U21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

[Killeighman]

http://www.midlands103.com/news/offaly- ... g-fixtures. Here is the link for the U21 football draw which was made last night. What do we all think? Who is everyones winner at this early stage?

[theoutsider]

Hard to Know as Some clubs get thrown together on the day where as others have been training since start of year. Cant rule out vincents but heard Na Fianna are putting in a serious effort. Edenderry have been strong in this grade for past few years and also at Minor so tipping them to win

[Lime in the cocnout]

Edenderry if they can get all of their minor squad and Hogan cup winning members from 3 years ago

[Killeighman]

Result from tonight
St Michaels 1-6
Na Fianna 2-11,
Clara 3-15
Shannon Gaels 1-5

[Thereorthereabouts]

Great result for Na Fianna! Looking strong alright

[jimbob17]

Cant see anyone winning this outside of Wheery and Vincents. Its time the Ferbane lads pushed on now and won something at this grade. They have fallen well short after all their underage dominance and hence the seniors are no further on than 6 or 7 years ago before all of their success....

[blinkers]

Tullamore shamrocks and na fianna should be strong too.this is the tullamore team that bet ferbane in a memorable minor final 3 years ago and alot of that team have won senior and junior medals since so should be still be strong and with a couple of durrow players will be hard bet. Shamrocks also have been in 2 minors finals in the last couple of years winning 1 plus have the kk lads too. Now how serious shamrocks are taking this will be evident when they play ferbane.na fianna had a good win already and have been training since before Xmas which most teams who are serious about winning this competition are. The county board obviously don't see much value in this competition but in my opinion it's one of the most important.

[Mountain man]

Couldn't agree more with you Blinkers regarding the value of the U21 championship. The U21 championships are a true stepping stone for all under age players aiming to make the senior grade. For many players who don't make their own senior club teams during the year and are overage for minor, the U21 championship may be their only chance to get respectable game time for the entire season. This means that for the average club player who isn't on the county U21 panel and who may struggle to force his way into his club side, his game time for 2015 may amount to just 60 minutes of football. It would be far more valuable for the U21 championship to be run on a league style basis. Divide the championship into two groups and play each team within your group. The top two teams from each group then advance to the A championship semi finals, while the 3rd and 4th placed teams play off in the B championship semi finals. This is essentially the same format for which the minor county championship is run at present. This will allow all players the opportunity to play at a minimum four competitive games in a season as opposed to the risk of just playing one game.
It was evident having been in attendance at Na Fianna's match on Friday night in Rhode that they had been training prior to Christmas. Na Fianna looked organised, played with a fast crisp brand of football and indeed it was their fitness as much as anything that ultimately lead to their victory. Rhode had stayed in contention up to half time, however they were blitzed by a far fitter and organised Na Fianna at the start of the second half. I'm not sure if Rhode had much preparation done prior to the game, however if they did its safe to safe it looked rather limited. The first true test of Na Fianna's credentials will come against last years finalists Edenderry in the quarter final stage of the championship. Edenderry have been beaten in the last two finals and will look to avenge last years agonising defeat to St Vincents in which they had an extra man for the entire second half. I would have Edenderry as slight favourites for the game based on their experience in this grade, however an upset would not surprise me given the transformation of Na Fianna's under age structure over the past couple of years.

[Sharp Eye]

It is clear that the County Board have an agenda this year to get the championships over as soon as possible. So what if Footballers aged 19 & 20 get One Game in January for the year. Some people still wonder why we are losing players in the 19-21 age group.
The Under 21 Hurling should be played off before May each year with a minimum of 2 championship games for each team.. The Under 21 Football should be played in October/November with each team getting a minimum of 2 games.
Giving our young players one game in a year in January is Not in the Best Interest of Offaly Football.

[townman]

It is clear that the County Board have an agenda this year to get the championships over as soon as possible. So what if Footballers aged 19 & 20 get One Game in January for the year. Some people still wonder why we are losing players in the 19-21 age group.
The Under 21 Hurling should be played off before May each year with a minimum of 2 championship games for each team.. The Under 21 Football should be played in October/November with each team getting a minimum of 2 games.
Giving our young players one game in a year in January is Not in the Best Interest of Offaly Football.

agree but when did offaly county board ever have the best interest of offaly football or hurling at heart.

[Killeighman]

Next round of Championship is this weekend

[Abercrombie Fitch]

Tullamore Og is the biggest joke I've ever come across in Offaly gaa. I have nothing against amalgamations if clubs can't field teams. But joining anybody with Tullamore when over a quarter of the whole county lives there is laughable.

As a good friend and clubman of mine said, I'd rather never win another thing than join with anyone else

Up Clara. The only club going it alone at this grade

[Abercrombie Fitch]

And that's not sour grapes about the game. I live in Carlow and couldn't make the Tullamore Og v Clara match. Still gobsmacked that Tullamore can join up with other clubs under the ancient Parish rule

[blinkers]

So what happens then if the durrow boys don't play with tullamore at under 21 durrow requested to play with tullamore as they couldn't field a team. Do They get no football so. A bit of perspective here lads.2 lads from durrow played last night on the tullamore team It's not as if it was packed with durrow players. As is claimed that several durrow players will be playing with Tullamore. on the game itself it was a comfortable enough win only a very soft goal made the score look respectable. At the very end how Luke Kelly didn't get a red card I will never know. Threw a haymaker In front of the ref. The ref bottled it and gave a yellow.

[rocket57]

you cant have one rule for one team and another rule for someone else either teams are alloud to amalgamate or not st davids came togeather in hurling and their was about 6to 8 clubs involved that was nearly half of county offaly how meny parishes involved their