Antrim Hurling

[NorthAntrim]

I think there may be more midweek travel than there used to be. There was a boy who used to be a very prominent poster who seems to have disappeared now and he was in their setup - he seemed to be indicating that.

It would be tough logistically speaking to get a squad of players to a lot of antrim venues on a weeknight if you're coming from derry.

I'm sure it's handy sorted refixing games to a weekend especially versus hurling only clubs though. Good road to travel now too

[NorthAntrim]

That's a pity as they have been in it for years.

To be honest they haven't progressed much in close to 20 years playing in Antrim.

The season before last they were one point above relegation.

I think its the travelling that would be the issue.

Looks like they are going to play in the Derry league.

Well if they do opt out and it doesn't work I wouldn't like to think they'd jump back into division 3 the following season

[johnnycool]

Well will Cushendall keep it pucked out to Slaughtneil or did they get the dirty diesel out of their system yesterday?

If Slaughtneil have maintained the same standards as last year then they'd go in as slight favourites IMO.

[imtommygunn]

I don't see Cushendall beating Slaughtneil tbh. I do hope I am wrong. Cushendall have a physicality which is much better than a lot of teams in antrim but that won't be the same against Slaughtneil. It depends on how McManus is handled by Slaughneil I guess and then what Cushendall do with Rodgers. I think Cushendall have better defenders than anyone in ulster to handle Rodgers but there's a few other boys in there too and I am not convinced they have enough of a spread in the forwards. Again hope I am wrong.

[johnnycool]

I don't see Cushendall beating Slaughtneil tbh. I do hope I am wrong. Cushendall have a physicality which is much better than a lot of teams in antrim but that won't be the same against Slaughtneil. It depends on how McManus is handled by Slaughneil I guess and then what Cushendall do with Rodgers. I think Cushendall have better defenders than anyone in ulster to handle Rodgers but there's a few other boys in there too and I am not convinced they have enough of a spread in the forwards. Again hope I am wrong.

I'd let Eoghan Campbell do a job on Rodgers, serious defender is Campbell, take Rodgers out and you seriously blunt Slaughtneil but they do have others.
If Rodgers starts to have a big impact in the game he'll not only bother the scoreboard but is good at bringing his teammates into the game as well.

McManus is going to be in for some serious treatment at the other end though, it won't be the kid gloves stuff Tom Murray was at yesterday either.

[imtommygunn]

I don't think Campbell is a great man marker though - better ball playing CHB. I would suspect you'll see a Burke on Rodgers though which one would be the question.

Yeah McManus will get it tougher in this game. Be interesting to see who he's up against. I doubt McLaughlin will have seen close marking like it either.

[SaffronSports]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

[Oso]

I can't see Cushendall beating Slaughtneil.  All yesterday proved is just how reliant Cushendall are on McManus.  He's a class act but he's lost more than a yard of pace these days (no shame) and Portaferry were dire at trying to curtail him.   

He had a poor enough county final but is still a threat from placed balls and there's no way he'll be afforded the same space and lack of physicality he enjoyed yesterday.  I think SN will win comfortably enough but McManus's placed balls will keep Cushendall in it for a while.

I don't see the point of playing Christy McNaughton, he doesn't have the mobility anymore and is too easy to play against. Some of those subs that came on for Cushendall yesterday must be scratching their head at that one and would threaten more with pace and running and mobility.

[podge]

A fine advert for Ulster hurling yesterday I thought.

I don't necessarily subscribe to the the theory that portaferry were the better team to be honest.  Cdall were well on top and the 2 sucker goals knocked the stuffing out of them and gave portaferry a boost towards a 10minute spell that they were certainly very impressive.

Of course when you score a 21 yard free with virtually the last shot of the game you have to count your lucky stars.

Credit to young McLaughlin, at the end he made a couple of very subtle but telling interventions in the tight tackles that led to McManus either getting the last point or the free for the goal.

Assuming the final will be in Armagh, yesterdays outting there will certainly stand to them big time.

I would have thought young McCollam must be pushing for  starting spot as he has been impressive when introduced in the last 2 games.  Maybe Paddy McGill will be pushing also. 

Anyone's game IMO.

[Antrim Coaster]

Dungannon didn't play in Antrim this year did they?

No. Opted out the season after the Damien Casey tragedy.

[Antrim Coaster]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

[NAG1]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

Regardless of the match ups, if Cushendall turn up and play the way they played on Sunday past, it is going to be a long afternoon.

[imtommygunn]

I only saw the goals they conceded on TG4 last night. You could nearly put 3 of them down as howlers - 2 definitely. You would hope that wouldn't happen again.

[Antrim Coaster]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

Regardless of the match ups, if Cushendall turn up and play the way they played on Sunday past, it is going to be a long afternoon.

True.

The Portaferry match will have given Cushendall the opportunity to have shaken a lot of rust from the undercarraige but if they play like that against Slaughtneil they'll be in for a tough shift.

I wonder how the long lay off will affect Slaughtneil. They never got out of second gear in the Derry final against Lynches. I suppose we wont know until throw in.

[NorthAntrim]

Paddy Burke to mark Rodgers for me. If he plays FF, fine, If he goes to half back, fine. Paddy will be comfortable at either end of the pitch either defending or putting the ball over the bar. Gillen and Marty burke with the cover of the half back line are well able for the rest. The question will be can Cushendall get the ball over the bar. Can McLaughlin get any space. McAteer, Delargy. Can McManus operate at the same level. S'neil will have serious legs, Cushendall need to match that with their team selection