Antrim Hurling

[imtommygunn]

Extra game for the losers is it not? I can't remember if the semis are open draw or it's a winner of each group in each semi?

[Saffrongael]

Extra game for the losers is it not? I can't remember if the semis are open draw or it's a winner of each group in each semi?

Semis are winner of group 1 v Winner of match B QF (which will likely be St Endas v Dunloy/Cdall)

And winner of group 2 v winner of match A QF (2nd in group 1 v 3 in group 2)

So yes the reward for winning Cdall/Dunloy is avoiding Loughgiel in semi

[Gael-in-exile]

Extra game for the losers is it not? I can't remember if the semis are open draw or it's a winner of each group in each semi?

Semis are winner of group 1 v Winner of match B QF (which will likely be St Endas v Dunloy/Cdall)

And winner of group 2 v winner of match A QF (2nd in group 1 v 3 in group 2)

So yes the reward for winning Cdall/Dunloy is avoiding Loughgiel in semi

So if you are the loser of Cushendall v Dunloy game you would be placed second and play St Enda's as it stands, (Could be Ballycastle) in two weeks.
Assuming you win you would then have another two week break until playing Loughgiel who had a 4 week break from competitive action and came from a 'weaker group'.

If you win Cushendall v Dunloy you would wait 4 weeks with no competitive fixture and then play the winners of St John's/Rossa/Ballycastle (as it stands) who if you were to assume league standings would see the favourites to come through from the St John's/Rossa fixture.
They would potentially have 2 good games and victories under their belt while you have had a 4 week break.

Now from a Dunloy and Cushendall perspective must accept the main aim is to remove as many obstacles as possible to win the championship, which starts with a QF fixture if it can be avoided.
However on the other hand you can see benefits to how the fixtures could work out the other way should you finish second.

[JonnyD_]

Extra game for the losers is it not? I can't remember if the semis are open draw or it's a winner of each group in each semi?

Semis are winner of group 1 v Winner of match B QF (which will likely be St Endas v Dunloy/Cdall)

And winner of group 2 v winner of match A QF (2nd in group 1 v 3 in group 2)

So yes the reward for winning Cdall/Dunloy is avoiding Loughgiel in semi

So if you are the loser of Cushendall v Dunloy game you would be placed second and play St Enda's as it stands, (Could be Ballycastle) in two weeks.
Assuming you win you would then have another two week break until playing Loughgiel who had a 4 week break from competitive action and came from a 'weaker group'.

If you win Cushendall v Dunloy you would wait 4 weeks with no competitive fixture and then play the winners of St John's/Rossa/Ballycastle (as it stands) who if you were to assume league standings would see the favourites to come through from the St John's/Rossa fixture.
They would potentially have 2 good games and victories under their belt while you have had a 4 week break.

Now from a Dunloy and Cushendall perspective must accept the main aim is to remove as many obstacles as possible to win the championship, which starts with a QF fixture if it can be avoided.
However on the other hand you can see benefits to how the fixtures could work out the other way should you finish second.

i'd say the management of both dunloy and cushendall are having that same conversation and at the same time planning a weekend or two away to get really competitive challenges game in the sth. it would benefit dunloy more so to have the gap as they have qf football to contend with and probably 9 dual players.

Galway team was up here in the glens the week of the all ireland final - no shortage of teams wanting to travel for serious competitive games either

[Gael-in-exile]

Aye there's no doubt you'd rather the semi final straight and with it you'd hope to sort a good challenge fixture to fill the gap but it's easy to see the benefits that can be had if you didn't win that group.

Sorting a challenge game in the short time frame brings it's own challenges, travel to Dublin at least, availability of dual players/those with niggly injuries, and some associated costs to add in doesn't make it straight forward.
Unfortunately the reality is one of Ulster's and most certainly Antrims biggest challenges in developing hurling is just simply geography.

