RTE used to show it when it was played before the All Ireland semi final but now that it is played off ASAP at the start of the summer it receives little media coverage

beir_bua (Kildare) - Posts: 746 - 13/05/2013 19:41:29    1383333

If RTE won't cover it the GAA should give the rights to this competition (& Rackard & Meagher Cups) to TG4.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4105 - 13/05/2013 21:39:57    1383463

Disappointing result on Saturday, should have been able to hold out considering the half time lead. Fair play to Meath though, kept plugging away and took their chances well.

Third time to play Wicklow this year, one win apiece, with our one coming more importantly in the relegation playoff in the league, hopefully be a similar result the next day although home advantage will be a big help for Wicklow, don't think Kildare teams have the best record in Aughrim. I'd imagine if we do manage to win that that we can't play Meath again in the semi?

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3694 - 13/05/2013 21:52:14    1383475

The GAA seem to be making up the Rules as regards the Christy Ring Cup as they go along. Last Week The indication Croke Park was giving to Kerry was if they beat Derry they had a Home Semi Final, but now the GAA have stated their will be a toss of a coin for Home Semi Final, What a joke what was the point Kerry wining their last game for, if they could still end up playing above in Derry or Down in the Semi Final.

moomoo (Kerry) - Posts: 4023 - 15/05/2013 21:21:24    1384820

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=179718

mawmouther (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 16/05/2013 10:09:27    1384926

Round 3 (winners will advance to semi-finals, where round 2A winners Kerry and Meath have already advanced to and lie in wait this weekend).
Down v Derry
Wicklow v Kildare

Hard games to call.I'd see Derry and Wicklow advancing but wouldn't write off being 100% wrong on that.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 16/05/2013 21:29:44    1385461

I agree two very hard games to call. Hoping for a Down win.

downhurlingman (Down) - Posts: 50 - 16/05/2013 21:59:28    1385486

In fairness, it's a fine competition & needs more exposure to heighten its profile. These are the counties with most potential to make the step up to Liam McCarthy level. There's massive work being done by a small pool of people to try to do this but they're not getting much help from the powers-that-be.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4105 - 17/05/2013 14:58:12    1385738

Well how do they promote the Christy Ring Cup? There have been calls for an intermediary competition. The provincial qualifying group coming in next year will slot in between the protect 10 counties and the Christy Ring cup The Christy Ring winner will take on the bottom team from the qualifying group in a play-off. The CR winner will make headlines if they win the play-off. My main gripe with it is that the provincial group will after three years be cut from 5 to 3. I think they should leave it at 4 teams. Each county would get at least 3 games. Top 2 into the play-off, the third team remain at their level and the fourth team take on the CR winner in a play-off.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 17/05/2013 20:15:19    1385972

I think the fact that all the Ring/Rackard/Meaghar games, as well as the 2 Leinster SHC games (Antrim/Laois, Carlow/London,) are being played off on Saturday(rather than Sunday when they'd get more attention, or at least enjoy some parity of status with the football) speaks volumes of how much importance the GAA is attaching to these games.
I know its possible to over-whinge about such things, but its just so irritating to see these games and teams being ignored, when they're actually really interesting matches. Under Sean kelly, alot of good hurling initiatives were set up and kicked off. But since then, it seems like the GAA have been discreetly trying to lower the importance and appeal of these competitions until it gets to the point where they can abolish them without too much outcry.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 17/05/2013 21:46:45    1386025

Is the Christy RING Final even in TV these days. remember good finals between Carlow and Westmeath a few years ago

Fishermantom (Limerick) - Posts: 569 - 18/05/2013 13:08:50    1386119

Well it's now down to the final four in this years Christy Ring. Kerry vs . Kildare - Meath vs. Down. I believe Kerry & Meath get home field advantage as they are both undefeated. Two tough games to call. Down looking to be improving with each game and Kildare had an impressive result away to Wicklow today which is no easy place to win. Kerry to beat Kildare and Down in extra time against Meath are my predictions.

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 18/05/2013 21:08:46    1386381

Down 3-07 - 0-09 Derry
Wicklow 2-10 - 0-17 Kildare

Well, I was 100% wrong with my predictions.

