Antrim Hurling

[Saffrongael]

Them and glenariffe be interesting now. You'd imagine creggan and cushendun will be through but other places up for grabs. It is two through not three isn't it?

Three senior games on live at the weekend. They should only put two through to make it more interesting.

Yes, if Sarsfields and Creggan win their next game, which they should then that will be proper Championship hurling. A quarter final effectively.

The other group potentially has 3 teams now fighting for that 2nd spot. If Randalstown lose their next game then it too is wide open.

Prior to St Paul's beating the paddies last night if results had went as expected Glenariffe would have needed to beat Sarsfields by 7 points as *i think* its a mini league tie breaker, as it was in the All County leagues.

[Antrim Coaster]

Fairly big shock in IHC tonight, St Paul's beating Sarsfields at the death in the bear pit

That result has put the cat among the pigeons.

4 teams on 2 points, Glenariff on top with 4 with one game left as have St Pauls. Creggan, Glenravel and Sarsfields with 2 games to play.

Leading up to an exciting last couple of rounds.

IHC doesn't disappoint.

[Antrim Coaster]

Most of the teams involved in intermediate hate the format too. Every other competition in football and hurling sees over half the teams through the groups but this one is only 4 of 10. Scheduling is rough too. 6 of the teams that played tonight play again on Saturday.

Probably because its a 10 team championship

[SaffronSports]

In senior and junior you have 6 from 8 going through. Ultimately it boils down to all the other competitions taking 6 rounds to complete while this one is already 7 so probably not easy to find space for an extra knockout stage, especially for dual clubs.

[barnish oggie]

Yeah as has been said here much more interesting than the senior though a bit compressed if playing twice in a week. You'd imagine Cushendun currently favourites here. They look to have quite a few younger guys maturing quite well there.

Some teams managed to do well in the draw, as they only had a game every 2 weeks.

[Antrim Coaster]

In senior and junior you have 6 from 8 going through. Ultimately it boils down to all the other competitions taking 6 rounds to complete while this one is already 7 so probably not easy to find space for an extra knockout stage, especially for dual clubs.

CCC are under enough pressure to schedule championship matches between hurling and football. Its a thankless task and fair play to them for managing to achieve that.

Re the 3 teams from 4 in the SHC, its done away with a few dead rubber matches especially this weekend with Ballycastle and St Endas battling it out for a quarter final place in what would be a meaningless match otherwise,

I remember one year the senior championship consisting of two groups of 5 with the top two from each section qualifying for the semi finals.

[NAG1]

Shootout between Cushendall and Loughgiel for a SF spot, not major jeopardy but will be interesting to see which if either go flat out to bypass the QF.

[SaffronSports]

Great game of hurling in Glenarm this evening. Glenarm were outstanding in the first half and took a big lead in at the half. Cushendun came out firing second half and got themselves right back in it and we're ahead into stoppage time but Glenarm got a goal at the death to win it. Means Cushendun Vs Carey is basically a QF now.

[imtommygunn]

The other group looks like that too. Assuming Creggan beat glenravel then glenariffe sarsfields is basically knockout too.

[Milltown Row2]

We went 7 points up in the first half, the tackling, aggression and taking our opportunities really put Tir na Og on the back foot

Second half we seem to be still in the changing rooms (though we stayed on pitch) or had lost our intensity, that said Tir na Og came out a different team, we still should have held on and had we scored our penalty I think the momentum would have shifted.

Fair play to them, a game of two half's and a very entertaining fair

[Jonkunlon]

We went 7 points up in the first half, the tackling, aggression and taking our opportunities really put Tir na Og on the back foot

Second half we seem to be still in the changing rooms (though we stayed on pitch) or had lost our intensity, that said Tir na Og came out a different team, we still should have held on and had we scored our penalty I think the momentum would have shifted.

Fair play to them, a game of two half's and a very entertaining fair

Sets it up beautifully with Cushendun's surprise defeat at Feystown this evening.

Carey have been given a lifeline. They play in Cushendun on the final day. Winner takes all.

Sarsfields v Glenariffe, the same. Winner takes all.

[Saffrongael]

Loughgiel just getting past Ballycastle was a warning sign, they were really poor today I thought. Totally aimless

[Jonkunlon]

Loughgiel just getting past Ballycastle was a warning sign, they were really poor today I thought. Totally aimless

Was a shambles. Completely void of an effective game plan and poor players in important positions. Don't know where they go from here. St John's are no great shakes either, not sure who'll win that tie.

[CitySlicker11]

Loughgiel seem to have went with too much youth at once instead of opting for a more blended approach. Not working out for them so far this year, and they could struggle with the physicality that St Johns will offer.

[barnish oggie]

We went 7 points up in the first half, the tackling, aggression and taking our opportunities really put Tir na Og on the back foot

Second half we seem to be still in the changing rooms (though we stayed on pitch) or had lost our intensity, that said Tir na Og came out a different team, we still should have held on and had we scored our penalty I think the momentum would have shifted.

Fair play to them, a game of two half's and a very entertaining fair

Definitely a game of two halves.

Our lads didn't get going at all in the first half, simple errors all over the place, dropped catches, fumbled pick ups and it looked like it was game over at half time, although we could and should have had 2 goals late in the first half so maybe that was a sign of things to come.

The penalty was the key moment and it spurred us on, whereas if it had gone in, your lads would likely have safely won.

The game was played in the right spirit, none of this off the ball nonsense or negative play, 39 scores and for a neutral it would have been a great watch, although it was nerve wracking for a non neutral!