Is Waterford Football Broken?

The future problems facing Football in Waterford are spelt out in Timmy O’Keeffe’s report to County Convention this week.

 

The Clashmore man points out that for the fourth year in a row, Waterford have suffered a heavy defeats in the Munster Championship in the under 21 grade, and looking at results achieved by the Minors in the same last few years, its hard to see the gap between Waterford and the rest of the Counties in Munster closing anytime in the near future.

 

In Minor in these same four years Waterford has played nine championship games and has won just one of these games.

 

In his address to delegates at this year’s convention, the County Secretary points out that Kerry do not take part in the Munster under 21 hurling championship and maybe it is time for Waterford to consider our participation in the Under 21 football championship.

 

Is this the solutions to our problems?

 

It would certainty mean that we would not suffered heavy defeats if we did not compete.

 

In his report, Timmy O’Keeffe says that “Clubs are still not willing to provide mentors and players to the Football Development squads and the future of the system must be in serious doubt”.

 

But is it right to put the blame on the clubs as some are doing.

 

For a long time now, when it comes to football in Waterford at underage levels we have problems.

 

In 2003, Waterford won our only championship at this level beating Kerry in the final by two points. In the years previous to this, at this level, we contested the finals of 1993, 1994 and 1995 and even though we were beaten by between ten and thirteen points in each of these finals, reaching the finals would have encouraged those coming behind them to play football. We also reached the final in 2000 where we were beaten by three points by Limerick. What has been done to work on that win? We reached the final again in 2006 where we were beaten by seventeen points by Cork, but apart from that very little has been done.

 

Our problems are ones that have not sprung up over night.

 

Ten years ago, I was involved with the Waterford Minor Football team for two years as the team secretary.

 

While it is not always right to compare and contrast "then and now” even back then there were serious behind the scene problems.

 

Back then, the Munster Minor Championship was played on a league system. All six teams played each other once, and the top four teams in the table after five rounds of games advanced to the semi finals of the championship.

 

To get players into trials were no problem. For two years, trials were staged at the Friary College over three successive Sunday mornings and for the two years, upwards of forty players each week showed an interest in playing for the county at this level.

 

In 2002, the night before Waterford were to travel to Carraigtwohill to play Cork in the opening round of games, a game Waterford got a deserved draw from (after Liam Lawlor broke forward from his wing back position to kick a point in added time that ensured a share of the spoils), the panel did not have a new set of Jerseys for the game.

 

It was also at this time that the panel of players agreed to train at 8-30am one Sunday morning at De La Salle college grounds in Waterford City. Many players were out of their beds early that morning and were at different venues from Cappoquin to Kilmeaden from 7am to be collected by a bus to transport them to Waterford for the session.

 

All went well till two of the then Minor Hurling selectors arrived at venue with two cars and put five of the panel into the cars and transport them to Old Parish for a Minor hurling training session later in the morning.

 

Players are not blind. They see things like this happen, and when they do, they and those they talk to will ask themselves why they would play football for Waterford when things like this happen.

 

It should be pointed out that in the past two or three years, both Dublin and Tipperary have enjoyed success at Minor level in both hurling and football and in the case of both, they had more than their fair share of duel players. If these and other counties can have duel players, why cant Waterford.

 

In case anyone thinks I am having a pop at anyone in saying what I am going to say next, I am not. Those that know me will know if I want a pop at anyone I will name names if i want to. I have done so in the past and will do so going into the future.

 

You have to wonder is our problems to do with those tasked with finding the best people to fill roles with the various football teams in the county.

 

Most will be aware, that I for the best part of a decade and filled different rolls in Bord na nÓg in the county, both a divisional and county levels.

 

In my latter years involved in Bord na nÓg, Waterford were invited to an under 15 football tournament in Wexford. A decision was about to be made to pull Waterford out of the competition when nobody could be found to travel with the team as selectors. Some of the then Bord na nÓg Officers found out what was about to happen and within ten minutes, five phone calls were made and five people were found to travel with the team to Wexford.

 

The question also has to be asked why the duel player especially at underage level in this county is not encouraged. Again the question has to be asked are we putting the right people over the different teams that we have.

