frankthetank wrote:I was talking to a Kinnitty supporter at the match on Sunday and he told me that Kinnitty used 19 players against Belmont in the Q-Final last year. And of that 19, 6 were unavailable for Sunday’s game due to injury or retirement. I presume a small club would find it nigh on impossible to adequately replace 6 senior hurlers in one year. If they dont get some, if not all of those guys pack they’ll more than likely be relegated.
Very hard on them, but when push comes to shove, I think that they’ll survive. If that was round 4 or 5 and Kinnitty were pointless, I guarantee you that Kinsella would be playing.
It’s not just Kinnitty that are low on numbers either. Was chatting a Lusmagh man recently. He said that they’re packing in their second team. They simply don’t have the numbers. 23 or 24 lads on their panel he told me, I suppose a similar situation in many clubs. He said that they mightn’t field in football, but instead anyone who wants to kick ball can do so with St Rynaghs.
Similar can be seen in football. Doon can’t field a second team this year, and Shannonbridge haven’t had one this few years.
Rural clubs are dying, unfortunately. Something must be done ASAP to try and keep the clubs that are tight on numbers on the go. One idea would be the disbandment of St Manchans, with the return of Ballycumber-Tubber and DER Gaels, in order to maximise participation in them four predominantly rural clubs.
Oh, I just realised that this is the senior hurling thread. Oh well.