Latest news with #provincialchampionship
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘It is tough, but good tough': John Kiely backs current Munster championship structure
John Kiely has endorsed the current provincial championship format . The Limerick manager, who is preparing for Saturday week's final against Cork , was speaking at an online media briefing, organised by Munster GAA. Asked for his views on his Waterford counterpart, Peter Queally's call for the season to be extended on the lines of the football championship, Kiely sympathised but said that any more permissive a structure would 'diminish the importance' of provincial fixtures. In six years of the format, Waterford have yet to emerge from the round-robin despite having been All-Ireland finalists and semi-finalists during the two years of Covid when the format was suspended. 'It is tough, they haven't come out yet. They've made great progress this year; Peter has done really, really well. I suppose you just have to keep going back and eventually you'll get the breakthrough. READ MORE 'Look at Tipperary last year – where they were at the bottom of the group and this year, they've turned it around and have five points on the board. There were three teams tied with five points and it was only scoring difference that separated them at the top of the group so it can be done. 'Do I think putting four teams out [for the All-Ireland series] is going to improve it? I don't. I think it will actually diminish the importance of the games. There's great jeopardy there. 'It is tough but it's a good tough. When you love sport, you want to be involved in a competition that has incredible standards, incredible competition and real jeopardy. That's what the Munster championship has and that's why it's so special and that's why the crowds are turning out so we have to embrace the jeopardy as well as the desire to get out.' He said that his team, who are chasing an extended record of seven titles in a row, is at full strength but he cautioned on the potential impact of injuries when asked had he any concerns. 'No, not at the minute. We've had a really strong run the last couple of months and everybody's training at the moment. A few knocks after the Cork game, a few fellas had to step out for a week but they're all back since Wednesday night. 'We've got a session tomorrow [Saturday] morning, Tuesday night, Thursday night, so we've a bit of work to get through yet. In 2018 on the Friday night before the All-Ireland, Peter Casey just turned his ankle on a sliotar that was coming out from the goals. 'It was a non-contact session, if you like, for the most part. How could anyone get injured? When you're out in the field, anything can happen and so we have three sessions still to get through. Hopefully we get there with a full complement.' He also called for the Munster GAA to make it 'visibly clear to everybody' where the additional revenue from this year's raised ticket prices had gone. 'Supporters are never going to be happy with a price rise. It's a big commitment to be a supporter in the first place. They're going to league matches; they're going to all the championship matches. There's a lot of those matches in a short period of time. 'People are looking towards summer holidays, kids going away on summer camps, all those types of things. 'If the season were more stretched out, the expense is spread out as well with it, and that's maybe something that needs to be taken into consideration, that it's a big hit for families all at the one time. 'I think people haven't been giving out tickets too much. I think it's more about getting your hands on what is the biggest problem at the moment. I think we're going to have a fantastic occasion here. 'I think the onus really goes back on the Munster council now. Ultimately, they're the ones who are gathering this additional revenue, and I think maybe in the course of the next 12 months, they need to make it visibly clear to everybody what the additional revenues went towards. 'I think that would be something that would be very much appreciated by the paying public, to know that that money is being put to very good use right across the association.'
CTV News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
‘It's unfair to New Brunswick': Provincial volleyball champs denied a top spot in national championship
The 15UG Cyclones are pictured in an undated image. (Source: Alex Le) A volleyball team in New Brunswick is asking for an opportunity to play against the best teams in the country. The 15UG Cyclones represent the Greater Moncton Area in New Brunswick. They've gone undefeated since the season started in September, never losing a game – or even a set – on their way to winning the provincial championship. Last year they were the U14 national champions but this year the best they can hope for is a tier three finish in 17th place because of how the tournament is seeded by Volleyball Canada. 'Just New Brunswick as a whole, there was only a maximum amount of points that you could accumulate,' said Amy Clinch, the executive director of Club Cyclones Volleyball. Amy said it wasn't enough to compete against the top teams in the country. The Cyclones filed an appeal that was denied by Volleyball Canada which sent a letter explaining the seeding system. 'What they're not seeing is their rules and policies are very unfair,' Amy said. 'They're not just. It doesn't make sense that provincial champions for New Brunswick don't get to compete like the rest of the country does.' Volleyball Canada said its decision was data-driven in its response and 'removes subjectivity from the process'. It said final placement from preceding nationals, i.e. 2024, is not calculated in the current seeding procedure. Amy said she would like to see the data. Cyclones Volleyball The 14UG Cyclones volleyball team is pictured following the 2024 nationals. (Source: Amy Clinch) 'The only response that we have gotten so far is they take historical data of how provinces succeed at a previous nationals going back six to 10 years,' said John Clinch, head coach of the undefeated 15U Cyclones team. He said the system prevents New Brunswick from ranking in the higher tiers. 'We know we have a very talented team,' John said. 'We just wanted the chance to compete at the tier one and tier two level.' Volleyball Canada has used the seeding system for a long time, but John said it isn't right. 'It's unfair to New Brunswick,' he said. The Cyclones were dominant in their national tournament last year, winning every set, but they won't have a chance to defend their title at 15U. 'They've made it clear that they don't take that into consideration,' Amy said. Cyclones Volleyball The 15UG Cyclones are pictured in an undated photo. (Source: Amy Clinch) Even though the girls on the team were crushed by the news, Amy said they're fighting for something bigger now. She said they will set an example and try to make changes for New Brunswick volleyball in the future. John said the response is big on social media and there are clubs in other provinces who think the system is problematic. 'At least the provincial champions should get the opportunity to play in that top 32.' John said the team knows it may not be their time but they are focusing their attention on creating change. Amy said every province and territory should be represented at the top tier. 'That's why we call it a national, right?' Volleyball Canada said there are 312 teams participating in this age group from across the country, and said the Cyclones are 'still ranked well ahead of the majority of the teams in this category.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
