Armagh Club football & hurling

[Hammer]

Anyone know what sort of Minor team Armagh have this year?  Many of last years team back?

[keadyhurling]

Hi folks, our club running new hurling initiative, it started last friday night and was a superb success-even in the snow! A great atmosphere and great hurling played also. - here are some more thoughts on the opening night where we were lucky to have Paudie Butler in attendance.

National Director of Hurling Excited By New Floodlit Initiative

Speed and skill was the order of the night when An Ceide Lamh Dhearg's Midnight Hurling got under way at Keady High School on Friday night past. This new hurling initiative was designed to provide free flowing. high intensity hurling and credit must go to all the participating players who ensured this was so. Under the bright lights seven teams of seven took to the cold Astro turf but although the frost was on the ground the boys put every ounce of energy into each game although the going was very tough indeed.
The Pat Cunningham Memorial Cup is up for grabs and the competition will run for another 4 consecutive Friday nights with the main aims to provide competitive hurling in a fun environment for hurlers aged 15-19 as well as providing them with a safe social outlet on a Friday night. These same young men also had a very positive input to the rule making and organisation of this tournament, which is the first of its kind in the GAA. On the night the National Director of Hurling Paudie Butler official opened the tournament when he threw the first sloitar into play. This was very apt as Paudie has been the catalyst for many an innovation in hurling and he is very excited at the potential of the new game. Paudie was quoted "This is a fantastic game and with the advent of 3rd Generation pitches we will be trying to take this game nation wide. The boys and girls of Keady are doing so much good work and this is once again underlined here tonight."
The teams are made up of 7 players – one of which is a Keady Senior player who must remain in goals – and games are 5 a side, lasting 4minutes per half. 2 Running subs are allowed and encouraged in what is a fast paced high intensive spectacle. Playing rules have been conditioned to one catch of the sliothar only and puck outs/sidelines can be taken using a hand pass or a strike in order to keep games flowing as much as possible. Goals are the only way to score and there is a bonus point if any teams hit 4 or more.
As part of Keady's contribution to the ongoing Armagh Hurling Development programme, each of the 8 teams taking part are allowed 2 'guest' players from neighbouring clubs and the teams have also recruited new or past players back to the local hurling scene. It's also getting new recruits for our club and helping community spirit. Additionally we feel its helping hurling evolve with technology (3G pitches) and keeping the GAA up to speed with soccer and tag rugby for example, games traditionally played on these surfaces during the winter months - thus helping GAA player retention
With the first weeks competition now completed Keady Young Irelands are forging ahead with Damien's Devils coming in second place and Super Sumos in third place. There is a three way tie for forth place with Tiny's Angels just heading Liam's Ducks and Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation on goal difference. At the back are the Underdogs who are living up to their name thus far although there is a long way to go and after the forth week of hurling the teams will be separated into the cup and shield competitions, so everyone have loads of time for success. A shortlist for Goal & Player of the Tournament is up and running with maybe top of heap is the Super Sumos super team goal which was finished of by Stephen Renaghan doubling a bullet to the net while there are numerous names in the hat for the best player including Colton, Renaghan, Gaffney, McCreesh, Fullerton, Corvan, Green and McGale amongst others.
The Keady club would like to welcome all hurling enthusiasts to come along and witness these young lads play a great new game which is set to break into the thoughts of the greater GAA family. First game commences at 8pm sharp on the Astro Turf Keady High School on Friday nights.

[The Iceman]

Hi folks, our club running new hurling initiative, it started last friday night and was a superb success-even in the snow! A great atmosphere and great hurling played also. - here are some more thoughts on the opening night where we were lucky to have Paudie Butler in attendance.

