Did anyone else read the article in the irish independant there about a week ago about Dublin spending 6 million euro on developing hurling in the county. I'm not a hundred percent sure if it was in one year or three but one thing that I remember was the number of development officers they had employed in the county. I think it was 25 officers give or take one or two.. Being involved with a Mayo hurling club from time to time, I asked a club manager in the county how many development officers they had employed. I was shocked to hear they had only ONE development officer.. I do not know how many there are in other weaker hurling counties but I'm guessing it is something similar.. How can the GAA expect the weaker counties to improve or compete with the better counties if they allow this imbalance to exist? Looking at the Dublin V Waterford minor game today, its clear to see that great work is being done underage by these development officers..

hurlingfan101 (Mayo) - Posts: 9 - 14/08/2011 14:11:21    1010727

Why do you think the weaker counties even want to be part of this dying sport? It just isn't popular, I'd be outraged if we wasted any money on Hurling up here in Tyrone

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 14/08/2011 17:22:28    1010835

So pplocal, football is not a dying sport? Have a good look at the next "football" game played and tell the world that you are not outraged at spending your money on football and getting a mixture of rugby and olympic handball. Then you wont complain as Tyrone have led the way in developing the new hybrid.

3feetoftimber (Meath) - Posts: 113 - 14/08/2011 17:29:17    1010841

There are many development officers in Dublin, not all full-time, many are part-time, they are not just about Hurling, its about both codes so how they can separate the total pot and say 6 million is I guess the journalistic half-truth. Dublin earn their own money from advertising and they've used it very well. Dublin Ladies Football and Camogie don't have anything like the same resources but the sheer volume of members mean they can employ development officers in schools and clubs. But foremost of all is that a huge proportion of Clubs in Dublin embraced the GAA not just Gaelic Football though there are still some dinosaurs around and becoming extinct because of it.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 14/08/2011 18:13:17    1010884

Saying there are xx officers in one county and xx officers in another is irrelevant, those numbers mean nothing without context.

How many active players for every 1 development officer in Dublin? Compare this with Mayo and then you'll have something to work with.

Benandonner (Antrim) - Posts: 459 - 14/08/2011 18:41:20    1010899

No hurling development officer in Longford anymore. There's no development plan with achieveable targets or anything of the sort. There are now only 3 hurling clubs left & I think there will be only 2 left at underage level soon.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 14/08/2011 18:43:27    1010904

14/08/2011 17:22:28
pplocal
County: Tyrone
Posts: 3665

1010835
Why do you think the weaker counties even want to be part of this dying sport? It just isn't popular, I'd be outraged if we wasted any money on Hurling up here in Tyrone

I'm a football man primarily but hurling is by far and away the greatest sport in the world. Kerry winning the christy ring was one of the highlights of my time supporting kerry teams. Every county should do everything possible to try and compete in this great game.

mikeoc (Kerry) - Posts: 567 - 14/08/2011 18:55:06    1010915

I'm not a hurler, nor am i from a hurling club, possibly 8 clubs approx in Donegal but i think the antrim poster is correct to an extent regarding player demographics. However, perhaps there should be a push from croke park on county boards to assist clubs getting hurling started and sustaining it. Its easy to keep a club playing hurling if they've played it in the club for generations or perhaps years. It will be in the clubs blood if you like. If for example in donegal (or longford or mayo) 15 clubs set up playing hurling, how can the sport thrive if no members in the club have played before hand. If members are not there to coach and manage teams, then yes it will not survive. This is where development officers could possibly help to sustain development.

On another note, if that is the case regarding 6million euro development, it reminds me of an educational term of streming, where pupils are grouped by ability. In dublins case, they are the students who are capable and get the best resources and teachers i.e development officers!! and the other counties, well they'll be alright on their own! Pity the tyrone poster can't see the benefits to having another choice of sport to play in an area. My nearest hurling club is 45 minutes away and pass through 3 other footballing parishes on the way. I'll never know if i could have been a good hurler???

81DLSAM (Donegal) - Posts: 281 - 14/08/2011 19:17:03    1010930

Its hard to know what the right road is. I'd like the GAA to target specific counties and target bringing them up to the standard of the top 8 at underage. To be honest I would probably start with the counties which are just outside of the top 8 and expand it gradually like this. For example, Dublin was definitely targeted and has reaped the benefits. I'd like next for Carlow, Laois and Antrim to receive the help they badly need regarding hurling development officers and coaches visiting schools.

