Antrim Hurling

[Jonkunlon]

Official's Team done well I have to say. 

[Gael-in-exile]

Thanks. I certainly thought the second from the stream view was questionable but I think it was suggested a high hurl may have been the case. The first was hard to see as it was almost out of the screen but Duffin is the type of defender who is almost always playing the man as much if not more than the ball so I did think if it was called then it must have been due.

The officials done very well. I thought in advance the ref may have tended to be whistle happy as it's his first final and he'd want to ensure he was in control by using it too much but he was very good, let the game flow without blowing over zealously for many things.

I see pics have a full set of officials, 9 in all, ref, linesmen and 4th official plus umpires.  What is the role of the older man who was there? I've seen him on the line at a few matches in normal clothes so was never sure.

[paddyjohn]

1st penalty was for holding and Ciaran thought
Phelim Duffin was holding more than Joseph McLaughlin. Both players had their arms round each other. The Dunloy defenders disagreed. 2nd penalty was for absolutely nothing other than to even up the decision for the first. Ruck of players from both teams simply fighting for possession

From my vision Nigel was being obstructed on the way in, some shirt pulling too, not difference to the first penalty.

Players were being impeded ... Referees union and all that 

I thought Ciaran signalled for a high challenge.

[Milltown Row2]

1st penalty was for holding and Ciaran thought
Phelim Duffin was holding more than Joseph McLaughlin. Both players had their arms round each other. The Dunloy defenders disagreed. 2nd penalty was for absolutely nothing other than to even up the decision for the first. Ruck of players from both teams simply fighting for possession

From my vision Nigel was being obstructed on the way in, some shirt pulling too, not difference to the first penalty.

Players were being impeded ... Referees union and all that 

I thought Ciaran signalled for a high challenge.

He probably did. But from the angle I had Nigel was running towards goal with three I think hanging off him and there was some dragging back from my end, Ciaran was straight on and seen what he seen to. As I said Cushendall players didn't complain at all or too much which is always a good sign, and I was on teh Dall side

[Milltown Row2]

Thanks. I certainly thought the second from the stream view was questionable but I think it was suggested a high hurl may have been the case. The first was hard to see as it was almost out of the screen but Duffin is the type of defender who is almost always playing the man as much if not more than the ball so I did think if it was called then it must have been due.

The officials done very well. I thought in advance the ref may have tended to be whistle happy as it's his first final and he'd want to ensure he was in control by using it too much but he was very good, let the game flow without blowing over zealously for many things.

I see pics have a full set of officials, 9 in all, ref, linesmen and 4th official plus umpires.  What is the role of the older man who was there? I've seen him on the line at a few matches in normal clothes so was never sure.

The other official organises the much needed communications systems plus the board for the subs and injury time notifications. Also At Ballycastle the dugouts are on both sides, so fourth official required on both side

[Gael-in-exile]

Thanks. I certainly thought the second from the stream view was questionable but I think it was suggested a high hurl may have been the case. The first was hard to see as it was almost out of the screen but Duffin is the type of defender who is almost always playing the man as much if not more than the ball so I did think if it was called then it must have been due.

The officials done very well. I thought in advance the ref may have tended to be whistle happy as it's his first final and he'd want to ensure he was in control by using it too much but he was very good, let the game flow without blowing over zealously for many things.

I see pics have a full set of officials, 9 in all, ref, linesmen and 4th official plus umpires.  What is the role of the older man who was there? I've seen him on the line at a few matches in normal clothes so was never sure.

The other official organises the much needed communications systems plus the board for the subs and injury time notifications. Also At Ballycastle the dugouts are on both sides, so fourth official required on both side

Thanks, have been pitch side once or twice myself a while back and it was a lot more simplified but even with two sides for subs it gets more complicated

[left peg]

According to todays paper portaferry are in line to take Cushendals title. You men reckon they'd have a chance?

[podge]

According to todays paper portaferry are in line to take Cushendals title. You men reckon they'd have a chance?

I imagine Slaughniel shouldn't be written off either.  Interesting few weeks ahead.

I think Cdall are favourites. They won't be complacent after Portaferry more or less had them beat last year.  I also think the fact that few of the lower profile players had big games yesterday will stand to them over the next few weeks.

[imtommygunn]

Slaughtneil won't be easy beat. After last year and being beat handy enough in the football they'll have a point to prove. Would worry about portaferry after that - as dunloy found out they're not easy beat.

I would expect Slaughtneil to be tougher than Portaferry though Portaferry have 3 very good forwards in McGrattan and the Sands brothers so might be handy enough too.

That being said I would have Cushendall favourites but not massive favourites....

[Tony Baloney]

Slaughtneil won't be easy beat. After last year and being beat handy enough in the football they'll have a point to prove. Would worry about portaferry after that - as dunloy found out they're not easy beat.

I would expect Slaughtneil to be tougher than Portaferry though Portaferry have 3 very good forwards in McGrattan and the Sands brothers so might be handy enough too.

That being said I would have Cushendall favourites but not massive favourites....

They've been a while trying to prove that point.

[imtommygunn]

In the football yeah but hurling not as much.

[Saffron71]

Cushendall are the bogey team for Slaughtneill.  They're the only Antrim club they haven't beaten over the past 10 years.  Portaferry are the bogey team for Cushendall as they've struggled against them recently in Ulster.  So it makes for a very interesting Ulster Championship.  Ulster Intermediate should be highly competitive too.  As for the Ulster Junior I'd be very surprised if Ballinscreen don't win it.

[NAG1]

FWIW is worth and sort of in keeping with the way things have been going in the county in recent times we played our show piece game of the year in conditions which would have seen any normal club game being postponed.

Genuinely think we are trying to kill the thing off completely.

2 Teams train for the year to compete and we put it on in that.

Not like it wasn't predicted and unavoidable.

[Milltown Row2]

Its the end of October, we have been playing these finals at this time of the year for as long as I can remember, we play the biggest games after that at the time of year that weather wise will throw up worse conditions and even worse pitches

The only answer is to do away with the groups, straight knock outs and open draws or seeded draws based on league performances and have them finished done in August..

Its a long wait before the Ulster championship would start but going by the how August panned out weather wise you could end up with a bad day then too, of which there was many

Saturday in Loughgiel for the intermediate looked good (from my sofa) Sunday was windy for sure, but it was windy for both and there was no advantage for one team over the other the scoreline was decent considering the win and the game was in the melting pot right up to the final whistle.

Postponing it for a week shows Ballycastle rain and wind..

What would you propose?

[imtommygunn]

I'm not sure Ballycastle at this time of year is the right place for it as it's in a setting that seems to attract a lot of wind etc at the best of times. That aside I don't think much else can be done and there were plenty of other finals on too so we weren't alone. You do have to wonder with a few surprise results in county finals all around how much bearing the weather had on some of the outcomes - definitely a few surprise ones.

It's tough calling these off late with all the work that goes into them I imagine so would need to be a last resort.