Messages

[paranoia]

Winker - I assume by your response that you are in the know and that st galls aren't going to field??

Not in the know at all mate, just think it is a disgrace, if it'true.  I'd say the real hurling people in St.Gall's (if there is such a thing) will be sick to the back teeth!  But before MRs has a serious attack of paranoia, it would be good to get his slant on matters?   Rumour has it that he was a contributor to the state of play regarding hurling in his club, but he would be better placed to answer that?  I am only saying what I was informed of, no offence.  But always good to get it from the horses mouth as they say  .

Apart from all that, bring back Dinny, the only sure sign of progress we have made in the last decade.  I'd be prepared to chip in a few shackles to cover the expenses, but I would be afraid on them hallions up in Casement. say no more 

Talk in dall of galls giving a walk over!!

Absolute disgrace, they should be kicked out and demoted to intermediate, and they supposedly a dual code club?

Let them glory in their "bogball", and they would have you believe they are committed equally to both codes.  Totally diabolical, if you ask me!

Each club has a responsibility to promote both codes and commit to them.  By then maybe it's a money thing.  Maybe MR2 would enlighten us all??      But being the great lover of hurling that he is, he's maybe on his way to Casement to watch the minors against St. John's.  On the other hand, is there a Tom Jones/Inglebert Humperdink concert on at Boucher Road?

[Guinness]

In my humble opinion, bring back Dinnie C. Alternatively, approach Justin McCarthy, Donal O'Grady.  Keep it outside the county.  Coaching is one thing, managing is a completely different can of worms, also together.  This county needs to be managed from the top down, at admin and team levels.  We can play hurling in Antrim, what we need to do is apply it in the right form and have strategy and tactics managed.

Johnston can coach, there is no doubt, but as for respect of the players and managerial ability, well, lets not go there! 

Outside the county? If Brian Cody came up to take team you would still get the players pissing about, on the lash and not really putting in the effort. One of the last managers to win a title of sorts with the county was a Sarsfield's man, whether people liked him our not he's won a National Title. I'm not saying bring him back, just saying that we should look at our own first.

Players need to buy into a managers game plan, if they don't, then they have failed before a ball is pucked in the League. Too many up their own holes

Sure yer man Guinness could hardly string a sentence together, never mind a team MR2, are you serious man?

I have always been of the sound opinion we need to go outside this county, someone with no vested interest inter club rivalry-baggage and all that that brings.  And by the way, keep Sambo wel out of the way as an added caveat!   We don't need coaches, we need a manager, who can manage!  The same way we need a county executive which can manage.  As I said, I am somewhat radical and all for change.

McGuinness winker and he was a decent manager in his day, but you knew all along who I was talking about

Your wee mask has started to slip of late, but sure we'll play along till you go banana's again

I heard Cushendall came down to watch us play Lamhs tonight, I'm stuck in house but I hear we've no team out and getting hammered 24 to 2 !!! Plenty of positional line outs, tactics to get tonight lol.

I'd suggest your getting your wires crossed somehow.  And I really thought you were talking about McGuinness.

In my humble opinion, bring back Dinnie C. Alternatively, approach Justin McCarthy, Donal O'Grady.  Keep it outside the county.  Coaching is one thing, managing is a completely different can of worms, also together.  This county needs to be managed from the top down, at admin and team levels.  We can play hurling in Antrim, what we need to do is apply it in the right form and have strategy and tactics managed.

Johnston can coach, there is no doubt, but as for respect of the players and managerial ability, well, lets not go there! 

Outside the county? If Brian Cody came up to take team you would still get the players pissing about, on the lash and not really putting in the effort. One of the last managers to win a title of sorts with the county was a Sarsfield's man, whether people liked him our not he's won a National Title. I'm not saying bring him back, just saying that we should look at our own first.

Players need to buy into a managers game plan, if they don't, then they have failed before a ball is pucked in the League. Too many up their own holes

Sure yer man Guinness could hardly string a sentence together, never mind a team MR2, are you serious man?

I have always been of the sound opinion we need to go outside this county, someone with no vested interest inter club rivalry-baggage and all that that brings.  And by the way, keep Sambo wel out of the way as an added caveat!   We don't need coaches, we need a manager, who can manage!  The same way we need a county executive which can manage.  As I said, I am somewhat radical and all for change.