National Director of Hurling Excited By New Floodlit Initiative

Speed and skill was the order of the night when An Ceide Lamh Dhearg's Midnight Hurling got under way at Keady High School on Friday night past. This new hurling initiative was designed to provide free flowing. high intensity hurling and credit must go to all the participating players who ensured this was so. Under the bright lights seven teams of seven took to the cold Astro turf but although the frost was on the ground the boys put every ounce of energy into each game although the going was very tough indeed.
The Pat Cunningham Memorial Cup is up for grabs and the competition will run for another 4 consecutive Friday nights with the main aims to provide competitive hurling in a fun environment for hurlers aged 15-19 as well as providing them with a safe social outlet on a Friday night. These same young men also had a very positive input to the rule making and organisation of this tournament, which is the first of its kind in the GAA. On the night the National Director of Hurling Paudie Butler official opened the tournament when he threw the first sloitar into play. This was very apt as Paudie has been the catalyst for many an innovation in hurling and he is very excited at the potential of the new game. Paudie was quoted "This is a fantastic game and with the advent of 3rd Generation pitches we will be trying to take this game nation wide. The boys and girls of Keady are doing so much good work and this is once again underlined here tonight."
The teams are made up of 7 players – one of which is a Keady Senior player who must remain in goals – and games are 5 a side, lasting 4minutes per half. 2 Running subs are allowed and encouraged in what is a fast paced high intensive spectacle. Playing rules have been conditioned to one catch of the sliothar only and puck outs/sidelines can be taken using a hand pass or a strike in order to keep games flowing as much as possible. Goals are the only way to score and there is a bonus point if any teams hit 4 or more.
As part of Keady's contribution to the ongoing Armagh Hurling Development programme, each of the 8 teams taking part are allowed 2 'guest' players from neighbouring clubs and the teams have also recruited new or past players back to the local hurling scene. It's also getting new recruits for our club and helping community spirit. Additionally we feel its helping hurling evolve with technology (3G pitches) and keeping the GAA up to speed with soccer and tag rugby for example, games traditionally played on these surfaces during the winter months - thus helping GAA player retention
With the first weeks competition now completed Keady Young Irelands are forging ahead with Damien's Devils coming in second place and Super Sumos in third place. There is a three way tie for forth place with Tiny's Angels just heading Liam's Ducks and Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation on goal difference. At the back are the Underdogs who are living up to their name thus far although there is a long way to go and after the forth week of hurling the teams will be separated into the cup and shield competitions, so everyone have loads of time for success. A shortlist for Goal & Player of the Tournament is up and running with maybe top of heap is the Super Sumos super team goal which was finished of by Stephen Renaghan doubling a bullet to the net while there are numerous names in the hat for the best player including Colton, Renaghan, Gaffney, McCreesh, Fullerton, Corvan, Green and McGale amongst others.
The Keady club would like to welcome all hurling enthusiasts to come along and witness these young lads play a great new game which is set to break into the thoughts of the greater GAA family. First game commences at 8pm sharp on the Astro Turf Keady High School on Friday nights.

I think this is a fantastic idea modeled on the midnight soccer that is run in Belfast.  Great way to get young people off the streets and out of harms way on Friday or Saturday nights.  The soccer programme worked really well in Belfast and its great to see a Gaelic Games slant on this.
All the best with it and hope it gets the community support it deserves!

[thewanderer]

Once again the CLOWN PRINCE of referees from armagh was a joke yesterday. when are the gaa referees appointment men goin to take on board all of his bad publicity. He has to be star of the show as usual and make the headlines. Some difference in him and mc kees performance in the mc kenna cup final.

[topgun]

Once again the CLOWN PRINCE of referees from armagh was a joke yesterday. when are the gaa referees appointment men goin to take on board all of his bad publicity. He has to be star of the show as usual and make the headlines. Some difference in him and mc kees performance in the mc kenna cup final.

here here, hes a wee hilter, people go to watch the two teams on show and nt him, thats 2 years in a row now as well as an embarassin ulster final as well, gave queens everything in 1st half yesterday

[pintsofguinness]

I like him.

[full back]

I think he is a good ref as well.
Does it by the book & no f**king about when he is refereeing

[illdecide]

I actually think he's a good ref too

Let me re-phrase that...i think he's a fair ref and tries his best

[DuffleKing]

Hughes is a desperate ref. I don't think it'd be fair to label him as a cheat but he's very very bad.

speaking of clowns, I wonder did he take his two usual linesmen with him yesterday?

[thewanderer]

he is a self important fool. he always has to be the focus and discussion point at the end of any game. it should be the players and the game. how comes he is always bein highlighted by all press and clubs on a regular basis for his decisions. you dont have pat mc aneaney regularily criticised or indeed lots of other high profile referees. even dare i say ollie hearty is a better referee. trying his best is not in his make-up only self importance.

[pintsofguinness]

he is a self important fool. he always has to be the focus and discussion point at the end of any game. it should be the players and the game. how comes he is always bein highlighted by all press and clubs on a regular basis for his decisions. you dont have pat mc aneaney regularily criticised or indeed lots of other high profile referees. even dare i say ollie hearty is a better referee. trying his best is not in his make-up only self importance.

whatever anyone can say about Hughes he's not a cheat, the same could not be said for Ollie Hearty!

[AFS]

I actually think he's a good ref too

Let me re-phrase that...i think he's a fair ref and tries his best

This. Like most refs, he could do with using a bit more common sense though. That's the only difference between McEnaney and most of the rest of them.

[fitzroyalty]

i've certainly experienced worse refs than hughes

[davo]

really looking forward to the start of the new season. With the ogs winning the championship last year it has brought the sparkle back to the competition. Everyone now believes they can win it. The ogs will be out to retain it, cross will be out to prove the doubters wrong and to teach everyone a lesson, harps, dromintee and granemore will be out all guns blazing.

The league is going to be very intriguing. The ogs v cross games (although not overly important in the league) should be mouth watering with both teams looking to stamp their authority.

Maghery and whitecross will be wanting to maintain their status with kileavy and mullabawn wanting to prove that division 1 is where they belong.

Harps will be aiming to win division2 and nothing less than promotion will do.

Very interesting season ahead!

[thewanderer]

Harps will certainly want to get back into the premier division if they want to have a realistic chance of winning a county championship in the next few years. Although it wont be that easy but certainly easier with mullaghbawn and killeavey retaining div1 status. maghery will push a lot of teams at home but wouldnt read too much into ogs, dromintee league form with county players missing alot. 10 weeks yet to throw in with some new managers under the spotlight. will aiden o rourkes new position affect dromintee cant see him fulfilling two roles efficiently and certainly think it affect his playing.