 

Its no secret that there is players who want to play both hurling and football for the county, but they are been discouraged to do so, but this is something that will be venomously denied. We have players each year that are good enough to play hurling and football at minor level who are kept in the hurling panel for as long as possible before been dropped very close to when the championship games are played.

 

Many of these players are quickly invited into the football set up, but the selectors are left with some difficult choices to make. Do they play them in the championship, even though they would have played very little football in the weeks leading up to a game or do they stick with those that they had for a number of weeks previous?

 

The answers to Waterford problems with Minor and under 21 football cant be solved by starting to make changes at these levels. The changes have to be made from under 12 and 14 levels and work up.

 

The value of the Tony Forristal Tournament cannot be stated enough to the promotion of hurling in the county. For some winning the Tournament is very important but to others, the important thing is the taking part and introducing players to the Inter County set up.

 

Here in Waterford we also have the Jim Power Tournament. Right now, what value is there in this tournament?

 

With the past decade, the six Munster Counties take part. Cork and Kerry both split their teams geographically, but even playing without their best players on the one team, they are still too strong for the likes of Waterford.

 

Could this competition be restructured?

 

Should permission be got from Croke Park not to have it each year as a Munster Competition, but as an All-Ireland competition? Could it be worked out that the likes of Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois be brought into it instead of the likes of Cork and Kerry?

 

These are counties that we might be at the same level at, or maybe be slightly better than. If Croke Park authorities are serious about promoting football across Ireland and we have no reason to doubt that they are not, they would allow such a competition to take place and maybe even partially fund the cost of running the Tournament each year.

 

Yes, there is those that say you have to play the best to improve, but there is too sides to every coin. Playing the best and getting beaten on a regular basis could also turn people away from the game.

 

Could we see one if not two Waterford teams enter the Munster Second level Senior Football Championship each year.

 

We have seen what has happened since Colaiste na nDéise got involved.

 

When they got involved nearly a decade ago, the panel was made up of players attending schools from Kilmacthomas to Ring to Lismore.

 

In a short few years, the panel was cut to been picked from three colleges, and after Blackwater Community School won the Munster Senior ‘B’ Title, the Colaiste na nDeise selection was cut to two colleges, and now there is those that are suggesting that both Dungarvan CBS and St Augustine’s College should field teams on their own.

 

Could the same now happen in Football?

 

Should a team consisting of players from Dungarvan C.B.S., St Augustine’s College, Scoil Cathal Naofa, Mean Scoil Nicholas and Blackwater Community School be entered into the competition and another team consisting of players from St Declan’s in Kilmacthomas, from Tramore CBS and from the colleges in the City area also entered.

 

In these schools we have some very good football men teaching. If they were to get involved and things were done professionally, it’s fair to say that students will respond and will get involved in the two teams.

 

Could we also make use of proven football team that have worked with the different county teams in recent years be also invited to get involved in some shape, even if it is to give the occasional football coaching session. It’s been done in Cork right now in hurling.

 

There is some in the Rebel County to say that they are a little Peed off with the performances of their hurling teams at underage levels in recent years would be an understatement. There is some in Cork that are not happy that the county have not appeared in a Minor Munster Final since 2008. There is some in Cork that are equally as peed off that no side from the county have won the Dr Harty Cup since 2006.

 

They have been bringing in players like Joe Deane and Diarmuid O’Sullivan amongst others to give occasional training session to the various development squads. Why can’t we do the same, especially in football?

 

Right now, we have a very highly respected senior football manager in Niall Carew. Working with him is Tony Kelly who is equally as highly spoken of. Our previous county senior football manager John Owens has been described as an absolute gentleman by those that he has worked with in the last few years.

 

Money is available for the promotion of football. Why not lets use it to the full, by getting these men and others involved by giving the occasional training session or talks to our various teams.

 

What’s mentioned here are mere suggestions. Not been involved in Bord na nÓg or any other administrative roll within the county any longer, I am not aware what is happening in the back ground to promote football in the county and to try and improve our standards. Maybe what is suggested has been tried and did not work. If it has not been tried, maybe what is mentioned above could be tried sometime in the near future.

