by Mountain man » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:39 pm
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.