.
"Relegation play-off" doesn't have the same ultimate meaning. There could still another play-off to follow for the losers. Indeed, both Waterford & Kerry use the term "relegation play-off" for what could otherwise be referred to as a relegation semi-final, but they then say "relegation final" for the ultimate deciding game itself.
But don't worry - nobody is under any illusions that "getting to any sort of final is a good thing" or that winning them would be cause for celebration. In fact, these are often called "the finals that nobody wants to be in". Across hurling and football, my own club has been in three of them over the past eight or ten years. Fortunately, we won all three. But we didn't feel cause for celebration. Instead we just felt cause for relief and to resolve to do better the following year.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4027 - 10/09/2026 11:50:09
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Replying To Viking66: "Its a final as in final game of the series. The word final doesn't imply anything great about a game." Removing 'final' and replacing it with 'playoff' removes any ambiguity or indeed any illusions that may emerge from merely preserving senior status.
Sliotharyslope (Wexford) - Posts: 140 - 10/09/2026 12:24:28
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I can be nit-picky myself about terminology etc., but that one goes beyond the level of anything even I'd reach! :D
The official fixtures spreadsheet sent to clubs calls them Relegation Finals. I see that they're listed on the Wexford GAA website and social media as relegation finals too.
Quick browse of websites of a couple of other counties where I know they've had relegation "finals" recently (Waterford hurling & Kerry football) shows that the deciding games are listed as "finals" there too.
"Relegation play-off" doesn't have the same ultimate meaning. There could still another play-off to follow for the losers. Indeed, both Waterford & Kerry use the term "relegation play-off" for what could otherwise be referred to as a relegation semi-final, but they then say "relegation final" for the ultimate deciding game itself.
But don't worry - nobody is under any illusions that "getting to any sort of final is a good thing" or that winning them would be cause for celebration. In fact, these are often called "the finals that nobody wants to be in". Across hurling and football, my own club has been in three of them over the past eight or ten years. Fortunately, we won all three. But we didn't feel cause for celebration. Instead we just felt cause for relief and to resolve to do better the following year." Ah not sure, agree relief would be the overriding feeling, but Id celebrate maintaining your grade when the alternative is going down.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 10/09/2026 13:38:25
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Replying To Sliotharyslope: "Removing 'final' and replacing it with 'playoff' removes any ambiguity or indeed any illusions that may emerge from merely preserving senior status." You can have play offs at the top end of divisions too. The soccer team I follow in England made the play offs last season.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 10/09/2026 14:20:17
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Replying To Sliotharyslope: "Removing 'final' and replacing it with 'playoff' removes any ambiguity or indeed any illusions that may emerge from merely preserving senior status." On the other hand -
Removing "final" and replacing it with "playoff" would actually introduce ambiguity as it would be no longer clear whether another playoff may follow, such as in Waterford and Kerry, where they have what I'd term "relegation semi-finals".
But using the term "relegation final" makes it absolutely clear that it's your absolutely final chance to avoid relegation.
We really are getting nit-picky now. :D
How about "relegation final" (i.e. with a lower case f) rather than "Relegation Final" ?????
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4027 - 10/09/2026 16:09:24
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Replying To Viking66: "Ah not sure, agree relief would be the overriding feeling, but Id celebrate maintaining your grade when the alternative is going down." From experience - you celebrate for a few seconds, with an initial 'Yes!'. But then that quickly turns into just the relief and resolve I've already mentioned. You don't go out on the lash and decide to take the next day off work in order to celebrate in the way you'd celebrate winning an actual championship title final.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4027 - 10/09/2026 16:13:06
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Replying To Pikeman96: "From experience - you celebrate for a few seconds, with an initial 'Yes!'. But then that quickly turns into just the relief and resolve I've already mentioned. You don't go out on the lash and decide to take the next day off work in order to celebrate in the way you'd celebrate winning an actual championship title final." Ah I wouldn't take a day off work, no, but Id go on the beer for a night!
If the lads win a title it would likely mean 2 nights out and an 8 hour day in the workshop Monday with only 2 hours work done :-D
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 10/09/2026 19:14:21
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Replying To Pikeman96: "From experience - you celebrate for a few seconds, with an initial 'Yes!'. But then that quickly turns into just the relief and resolve I've already mentioned. You don't go out on the lash and decide to take the next day off work in order to celebrate in the way you'd celebrate winning an actual championship title final." Exactly the feeling after winning a relegation final is just pure relief . It doesn't matter one bit whether it's called a relegation final or play off its a match nobody wants to be involved in. I've played in one or two relegation finals over the years and there is no celebrations after just a few quiet pints . Nobody goes on the tear for 3 days like they won a county final.