I also think, as a side note, that its really interesting how Dublin with the money they have earned or been given, have employed so many coaches, while in counties like Wexford all money is spent on building facilities and nothing on coaching. I know in my local club (which is senior hurling) they have spent serious money on their dressing rooms and a hurling wall (this nobody uses) and yet there is little or no coaching done in the 3 primary schools in the parish or coaching underage within the club. I think a lot of clubs like to have something concrete (literally) to show for their money rather than a new generation and future generations of players.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 14/08/2011 19:43:56    1010960

I don't believe the GAA heirarchy or the hurling elite give two figs about the development of hurling in the weaker counties. Dublin is the exception because of the population, economic doors open to the Association and media interest and so the Dubs are tolerated by the established counties and welcomed by Croke Park. So much money was pumped into Dublin GAA hurling circles simply because the GAA seen the potential there and the lucrative returns. Antrim, Laois, Westmeath, Down, Meath, Carlow will be paid lip service with the usual platitudes and patronising nonsense being served up but will never make a breakthrough. Contrast the money being put into Dublin with what Belfast and Antrim gets. There is a large potential hurling playing pool in the greater Belfast area what Antrim gets compared to Dublin is a mere a drop in the ocean.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 14/08/2011 19:52:04    1010965

ulsterman are you suggesting that the gaa dont want more teams to progress like dublin ?......................

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 14/08/2011 19:57:01    1010970

Ulsterman,

Don't forget that most of the money pumped into hurling in Dublin is raised by the Dublin county board, not by the GAA in Croke Park. Do you want them to donate that money to hurling in Belfast instead? No. The Antrim county board need to initiate the development themselves & then look for additional funds from HQ.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 14/08/2011 20:20:08    1010992

keeper ulsterman is the surrogate of ulster gaa .....he has 3000+ posts all antisouth hes a numpty voyeur

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 14/08/2011 20:27:03    1010996

Fair play to Dublin if they are raising most of the money themselves, they deserve all the success that comes their way if that is the case. In reality hurling is only being run for the established counties and Dublin; it's very much an insular closed shop. Barney, have you no British Monarchs to greet and wave your wee Union flag at? Rebel county my a**e as Jim Royale would say. You are very much Queenstown and you know you are.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 14/08/2011 20:41:58    1011008

Bobo your are transferring your hatred for the north or projecting or whatever the medical term is.

The simple fact is that you got transferred to Cavan you don't like it and it annoys you that no one up here listens to your nonsense and demands regarding hurling. Real hurling people love the game and don't use it as a stick to beat your loving hosts with!

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 14/08/2011 20:42:53    1011009

Ulsterman check your facts the majority of the money put into hurling in Dublin has been raised by Dublin

b.mullins (Dublin) - Posts: 1413 - 14/08/2011 20:51:03    1011015

i am an underage hurling coach in Armagh and there is great work going on, I agree and disagree with some of the posts,

Dublin gets massive funds from Croke park - but they have a big population - how many underage hurlers in Dublin ,i don't know but i gress In Armagh ( Keady, Middletown, Derrynoose, Craobh Rua, Kileavy, Cuchulainn's, Sean Tracey's and St. malachys) less than 700 and i'm probably over estimating. You can't throw money and hope things happen, but at the same time more money could be spent in the county.

Antrim is being neglected by Croke Park, Belfast has a history of schools and club sucess but this is not replicated in the county set-up.

Hurling is a very poor second to football if not third behind ladies football in Ulster.I was at the U-21 hurling final between Antrim and Armagh, a one page programme, no band, nobody from the county boards, overall a fixture to be played rather than an event.

Yesterday Sean Tracey's were host club in Armagh for the under 8 and 10 blitzes, there were no official u8/u10 football games on ,but when i arrived in lurgan it was apparent that the local football clubs were having a blitz in direct comprtition to there hurling compatriates....
this is reality.....money can only really be thrown ar a few counties with the hope of sucess
1. dublin
2. antrim
3. meath
4. westmeath
5. down
6. carlow
7. kerry

as for the rest they have to raise their standards to the next level

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 14/08/2011 21:01:51    1011026

croke park or the gaa gave no money towards dublin coaching at underage thats a disgrace to say that as dublin have worked through marketing and advertising to get the money and bring hurling up to a higher level

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 14/08/2011 21:25:56    1011041

Did Croke Park not put money into coaching in Dublin? No one is complaining about Dublin hill but as the armagh poster said hurling in Belfast and Antrim has been shamefully neglected by Croke Park for decades given the size of the population and the fact that it is still alive there, just, is a miracle.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 14/08/2011 21:31:22    1011048

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 929

1011041
croke park or the gaa gave no money towards dublin coaching at underage thats a disgrace to say that as dublin have worked through marketing and advertising to get the money and bring hurling up to a higher level


Eh whaa?????

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 14/08/2011 21:31:27    1011049