Antrim Hurling

[Milltown Row2]

I hope you weren't blowing for less than 3 inside the 45 

I've done the footballers against Jordanstown, it's a hard game to manage, not looking forward to that this year, but the hurling was fine, very few fouls, definite change in styles from previous manager, should be an interesting season ahead.

[imtommygunn]

Yeah no idea what to expect from Davy tbh. Still think a lot of people don't realise how good Darren Gleeson was for us and will be a hard act to follow but Davy usually is good for the first season at least   

[johnnycool]

Yeah no idea what to expect from Davy tbh. Still think a lot of people don't realise how good Darren Gleeson was for us and will be a hard act to follow but Davy usually is good for the first season at least   

Wee Davy will have them running up and down the steepest hill in Antrim and then off for some Mai Wadi and rich tea biscuits at his place.

In all seriousness though he may get a kick out of them in the league and if they can sustain that into the Leinster championship, could maybe catch yet another big team or two off guard in Corrigan.

[Slemishgael]

Does anyone know if the county hurlers have any challenge games arranged before the league starts? Seen Cork and Waterford played at the weekend and I heard Galway played Kildare in the football. A few challenge games cancelled over the weekend also. Out of interest if challenge games are organised why are these seldom if ever advertised on the county twitter page or the county website? I know not everyone wants to go to these games but other folk would like to

They played Meath at the weekend & are due to play Limerick this Friday I believe.

How'd meath game finish up? Wheres the limerick game being played? Anymore challenge games being arranged?

[johnnycool]

what's the story with Carey Faughs?

Are they not wanting to go into Div1 hurling and have a request to Antrim CB to remain in Div2?

I'd presume they'd still have to play up in the Senior championship so that doesn't make much sense.

[SaffronSports]

what's the story with Carey Faughs?

Are they not wanting to go into Div1 hurling and have a request to Antrim CB to remain in Div2?

I'd presume they'd still have to play up in the Senior championship so that doesn't make much sense.

Hadn't heard anything but if they refuse to play division 1 I'd put them on the div 1 fixtures and they can forfeit all their matches and have no hurling if that's what they want.

Creggan didn't play senior Championship last year after winning Intermediate in 2023 either.

I've no time for teams winning something and not taking the jump that comes with it. It's not fair on the other teams.

[johnnycool]

what's the story with Carey Faughs?

Are they not wanting to go into Div1 hurling and have a request to Antrim CB to remain in Div2?

I'd presume they'd still have to play up in the Senior championship so that doesn't make much sense.

Hadn't heard anything but if they refuse to play division 1 I'd put them on the div 1 fixtures and they can forfeit all their matches and have no hurling if that's what they want.

Creggan didn't play senior Championship last year after winning Intermediate in 2023 either.

I've no time for teams winning something and not taking the jump that comes with it. It's not fair on the other teams.

So Antrim CB have set a precedent on this last year.

Did they allow Creggan to play in the intermediate championship again after winning it the previous year?

[SaffronSports]

what's the story with Carey Faughs?

Are they not wanting to go into Div1 hurling and have a request to Antrim CB to remain in Div2?

I'd presume they'd still have to play up in the Senior championship so that doesn't make much sense.

Hadn't heard anything but if they refuse to play division 1 I'd put them on the div 1 fixtures and they can forfeit all their matches and have no hurling if that's what they want.

Creggan didn't play senior Championship last year after winning Intermediate in 2023 either.

I've no time for teams winning something and not taking the jump that comes with it. It's not fair on the other teams.

So Antrim CB have set a precedent on this last year.

Did they allow Creggan to play in the intermediate championship again after winning it the previous year?

No Creggan didn't play championship hurling last year and the senior championship had 7 teams in it.

In 2023, Creggan got relegated to division 3 hurling in the league but won the intermediate championship.

It's a real pet hate of mine. You win a lower tier competition and you should move up, no excuses.

[Milltown Row2]

Otherwise, what's the point of entering that competition/league in the first place?

Cushendall before their breakthrough were maybe a yoyo club, someone can fill me in on that, but that's been my view on it.

You had established clubs like Loughgiel, St Johns, Rossa, Balycastle then other clubs came along like the Down clubs and they established themselves and Dunloy made the breakthrough and continued to be the the more dominant team these past few decades.