I think we have bigger things to worry about in Wexford hurling than worrying if we should call it a Relegation final or play off
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1130 - 10/09/2026 19:33:57
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Replying To Pikeman96: "From experience - you celebrate for a few seconds, with an initial 'Yes!'. But then that quickly turns into just the relief and resolve I've already mentioned. You don't go out on the lash and decide to take the next day off work in order to celebrate in the way you'd celebrate winning an actual championship title final." Are senior relegation finals any less important than intermediate finals without a cup. If cloughbawn or crossabeg had ve won the finsl over the last couple of years would they have celebrated ikniwing niw what losing meant .
. The end result is the same senior status . Do teams that got relegated and bounce back the following year celebrate promotion as I said end result is the same without a cup .
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 695 - 10/09/2026 20:08:34
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Replying To Formertownie: "Are senior relegation finals any less important than intermediate finals without a cup. If cloughbawn or crossabeg had ve won the finsl over the last couple of years would they have celebrated ikniwing niw what losing meant .
. The end result is the same senior status . Do teams that got relegated and bounce back the following year celebrate promotion as I said end result is the same without a cup ." Never really thought it about that way, but initial reaction:
Any less important? Not really. The big prize for winning the Intermediate Championship is senior status the following year. The prize for winning a Senior Championship relegation final is obviously senior status for the following year too. So from that point of view, no real difference in importance.
But as regards cause for celebration - a big difference. Winning Intermediate means you're happy with how your year's gone overall and you've won the big prize available to you. Winning a Senior relegation final means that while you're obviously happy about that result, you're disappointed with your year overall.
And occurs to me there are different levels of celebration for winning Intermediate. Can't imagine Rathnure got too excited about it two years ago or Oulart a couple of years before that, as they'd have felt they were just going back up to where they "should have been" in the first place. But for a team that had been soldiering in the lower grades for a long time before making the breakthrough to Senior, like Naomh Eanna in 2015 or Crossabeg-Ballymurn in 2020, it'd be a bigger thing altogether.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4027 - 10/09/2026 23:37:11
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Never really thought it about that way, but initial reaction:
Any less important? Not really. The big prize for winning the Intermediate Championship is senior status the following year. The prize for winning a Senior Championship relegation final is obviously senior status for the following year too. So from that point of view, no real difference in importance.
But as regards cause for celebration - a big difference. Winning Intermediate means you're happy with how your year's gone overall and you've won the big prize available to you. Winning a Senior relegation final means that while you're obviously happy about that result, you're disappointed with your year overall.
And occurs to me there are different levels of celebration for winning Intermediate. Can't imagine Rathnure got too excited about it two years ago or Oulart a couple of years before that, as they'd have felt they were just going back up to where they "should have been" in the first place. But for a team that had been soldiering in the lower grades for a long time before making the breakthrough to Senior, like Naomh Eanna in 2015 or Crossabeg-Ballymurn in 2020, it'd be a bigger thing altogether." That would be making the assumption that every team in Senior hopes to win Senior that year. Im sure there are clubs at every grade every year that due to injuries, lads not committing, or lads travelling, are actually delighted just to stay in the grade they were in.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 11/09/2026 10:13:03
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Never really thought it about that way, but initial reaction:
Any less important? Not really. The big prize for winning the Intermediate Championship is senior status the following year. The prize for winning a Senior Championship relegation final is obviously senior status for the following year too. So from that point of view, no real difference in importance.
But as regards cause for celebration - a big difference. Winning Intermediate means you're happy with how your year's gone overall and you've won the big prize available to you. Winning a Senior relegation final means that while you're obviously happy about that result, you're disappointed with your year overall.
And occurs to me there are different levels of celebration for winning Intermediate. Can't imagine Rathnure got too excited about it two years ago or Oulart a couple of years before that, as they'd have felt they were just going back up to where they "should have been" in the first place. But for a team that had been soldiering in the lower grades for a long time before making the breakthrough to Senior, like Naomh Eanna in 2015 or Crossabeg-Ballymurn in 2020, it'd be a bigger thing altogether." True its about expectation. If fethard win tonight will they celebrate or just walk off thinking sure we deserve to be here I m sure there main objective was survival but not through this game . . I've great time for them consistently get the best out of their players. While tonight glynn prob dont get the best from there players and must be huge disappointment. Fethard have had a little time to prepare for this invrheir minds .
