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team for match v london

Antrim (SHC v London) - Ryan McGarry, Michael Kettle, Michael McCambridge, Sean Delargy, Neal McAuley, Johnny Campbell, Ciaran Herron, Brendan Herron, Karl McKeegan, Karl Stewart, Brian Delargy, Michael Herron, John McIntosh, Kieran Kelly, Paul Shields. Subs - Damien Quinn, Brian McFall, Malachy Molloy, Barney McAuley, Paddy Richmond, Barry McFall, Aaron Graffin, Colm Duffin, James McKeague, Simon McCrory, Paddy McGill, Sean Burke, Seamus McDonnell, Eddie McCloskey.

bit surprised at the inclusion of mickey kettle ahead of barney mc auley and brian delargy ahead of paddy richmond but there may traning issues here.  think mal molloy is truggling with injury.  don;t rate m herron at all.

I said it on here last year and I will say it again.  L'giels biggest problem is that they just don;t know what their best team is.  If they let a few players setlle into positions they would be a lot better  e.g after having played barney mc auley in almost every position, they have finally settled him in c back and he is reaping the reward.  Last year they were close because they had a more settled team and then they brought roadstone back! swevvy was man of match in the one of the finals and is now nowhere.  they had a young 19 year old, whitey, playing full back (one of the most importnat positions) for a season and now he is nowhere!  they must have tried 5 full backs over the last few years!  too many decent hurler are wasted in loughgiel because they aren;t allowed to settle into pa position

according to the antirm website, about 700 tickets sold to date.  Lets get out and support Antrim games instead of sniping form the background.  don;t foregt you can buy online.

also tables available at the raceday in June

just following on from my comment yesterday about the lack of quality forwards..

would it be an idea to play Sean Delargy up front.  I know he has been a revelation since he moved to corner bakc and was top player last year but now that his condidence is back and he is stronger he might make more of an impact back where he started in corner forward?  or am i robbing peter to pay paul?

easier to replace a back than find a good forward.  possiblt neal mc auley could fill in at corner back.

i also think that J Scullion will be a good option for the forwards when he has recovered from injury.

so here's a possible line up:

DD/Ryan
Barney
Mick Mc Cambridge
Neil Mc Auley
Mal Molloy
K Elliot (better in the centre- hasn;t the pace for the wing)
C Herron
J Campbell/D McKillip
K McKeegan
M Herron
Mc manus
J Scullion
Tosh
P Richmond
S Delargy

Subs

Shane Mc N
Mc Falls, Barry and Brian
Nipper
Shiels
Stewart
Donal McNaughton
L Richmond (if he recovers and gets in shape)
Pinky

St Brendans are an underage amalgamation of Glenravel, Cushendun and Coughmills.  Good for these kids to be playing at Div 1 level rather than not playing at all.

I can assure you that Cushendun will be far from contenders for the IHC.  They have lost about 8 of the best experienced players from last year..

My tip for the IHC is Randalstwon.  V fit and impressive last year and I believe they have a Clare man at the helm.

Glensman, glad someone else agrees with me about the ludicrous siutation of 5 boys taking 1 free each from 70 yards.  You wouldn;t see it at club level.  To my mind, one the managers shouldhave stepped in and given a clear instruction.  If a man misses 2/3 then fair enough, get another man on the task..

Pretty much agree with the ratings.  A few people think mc manus should be moved back but I think we have a lack of good forwards and plenty of backs.  He is one who seems to be able to play up front and I think we should persist with that.

Now that winker has shot the nest, Tosh, Richmond and McManus are prob our 3 best up front.  In my mind the other 3 forward spots are up for grabs.  M Herron is up there challenging.

Personally, would like to see Nipper quinn/Shane Mc N get a chance but that doesn;t seem likley.  K Stewart has prob put himself dwon the pecking order in the last two outings.

Heres my tuppence worth:


First and foremost a much improved performance and shows what a bit of effort can do.  They got stuck in well.

Its amazing what a bit of belief and a different attitude/mindset can do;

Overalll a v disappointing game in terms of stanard.  given that the dubs posted some great results this year, their performance was poor.  genuinely disappointed that they are now unlikely to make the play-offs and this is likely to be a big bl;ow  in terms of their c'ship confidence.  It would be good to see a new team challenge some of the bigger guns, even it is the dubs!

The referee was nothing short of awful.  I never slept last night as there was constant blowing of a whistle in my ear!

Ciaran Herron was star man by a country mile.  Very impressive.  Other to impress were Ryan in nets, Mc Manus, Molly, S Delargy.  Karl seemed to be covering for J Campbell a lot with the effect that campbell was anonymous.  Mickey Mc Cambridge was solid.  Barney didn;t have his best day but he was out in front most of the time which is half the battle- he just fumbled one or two and paid the price.  Mc Falls reaction to being called ashore was out of order.  As someone has already said, his lack of pace was apparent and he got away with taking it 3 in the hand which is a basic error- pretty steady on the close in frees.

This isn;t meant to be over critical, merely a point of observation- in the first half we had a fair breeze behind us.  We had 4 very scoreable frees from between the 2 70 yard lines.  Each free was taken by a different person  -Mc Fall, Karl, Mal Molly and Barney McAuley.  Not one scored.  Surely any free taker deserves a second chance to learn from his first mistake/correct his error with the experience of one effort behind him?  partciular when there is a tricky breeze!  This could have been crucial in what was a tight match.  To me, that is a mangement issue and shows a lack of proper direction pre match.


Anyway, fair paly to the lads.  It will be interesting to see how they shape up against Limerick.

Quite a lot of young blood in the team that I don;t know much about.  still be convinced about N McAuley, J McKeague and P Shiels.  they havn;t proven themselves enough for me but I am all for giving them a chance.  can;t argue with S delargy in at corner back- one of c'dalls most consistent performers last year.  Can someone tell me if B Herron can hurl?  having payed against LD a fair few times and i can;lt say I have ever been impressed?  Ciaran and Michael are worth their place IMO but Michael could do with being brought down a peg or two, serious attitidue.  Others I would like to see get a chance- young hippy (too young??), randal mc donnel, mc manus.

I think the panel and team in general show that we have good back but lacking in real quality forwards (bar p richmond).  we need a few like greg o kane and ally elliot but they jsut arn;t there.

Any truth in the news that Dinny is in  charge of the shamrocks this year?  brings back memories of PJ furiously trying to find the mobile phone in the coat as Dinny tried to get messages to him during L'giels collapse in the county final....

Humpy and Dessie at Ballysatle.  What about Dunloy and Rossa- who is in there?

Good to see a thread on Antrim hurling.  Much like Johnny Cool I just don' t think c'dall have enough fire power up front to beat Loughrea but Skinner has proven to be an astute man and they shouldn;t be underestimated.   I would have thought Mickey McCambridge would slot in at number 5 with Donal Natty McNaughton moving up the park a bit, possibly to number 11- Natty has one of the best/strongest swings in the game and he could keep the ball moving in the half forward line.  young magill could be the one to make way.  at this time of the year an option on the bench like big Carson is good to have- a few high balls and he will win his fair share.

A few surprises in that Antrim team today, I know they were short of number.  Have yet to be convinced re B Herron, surprised Tosh or Randal McDonnel didn;t start.  Also seems to be a lack of St Johns boys there- I thought they had a few coming thru?