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In addition to what I said earlier about GAA culture and it starting within the household.. alot of us who play or played.. coach or coached... or are involved heavily in club or county or whatever.. what is it that drove you to be the best you could be and take a massive interest in our games? I know plenty are on here and I'm assuming it didn't cost much money to you personally, more so time and effort. Would be interesting to hear. For me there was always GAA in the household and it was encouraged and it was always enjoyable - so hooked. But when I think of it at primary school we had a headmaster who was big into gaelic games and promoted it greatly in school. That's were I really got the bug for our game outside the home.. you were exposed to playing the games every week. No one forced me ever to play obviously we were just encouraged and then it became a case of 'this is great'.. everyday was literally kicking a football or playing hurling either by yourself or with mates. Watching games and constantly being at the club. I don't want to paint myself as the model example..  far from it!! But our county would go a long way if we had more kids encouraged as I said before at their homes then school and club. I'm aware we're on a forum here (a talking shop).. but more so nowadays too many are stuck with head in a device instead outside playing our games or encouraged to play.. As i said previously we'll get there eventually.. when who knows.. as opposed to any overarching plan I think it'll happen organically from encouragement from within house to that pride of area/parish and will and want to represent school club and county. It's a tough one.. we all want the best for Antrim GAA. Never underestimate the importance of encouraging our games at home. Costs zero!!

I find the topic of culture within Antrim GAA interesting. You look at counties in the north such as say Derry Armagh and Tyrone for example and a vibrant GAA culture has been created within those counties over the years. There's a parochial element of this is our club, our parish and we have immense pride in our area and community and we want to do our best. Maybe more in regard to football with some hurling pockets to be fair. I'm only picking these 3 counties of the top of my head but they've generally good clubs, good schools and their county footballers tend to do a hell of a lot better than Antrim in all age groups. There's buy in from many people. These counties have a lot smaller population than Antrim yet possibly a bigger playing population. I think above all GAA culture starts in the household.. encourage the kids to get involved playing hurling football or comogie in the garden. Talk about the games. Exposing them to games be it on tv or down at a club or county game. It's planting the seed in their mind and getting parents and families in that GAA parish environment. It's back to that parochial thing of pride in your parish your community your school your club and county. I'm not so sure Antrim by and large have that? - some areas within the county do i think. Many passionate antrim gaels no doubt (many on this forum) but I don't think to the extent/volume as in other counties. In my line of work I work with a good few folk, women and men from the above 3 counties. They're all involved in some capacity in GAA and their kids are all involved from a young age because it's encouraged and its embraced. GAA is often a topic of conversation. It's not easy but they make the sacrifice and get involved in coaching and driving here there and everywhere to games etc and they support their counties all over ireland. For me I've always been involved in GAA, played both codes,loved my club and that parochial nature of things. Pride of Parish etc. But that's probably all based on my upbringing and being encouraged from a young age. I now try to do the same for my kids.. encourage the game in the household have the games on take them to the club etc and i see other neighbours doing likewise in my current parish. I think in Antrim we'll get there eventually but as mentioned before alot probably has to change at household and parish level. For me instilling a culture in the GAA all starts at home. Then yes schools clubs etc.. pride of place and where you're from is so important in GAA. Out of interest is there a lack of pride would you say amongst Antrim gaels in their county? Almost an 'I'm embarrassed I'm from Antrim' attitude? Sometimes I get that vibe from folk that we're beat before a ball is thrown in. Win our loose we should be proud Antrim gaels. Alot of hard work going on within the county but more needed as we all know. Let's encourage the basics first and foremost at home.

Next year will be our 6th consecutive season in Division One. Thankfully we've avoided relegation down to division two. 5 weeks to now knuckle down for Wexford in the championship. They've been relegated to 1B for 2026 so will be interesting to see how we perform against them in April. Hopefully we can get a result - it'll be a big ask down in Wexford Park but surely a game we'll have targeted. Would be great to see our under 20s go on a good run in Leinster this year also. Micky and the lads have a decent panel there. Hopefully a few more players can break through to senior soon. We need to retain as many of these lads as possible and hope they stick at it as there's good bunch of players there. Congrats to Cross and Passion also on winning the Paddy Buggy yesterday. Watched the game and they did well to hang in there at the end.

So given the Carlow result, we survive another year in Division One?

Draw. Tense at end

What's the story with Ryan McGarry? I don't think he has started in the league and wasn't named in squad today? Injured, out of favour or off panel?

