This weekend, St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny collected their 20th Croke Cup with a 1-15 to 1-12 over Thurles CBS in Semple Stadium. It may be big news in Kilkenny but outside that, it didn't really register on a national consciousness.
You may say that's to be expected, however, when you consider the national coverage given to schools rugby in the aftermath of Roscrea's Leinster Senior Cup win, a discrepancy can certainly be found.
Morning Ireland presenter Cathal Mac Coille pointed out this discrepancy better than anyone today with his summation of the Irish Times coverage of the respective finals.
Sport in figures in the @IrishTimes. Leinster rugby schools final 668 words + pic. All-Ireland schools hurling final report 81 words, no pic
— Cathal Mac Coille (@CathalMacCoille) April 6, 2015
The coverage that schools rugby receives has always been a bit of a mystery to those who are not involved with it. The figures which Mac Coille has highlighted are sure to only deepen the interest around the topic. Some of the replies to tweet are indicative of what many consider to be the problem, particularly this one from TD for Waterford Ciara Conway.
@CathalMacCoille @IrishTimes D4 bias of the dublin Meeja ...
— CIARA CONWAY she /her (@ciaramconway) April 6, 2015
In response to that claim, Mac Coille did contend that this was not just something that was an issue in the Irish Times.
@HobanPat @IrishTimes Fair point Pat. At least the Times had a schools final report, albeit a short one. Thank goodness for @TG4TV
— Cathal Mac Coille (@CathalMacCoille) April 6, 2015
@ReginaldsTower @IrishTimes I don't think that has anything to do with it, nor do I think this issue relates to the Times only
— Cathal Mac Coille (@CathalMacCoille) April 6, 2015
