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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.

sure is dunloy not already a regional team - they have boys from ballymena and everything playing for them? maybe even one or two others

also if Coby not hitting the frees then it plays to Cushendall surely, Seann/ mcgarry can hit them but not like Coby. bookies favouring Dunloy and that shower rarely lose

Looking forward to it myself. I think Cushendall had an off day against St Johns. Thought St Johns were unlucky not to win in fairness but Cushendall's two main forwards were off to some degree - McLaughlin was tightly marked out of the game and mcmanus was off on the frees, think he missed 5 at least which is never easy on a poor day.

On another weekend those two would have scored a bucket load between them and that could have been the difference. but if your nanny had balls and all that! Weather due to be ok this sunday too. I just fancy cushendall to get it right. but im usually wrong. Cant wait

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

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

[Wexford nearly beat Tipp in a semi one year]

its definitely exciting and getting a lot of chins wagging about back room teams and styles of play! we haven't had this much interest in our senior team in a life time. we should get some bounce from it over the next few years.

the optimist in me is excited, and i wish him all the best in the years ahead.

there's been a wee bit too much negativity for my liking with the appointment. I'm supporting Davy all the way!

Regardless of money and travel I hope he doesent revert back to some of the hurling we have seen from his teams in the last few years.

That's a very good comment.

What style will he play? Can he change his defensive template?

What style would you say we played under Gleeson?

Conventional full forward line with all lines moving forward or back according to possession.
Davy in the past has played a sweeper with other forwards dropping deep pulling opponents defense further away from goal. Derek mc grath set teams up the same. It does nullify gifted forwards but at the expense of being toothless up front. It Also brings defenders into play for attacking as they don't have to travel to far up the field to find space. Wexford nearly beat Tipp in a semi one year but all the energy expended deploying this system got them in the last ten minutes. Because of this his systems are deemed by the experts as to complicated and expend to much energy compared to conventional modern set up's were forwards and midfield assumes their natural positions apart from strategic match ups.

That's not to say he might asses our weaknesses and strengths and set up accordingly. Waterford did seem to playing a more conventional style last year.

Tipp went a man down with Wexford 5/6 points up with 20 mins to go in the 2019 semifinal and Davy the tactical genius played the extra man at corner back and let Tipp come onto them

He wouldn't have won the All Ireland with Clare in 2013 only for Kinnerk being there and he then ran him shortly afterwards out of jealousy

The Mourinho of Hurling with the same career trajectory

some jungle drums being banged today

i love a good rant whether i'm right or wrong - leave me alone.

but thanks for pointinhg that out - i hadnt realised it was a JHCb Ardoyne won.

Point still valid on Creggan though! they've given 3 teams the easiest run in championship since st galls were gifted a county final 10 years ago

just looking through those fixtures for hurling championships and a couple of things jump out. Ardoyne won JHC last year and are playing it again this year - why? in my opinion they should be forced to play IHC. And its a joke that Creggan, last years IHC winners aren't playing SHC.

County is weak as piss in not forcing these teams to play up - in ardoyne's case, whats the point in winning and not pushing on the following year and in crggan's case whats the point in winning and then playing no championship at all the following year.

maybe wiser doing a little research before a rant

just looking through those fixtures for hurling championships and a couple of things jump out. Ardoyne won JHC last year and are playing it again this year - why? in my opinion they should be forced to play IHC. And its a joke that Creggan, last years IHC winners aren't playing SHC.

County is weak as piss in not forcing these teams to play up - in ardoyne's case, whats the point in winning and not pushing on the following year and in crggan's case whats the point in winning and then playing no championship at all the following year.

Thanks - well hidden 

where's the master list on the website - fire a link up here please @saffrongael

think i may have spoken to soon. there's two results are already listed as 0-00 v 0-00. looks like a few of the teams have pulled out @SaffronSports. (https://antrim.gaa.ie/fixtures/u21-a-hc)
probably a handful of kids just in the age group who are going to miss out. too old for minor and and too young for senior.

sorry, not kids! young men... (before yous all start slabbering)

think i may have spoken to soon. there's two results are already listed as 0-00 v 0-00. looks like a few of the teams have pulled out @SaffronSports. (https://antrim.gaa.ie/fixtures/u21-a-hc)
probably a handful of kids just in the age group who are going to miss out. too old for minor and and too young for senior.

great to see so many teams entered into this years u21 championship. hope we get some good games?

wouldnt be familiar with this age group but i'd say loughiele must be favouraites havin won a rake of minor championships in recent years.
what's the lay of the land? and whats the pick of the games:

glenariffe/glenravel v ballycastle
loughgiele v  galls
c'dall v st pauls
rossa v endas