 

While some would suggest that the football scene in the county is Broken, I would not go that far. Something that is broken is often unrepairable.  I would however suggest that the way things are done should be changed. The faults in Waterford underage football are repairable right now, but it will take time and energy. If we don’t try and make changes, we will never know if they will work or not.

 

 

Do clubs listen to Timmy or Divisional Officers heading into the future

Many people feel that the month of December is a quite one in the G.A.A. Calendar.

Many of us know the opposite is in fact the truth, as Clubs, Divisional Boards and County Boards up and down the country take stock at their Annual General Meeting, or Annual Convention, where the year past is reviewed and for the year in ahead, plans are put in place.

Convention time for some is a headache. Lots of work has to be put in to prepare for it. You might have to second guess those that are attending the various meetings and have all the answers to the questions that might be asked at the meeting, and be quick enough to come up with what hopefully will be seen to be the right answer if something unforeseen comes up.

Convention is also a time where people are often interested to hear what the Chairperson and in particular the Secretary has to say.

Right throughout the year, the Chairperson is expected to remain impartial at meetings and when talking after games or to the media. In the main they do, but at times they take down their guard a little and let their personal feelings be known.

Secretaries are often even more cautious. They are often the one at a meeting, especially at a delegate meeting, that are only person that might not utter one word during the whole meeting, apart from confirming or denying something brought up during the course of a debate.

Convention allows both however to let their guard down somewhat and both are afforded the chance to give personal views on how they see the G.A.A. as a unit either as a Club, A Divisional Board or a County Board are going and give them the chance to let everyone know where they think changes could or should be made.

In Waterford, we have already had out two divisional conventions and this week the County Board meets to review the year that has passed and plan for the one ahead.

The report of the County Secretary is something that many look forward to. Some Secretary’s are very conservative and stick to the basics, while others are more forthright and are not afraid to suggest some hard calls should be made.

Sometimes we accuse (whether rightly or wrongly) Board Officers of all singing off the one Hymn Sheet. At times we have this belief that someone suggests something and Divisional and County Officers will row in behind each other, and that way when it comes to a vote if one is needed, the side that they fall upon are assured of a considerable amount of votes.

However, we cannot say this is the case in Waterford.

At the recent West Waterford convention, for the second year in a row, both the Chairman Eddie Cunningham and the Secretary Pat Grant has sent out a very clear message to club delegates.

With the past few years, there is a lot of talk about the Strategic Review that is purposed for Waterford. One of its expected proposal’s is the abolition of the Divisional Boards in Waterford and that everything would come under the umbrella of one body run on a county basis.

There is a sizeable amount of people that would be disapointed to see the Divisional Boards disbanded. They have been in operation for nearly ninety years, and officers past and present, as well as various club officials, again past and present, and people in general that have an interest in the G.A.A. argue that in these past nearly ninety years, that the boards have served the county well, and it is very hard for anyone to argue otherwise.

When the officers of the West Waterford Divisional Board met with club delegates at Lawlor’s Hotel in Dungarvan last week, there main message of the Chairman and Secretary was clear and simple ‘Hands off our Board’.

However, contrast their line of thinking with that of County Secretary Timmy O’Keeffe in his address to delegates attending County Convention this week.

This will be the Clashmore man’s fourth time to address delegates at Convention as the counties first full time secretary.

In previous years, he was not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve when it comes to letting people know what direction he sees the G.A.A. should go, and I have no doubt the same will happen again in the future.

In the past, controversially in the eyes of some, with not having a stadium capable of holding a Munster Championship game in line with modern health and safety lines, he suggested that the Waterford County Board should enter into negotiations with their counter parts in Kilkenny about hiring Nolan Park for Munster Championship games, and then enter into home and away agreements with Cork, Tipperary and Limerick.

The forward thinking Clashmore man pointed out the benefits of such a move. A game with Tipperary would currently be staged in Pairc Uí Chaoimh. A game with Cork would be staged in Thurles and a game with Limerick would be staged in either Thurles or Pairc Uí Chaoimh.  

