Hurling Qualifier draw June 21st

[Bord na Mona man]

We're in the draw drum with Leix, Cork and Antrim.
Who would we prefer?
We *should* (wouldn't fooking bet on it) be at home to either Leix or Cork.
Played Cork in P ui C in 2007, Leix in Portleix 2008.

Antrim, if it was Casement could be tricky.
They always fancy their chances more against Offaly after 1989.

Should we hope to play Cork and go hell for leather against a team we could shock?
Or hope to get the more probably win against Div 2 opposition and advance into the next round.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I 'spose 'tis all a matter who we prefer, we'll have to take what we're given !!

'Tis first out of the hat for home venue. That Offaly went to Cork two years is irrelevant to this year's venue. However, as for Laois, I would think that Offaly are due to be at home in the next round of the home-and-away arrangement. That may only apply to the Leinster championship though that arrangement was the reason the footballers went to Portlaoise for the 2006 qualifier.

Maybe being away to Cork or Antrim would afford the opportunity for the team to travel by train, unlike Wexford, where bus was the only suitable mode of travel.

If Cork, it's hard to know how the hurlers would cope with Cork's style of hurling, with the O'Connors and Tom Kenny zooming around the place.

We're in the draw drum with Leix, Cork and Antrim.
Who would we prefer?
We *should* (wouldn't fooking bet on it) be at home to either Leix or Cork.
Played Cork in P ui C in 2007, Leix in Portleix 2008.

Antrim, if it was Casement could be tricky.
They always fancy their chances more against Offaly after 1989.

Should we hope to play Cork and go hell for leather against a team we could shock?
Or hope to get the more probably win against Div 2 opposition and advance into the next round.

[Lone Shark]

If the convoluted relegation system wasn't in place, you'd nearly say that the ideal draw would be Cork at home. Either win a meaningful game and get some life back into your season or else be done with it and get back to playing club hurling while we have the weather. However the huge rigmarole involved in relegation semis and finals means that this might be a good time for a handy draw, or as handy as is on offer at any rate.

I'd still love to get Cork to Tullamore though.

[uibhfhailiabu]

I think obviously the horror draw would be Cork in Páirc Úi Chaoimh, knowing our luck thats who we'll draw! To be honest, I think we would be better getting either Laois or Antrim who we should, and I mean should, beat and get into the next round where we are going to have a difficult game no matter what happens.

I think the draw isn't on until Sunday week, the 21st. Correct me if im wrong?

[azoffaly]

If the convoluted relegation system wasn't in place, you'd nearly say that the ideal draw would be Cork at home. Either win a meaningful game and get some life back into your season or else be done with it and get back to playing club hurling while we have the weather. However the huge rigmarole involved in relegation semis and finals means that this might be a good time for a handy draw, or as handy as is on offer at any rate.

I'd still love to get Cork to Tullamore though.

Be careful what you wish for. I think this Offaly team needs a win to kickstart the year, or else all the momentum gained in last years championship and this years league is like the snow that fell last winter.

I'd love Laois in Tullamore, and then Clare in Thurles.

(I'm predicting Limerick beat Waterford and Tipp beat Clare). I then predict Clare to be drawn against Wexford, and beat them, while Galway will beat Waterford.

The lotto numbers for Saturday are 5,6,20,25,26,40 by the way.

[Bord na Mona man]

I 'spose 'tis all a matter who we prefer, we'll have to take what we're given !!

'Tis first out of the hat for home venue. That Offaly went to Cork two years is irrelevant to this year's venue. However, as for Laois, I would think that Offaly are due to be at home in the next round of the home-and-away arrangement.

Are you serious?
If a home-away agreements can supercede this stipulation, then surely Offaly have a case for bringing Cork to Tullamore regardless?
You can be damned sure Frank Murphy wouldn't have Cork to travel to Tullamore twice in succession.

As it stands we are due a home game against all of - Clare, Limerick, Cork, Leix, Wexford and Tipperary as the last time we played them was in their own backyards.

However Offaly always seem to be made monkeys of, when venues are being set.

[turk]

I wouldn't be terrified of Cork. They'd be bigger around the middle of the park, but I wouldn't be quaking in my wellies

[black and red exile]

Read on paper this morning that both hurling and football draws will be on Sunday week June 21st, so we will know on the same evening who our opponents in both codes are. It's crazy waiting this long for these damn draws.

[Bord na Mona man]

Read on paper this morning that both hurling and football draws will be on Sunday week June 21st, so we will know on the same evening who our opponents in both codes are. It's crazy waiting this long for these damn draws.

Modified the subject

[Plain of the Herbs]

But only Wexford and Laois are part of home-and-away arrangements. The reason Offaly went to Limerick last year was because they were drawn that way, not because lImerick came to OCP two years previously.

On a separate, though related subject . . .

The Leinster football semi final were originally fixed as a Croke Park double header on Sunday 28th June, but they will now be run as separate fixtures as the Dubs brought a big crowd to the recent Meath match.

