Antrim Hurling

[antrimman667]

why in the intermediate is there two groups of 7 teams can they not stretch it out to 4 groups

[keep her low this half]

Not sure what the solution is. There's some really good players coming through, the lads coaching them are good and working hard but rather than closing the gap on the top teir we seem to be getting caught up by that next tier down.

I saw Anthony Daly talking about Limerick underage structures a couple of years back. What he basically said was each development squad had 25 players but that each squad at each age group was reviewed on a three monthly basis. Players who were not performing in training and matches were cut and and new players brought in to replace them. He said every juvenile match had a county assessor at it to report on all relevant players performance. ( Plenty of money in Limerick hurling ). This lead to a ruthless driving up of standards in training and matches across the board.
It is my perception of Antrim juvenile structures that players get on development squads at age 9/10 and stay there until 17 regardless of how they are developing provided they keep turning up. We may not have the pick of Limerick (and certainly not the funds) but there is no doubt that we are being caught by counties like Kildare, Westmeath etc and are not remotely close to challenging the Galways, Kilkennys etc.

Development squads at 9/10 yr old?

I think 13/14 is more accurate

North Antrim used to run development squads for under 10s, it may have fallen by the wayside now but it definitely used to be a thing.

[keep her low this half]

Good to see the under 20s won well against Meath last night, fair play. Score seemed tight enough in first half and then Antrim ran away with it in the second half. Strong wind probably, I wasn't at it so cannot say. Still well done to all involved.

[NorthAntrim]

why in the intermediate is there two groups of 7 teams can they not stretch it out to 4 groups

Does anyone know the set up? top 2 into semis?

2 groups in junior. last year top into semi finals and 2nd v 3rd in a quarter final

IMO bring back straight knock out. Groups brought in during covid as lack of league games

[delgany]

why in the intermediate is there two groups of 7 teams can they not stretch it out to 4 groups

Does anyone know the set up? top 2 into semis?

2 groups in junior. last year top into semi finals and 2nd v 3rd in a quarter final

IMO bring back straight knock out. Groups brought in during covid as lack of league games

2 groups of 5 in IHC
Top 2 go to Semis

JHC
Top team  go to semis
2nd v 3rd  play off for semi spot

[antrimman667]

why in the intermediate is there two groups of 7 teams can they not stretch it out to 4 groups

Does anyone know the set up? top 2 into semis?

2 groups in junior. last year top into semi finals and 2nd v 3rd in a quarter final

IMO bring back straight knock out. Groups brought in during covid as lack of league games

2 groups of 5 in IHC
Top 2 go to Semis

JHC
Top team  go to semis
2nd v 3rd  play off for semi spot

This Just means dead rubbers by the end of the competition

[Milltown Row2]

why in the intermediate is there two groups of 7 teams can they not stretch it out to 4 groups

Does anyone know the set up? top 2 into semis?

2 groups in junior. last year top into semi finals and 2nd v 3rd in a quarter final

IMO bring back straight knock out. Groups brought in during covid as lack of league games

2 groups of 5 in IHC
Top 2 go to Semis

JHC
Top team  go to semis
2nd v 3rd  play off for semi spot

This Just means dead rubbers by the end of the competition

Only dead rubbers if teams have nothing to play for. It's not the competition set up that makes them dead rubbers but the teams that either put the effort in or don't! .. at the end of the competition and teams are playing to get top two then it's exciting

[SaffronSports]

Even the group stages in the Championships, you'll still see a fair bit of rotation in the top teams as they save players for the big knock out matches.

It's one thing I think the GAA are poor at. Loads of leagues that have a final at the end and then you start Championship with a league. Do a league and then do a knockout championship, there's no greater spectacle in sport than if you don't win, you go home. The product has become diluted, probably to ensure a few extra quid along the way.

[Saffsof82]

Double edge sword, championship diluted by not being straight knock out, but more games for players who have worked their arse off all year for the club, swings and roundabouts

[Milltown Row2]

Bring in what a lot of counties do, groups and playoffs with relegation thrown in to keep it competitive till the end

[Kidder81]

Cushendall won U-15 Feile today, beating Loughgiel in the final at Dunsilly

[ardtole]

I came across the Antrim u20 hurling squad on twitter last week and noticed that there was only 1 cushendall player on the panel.

There was a cushendall man named as a selector so obviously no club bias involved. Would they be weak at that level or is it just a once off year with low numbers at that age group.

[SaffronSports]

Cushendall won U-15 Feile today, beating Loughgiel in the final at Dunsilly

Not much between them today. That's 2 in a row for Cushendall. Gort na Mona beat St John's in the final of the B competition as well. They looked very good too.

[Saffsof82]

Feile is everything that is bad about the Gaa, a horrible competition that goes completely against everything the Gaa have been promoting via go games

[Saffrongael]

Feile is everything that is bad about the Gaa, a horrible competition that goes completely against everything the Gaa have been promoting via go games

In what way ? Kids and coaches I know that have been involved really enjoy it. Mind you tough going now with all the games and final on the day. Really poor promotion of it today from Gaelfast, sporadic updates from games that weren't over