For these games, it was pointed out at the time that the County Board where the game is held gets a percentage of the gate receipts in rent. They also get to keep what ever money is taken in from the sale of adds for a programme and also from the sale of the Programme. Delegates were told that on average one programme is sold for every three people that pass through the turn styles, and if 30,000 were to pass through on a given day and as programmes are sold for between €3 and €5 a lot of money is there to be made. Clubs were also told that there is other ways of making money on match day.

Delegates were told that even if the Waterford County Board were to give their counterparts in Kilkenny a percentage of what they get in gate receipts there is still a lot of money to be made, money that the Waterford County Board could do with badly. Money that is currently going to the Tipperary and Cork County Boards all because we don’t have a home and away agreement with these two counties and with Limerick.

Not surprisingly, such a notion was shot down all too easily, mostly because of political reasons. Parish Pump Politics at its best came into play. People may not have thought about what was been said to them before they did their talking, or did they.

The Clashmore man in his address this year has some interesting things to say and it waits to be seen how they will be viewed.

Speaking to delegates, they are told that the results achieved by out County Intermediate and Junior Hurling Champions in 2012 were not as we would have liked, and the Clashmore man suggests that changes should be looked at.

“Last year I reported that we were in the process of preparing a Strategic Plan for the future development of the GAA in Waterford” clubs are told. “It was expected that the Plan would have been complete and published before this year’s convention but that has not happened” the Clashmore man adds.

“Over the next three months the Strategic Plan must be finalised” he says before adding “as I stated last year some radical changes will have to be contemplated. As a county we must continue (to) ask ourselves a lot of searching questions. History has shown that you have to adapt to change or get left behind. Irish society is changing rapidly and County Waterford is no different. Urbanisation and emigration will force us to rethink many of our structures”.

Questions have to be asked, the Clashmore mans says. “Why are our Intermediate and junior hurling county champions generally out of their depth in the Munster Club Championship, yet our senior champions are competitive?” clubs are asked.

“Since the Munster Club Intermediate and Junior hurling championship was introduced in 2003” delegates are told, “no Waterford team has won either competition. Cork (4), Limerick (2), Clare (2) and Tipperary (2) clubs have won the Munster Intermediate Hurling Club championship”.

“Waterford were represented on only one occasion in the final” clubs are reminded, that coming in 2005 when Ballyduff Upper reached the final. The club from the far west of the County two years later won the County Senior Championship.  

“A similar situation exists in Junior Hurling” Clubs are again told. “Cork, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary all have had winners since 2003. Our sole appearance in the final was by Tramore in 2004” the County Secretary points out.

“Clearly our intermediate and junior hurling standards need to improve” clubs are told. “We have to benchmark ourselves against the other strong hurling counties in the Province. One appearance in a final in a decade hardly tells a tale of high standards” Timmy O’Keeffe points out.

“For the GAA in the county to continue to prosper we must adapt and change and strive to be the best at everything we do!” clubs are told.

Interesting times lie ahead, especially as not everyone appears to be singing of the same hymn sheet when it comes to some matters pertaining to the future of the G.A.A. in Waterford going into the future.

Camogie - A look back on 2012

In the coming weeks when the Waterford County Camogie Board sit down to review the year just ended and look forward to the year ahead. They can do so with a degree of great pleasure.

It was a year that so much was achieved and the seeds for much work in the future were sown.

When it came to the presentation of silverware in the various county championships there was a nice spread of winners, but in truth while only one name can be engraved on a winner’s trophy every year, all that took part in the competitions in what ever way they did, they are winners. This goes for players, trainers, coaches, selectors, referees, drivers for young players to different venues, jersey washers or any other roll that they filled.

Great strides have been made in recent years within the county, but I am sure most would agree that there still remains so much to be done. For anyone to sit down and think that because something is working now it will mean it will into the future would be very foolish. To rest on your laurels when things are going well means that one thing is certain, a down turn in fortunes is on the horizon. When things are going well that is the time to attempt to take another step up the ladder and bring things in the future.

The Waterford County Board are lucky to have some fine officials. It’s often wrong to start naming names as doing so could easily mean that someone who is doing valuable work often very much in the back ground is omitted, but I feel compelled to name two people.

