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"4.15 To take the puck-out from outside the small rectangle."

Obviously the key word in the above rule is "outside" but theres no further detail on that as far as i can see in the rules. However if we look at another aspect of hurling namely the ball, when it goes near an end line it is considered "outside" when the whole of the balll is over the line. Using that logic would lead me to conclude that if a keeper does not have both feet outside the square on a puck out then hes not "outside". From the tv replays the Clare keepers back foot was well inside the small rectangle so a wrong decision as far as im concerned.

If the GAA rules were more specific i dont think this debate would be happening today.

Fairhead. The rule is that the keeper cannot have his foot outside the small rectangle when he's pucking the ball out. It has been a rule in hurling for as long as I can remember and any inter-county goalkeeper will know this rule.  This year the referees have been given special instructions to start enforcing the rule as some goalkeepers are ripping the ass out of it a bit.  (Not that the clare keeper was doing this). Whilst I believe it was a terrible call by the umpire to enforce the rule at this time in such a close game, that is the rule and the keeper would have known this. (especially when he had been pulled up on it earlier on in the game).  I think you are clutching at straws with this one.

To be complaining about our current game being too violent is ludicrous. The simple fact is that gaelic football (for a contact sport) is not currently troubled by an undue level of violence.  I dont know where the inspiration from this thread came from...

Whilst I absolutely agree with the sentiments of everyone here regarding the idiots involved in this rubbish I think that the abuse a referee has to take from the crowd is currently a bigger problem and something the GAA needs to act on.  I have seen referees make bad mistakes and have cost teams games but some of the mouthfuls of abuse that people hurl from the stands towards them are ridiculous.  No human being should have to listen to this.

I see lightning has struck twice for this amazing antrim team...?

I have to agree with you steve, whilst I am a Derry fan I am also a realist and I reckon that Westmeath have too much for Derry.  I envisage derry still being in the hunt with 15-20 to go with westmeath then kicking on to in the region of a 10 point win.  This seems to be the tried and tested format for these sort of games!

I think that the other semi will be closer - Mayo have made amazing strides this season under pete finnerty.  They also have home advantage.  However, tradition would suggest that Carlow will eventually win out and I would tend to agree.

As for derry v down - I think that the only people not surprised with this result were derry people - they have already beaten a full down side this year and that combined with some recent ulster championship results all pointed to a close game.  Thats why I couldnt let someone calling the game a 'no brainer' slip by without a mention steve!!

[Down v Derry. A No brainer, Down have an amazing forward division...hit the goals that mattered in group games & will beat Derry by at least 10 pts]

Wicklow v Mayo
Wicklow will easy win this one. Struggled during league, but have got sorted since. Win by 6 or 7 pts
Down v Derry. A No brainer, Down have an amazing forward division...hit the goals that mattered in group games & will beat Derry by at least 10 pts
Kerry v Carlow- Hard one to call. Carlow are the better team, but the game is in Tralee where Kerry are very rarely beaten. But last time they met in div 2 semi in Limerick Carlow won easily by about 15 points...so id side with Carlow for this..but only by 2 or 3 pts.
Kildare v Westmeath
Its the form team Kildare v the team that thinks they are better than this level!!I dunno if westmeath are all that after a loss to Wicklow!
But if i had to choose i think Kildare might cause a real big shock here & beat Westmeath!

steve you and your predictions crack me up! did you not watch the national league at all!

Antrim are the England of the hurling scene - have some good players and can talk a great game, have a solid club infrastructure compared to those around them and reminisce with rose tinted glasses about the great victories (y) of yesteryear.

However, they struggle to make any impact when it counts on a consistent basis - though will spring an odd good result and catch one of the top teams on the hop.

I feel that Antrim fans have expectations that are far too high - talking about going to play in Leinster because competition is not enough in Ulster.  Get a grip.  I thought that maybe the Derry game was a one off but then to give a repeat performance against a similarly average Down team - get with reality lads - Antrim Hurling is not at the standard you believe it to be....!

Yep, same man

[If that's the case, therre are a lot of tools around Bellaghy]

Let's  not start this sh**t* again. 99.9% of GAA people in Derry couldn't care less.

Drones, you annoy my happiness.

I appreciate that its an opinion, but sometimes they're better kept to yourself.

99.9% of people on this board think you're a tool.

If that's the case, therre are a lot of tools around Bellaghy for I haven't heard one yet who supports Hurling in derry!
[/quote]

Maybe your right...

OK Lads - I would have to agree that the GAA are not very good when it comes to ripping off the paying public but come on here - just as the standard of living has increased so has the cost of running a business (which is essentially what the GAA is) and these costs have to be covered in some way.  Whilst I see that the GAA could maybe have absorbed these higher costs slightly more it should be abundantly obvious as to where they have come from.

Heard a vicious rumour about a few of these antrim players who are supposedly training hard and "living the lives of a county player" climbing in a hotel window on sat night at 5am - questions would have to be asked.....!!!!

"Grass Roots" - the most over used phrase in Ireland at the moment.

From speaking with one of the men involved I can confirm that the minor management resigned last week as the were told that they would not be getting funding for gear/physios/away challenge games because "they are never going to beat antrim and even if they did they'll never beat any of the southern teams". (- this may well be correct).  However, after issuing a few threats to go to the press the county board changed their minds and as such the management have now resumed their positions. However, it is a total disgrace that it ever came to that.

I think it is ridiculous that people are complaining about the people from the AFL coming in and "stealing" our talent.  If a young player from Ireland has the ability to earn his living by doing something that he enjoys then who are we to stop them.  These people are offering young people the chance of a lifetime - and a lot more than they are offered by the GAA.  To me the only people who are against this are supporters/ who don't want to see their best players taken away.  They have only the interest of their club/county at heart and are not thinking of the player at all.  Put yourselves in the shoes of a player who has just been offered a trial by an AFL club - what would you want to do?  Would you want the fat cats in the GAA stopping these scouts coming over to see you play and thus ruining your chance at your dream job.  Stop being selfish people!!!

Steve I wouldnt get carried away - just remember that the derry team who you are predicting an "easy enough win" against beat you by 17 points in the league last year.  I wouldnt be talking about dublin offaly and antrim just yet.