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Below is the list of counties and clubs that will the represented at the 2009 Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Hurling Sevens, taking place this weekend. As you can see, no clubs from Offaly are taking part, continuing a trend of poor representation from our county that has developed over the course of this decade.

This is disappointing. From past experience it's a great weekend and I believe it to be important to at least have our county represented in some way at what is essentially a festival of hurling on All-Ireland weekend attended by GAA followers from all over the world.

Can anybody shed light as to why this apathy has developed among clubs (or their club) in Offaly or is it just symptomatic of where Offaly hurling is at large? After all, even Tryone have a team taking part....


12 Tipperary
Boherlahan-Dualla, Burgess, Nenagh Eire Og, Moycarkey Borris, Toomevara, Templederry Kenyons, Borrisokane, Mullinahone, J.K Brackens, Kilruane McDonaghs, Carrick Swans, Cashel King Cormacs.
8 Cork
Killeagh, UCC, Cloyne, Ballyhea, Courcey Rovers, Youghal, Ballinhassig, Bishopstown,
5 Dublin
Na Fianna, St. Brigids, Raheny, Kilmacud Crokes, Naomh Mearnog
4 Wexford
Raparees, Shelmaliers, Faythe Harriers, St Martins
2 Kilkenny
Tullaroan, Ballyhale Shamrocks
2 Limerick
Knockainey
1 Galway
Carnmore
1 Antrim
Naomh Gall
1 Down
St. Josephs Ballycran
1 Clare
Cratloe
1 Antrim
Naomh Gall
1 Westmeath
St. Oliver Plunketts
1 Tyrone
Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon

I noticed this a while ago as well - not to mention the fact that the few teams that do go tend to perform rather poorly. However in fairness, you can see why managers wouldn't go for this with the senior championship looming. Injury risk and all that, not to mention the inevitable risk of lads looking on it as an excuse for a session, and as we've all discussed, beer is the big evil in Gaelic Games...

Lone Shark wrote:I noticed this a while ago as well - not to mention the fact that the few teams that do go tend to perform rather poorly. However in fairness, you can see why managers wouldn't go for this with the senior championship looming. Injury risk and all that, not to mention the inevitable risk of lads looking on it as an excuse for a session, and as we've all discussed, beer is the big evil in Gaelic Games...

Agreed, there are many reasons why a club would not want to take part. Yet how then do so many clubs from other counties participate? Last I checked, the county championships in the 13 counties that are taking part were by no means concluded. Let us not forget, this is the first year when all 12 senior clubs in Offaly are still involved in the Champioship late August/early September (due to the new format). In years gone by, at least four clubs would, by now, have had no further role to play in proceedings. Even discounting all senior teams, surely an intermediate club could participate, or at the very least an intermediate team from one of the senior clubs?

GreatDayForTheParish wrote:

Lone Shark wrote:I noticed this a while ago as well - not to mention the fact that the few teams that do go tend to perform rather poorly. However in fairness, you can see why managers wouldn't go for this with the senior championship looming. Injury risk and all that, not to mention the inevitable risk of lads looking on it as an excuse for a session, and as we've all discussed, beer is the big evil in Gaelic Games...

Agreed, there are many reasons why a club would not want to take part. Yet how then do so many clubs from other counties participate? Last I checked, the county championships in the 13 counties that are taking part were by no means concluded. Let us not forget, this is the first year when all 12 senior clubs in Offaly are still involved in the Champioship late August/early September (due to the new format). In years gone by, at least four clubs would, by now, have had no further role to play in proceedings. Even discounting all senior teams, surely an intermediate club could participate, or at the very least an intermediate team from one of the senior clubs?

Fair point, but the difference is that KK and Tipp could send clubs without their county players, since they won't have club games for a while, while the rest are teams that have already been knocked out. It's because all our teams are still involved that they don't go. It's be the same thing with the football - I'd say that teams who might go would be the likes of Tullamore, Tubber and Gracefield rather than teams who are still in the mix.