I was up at training with the club the other night. One of the lads on the county panel rocked up. County training had been cancelled as only 8 lads showed up. An hour round trip for the lad for no training. I might live with a romanticised notion of the association, but this would never happen with the footballers. It must be hugely dispiriting.
Yes sir. Not my county, but I do care about the state of the game. You must feel it too in a traditionally strong hurling county. Armagh are coming and Derry beating Down at every level, except senior (now you know why that happens) must be bothering you.
Down a traditionally strong hurling county , now we certainly aren't in the hurling bin with the likes of Cavan, Fermanagh, London etc describing them as a strong county is a bit far, hell I find it hard to describe Antrim as a strong county. I suppose motivation comes into it, the honour for playing for your county could wear thin if the inter-county gulf in class is too great, wouldn't suppose the morale in the Kilkenny football set-up (do they have one?) wouldn't be too hot!
Cavan have jacked it in for the next 5 years. Fermanagh are muck and London are about the same level as Derry, maybe a bit better. Down has a tradition of hurling. I know they are no kilkenny, but they have a tradition at least. KK do have footballers in the league, but not championship. They get hammered every game. ROCK bottom of div 4 every year. It is shameful. every county board should be looking to work at the weaker code. I love hurling and I know you'd have to prize a caman from the hands of a child in kilkenny but it is what the association is about. Aidan walsh will be playing on saturday in midfield against you, but last week he was sensational for the u-21 hurlers against tipp. not just good. Unbelievably good. I am talking all star good. Ciaran Sheehan is injured, but he'd be playing against you and he'd have been playing last friday and he is a brilliant player as well. Cadogan has been going great as a dual player,Limerick have a couple of dual lads as well. It can be done.