They will now need ‘curtain raisers’ for these senior semi finals. Offaly minors are due to have Dublin in Tullamore on Saturday 27th. It wouldn’t take long to decide to switch this fixture to Croke Park to play it before the Dubs’ senior semi-final. After all, it might get a few dozen Dubs ‘supporters’ into Croke park early.

Hopefully this won’t happen, and if such moves are made the board can resist them.

Or am I just being paranoid?

As it stands we are due a home game against all of - Clare, Limerick, Cork, Leix, Wexford and Tipperary as the last time we played them was in their own backyards.

[Bord na Mona man]

But only Wexford and Laois are part of home-and-away arrangements. The reason Offaly went to Limerick last year was because they were drawn that way, not because lImerick came to OCP two years previously.

Hmmm,
in the 2005-07 qualifier system there was an implicit (though not rigid) home and away set up.
Whether it carries on to today is another debate.
If Offaly had come out of the hat first against Limerick last year, then perhaps Limerick could have argued for a home fixture?

I still believe Offaly should put the foot down before the draw is made. There's no use quibbling when you're told you're off for Pairc Ui Chaoimh again.
In the last 4 years in the qualifiers, Offaly have played 6 away matches and only 2 have been played in Offaly.

[Kevin]

If the convoluted relegation system wasn't in place, you'd nearly say that the ideal draw would be Cork at home. Either win a meaningful game and get some life back into your season or else be done with it and get back to playing club hurling while we have the weather. However the huge rigmarole involved in relegation semis and finals means that this might be a good time for a handy draw, or as handy as is on offer at any rate.

I'd still love to get Cork to Tullamore though.

Sorry if this has already been covered, but can someone point me to information as to how this relegation nonsense works?

Thanks!

[Plain of the Herbs]

Promotion/Relegation

18.07.2009 (Sat)
Round I
Phase I Loser
Phase I Loser
Phase II Loser
Phase II Loser

Subject to avoidance of Repeat Pairings, where feasible, a Draw shall be made to determine the Pairings.

25.07.2009 (Sat)
Round II
Round I Loser v Round I Loser

01.08.2009 (Sat)
Round III

Round II Loser v Christy Ring Cup Winners

Home Venue for Christy Ring Cup Winners, provided venue meets the criteria set down by the National Safety and Infrastructure Committee.

http://www.gaa.ie/page/gaa_hurling_seni ... _2009.html

The chance, however slim at this stage, of having to go to Ballycran to save Liam MacCarthy status doesn't bear thinking about.

If the convoluted relegation system wasn't in place, you'd nearly say that the ideal draw would be Cork at home. Either win a meaningful game and get some life back into your season or else be done with it and get back to playing club hurling while we have the weather. However the huge rigmarole involved in relegation semis and finals means that this might be a good time for a handy draw, or as handy as is on offer at any rate.

I'd still love to get Cork to Tullamore though.

Sorry if this has already been covered, but can someone point me to information as to how this relegation nonsense works?

Thanks!

[Phoenix]

Ring shocker for hurling relegation losers


By Martin Breheny


Thursday June 18 2009

THE county which finishes last in this year's All-Ireland SHC Cup relegation battle will get a major shock as they will be automatically demoted to Christy Ring Cup level for 2010.

Unlike last year, when Laois, who finished bottom in the Liam McCarthy Cup section, earned a reprieve after beating Christy Ring Cup winners, Carlow, in a play-off, there will be no second chance this time. Instead, the bottom team will be demoted and replaced by the winners of the Carlow-Down Christy Ring Cup final.

Four teams will be involved in the relegation play-off, comprised of the two losers from the first-round qualifiers and the two losers from the second-round qualifiers, involving the beaten Munster and Leinster semi-finalists. The relegation battle will be played off down to a 'final' where the losers drop down.

The change arises from a Westmeath motion which was adopted at Congress in April where it accepted that Christy Ring Cup winners deserved automatic promotion without having to play the bottom team in the Liam McCarthy Cup section.

There was confusion over the timing of the change, but Central Council confirmed that it would apply from this year on. The same will also apply to the other grades.

Carlow lost out under the previous arrangements last year, for after winning the Christy Ring Cup, they lost a promotion-relegation play off to Laois by 10 points.

The draw for the first-round qualifiers on July 4 will be made next Sunday, featuring Antrim, Cork, Laois and Offaly. The first team drawn in each pairing will have home advantage.

The two winners will head for the third round of the qualifiers where they will play the winners of Round 2, featuring beaten Leinster (Galway or Kilkenny, Dublin or Wexford) and Munster (Limerick or Waterford, Clare or Tipperary) semi-finalists.

- Martin Breheny

[turk]

I wouldn't be terrified of Cork. They'd be bigger around the middle of the park, but I wouldn't be quaking in my wellies

Game on, Achtung!!!