I have to admit that I do not attend as many Camogie games as I would like to. Other events which clash with games prevent me from attending, but I feel I am well informed as to what is happening, and this is due in no small part to the county PRO Mary Russell.

A good PRO is vital to any group. When things are going well it’s often the chairperson that gets all the praise but often this should be directed towards the Secretary and PRO. Anybody that reads the local papers or even check on certain websites on the net are only too well aware of what is happening, thanks to Mary’s hard work.

Unfortunately, Mary told me recently that she is standing down this year. She will be a hard act to follow but I am confident that whoever replaces her will continue the work carried out by Mary and that we will be all as informed as we are now on what is happening going into the future.

The second person I feel compelled to name is the county chairperson Trish McCarthy. Anybody that has heard Trish talk about Camogie on the radio in the last few years knows only too well how passionate she is when it comes to spreading the Gospel about the game.

Going into the future, communication is vital. As clubs hold their AGM it’s vital that they put serious consideration into appointing a PRO that would be active. The local papers are only too willing to help them by printing their club notes and for major events by contacting WLR they will also help out in getting the message out.

Communications is vital. The more people that can hear about games like Camogie and Ladies Football the better it is for the game.

To spread the Gospel is easier now that it was a few years back as there is so much extra ways of communicating with people. Once we had just the local papers or local newsletters. Then local radio came along and in recent years with the internet and mobile phones available to most, what is happening and what has been happening through text messages, websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

My email address and my phone number is available to many and if is any use to them, I am willing to help out in communications in any way I can including the use of this blog and through others that I write for.  

The County Board in the year just ending ran competitions from under 12 up for which they should be congratulated.

In under 12 there was three different competitions. Gaultier were the ‘A’ winners, Saint Anne’s were the ‘B’ winners and Tramore were the ‘C’ winners.

In under 14 there was five different competitions. De La Salle won the ‘A’ competition and they also won the County Féile Final, Dungarvan won the ‘B’ Competition, Tramore won the ‘C’ final and Brickeys won the Féile Shield final.

In under 16 there was three competitions. Brickeys won the ’A’ final, the ‘B’ final was won by Cappoquin and the ‘C’ final was won by De La Salle.

In minor there was two competitions. Cappoquin won the ‘A’ final while Brickeys won the ‘B’ final.

Just as in under 14, there was five competitions held at adult level. Cappoquin won the Junior League while Lismore won a brilliant senior final, beating Saint Anne’s at Fraher Field.

In the Championship, Lismore won the junior final while An Rinn won the Intermediate final. The senior final was a repeat of the league final but this time around the rolls were reversed as Saint Anne’s accounted for Lismore in Ardmore.

Two Waterford clubs went on to represent the county in the provincial championship. An Rinn competed in the Junior Championship where after beating Limerick representatives Adare they took on Clare side Truagh-Clonlara but had to settle for second best on the day.

In the Intermediate Championship Saint Anne’s beat Moycarky Borris from Tipperary in the semi finals where they came out on top to set up a place in the Munster final against Clare side Kilmaley but like An Rinn had to settle for second best on the day.

On the Inter county scene 2012 was another fantastic year for Waterford.

The Intermediate team reached the All-Ireland semi final where they were beaten by Galway by four points. In the league, Waterford narrowly missed out on a place in the final, having finished second in their group of the league.

I have no doubt that heading into 2013 if the players were to show the same hunger for success and the selectors were able to add some players to the panel to create extra competition for places which is a good thing, 2013 could be a memorable year for Waterford.

At minor level, there was no joy for Waterford in the ‘A’ Championship, but in the Munster ‘B’ Championship Waterford reached the final against Kerry in Cork and ran out very worthy winners.

At under 16 level there was no joy for Waterford, but at under 14 level, there was some success. The final of an All-Ireland blitz was reached in Dublin where Waterford reached the final which they narrowly lost. An under 14 blitz was also staged in the county and a primary schools team contested a tournament in Cahir and did well.

The setting up of a Camogie Academy during the year is also a welcome move for the game in Waterford and should achieve results going into the future.

Of course no year would be complete now without Trish Jackman taking part in the annual ‘puc fada’ Long Puck in the Cooley mountains and for the fourth year in a row, the winner’s trophy crossed the Bridge into Waterford.

