Antrim Hurling

[Lord Antrim]

It is apparent that they used McGurk this year to give run out to U20s in prep for championship later on. The only issue there is that team is weakened by Uni's being able to select eligible county players. Possibly 6-8 missing and maybe more.
I also heard there were some injuries(Bicky and Rian) and some mnssing due to isolation weaking group even further.
Of the starting 15 , 3 of the boys were last years Minors so probably still not 18.
Is that the best way to proceed I'm not sure as we all know you can have all the skill but boys against men is different.
If we have yearly Dev  squads what has happened to Minor team and Celtic challenge teams / players  from those age groups.
We are way short in strength and physicality  to be honest we might struggle to get out of Ulster.
You need a balance between man strength and underlying skill.
No easy answers and in reality probably only 2-3 of this group will end up Senior county players

[nrico2006]

I was a wee bit shocked myself when I saw the result. Would expect an Antrim U-20 team to be beating a weaker Ulster counties senior team.

Cloud cuckoo land yous boys living in.  Derry struggled to beat this team last year ,won by point in the end
Donegal are 4th strongest in Ulster now easily .

They have really good homegrown hurlers plus boys from Tyrone, Armagh, Clare, Galway, Antrim and Limerick

Plus Tipperary. Didn't think they had anybody from Antrim though.

sorry you are correct I thought they had the setanta keeper (belfast) in nets

Actually thought it was him from the pictures on Saffron Gael.

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

It is apparent that they used McGurk this year to give run out to U20s in prep for championship later on. The only issue there is that team is weakened by Uni's being able to select eligible county players. Possibly 6-8 missing and maybe more.
I also heard there were some injuries(Bicky and Rian) and some mnssing due to isolation weaking group even further.
Of the starting 15 , 3 of the boys were last years Minors so probably still not 18.
Is that the best way to proceed I'm not sure as we all know you can have all the skill but boys against men is different.
If we have yearly Dev  squads what has happened to Minor team and Celtic challenge teams / players  from those age groups.
We are way short in strength and physicality  to be honest we might struggle to get out of Ulster.
You need a balance between man strength and underlying skill.
No easy answers and in reality probably only 2-3 of this group will end up Senior county players

Donegal uni players choose county there yesterday

[rogercasement]

Should Antrim u20s minus a few be losing so heavily to Donegal? Genuine question, don't know the circumstances but seems strange. If I'm being disrespectful to Donegal I apologise.

Yes, disrespectful to Donegal. Stick to football thread please

I wasn't putting Donegal hurling down, quite the opposite I was putting Antrim hurling down. Just because I am not from a hurling club doesn't mean I can't have an opinion o  it.

[Milltown Row2]

Should Antrim u20s minus a few be losing so heavily to Donegal? Genuine question, don't know the circumstances but seems strange. If I'm being disrespectful to Donegal I apologise.

Yes, disrespectful to Donegal. Stick to football thread please

I wasn't putting Donegal hurling down, quite the opposite I was putting Antrim hurling down. Just because I am not from a hurling club doesn't mean I can't have an opinion o  it.

I’ve read your opinions on things, young lads lacking fortitude, on referees, even your predictions on games during the year, so forgive me poop poohing your take on the under 20 hurling team playing a seasoned senior hurling county team.

Why a grown man would take cheap shots at young lads is beyond me!

[rogercasement]

You really are some boy MR2 how you figure half that stuff out is beyond me.

[Cannon Fodder]

U20 team was physically pushed about by the more mature Donegal team. 6 starters yesterday were U18 so a bit on the light side yet for senior hurling. Donegal the better team on a wet Dunsilly pitch.

Remember this is not U20 v U20

[johnnycool]

U20 team was physically pushed about by the more mature Donegal team. 6 starters yesterday were U18 so a bit on the light side yet for senior hurling. Donegal the better team on a wet Dunsilly pitch.

Remember this is not U20 v U20

This.

A county the size of Antrim really shouldn't be playing lads with three years left this level. Where's all the U19's and U20's that have went through the various development squads?

FWIW Donegal are a handy team full of good big hurlers so playing Antrim U20's in the middle of January on a heavy pitch and beating them isn't a surprise and if anything Antrim U20's could be better off for it.

[Saffsof82]

would think antrim u20s lost alot of their last year players to uu and queens

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

U20 team was physically pushed about by the more mature Donegal team. 6 starters yesterday were U18 so a bit on the light side yet for senior hurling. Donegal the better team on a wet Dunsilly pitch.

Remember this is not U20 v U20

This.

A county the size of Antrim really shouldn't be playing lads with three years left this level. Where's all the U19's and U20's that have went through the various development squads?

FWIW Donegal are a handy team full of good big hurlers so playing Antrim U20's in the middle of January on a heavy pitch and beating them isn't a surprise and if anything Antrim U20's could be better off for it.

Thought they done well to score what they did , they will have learnt more than Donegal

[NAG1]

Only reason the u20s being pressed into action is the number of absentees from the senior squad currently from what I have been told.

[podge]

U20 team was physically pushed about by the more mature Donegal team. 6 starters yesterday were U18 so a bit on the light side yet for senior hurling. Donegal the better team on a wet Dunsilly pitch.

Remember this is not U20 v U20

This.

A county the size of Antrim really shouldn't be playing lads with three years left this level. Where's all the U19's and U20's that have went through the various development squads?

FWIW Donegal are a handy team full of good big hurlers so playing Antrim U20's in the middle of January on a heavy pitch and beating them isn't a surprise and if anything Antrim U20's could be better off for it.

Same thought struck me. Some of these guys are way too light for this. In fairness it may be that a lot of the u20s are elsewhere due to combination of the antrim senior squad being light (don't think any of the Dunloy lads started yesterday) and perhaps others playing for UU or QUB.  It may also be general apathy towards this age group.

[Hoof Hearted]

Sambo on laochra gael tonight at 9.30

[paddyjohn]

I feel a Brendan Crossan special coming on.

[JimStynes]

I feel a Brendan Crossan special coming on.

Lol cert

Who is Antrim’s best ever hurler?