[Gael-in-exile]

Watched the stream. Dunloy were disappointing and I thought last year they were caught on the hop by Loughgiel but I'm wondering have they dipped in standard of performance.
It seemed to have been played at 3/4 pace which was disappointing especially when no doubt the other game was full tilt.

[Saffrongael]

Watched the stream. Dunloy were disappointing and I thought last year they were caught on the hop by Loughgiel but I'm wondering have they dipped in standard of performance.
It seemed to have been played at 3/4 pace which was disappointing especially when no doubt the other game was full tilt.

I'm not sure it even was, certainly didn't feel like a "loser goes home" game. Hurling is maybe different now but years ago those two teams would have had a certain bite to it in a winner takes all game, didn't see any of that tonight.

Second group in IHC some going, 4 teams on 6 points going into last round of games & they all play each other

[north_antrim_hound]

Fair play to Loughgiel for the Palestine banner after match today.

[Milltown Row2]

Fair play to Loughgiel for the Palestine banner after match today.

They have been standing behind that banner all year in fairness

[imtommygunn]

Jc big result for ballygalget.

St John's st endas and Dunloy ballycastle quarter finals. Be interesting to see how far st endas have come on.

[johnnycool]

Jc big result for ballygalget.

St John's st endas and Dunloy ballycastle quarter finals. Be interesting to see how far st endas have come on.

Not really.  A bit of shadow boxing by both teams. 
A few first teamers missing from both and Portaferry will still believe they've a bigger kick in them if we do meet again.

We're not looking past the semi final though.

[JonnyD_]

who's the likely 2 semis in down going to be?
cran v p'ferry
liatroim v b'galget

[NorthAntrim]

I think Bredagh beat Liatroim at the weekend. Not sure what way that impacts things. 3 Murphy boys still hurling for them, Be a massive boost for Rossa to get them back

[Slemishgael]

Noticed Davy up again at the weekend for the club championship. I wonder what he's made of it so far lol.. it hasnt been great to date but hopefully it'll get decent now in the knockout stages from QF on.

Just looking back over the last few years for the county hurlers.

Played Div 1 hurling in:

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Victories over Clare and Laois in league 2021 and drew with Wexford in the league 2021.
Beat Offaly in league 2022.
Beat Laois in League 2023.
2024 no league wins (no relegation).
A few close games in those campaigns also v Kilkenny, Waterford,Dublin, Wexford.

Recent Leinster championship:

2021 no championship win.
2023 - drew with Dublin and beat Westmeath.
2024 - Beat Wexford and Carlow.
Again a few other games we could of got something out of but unfortunately didn't.

In Division 1B in 2025. Division includes: Carlow, Dublin, Laois, Offaly, Waterford and Westmeath and Leinster Championship again.

We still have good age profile in the team, with others sure to be added. We've been playing Div1 hurling and Leinster for a for a few years now which is great. What is realistic for Antrim hurlers in 2025 with all best players in the county fit and on board? Surely they'll be chomping at the bit to play under Davy!

[johnnycool]

I think Bredagh beat Liatroim at the weekend. Not sure what way that impacts things. 3 Murphy boys still hurling for them, Be a massive boost for Rossa to get them back

One got shown a red for being abusive to an umpire and that cost Liatroim the game which wasn't missed by some of the players after the game. Lets just say words were exchanged.  Would the current Rossa regime want them back?

Liatroims last game is against Ballycran and they'll need to win that to be sure of a spot, but if Bredagh beat us then they'd be on 4 as well so a three way tie for two spots as there'd be 3 teams on 4 points. Score difference may come into it as head to head games involving the three might not separate them.

If we beat Bredagh and Liatroim do get bet by Ballycran (Phelim Savage is also missing which is a big loss to Ballycran then Ballycran would secure the third spot and then there'd be a 3 way tie for the fourth and that would include Carryduff, Liatroim and Bredagh who'd all be on 2 points..

Down CB may get the calculators out next weekend.