Antrim Hurling

[johnnycool]

And johnnycools side maybe looking like avoiding his previous predictions

How we won on Wednesday night, I'll never know, 9 points down and with just over 10 minutes on the clock to play. Ballycran and Phelim Savage in particular toying with us, then one of our 17yo's caught a ball, burst past his man and buried it in the net only to be followed up by a 19yo who took on his man and had enough werewithall to cut back and lay on another goal for the very same 17yo for goal two. Then the points started sailing over from lads who up until that point couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo. It was a 12 point turn around, in fact we were up 5 at a stage and Ballycran got it back to two and Conor Woods was standing over a 20 metre free with the last puck of the game but it was saved.

A big thanks must go to the Ballycran lad who started to manhandle the very same 17yo as that seemed to stir our lads into action as up until that point we were very passive. After that we decided we'd throw in a few tackles and a bit of aggression and that came as a bit of a shock to the Crans evidently.

Our win yesterday against a pretty good St Enda's was a better all round performance, Maskey and O'Connor are very fine hurlers and we coped well enough with them and were going into the last few minutes with a 6 point lead and Enda's lumping high ball upon high ball into our defence which held out well barring the 20 metre free that big Maskey sent home with some gusto.
We'll need another win or two to stay up but all our last games are at home barring the return fixture up the hightown road. We'll need our three other county players back though as Prenter and wee John McManus are still out with hamstring injuries and Fisher is probably out for the year after pulling the calf muscle off the bone. He's out of the boot he'd on for the last few weeks but limping badly still.
Opportunities for the minors and U20's to give it a rattle and thankfully some are doing that. Long may it continue.

Sounds like a possible turning point. 3/4 home games too now i see too helps

Still a fair bit of improving before we get overly excited 

[NAG1]

Just so none of the footballers are complaining about their thread being taken over.

Cushendall were amalgamated with All Saints last year at under age, up to u13.

This year they have partnered up with Oisins.

[johnnycool]

If I am correct in saying that Corrigan Park is owned by the county as opposed to St Johns, then the club should not be able to dictate in cases like this if they want to be 'stubborn'

Corrigan has been owned by the Johnnies for as long as I can remember.

Might be a bit pedantic but are all the grounds not technically owned by the GAA and that's what the Trustees of the club are for.

Bigger question is will there even be a St John's club in 20/30 years?

Each clubs has the county secretary and the Provincial secretary listed as two of their trustees, but a club can appoint three or more of their own.

FYI Down CB don't own Pairc Esler and I'd hazard a guess that Tyrone don't own Omagh either.


The biggest clubs in Belfast are evidently in County Down going by a recent GAA Social podcast by Oisin and yer man from Lavey.

Bredagh/Carryduff?

Playing membership wise? We have Ladies football at all ages, Camogie started up very recently and we have 4 teams, we have two senior teams in 2 leagues hurling and football,  juvenile teams in both hurling and football all the way down to under 10's ..

I'd know a few of the Carryduff coaches quite well, at a Down underage  Fundamentals blitz they were telling me that at P3-P4 they'd 40 kids at that age for hurling and would probably have almost 50 at the football for those same ages and this would be common all the way up to U14 where they enter two teams in the Down hurling leagues as does Bredagh who are similarly stacked with underage numbers. It brings it's own problems with coaches, pitch availability and all that, but no doubt the Gaelfast coaches are all out to help them. 

I think on that podcast the lad from East Belfast said they'd 200+ adult playing members

Fantastic numbers, with regards to hurling will that convert against the big three in senior? ever?

They are already, Bredagh have beaten both ourselves and Ballycran in the round robin championship and will claim a scalp or two this year with their injuries clearing up. They'll be chasing a knock out win I'm sure this year and will fancy their chances against both ourselves and Ballycran and rightly so. We certainly don't treat them lightly.

Carryduff are now also in the senior championship for the first time after winning intermediate last year and it will be interesting to see how they fare.

At underage in Down, no Ards club has won a championship in hurling for the last few years, they've been won by Bredagh at minor and Castlewellan at U15/U16 and both will be favourites to retain their titles this year.

Castlewellan had an U15 panel of 35 at this years Down Feile, beating Bredagh in the final, the Ards clubs didn't really compete that day.

If they keep that level of development up they'll definitely make inroads at senior level.

[NorthAntrim]

What about the laitroim team that went well at intermediate a few years ago? are the murphys still there?

[johnnycool]

What about the laitroim team that went well at intermediate a few years ago? are the murphys still there?

They are (The Murphys that is) and were indeed "robbed" in the semi-final last year against Ballycran, but they should have still closed that game out..

They too will be looking to go a step further this year.

They'll have ourselves and Ballycran in their sights as well and TBH there might not be a lot between ourselves, Ballycran, Bredagh and Liatroim.

It'll probably come down who can avoid injuries to key players at the latter stages of the championship and we're shíte at that.

[imtommygunn]

Jc how far and wide do castlewellan pick from?  I would be down round cherryvale the odd time and the numbers in bredagh are huge. They are bound to come good at some point. Carryduff getting that way too.

[johnnycool]

Jc how far and wide do castlewellan pick from?  I would be down round cherryvale the odd time and the numbers in bredagh are huge. They are bound to come good at some point. Carryduff getting that way too.

I'm not sure TBH. They may pick up kids from neighbouring football clubs around them who do not offer hurling and maybe into Newcastle as well, but Castlewellan is a big enough town in its own right and they've gotten their act together in relation to the hurling and have some good coaches within their ranks. It's all about sustaining that effort before the breakthrough comes at adult.

Clonduff have a few blow ins from the Glens pushing hurling there and they'd quite a few kids at a recent blitz I was at in Portaferry and are competitive at U14 and U16 at the minute.

[Saffrongael]

Not certain but looks at this stage that Sarsfields will be relegated from Div 2 this year, yet to win a game and the maximum number of points they can get is 10.

Been a while since they have been in Div 3 ?

[Milltown Row2]

Not certain but looks at this stage that Sarsfields will be relegated from Div 2 this year, yet to win a game and the maximum number of points they can get is 10.

Been a while since they have been in Div 3 ?

To be fair to them they have lost a few players to injuries, retirements and county commitments, their best 15 on the pitch can win intermediate. Like all clubs, getting your best 15 fit and available is impossible

[BrendanAntrim]

Great job Collie McDonald in the McDonough Cup final. He got high praise from commentary team on RTE Radio.

[Milltown Row2]

Great job Collie McDonald in the McDonough Cup final. He got high praise from commentary team on RTE Radio.

Did very well and that last one which the lad was into his 8th step before he blow for over carrying couldn't complain when looking back.

[SaffronSports]

Great job Collie McDonald in the McDonough Cup final. He got high praise from commentary team on RTE Radio.

Did very well and that last one which the lad was into his 8th step before he blow for over carrying couldn't complain when looking back.

I was calling him all sorts but aye on the replay he was right.

[antrimman667]

do fixtures split this weekend?

[johnnycool]

tomorrow night is the first round post split

[Saffrongael]

Divisions 2,3 & 4 have fixtures this weekend post split