Mentioned above are some of the highlights of the year. I have no doubt I have left out some events. I would hope that I have my information correct. Sometimes trolling the net and records for information can be tough going, and sometimes misprints can happen, but I am confident I have everything correct. If mistakes do occur, please forgive me this time.

As 2013 approaches, I would love to see further growth in the game of Camogie in Waterford. There is area’s of the county where the game once prospered but for some reason it is no longer played. Wouldn’t it be great to see the game revived in these areas? If it was nobody would expect results over night, nor should they.

It would also be fantastic to see the game played in new areas of the county. If clubs were to be formed or reformed, I have every confidence having worked with county board officers in the past when I tried to form a club that they are only too willing to help out in any way that they can to help out in every way they can.

It would be great to see the G.A.A. Clubs in the county get involved and try and promote Camogie. It would be nice to think that when a club is asked to allow a game to be played on their premises that they would allow it to happen, and it would be equally as nice to see clubs contacting the county board and telling them that there grounds are there for them if they are looking for venues for events.

2012 was a good year indeed for Camogie in Waterford. Hopefully 2013 will be even better.

De La Salle look for last eight spot

De La Salle will reach the quarter final stages of this years Dr Harty Cup if they avoid defeat against Castletroy Colleges in a re-fixed round one game this Wednesday afternoon at Cashel (2pm).

Six of the teams that will contest the quarter finals are already through including Blackwater Community School from Lismore and the holders Dungarvan Colleges.

De La Salle head into Wednesday’s game needing a draw to secure their place in the last eight, but if they were to loose to the County Limerick side, the Waterford City side would be out of the competition.

The outcome of another game played on Wednesday will confirm the remaining team to contest the quarter finals.

At Charleville, Midleton CBS need just a point to ensure that they will be in the hat for the quarter finals, but should Nenagh CBS win the game, it is they that will advance to the last eight.

There is one game down for decision on Thursday, but the outcome of this game has little bearing on who will reach the last eight, as Ard Scoil Ris have already won a place in the last eight of the competition, and even if Clonmel CBS were to beat the Limerick side, they could not overtake which ever from De La Salle or Castletroy College get the better result.

In group two, Our Lady’s from Templemore and Blackwater Community School have qualified for the last eight, in group three Thurles CBS so far are the only team to reach the last eight and in group four, Dungarvan Colleges, Doon CBS and Saint Flannan’s all finished with six points from their four games played, but because the Ennis side finished with a worse off score difference to the other two, they were eliminated.

In the last eight, Ard Scoil Ris, Our Lady’s – Templemore, Thurles CBS and Dungarvan Colleges will be seeded teams as the four group winners and cannot meet each other. Teams that have already met in the competition also cannot meet at the quarter final stages of the competition, meaning that an All-Waterford game involving Dungarvan Colleges and either Blackwater Community School or De La Salle could be on the cards.

The quarter final games are expected to be played on January 16 with the semi finals pencilled in for February 3 and the final on February 24.

 

Dr. Harty Cup Senior A Hurling – 2012/2013 Tables

Group One.

Árd Scoil Rís               4          4          0          0          8

De La Salle College     4          3          0          1          6

Castletroy College       4          2          1          1          5

Clonmel CBS               4          1          2          1          4

Saint Colman’s            5          1          1          3          3

Kerry Colleges            5          0          0          5          0

 

Group Two.

Templemore                4          3          1          0          7

Blackwater C.S.          4          3          0          1          6

West Lim. Colleges      4          1          1          2          3

Abbeys CBS                 4          1          0          3          2

Charleville                   4          1          0          3          2

 

Group Three.

Thurles CBS               4          4          0          0          8

Midleton CBS              3          2          0          1          4

Nenagh CBS                3          1          1          1          3

Hamilton High School   4          1          1          2          3

Colaiste Chriost Rí       4          0          0          4          0

 

Group Four.

Dungarvan Colleges   4          3          0          1          6

Doon CBS                   4          3          0          1          6

Saint Flannan’s           4          3          0          1          6

Saint Caimin’s            4          1          0          3          2

Gael Colaiste Mhuire 4          0          0          4          0