Where any of us expecting that?.. not great. I wasn't expecting such a poor performance. Lads looked heavy on feet and just rusty on the ball. Don't know what happened... frustrating to say least.. yeah what's going on with Ryan McGarry being left out? Should be starting in my opinion.

Fancy us to get another 2 points in Tullamore at weekend. This league is turning out to be competitive with some interesting results to date. A win in Tullamore would give us a great chance of fighting for a top 2 spot and a league final. I'd imagine a decent crowd at this game plus it's on tg4 also I believe. Is cunning out for the whole year? Def need others to step up a bit up front. McNaughton has been brilliant so far. 1 24 in 2 games. 

Yeah Carlow beating Waterford a huge result. We need to follow up today's win with a victory down in offaly next week. We should have won by more today but good to get the 2 points.

Disappointing result. But now on to the next one. Its going to take time, but with everyone sticking at it we'll get there. Maintaining status in 1B will be aim this year which I think we'll do. Blooding a few new guys in the panel and getting used to a new system of play etc.. all going to take a while. I see Carlow Offaly finished a draw also. Big loss for Wexford against Cork in 1A too.

I'm assuming the panel in largely the same as last year with a few absentees.. Any new folk on board? - I see a few counties have announced their panels for the upcoming season. Hope we get off to a good start against Dublin at weekend. Our away form needs to to improve from this first game on. Dublin will be tough. Was down in Parnell for our championship game last year - just so disappointing. Hopefully we don't get a repeat of that!!

What's everyone's thoughts for the Dublin game at weekend in Croker? Dublin seem to have did well in their challenge games and will be on a high after the club final on Sunday. Can Antrim start the league with a win. Big game for Fitz. Looking forward to it!

They played Down last night in Dunsilly & play Derry this Friday

How'd they get on against Down? What was the final score?

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/hurling/1699224/limerick-pull-away-in-second-half-to-see-off-antrim-in-senior-hurling-challenge-match.html

Anyone got the starting team/panel that went down to limerick.

Just don't think you will see that published anywhere

Out of interest why not? I note limericks team in that article. Everything seems very hush hush regards the hurlers atm. People in the know appear to be keeping tight lipped? I think people are genuinely interested about the challenge games and news on the panel etc at this stage... not long to dublin game now. Hope alls going well so far under davy.

There was a few people down at Dunsilly when I did a game, people knew about it, are you asking the right people? I wouldn't look to ask people on a forum tbf, anyone at your club involved? Do you know anyone at the county?

The gates were open, think someone mentioned before they were going to play Limerick, you coulda headed down to watch that game?

I must be asking the wrong people.. yeah seen it mentioned here about limerick game.. although no mention of venue etc.. just that it was on a Friday.. not alot to go on there.. Just see it mentioned on other county forums about their match details etc.. I guess the majority of us will wait for the league games.. hopefully we've a good league - fingers crossed.

You seem to be a bit nervous about the season.. any reason?

Not at all nervous lol. Just interested to be honest with you. Looking forward to league but I actually enjoyed the Walsh Cup. Pity it's gone for now - hey ho... from what you've seen what do you make of the teams style of play at this early stage? Had you said previously that it's changed noticeabley from how Darren set the lads up?

There was a definite switch up, but I'm not at liberty to say here lol

Whatever you say... say nothing. Lol

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/hurling/1699224/limerick-pull-away-in-second-half-to-see-off-antrim-in-senior-hurling-challenge-match.html

Anyone got the starting team/panel that went down to limerick.

Just don't think you will see that published anywhere

Out of interest why not? I note limericks team in that article. Everything seems very hush hush regards the hurlers atm. People in the know appear to be keeping tight lipped? I think people are genuinely interested about the challenge games and news on the panel etc at this stage... not long to dublin game now. Hope alls going well so far under davy.

There was a few people down at Dunsilly when I did a game, people knew about it, are you asking the right people? I wouldn't look to ask people on a forum tbf, anyone at your club involved? Do you know anyone at the county?

The gates were open, think someone mentioned before they were going to play Limerick, you coulda headed down to watch that game?

I must be asking the wrong people.. yeah seen it mentioned here about limerick game.. although no mention of venue etc.. just that it was on a Friday.. not alot to go on there.. Just see it mentioned on other county forums about their match details etc.. I guess the majority of us will wait for the league games.. hopefully we've a good league - fingers crossed.

You seem to be a bit nervous about the season.. any reason?

Not at all nervous lol. Just interested to be honest with you. Looking forward to league but I actually enjoyed the Walsh Cup. Pity it's gone for now - hey ho... from what you've seen what do you make of the teams style of play at this early stage? Had you said previously that it's changed noticeabley from how Darren set the lads up?