In my humble opinion, bring back Dinnie C. Alternatively, approach Justin McCarthy, Donal O'Grady.  Keep it outside the county.  Coaching is one thing, managing is a completely different can of worms, also together.  This county needs to be managed from the top down, at admin and team levels.  We can play hurling in Antrim, what we need to do is apply it in the right form and have strategy and tactics managed.

Johnston can coach, there is no doubt, but as for respect of the players and managerial ability, well, lets not go there! 

AHHHH MR2 I had you down as a fair judge, just shows ya

A fair judge of what? Seen him referee a few times, Has refereed games I've played in and been manager of, no complaints

No complaints at this end either from the games I have seen him referee.

What is your issue with him MIBAG? Are you a referee yourself given the name? (not sure if this has been confirmed in the past).

Of course he is a referee, sure everybody knows that.  An impartial, unbiased referee, well that's another question.?Although, to be fair, there would nae be too many referees in this county, if you get my drift,  who are straight, unbiased or who do not have an axe to grind! Self opinionated, egotistical bunch of individuals, if you ask me.  Like to hog the limelight and feel they are more important than the game IMO. But hey, we need the all the same 

I wonder what the odds are this year for the county final, not too far away:
Now If I was Paddy Power!

Hasson  - 5/4
Elliott - 7/2
Duffy - 5/1
Herbie - 7/1
Cunning - 9/1 (how many N's in CNUT?)
MIBAG - ?
F T - 20/1
Reilly - 100/1  (600/1  - If Rossa had reached the Final)
MR2 - Jury out on you MR2, could not rely on your impartiality either I think
Joe Compston - 300/1
Ger. Robinson - 1000/1

Kilkenny were class 2nd half today. I might venture down on the 9th, should be a great game.

The Cats sure play a mean game which our county and others have no comprehension of.  What can you say?  The best hurling team/county ever. Cody is an absolute legend.

The ref was atrocious, Richie Power having the helmet torn of his head, and a vicious swing on TJ Reid by Bonnar Maher.  Surely two red cards in anyone's book!

Beat Loughgiel by a point tonight I hear. any other results out there ?

So, you were not at the game MR2, that says a lot about you  .

Refereeing. were you at the game?

Nah, me too.

Heard it was a great game though, despite the bit of handbag stuff near then end.

Beat Loughgiel by a point tonight I hear. any other results out there ?

So, you were not at the game MR2, that says a lot about you  .

I did not realise my post had made such an impact.  Regardless, a radical and major shake up in Antrim and Ulster is required if we are all serious about the survival of hurling.  I am conscious however, as to how we may proceed about bringing about radical change.  It is all fine and dandy to criticise, but unless we are all prepared to do something about it!  Therein lies the problem.  A clearing of the decks in Antrim is a pre-requisite in my opinion, starting at HQ.  Our clubs are the key to this step at next county convention.  I have a terrible gut feeling though, the 'status quo will remain', more's the pity. 

winker ...do you think there exists a massive group of "passionate hurling men" in Antrim sitting at home doing nothing just waiting for someone to the call them to arms? It would appear you do. I don't. The passionate hurling men are doing what they can and the lazy parents, ex players, sky subscribers etc. are taking the GAA for granted. I assume that not much more can be done until more people start playing a part in bringing about sizeable positive change.

Yes I do Skull.  I also respect your view that you don't.  I also could  not agree with you more about more people taking an active part, but the fact remains, who is going to rally them and call them to arms,  the present incumbents in A/Town Road, I don't think so.  Hence my call for those involved, those not involved in hurling who may wish to get involved to mobilise and initiate some significant/radical change in Antrim/Ulster Hurling.  What I am not sure about thopugh, is how we proceed?