Glynn barntown have been in a few now will their luck run out . i do know if there is one team they would nt want to play in thi game it's fethard . Few sibling rivalries .
Another reason teams dont celebrate too much its like a real kick in the teeth for the losers . No one 3ants to rub salt in any ones wounds in situations like that . Regardless of ur personal feelings. Plus it could be you next year .
Yes relief is prob the overriding feeling . Still the reward is no different than winning inter wothoutvthe Cup.
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 695 - 11/09/2026 10:31:51
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Replying To Formertownie: "True its about expectation. If fethard win tonight will they celebrate or just walk off thinking sure we deserve to be here I m sure there main objective was survival but not through this game . . I've great time for them consistently get the best out of their players. While tonight glynn prob dont get the best from there players and must be huge disappointment. Fethard have had a little time to prepare for this invrheir minds .
Glynn barntown have been in a few now will their luck run out . i do know if there is one team they would nt want to play in thi game it's fethard . Few sibling rivalries .
Another reason teams dont celebrate too much its like a real kick in the teeth for the losers . No one 3ants to rub salt in any ones wounds in situations like that . Regardless of ur personal feelings. Plus it could be you next year .
Yes relief is prob the overriding feeling . Still the reward is no different than winning inter wothoutvthe Cup." Apologies to glynn got totally confused and mixed up there had a senior moment pardon the pun. .
its rapps tonight not glynn but glynn in the football .
The same scenario only would expect rapps to come thorough if luam Ryan available without its 50 50
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 695 - 11/09/2026 11:04:08
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Replying To Formertownie: "True its about expectation. If fethard win tonight will they celebrate or just walk off thinking sure we deserve to be here I m sure there main objective was survival but not through this game . . I've great time for them consistently get the best out of their players. While tonight glynn prob dont get the best from there players and must be huge disappointment. Fethard have had a little time to prepare for this invrheir minds .
Glynn barntown have been in a few now will their luck run out . i do know if there is one team they would nt want to play in thi game it's fethard . Few sibling rivalries .
Another reason teams dont celebrate too much its like a real kick in the teeth for the losers . No one 3ants to rub salt in any ones wounds in situations like that . Regardless of ur personal feelings. Plus it could be you next year .
Yes relief is prob the overriding feeling . Still the reward is no different than winning inter wothoutvthe Cup." Fethards aim at the start of the season was to make a QF.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 11/09/2026 11:32:22
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Replying To Formertownie: "True its about expectation. If fethard win tonight will they celebrate or just walk off thinking sure we deserve to be here I m sure there main objective was survival but not through this game . . I've great time for them consistently get the best out of their players. While tonight glynn prob dont get the best from there players and must be huge disappointment. Fethard have had a little time to prepare for this invrheir minds .
Glynn barntown have been in a few now will their luck run out . i do know if there is one team they would nt want to play in thi game it's fethard . Few sibling rivalries .
Another reason teams dont celebrate too much its like a real kick in the teeth for the losers . No one 3ants to rub salt in any ones wounds in situations like that . Regardless of ur personal feelings. Plus it could be you next year .
Yes relief is prob the overriding feeling . Still the reward is no different than winning inter wothoutvthe Cup." Fethards aim at the start of the season was to make a QF and see where that led.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 11/09/2026 11:32:38
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Replying To Viking66: "That would be making the assumption that every team in Senior hopes to win Senior that year. Im sure there are clubs at every grade every year that due to injuries, lads not committing, or lads travelling, are actually delighted just to stay in the grade they were in." Not at all. It just makes the assumption that at the outset of the championship, every team just thinks "well, whatever happens, we don't want to end up in the Relegation Final".
So then if you end up in it anyway, you're disappointed with how your campaign has gone overall.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4027 - 11/09/2026 11:55:08
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Not at all. It just makes the assumption that at the outset of the championship, every team just thinks "well, whatever happens, we don't want to end up in the Relegation Final".
So then if you end up in it anyway, you're disappointed with how your campaign has gone overall." Ah yes see what you mean now. Of course noone sets out to be in a relegation final!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 11/09/2026 13:08:07
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Replying To Viking66: "Ah yes see what you mean now. Of course noone sets out to be in a relegation final!" We seem set on calling it a "Final" around here anyway :D
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4027 - 11/09/2026 14:35:20
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Replying To Pikeman96: "We seem set on calling it a "Final" around here anyway :D" :-D
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20682 - 11/09/2026 15:14:40
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