Leinster u21 Hurling Championship

Lads was just looking at this, the dubs annihalated wexford and Kilkenny narrowly beat Offaly thats after the dubs getting run close by Kildare in the quaters.

Now a few questions for my fellow posting experts:

Wexford are they not putting in the work? A county doesnt just go from good to bad over night does it? When was the last time wexford had a minor or u21 leinster winning team?

Offaly are they this close to the Cats or was this a one off championship display? I sincerely hope for hurling that offaly have got their act together again! (and wexford can as well)

Are Kildare really putting in the work to deserve to run the dubs close? Can they be the new emerging force? Are they capable in a couple of years of taking over westmeath and carlow?

Not much to ask lads but it looks very good for hurling in leinster at the minute apart from wexford. bit of insight please?

Carlow beat this Wexford team three years ago as minors. Wexford would appear to be going backways to me. Offaly are improving, to get so close to Kilkenny (especially when they could have drew the game at the end) is a fair achievement considering the constant conveyor belt of talent in Kilkenny. Dublin are still getting better, in a few years time a senior All-Ireland would have to be a definite possibility. I'm not sure about Wexford, this result offers very little encouragment.

A lot of work going in to Offaly hurling alright with a lot of ex-players involved. Have to say that Offaly's achievements in both hurling (it is only played in certain areas and there are not many senior clubs) and football in recent times is excellent and fair play to them.

Wexford failed to build on the success of 1996 and it is years since they had success at under age level. When I first started going to all Ireland finals Cork V Wexford was the highlight of the 1960s at minor level.

Even Good Counsel play both games and at the moment Wexford are caught between two stools, football or hurling.

Offaly are showing signs of a revival, as are the "minor" counties like Westmeath, carlow and Kildare, although Laois have regressed.

The Dubs have had great success by their standards at under age in recent seasons but still lose too many players to the "all conquering" football team.The footballers are still treated like Gods by their adoring public so it is hard to resist if you are a Keaney or Connolly.

Having said all of that Antrim are built on a successful minor team of a few seasons back. However DERRY have twice beaten that side at U21 level so it is hard to tell what is happening at times.

True P - but Dotsy bucked the trend a bit!

Not a result i would read a lot into. Wexford at the moment is in the doldruma all due to our hurling bias county management. These 15 people are so far detached its unreal.
The enforced the directive from HQ regarding the collective training of teams the management of this U-21 was only put in place 6 weeks ago so that is how long they were together and the same with minors (now under control of our senior board not our Coiste na Og Board).

The reason the green stuff our management board are willing (results ans performances will bear this out) to scarifice our chances of competing on the field for some green, sad but true

No offence Jim but I wouldn't read much onto it either other than its a mental step for Dublin. In all reality Dublin could (should?) have beaten Wexford in each of the last two years. I think Daly and Div 1 hurling have been a huge help but there is a huge gulf between Wexford and Cork, Tipp and Kilkenny.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:No offence Jim but I wouldn't read much onto it either other than its a mental step for Dublin. In all reality Dublin could (should?) have beaten Wexford in each of the last two years. I think Daly and Div 1 hurling have been a huge help but there is a huge gulf between Wexford and Cork, Tipp and Kilkenny.

Not trying to take away far from it we down here need to that a look inwards and set the wheels in motion to get the systems right I mean our club structure for a start.
Best of luck in both Leister finals u-21 ans Senior hurling