winker you have to square the circle. If there are all these extra passionate hurling men and women about doing nothing, why have they not got off their hole by now? Most clubs including my own are crying out for more help and it's pretty depressing to see what you'd think of as passionate hurling men who've had great mentoring themselves throughout their career give nothing back when they know right well teams/kids (sometimes their own) are suffering due to the lack of willing coaches. I'd love to share your belief but experience has taught me that those people you think exist actually don't although if you chatted to them in the pubs and clubs plenty of them would have you think different. I hope youre right and I'm wrong

both of you are right. as skull says if there isn't enough people doing more at club level(I'm from dunloy to and we simply can not get enough help) then its to the detriment of the county, who  said '' evil prevails when good men do nothing''. I like winkers attitude as we cant just shrug our shoulders and do nothing but i get the sense winker you are young, when you have been subjected to the frustrating state of affairs for twenty years plus with no real radical thinking,funding and attitude then the apathy sets in. Did any one read sambo in the antrim post this week U16 development bus going to tipp and two players show up for it. surely  we have to be responsible for ensuring our best young hurlers are making more effort. that would be a start for county improvement. In conclusion more effort at club level with coaching and a unified front and county underage from every club

Sambo, should not have been on the bus, he is not under 16    Is that the reason only two were on the bus?   

I really do think we are reaching a stage in Antrim/Ulster, where hurling is actually dying!  It's time if you ask me for action, maybe a hurling task force made up of all those interested parties within our own county firstly.

Some radical, innovative and positive thinking required by hurling folk to shake the county and Ulster Council Up. Hurling will die, other than in the traditional hurling parishes in Antrim, i.e Dunloy, Ballycastle, Glenarriff, Cushendall, Loughgiel, Carey, Armoy.  It's time to shake up the county executive, establish a Hurling Development Board/Sub Committee and encourage those serious about hurling in Belfast to sign up also.

What are you currently doing at your club? Serious question

More than my fair share despite my own limitations MR2. An air of hostility in your questioning I think?  You obviously may not agree with my line of thinking MR, but your obviously entitled to your opinion which I respect. Could it be that I am too radical, eager to get involved in much needed change?  Or should I sit back, express no opinion like so many others.  I am attempting to be positive here, despite the high degree of complacency within Antrim hurling circles. And yes, we all have are part to play.

I did not realise my post had made such an impact.  Regardless, a radical and major shake up in Antrim and Ulster is required if we are all serious about the survival of hurling.  I am conscious however, as to how we may proceed about bringing about radical change.  It is all fine and dandy to criticise, but unless we are all prepared to do something about it!  Therein lies the problem.  A clearing of the decks in Antrim is a pre-requisite in my opinion, starting at HQ.  Our clubs are the key to this step at next county convention.  I have a terrible gut feeling though, the 'status quo will remain', more's the pity. 

winker ...do you think there exists a massive group of "passionate hurling men" in Antrim sitting at home doing nothing just waiting for someone to the call them to arms? It would appear you do. I don't. The passionate hurling men are doing what they can and the lazy parents, ex players, sky subscribers etc. are taking the GAA for granted. I assume that not much more can be done until more people start playing a part in bringing about sizeable positive change.

Yes I do Skull.  I also respect your view that you don't.  I also could  not agree with you more about more people taking an active part, but the fact remains, who is going to rally them and call them to arms,  the present incumbents in A/Town Road, I don't think so.  Hence my call for those involved, those not involved in hurling who may wish to get involved to mobilise and initiate some significant/radical change in Antrim/Ulster Hurling.  What I am not sure about thopugh, is how we proceed?

Bloody Hell Seamroga, I thinks ur rite!

Very quiet here, looks like my suggestion has terrified a few of the stalwarts?  I note no suggestions/offers all the same!

Was at the game too.  After the keeper put them level in the second half (which made it interesting) St Galls decided they wanted to play a bit and immediately re-took the lead.  Lamhs never looked like getting close to winning after that.

Ah sure, it's only Antrim.  Lets see how they get on against the Cross men, a different story.

["if we believe we can't, we won't, if we believe we can, we will"]

Take yer balaclava off and get your club to push you towards the elite county executive. Wrangling your way into the Knights of St. Columbanus will help. You will then be issued with a new balaclava and therefore be free to do whatever the fcuk you like.

It's great.

Extremely cynical Hard Station.  However, did your club like others not vote them in?  Maybe a few KSC's in Rossa also?

Seriously though,  how do we proceed to shake the county up regarding hurling.  Are you content with our (hurling) lot? As I alluded to previously "if we believe we can't, we won't, if we believe we can, we will".  My lifes motto  .