Down and Wicklow have advanced to the semi-finals.

Draw not needed as Kerry won't play Down, who they played already in round 1.

Semi-finals:
Kerry v Kildare
Meath v Down

The GAA will have a draw for the semi-finals. There was one year the unbeaten semi-finalists were given home tie. The GAA ruled the following year that they had applied the rules incorrectly that year, that no team was guaranteed home tie regardless of being undefeated or not. They decided that year to have neutral venue. They have since decided to have a draw for home tie. Personally I think that is riduculous. The two unbeaten teams should have the reward of home tie for remaining unbeaten. The GAA seem hell bent on not proving any reward for teams who do well and are setting the standard. My second preference to home tie for unbeaten team would be a neutral venue. Kerry and Kildare supporters should be travelling to a half way neutral venue.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 19/05/2013 11:20:22    1386444

do the winners of the christy ring still have the option of playing in the all ireland next year or us there a play off these days?

as_ky (Kerry) - Posts: 535 - 19/05/2013 12:03:03    1386456

The SHC next year seems to only include 15 teams, so the CR winners this year dont seem to get promoted. From next year on one team will get relegated from the SHC and another will compete in a playoff with the CR winner.

Find myself disagreeing with the posters who say a team staying in the Christy Ring after winning it once is damaging. Are we meant to promote every team that wins until we empty out the lower tiers and have a 32 team senior championship? Promoting every winner with no relegation devalues both the SHC and CR, taking strong teams out of CR and putting weak ones who have little chance of winning many games in the senior. After 4 years in Leinster Carlow finally won a game yesterday, but only because a team worse than them eventually got promoted.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1741 - 19/05/2013 12:20:38    1386463

agree with you castlebravo, kerry won it a couple of years back and didnt take the step up because it would not do them any good by going into the munster championship to get hammered!

as_ky (Kerry) - Posts: 535 - 19/05/2013 16:55:36    1386621

as_ky

agree with you castlebravo, kerry won it a couple of years back and didnt take the step up because it would not do them any good by going into the munster championship to get hammered!

This is where the provincial qualifier group isn't a bad move by the GAA. If a CR winner wins the play-off, they'll be going up to take on teams not too far a level above them. It's just a shame the qualifier group in going to be limited to 3 teams. 4 would make more sense.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 19/05/2013 18:07:07    1386700

It's the last weekend of May and semi-final time in the Christy Ring Championship:
Kerry v Kildare
Meath v Down

Both unbeaten team's have home advantage tomorrow. Kerry have been the form team all year of the non-McCarthy counties. I'd be hopeful home advantage should help us get through tomorrow's semi-final in Tralee. In division 2A, Kerry beat Kildare 2-16 to 1-16 up in Newbridge. Kerry were third in the division and unlucky to miss out on a final spot being the only team in the entire hurling league to only lose one game and miss out on a final. Kildare had to shake off Wicklow in the relegation play-off.

Meath beat Down in divison 2B 2-16 to 1-18 up in Newry and went on to top the division only to lose out to London in the 2B final. Down finished third.

My predictions tomorrow would be for a Kerry v Meath final. I was 100% wrong in my quarter-final predictions so it shows how much I know. I hope everyone going to the games have a great day out! C'mon the Kingdom!!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 24/05/2013 16:42:01    1390727

The fact that your quarterfinal predictions were both wrong shows how tight this competition is. It should be compulsive viewing for any GAA fan but alas it's not being promoted at all by the GAA or RTE. I think both these semis could go down to the wire. I think Kerry will win at home but I fancy Down to come good (always had a soft spot for Ards hurling).

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4105 - 24/05/2013 20:46:13    1390876

Kerry beat Kildare handy enough and are firm favorites to beat the winner of Down - Meath. Great game in Trim with both sides having chances to win. Hopefully Down can progress and beat Meath in the replay. We've got a very competitive Christy Ring this year and fair play to both Down and Meath for a great game today - very entertaining stuff.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 25/05/2013 18:43:50    1391155