Antrim hurling

[outinfrontpod]

Antrim U21s were destroyed by Dublin yesterday - their minors got humiliated as well.
There's not much coming through on the evidence in Newry yesterday. Future looks bleak.
Different story for Dublin though - Antrim need to get the Dublin hurling development blueprint of them and get it working in Belfast.

[4father]

There's an Antrim hurling thread: http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=1347.msg1006541#new

Right sentiments from you in terms of what needs to be done.  Belfast is Ireland's second city and the GAA need to get the finger out and take Belfast seriously if they are serious about promoting hurling in the country.

We have around 20 odd clubs in Belfast, most paying lip service to their duties, some working away and some promoting the games the way they should be.  At divisional board level, I couldn't imagine there being a weaker board in the country.  Antrim and in particular, Belfast needs all the help it can get and Croke Park need to lead and support it.

We know its not the perfect solution, we know that the clubs should be doing it but they aren't.........

[INDIANA]

antrim minors and 21's should enter leinster. Its a joke having the antrim 21's into the semis very year to get hockeyed.

[theskull1]

You need the weight of numbers (passionate adults and finance) to make good things happen and we lack the right amount of both at both intercounty and club level.


A sad result 

[imtommygunn]

You need the weight of numbers (passionate adults and finance) to make good things happen and we lack the right amount of both at both intercounty and club level.


A sad result

Even sadder was that everyone saw it coming and there was absolutely no optimism at all. Bad times.

[the waffler]

enter leinster what a lot of balls what difference has it made or will it make

[johnneycool]

antrim minors and 21's should enter leinster. Its a joke having the antrim 21's into the semis very year to get hockeyed.

Then that'll mean the likes of Down, Derry and Armagh going straight into a semi-final and getting an even bigger hockeying, unless you are suggesting more fundamental changes to the system?

[Lecale2]

None of the Ulster counties care about the u21 grade. The county Boards don't care and the players don't care. Derry couldn't even field against Antrim. Down appointed a manger 2 or 3 weeks before the first match and Antrim's preparations were shambolic.

The Ulster champions should not enter the All Ireland semi until we are prepared to put the effort into this grade.

[CountyGK]

None of the Ulster counties care about the u21 grade. The county Boards don't care and the players don't care. Derry couldn't even field against Antrim. Down appointed a manger 2 or 3 weeks before the first match and Antrim's preparations were shambolic.

The Ulster champions should not enter the All Ireland semi until we are prepared to put the effort into this grade.

Armagh cared about it. Should have beaten Antrim in the final too.

[outinfrontpod]

Finance is key - the culture needs to change. Volunteers can do their best but Antrim will need to get the funds to pay coaches to organise clubs and run programmes to get kids playing hurling and keep them at it.
Antrim beat Dublin last year - but they mightn't get close to them for a decade if things continue like this.

[johnneycool]

Finance is key - the culture needs to change. Volunteers can do their best but Antrim will need to get the funds to pay coaches to organise clubs and run programmes to get kids playing hurling and keep them at it.
Antrim beat Dublin last year - but they mightn't get close to them for a decade if things continue like this.

There's loads of Belfast based coaches on the Ulster councils payroll. They are employed to coach throughout the province.

Surely they offer this expertise back into their own clubs and communities without recompense??

It's not all about money, its more to do with organisation and everyone working to the one goal.

[outinfrontpod]

Fair enough, the coaches might be there but if this summer's anything to go on they ain't earning their corn.

[johnneycool]

Fair enough, the coaches might be there but if this summer's anything to go on they ain't earning their corn.

says who?

I'm only being a bollox on this issue as I'm not sure who these coaches are answerable to and who decides whether they are successful or not?

Run the odd bullshitty course over a weekend or whenever and you're a great fella.

[Milltown Row2]

It takes a tremendous drive/effort and a great plan to make something happen. You also need to have a splash of real talent also to work with to keep it going.

We (weaker counties) need to have committed coaches at each club, they also need to to have numbers to work with and and the equipment i.e balls, sticks, cones, bibs, indoor/3 G pitches (for winter training) the odd outside county hurler to have a few sessions. Kids love competitions so regular games down south with teams and taking them to Croke for big games. Always keeping the focus.

All this needs to be done and over the course of 10/12 years, this cost money. We have some lads doing wonders with our under 10's at the minute and it's brilliant and watching these lads gives me great hope for the future. But they need another 8/10 years of the same stuff at the minute to make an impact come senior

[johnneycool]

It takes a tremendous drive/effort and a great plan to make something happen. You also need to have a splash of real talent also to work with to keep it going.

We (weaker counties) need to have committed coaches at each club, they also need to to have numbers to work with and and the equipment i.e balls, sticks, cones, bibs, indoor/3 G pitches (for winter training) the odd outside county hurler to have a few sessions. Kids love competitions so regular games down south with teams and taking them to Croke for big games. Always keeping the focus.

All this needs to be done and over the course of 10/12 years, this cost money. We have some lads doing wonders with our under 10's at the minute and it's brilliant and watching these lads gives me great hope for the future. But they need another 8/10 years of the same stuff at the minute to make an impact come senior

Certainly you need money to buy equipment etc, but I'd loathe to be lining the pockets of some of these coaches who don't know their arse from their elbow.