Antrim Hurling

[imtommygunn]

While that wasn't right I do think that was very different and can see no way anything like that would happen here.(Well put simply not going to happen)

Agreed on the short passing thing. If you're going long go long.

[imtommygunn]

On another note good to see Conor Cunning making a comeback to the antrim squad at 42 It's a pity we couldn't get Conal in as he looks handy! (Kieran Close transferred allegiance from football to hurling for a bit too)

[NAG1]

Delighted for the squad and management.

Pity that the boys didn't get to showcase the way they had played all year in the final, but as they say finals are for winning and that's what they did. I think they are a lot better than that showing in general.

Massive gap to the next level but at least they are heading in the right direction and there is genuine positivity around the squad. Unless we are going to pull out some serious defenders over the winter I think we will struggle, but we need to learn fast.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

really happy for all the panel and the management as they have worked really hard this season and have got the rewards for that effort.

Massive step up in quality next year but its what we wanted. We can never improve if we stay at the same level. THere will be some bad defeats but that how we will continue to keep improving and it will also bring the standard of hurling on in the county.

[bannside]

The Limerick players had a different shape to them. Less bulk, much leaner than before, looks like they have put a lot more emphasis on speed and their running game as opposed to brute strength. Apart from remarkable skill levels, the pace they play at is frightening. Lighter weights, more repetitions?

[imtommygunn]

You'd be more into endurance category there I'd have thought. More functional strength and less just lifting a bar I imagine. Plyometrics etc etc. Limerick and Dublin are doing something S&C wise that no other teams are doing.

[johnnycool]

The Limerick players had a different shape to them. Less bulk, much leaner than before, looks like they have put a lot more emphasis on speed and their running game as opposed to brute strength. Apart from remarkable skill levels, the pace they play at is frightening. Lighter weights, more repetitions?

Antony Daly does a podcast and he was involved with the Limerick Development squads and he mentioned that a lot of these lads would have been on S&C programs since the age of 15. Early days is more so about technique with their own body weight and gradually increased as they got older/grow to increase the loads for power, explosive power he talked about.

That won't happen for Antrim overnight or any other team for that matter.

[imtommygunn]

It's plyometrics I imagine. Sprinter stuff to a point(except they bulk a lot). As you say technique a big thing.

Limerick have a pile of money invested into them too. These things don't happen overnight. Them boys have been at it from a young age.

[Jeepers Creepers]

S & C aside the top teams ability to score from anywhere or any angle without even as much as a glance. Seamus Flanagan looked like he was serving in tennis the way he just flicks his wrist and the ball sails over rthe bar (almost from the sideline each time). Very one side final but a joy to watch. Antrim certainly up against it but is where you want to be (for a while anyway!).

[johnnycool]

It's plyometrics I imagine. Sprinter stuff to a point(except they bulk a lot). As you say technique a big thing.

Limerick have a pile of money invested into them too. These things don't happen overnight. Them boys have been at it from a young age.

Yes, plyometrics, SAQ and all that. Pure bursts of speed and power. Helps if you've 6'6" Kyle Hayes and 6'5" Geroid Hegarty standing below puckouts and both well able to sprint and hurl with anyone out there.
Their score taking is unreal and whilst there were fine scores from the touchlines from Guillane and Flanagan, most were worked to lads in areas where the chances of hitting wides are low. It's all about the right options for them.

They're a young team too, Kiely and Kinnerk have done some job with them. Only need to keep up the work ethic to keeping piling on the AI's and Munsters.

[Milltown Row2]

So has the format for next season, club and county, been agreed?

[north_antrim_hound]

The Limerick players had a different shape to them. Less bulk, much leaner than before, looks like they have put a lot more emphasis on speed and their running game as opposed to brute strength. Apart from remarkable skill levels, the pace they play at is frightening. Lighter weights, more repetitions?

Nobody gonna mention the height of them here
Hayes is nearly 6-6 and heagerty is bigger
Take most people two strides to match their one
Their smallest player Cain Lynch played well but lost his battle with Barron yesterday
Even those two wing forwards with beautiful wrist and crazy accuracy wouldn't get those shots away as handy if they where only 5-10
Fantastic team all the same and a bit depressing from an Antrim perspective, we made huge strides this year but the bar being raised just keeps the deficit roughly the same.
Another note, that is one of the best full back lines I ever seen, Daithi Burke is the only player outside limerick that could get a start in it.

[Antrim Coaster]

On another note good to see Conor Cunning making a comeback to the antrim squad at 42 It's a pity we couldn't get Conal in as he looks handy! (Kieran Close transferred allegiance from football to hurling for a bit too)

And don't forget Conor McManus who received the trophy.

[Baile an tuaigh]

The Limerick players had a different shape to them. Less bulk, much leaner than before, looks like they have put a lot more emphasis on speed and their running game as opposed to brute strength. Apart from remarkable skill levels, the pace they play at is frightening. Lighter weights, more repetitions?

I was always interested in the elite athletes and their life style. Someone asked Connor McGregor once what was the toughest part of his training plan and he said it was his diet. Very hard to live on nutri bullets and protein shakes. But it is essential part of you're training plan if you want to compete at the top level. With the physicality being taken out of the game with every shoulder seeming  to be a free id say the emphasis is mostly on stick work agility and speed.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Highlight of the year for anyone?

Its been a really good year for hurling in the county and in the club scene this year, one of the best ive seen in a long time with lots of positives.

Stealing a draw up in Rossa in the group stages was probably one of the best moments for me personally. We were absolutely dead and buried to the wind and somehow we dug dead and scored a goal and a point to snatch a draw - a draw that meant we still had a chance to decide our own future. it was absolutely hard on Rossa who deserved to win the game but its why were ended up champions this year.

St Johns v Loughgiel was a joy to watch as a neutral as it went into extra time and big Donal with one arm hurling out of his skin. Even Ballycastle this year were good to watch and will no doubt take a lot from this year to build on for next year again.

County wise, well what more can you say. Top management, top team, great set up outside of that in the Saffron business forum and Gaelfast well on its feet now and working away. Division 1 hurling and playing in the Liam McCarthy Cup - fantastic to be able to type that!

Please keep this going!