Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
A very very misleading headline. This subject was as divisive at convention last Saturday, as the Justin issue was in Limerick during the week

Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
Difference of opinion on Go-Games in general and on the stipulation that under-11 players must play Go-Games.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
.... a good reason why the Go games shouldn`t be implemented. Tyrone don`t use them but they use a close variation of them.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
I`ve yet to hear anyone give me a good reason why the Go games shouldn`t be implemented. Tyrone don`t use them but they use a close variation of them.

.... Armagh have decommissioned all underage trophies and have stopped buying medals.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
Hurling in particular, what do they do naturally that they can`t do in Go games? And what does it matter if something is illegal at one grade and becomes legal at the next one? The modified rules are there to encourage the development of some skills and teh opportunity for weaker kids to get the ball more and see more game time.

Originally posted by dubliner 2:


One thing very noticeable last year was the All Ireland Feile. Dublin had teams in Divisions 1,2 and 3 and they were the first group to come fully through the Go Games system and for the first year in a good while no Dublin team made it out of their group. Should the same thing happen this year then I would be all but convinced that Go Games is actually retarding development rather than inproving it.

Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:


Thats a very interesting point. Up to now there has been no end product. In Limerick players pick and choose the matches that they turn up for because they know that losing a game is irrelevant.

Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
In Kilkenny everything is ultra competitive. One supporter of Go-Games has an ambition to change that in Kilkenny, and operates from the motto `A cup is a weapon of mass destruction`. Armagh have decommissioned all underage trophies and have stopped buying medals. Go-games are great for the guy that isnt usually on the team, but the strong player that will become a county player needs competitive fare from an early age.

I think theres a need for a two pronged approach. I would have Go-Games for under 10 downwards, but I think that theres certainly a need for some form of competitive activity for under 12s. If they want to stop one player dominating games, banning soloing would be a start. Perhaps teams should participate in a Go-Games competition as well as a competitive competition.

Some of my greatest memories as an underage player were the finals that we won.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
Hurling in particular, what do they do naturally that they can`t do in Go games? And what does it matter if something is illegal at one grade and becomes legal at the next one? The modified rules are there to encourage the development of some skills and teh opportunity for weaker kids to get the ball more and see more game time.

Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
The original intention was to have Go-Games right up to sixth class in primary schools. However Croke Park and those supporting it met a lot of resistance in the provinces, particularly in Munster. Though I am a delegate to the meetings I wasnt at the Munster meeting because I had a job interview on the night, but I would agree with arock. A great game for Under 10s but after Under 10s things need to get competitive, though I would keep some form of Go-Games to ensure that the weak players are looked after. But ultimately its the strong players who need to be challenged. Its like implementing the curriculum in the classroom, competitions need to be differentiated.

I want to create   an additional competition in Limerick where smaller schools amalgamate to compete with the strongest schools in a Premier competition. First and foremost each school will maintain their own identity and play at their own level. Basically I see this as an opportunity to let players from smaller schools come together and take on the big schools. Certain schools can stand alone, and it might take an amalgamation of the cream of 5 or 6 schools to take them on, but I believe that if it got off the ground, even with eight teams in the first year it could work and expand. Due to demands on players it might or might not be possible to include city schools. Logistically it could be very very difficult to get going, and indeed we discussed it at a Limerick Cumann na mBunscol meeting the other night, and the potential demands on schools and players with school tours confirmations etc.

However imagine the exposure to the players from the smaller schools if you had games such as the following. Its possible that the clubs could get involved with the schools team.

Patrickswell vs Knockainey/Hospital/Herbertstown/LoughGur

Murroe/Killenure/Cappamore/Tinaterriffe/Bilboa vs Doon

I am not so sure that the pro Go-Games people would agree with the concept though. However I would be interested in the views of people here, do they think that it would benefit the future of Limerick hurling.

Originally posted by afunchofbucks:


i would have a problem with your idea of smaller schools taking on stronger schools. you mentionned patrickswell ns as being a stronger school. patrickswell ns has approx 190 pupils and has to compete against schools such as st pauls, approx 600pupils, and mungret, approx 750 pupils. already in the ola cup. it is unbeliveable already that patrickswell ns is competitve against all the bigger schools. schools such as scoil ide with 1000 + pupils are in the `b` competition. maybe the gaa needs to attempt to get a few hurlers out of these huge primary schools and need to promote stronger school links in these areas.

imo the go-games are a joke. kids dont enjoy themas it restricts the skills movements they can attempt.

a bigger issue esp in limerick is hurling in secondary schools, apart from ard scoil. a limerick city schools team ie st clements, the comp, st munchins and cbs should be coached and entered in the harty. also a south schools team ie bruff, kilmallock, kilfinane and hospital~  (dont know if croom could join as they are a vec i think  )   and enter them in the harty aswell. this will allow the lads play at a higher standard.

Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
The original intention was to have Go-Games right up to sixth class in primary schools. However Croke Park and those supporting it met a lot of resistance in the provinces, particularly in Munster. Though I am a delegate to the meetings I wasnt at the Munster meeting because I had a job interview on the night, but I would agree with arock. A great game for Under 10s but after Under 10s things need to get competitive, though I would keep some form of Go-Games to ensure that the weak players are looked after. But ultimately its the strong players who need to be challenged. Its like implementing the curriculum in the classroom, competitions need to be differentiated.

I want to create   an additional competition in Limerick where smaller schools amalgamate to compete with the strongest schools in a Premier competition. First and foremost each school will maintain their own identity and play at their own level. Basically I see this as an opportunity to let players from smaller schools come together and take on the big schools. Certain schools can stand alone, and it might take an amalgamation of the cream of 5 or 6 schools to take them on, but I believe that if it got off the ground, even with eight teams in the first year it could work and expand. Due to demands on players it might or might not be possible to include city schools. Logistically it could be very very difficult to get going, and indeed we discussed it at a Limerick Cumann na mBunscol meeting the other night, and the potential demands on schools and players with school tours confirmations etc.

However imagine the exposure to the players from the smaller schools if you had games such as the following. Its possible that the clubs could get involved with the schools team.

Patrickswell vs Knockainey/Hospital/Herbertstown/LoughGur

Murroe/Killenure/Cappamore/Tinaterriffe/Bilboa vs Doon

I am not so sure that the pro Go-Games people would agree with the concept though. However I would be interested in the views of people here, do they think that it would benefit the future of Limerick hurling.