You have to make or take a leap of faith, St Enda's are currently benefiting from restructuring of the leagues, good structures in house and good management that has allowed them to have a longer stay in Div 1 than what they normally have had over the years...

If a club that makes the breakthrough to senior, they should be modeling themselves on St Endas, who knows where the next generation of kids take ya...

Glenariffe will be looking to make that jump, but they either have to win the league or the intermediate championship to bring through a lot of their own youngsters

[JonnyD_]

it was a joke last year 1 group of 4 and a group of 3. the group of three all qualified without really having a competitive game and then each of them lost their next round! nobody benefited in that group. i think carey stepped up a few years ago (might have been Div 1, not champo) as did clooney after winning intermediate hopefully they do the same this year. creggan deservedly got some sh12 for their actions last year.

[faughs]

What St Endas have that few others have is catchment and people. They are to
be admired but the likes of Carey simply don't have the population to action this.

Carey's success this year came from a very small squad which may see significant retirements and simply put, we don't have the personnel to compete in D1 and not a great place to be blooding youngsters. Similar pattern happened in 2022 and there were very few positives and also has happened to other clubs in the past where we have also seen clubs actively avoiding promotion to division 1.

I can see both sides tbf. 

Not many clubs have capacity to step into senior and stay there - playing population is a massive part of this and not in the control of rural clubs.

 

Otherwise, what's the point of entering that competition/league in the first place?

Cushendall before their breakthrough were maybe a yoyo club, someone can fill me in on that, but that's been my view on it.

You had established clubs like Loughgiel, St Johns, Rossa, Balycastle then other clubs came along like the Down clubs and they established themselves and Dunloy made the breakthrough and continued to be the the more dominant team these past few decades.

You have to make or take a leap of faith, St Enda's are currently benefiting from restructuring of the leagues, good structures in house and good management that has allowed them to have a longer stay in Div 1 than what they normally have had over the years...

If a club that makes the breakthrough to senior, they should be modeling themselves on St Endas, who knows where the next generation of kids take ya...

Glenariffe will be looking to make that jump, but they either have to win the league or the intermediate championship to bring through a lot of their own youngsters

[imtommygunn]

It does seem that every team that goes up to division one becomes cannon fodder but I dunno how that cycle is broken. You would expect maybe Glenariff would go up and stay up with the youth coming through but that may take a while yet.

[NAG1]

It does seem that every team that goes up to division one becomes cannon fodder but I dunno how that cycle is broken. You would expect maybe Glenariff would go up and stay up with the youth coming through but that may take a while yet.

How about approaching the 'yoyo' clubs and offering them some assistance with coaching, a little investment or generic help with their set up. Knock the relegation on the head for a couple of years and try to build these teams up, give them time to get used to the levels and see how it goes.

[johnnycool]

It does seem that every team that goes up to division one becomes cannon fodder but I dunno how that cycle is broken. You would expect maybe Glenariff would go up and stay up with the youth coming through but that may take a while yet.

How about approaching the 'yoyo' clubs and offering them some assistance with coaching, a little investment or generic help with their set up. Knock the relegation on the head for a couple of years and try to build these teams up, give them time to get used to the levels and see how it goes.

Phase 1 of the league everyone plays everyone and yes you can take a big beating off some of the bigger teams, but they also will be playing without their county players.

The league then splits, top 5 and bottom 5 so you in theory should be more competitive in the second phase.

I don't think there's much wrong with that format.

[NAG1]

It does seem that every team that goes up to division one becomes cannon fodder but I dunno how that cycle is broken. You would expect maybe Glenariff would go up and stay up with the youth coming through but that may take a while yet.

How about approaching the 'yoyo' clubs and offering them some assistance with coaching, a little investment or generic help with their set up. Knock the relegation on the head for a couple of years and try to build these teams up, give them time to get used to the levels and see how it goes.

Phase 1 of the league everyone plays everyone and yes you can take a big beating off some of the bigger teams, but they also will be playing without their county players.

The league then splits, top 5 and bottom 5 so you in theory should be more competitive in the second phase.

I don't think there's much wrong with that format.

JC

I was referring to the system in general, the same 3 teams winning and competing for the big prizes every year isnt healthy.

I think we need to broaden the base for the good of the game and the good of the county set up etc.

Clubs will benefit in the longer term from a more competitive environment.