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That's nice!

Ruín 3

Naomh Éanna CLG proposes that all Phase one games (i.e. first round) of league competitions shall be played within County Antrim.
In line with normal procedure, any application to change the fixtures shall be subject to CCC approval and agreement of both clubs.


What's this about?

Controversial ....

From an NE point of view and to be devils advocate...

Div 1 has been almost impossible for any promoted team to crack, the more antrim teams able to compete in div 1 and a competitive pathway to div 1 is only going to develop antrim hurling.

If anything can be done to further develop antrim clubs at the top tier then it should at least be considered.

Understand this may not sit well and may be seen as unfair to the Ards teams but if it strengthens antrim hurling that should be the primary aim

Antrim are not going to mess with the Division 1 set up with regards to the Ards clubs.

The facts are that Antrim needs the Ards clubs as much as the Ards teams need to be hurling in Antrim.

Without the Ards teams in Div 1, the standard and competitiveness drops. 

Final will be in Armagh, either the Athletic Grounds or Pairc Esler, most of which is in Co Armagh   

Why was there only 5 portaferry men on the line with the keeper, is that rule for all fouls? I thought it was just for technical fouls

They possibly thought it was a 21 yard / 20 metre free where 5 defenders are allowed on the goal line.

However I dont think the foul was committed on the 21, a metre or so off it.

Portaferry would have been permitted to pack their goal line with more than 5 players if that was the case.

A bit like Na Piarsaigh when they played Loughgiel a few years ago and Liam Watson drilled it past a packed goal line.

There was a score for Portaferry where the umpire waved it as a wide. Ref went in to check as he may have had the same opinion it was a score, but the umpire was adamant. I was sure it was a score as did the commentary team.

Id say Portaferry were reminded about last years semi final v Slaughtneil where they hurled for the first 10 minutes and dunged the togs as Slaughtneil moved through the gears.

They came out yesterday and took the game to Cushendall from the start. They were the better team in normal time and Neil McManus did get Cushendall out of jail - but what a performance from him.

Extra time and Cushendall switched into championship mode  to over run the Ports who had really emptied the tank.

Creggan should be too good for Carrickmore who dogged out a result against Lisbellaw who didnt kick on when they were leading. They hit a lot of wides.

Fair play to Carrickmore in that they kept fighting on a heavy pitch and eventually went into the lead with 5 minutes left. All square at the end of normal time and 1-1 from Carrickmore in a minute during extra time knocked the challenge out of Lisbellaw.

Creggan would be a better hurling team but a heavy sod would be a leveller as Carrickmore would be a dogged outfit. However with Conor McCann back from serious injury he's playing excellent hurling and might be making up for lost time after such a long lay off.

Id fancy Creggan to progress to the final and Middletown to beat Setanta who beat an out of sorts Ballinascreen.

Setanta captain suspended for the semi final after getting a stupid red card in the last minute with his team well ahead. Screen didnt help themselves either with 2 red cards earlier and they were chasing the game after that.

I don't think a heavy pitch would bother Creggan too much. A lot of big strong lads in that team who can go into the trenches too. It's probably what got them past Cushendun in the semis. Well capable of that side of it and a scorer like Conor McCann will always give you a shot.

A heavy, soft pitch is going to reduce the capability of a fast jab lift which will result in a lot of roll lifting and slowing the game resulting in a lot of rucks. There's a massive difference in fast hurling on a dry sod in June / July and winter hurling on a heavy pitch in November. 2 different games where fitness comes into it.

Creggan's fast paced game will be reduced as a result plus Creggan are a lot more than the Conor McCann show. The brother Tommy Og has a mighty paw on him and a great strike and Oran in the half forwards is a major contributor. The Nelson lad appears to have steeped up to the mark in the forward line this season as well.

The heavy pitch will suit Carrickmore more in that they wouldn't have as much hurling as Creggan but they're well capable of mixing it and have several county players who know where the posts are. However I expect Creggan to come out on top. 

Match could be at a Derry venue. Owenbeg or Celtic Park.

Creggan should be too good for Carrickmore who dogged out a result against Lisbellaw who didnt kick on when they were leading. They hit a lot of wides.

Fair play to Carrickmore in that they kept fighting on a heavy pitch and eventually went into the lead with 5 minutes left. All square at the end of normal time and 1-1 from Carrickmore in a minute during extra time knocked the challenge out of Lisbellaw.

Creggan would be a better hurling team but a heavy sod would be a leveller as Carrickmore would be a dogged outfit. However with Conor McCann back from serious injury he's playing excellent hurling and might be making up for lost time after such a long lay off.

Id fancy Creggan to progress to the final and Middletown to beat Setanta who beat an out of sorts Ballinascreen.

Setanta captain suspended for the semi final after getting a stupid red card in the last minute with his team well ahead. Screen didnt help themselves either with 2 red cards earlier and they were chasing the game after that.

[that area is very unsafe]

It's a good job there wasn't a problem as everyone was told to move and no one did.

I didn't think people were told to move.  I think it was announced that 'if' people were moving from that section of the ground at half time, they should go round the long route behind the far away goals. 

I am guessing it was to avoid too many people funnelling through a very small gap under the scaffolding.

I don't believe there was an actual issue/problem, they were just trying to avoid one.

There is an issue at that side of the pitch where there is a large void behind the top of the hill.  The void is masked by brambles etc and it's easy to thinks it's not there.  I saw one man fall into yesterday at the end of the game and it took a few people to rescue him from it- it could have been a serious incident but all seemed fine.

that area is very unsafe. i took a small step back at the antim cork game a few years ago to let someone past and very nearly needed rescued myself

It would be dangerous if it was a rainy / wet day.

[Where they encroaching the scaffolding of the camera man?]

Where they encroaching the scaffolding of the camera man?

No, the area beside the scaffolding was 'taped' off.

I think the announcement was due to safety issues patrons on the bank adjacent to the scaffolding were to move behind the goal - obviously that never happened.

Adds more weight to the argument that the match should have been held in Ballycastle if Corrigan wasn't capable of hosting a very large crowd

Does anyone know the reason for the announcement just before have time that the supporters on the grass bank adjacent to the scaffolding, had to move due to a safety issue

[I'm sure the fact that St John's clubman Collie Donnelly was the Antrim chairman at the time is a coincidence]

The money should have gone to neither Corrigan or Ballycastle and been put into Dunsilly to make it a more suitable venue for county finals.

With Owenbeg only down the road, they didn't have to go far to see how to do it correctly.

     z

The money should have gone to neither Corrigan or Ballycastle and been put into Dunsilly to make it a more suitable venue for county finals.

With Owenbeg only down the road, they didn't have to go far to see how to do it correctly.

I'm sure the fact that St John's clubman Collie Donnelly was the Antrim chairman at the time is a coincidence

   

The Owenbeg set up was developed over a 20 year period and built on the basis of affordability.

It is a fantastic facility.

With funding secured why the f**k did Antrim not develop the Ballygrooby site into a neutral championship venue not unlike the main pitch in Owenbeg. However it appears we all know the answer to that.

Dunsilly was initially designed to be a training facility but now its being overplayed.

['clique']

Cue MR2 in to defend all things County Board and Corrigan

It makes perfect sense to host the hurling final in Ballycastle. Its location 12 miles from Loughgiel and 15 from Cushendall makes it ideal.

It is well capable to accommodate the crowd and provide a decent atmosphere. 

As a result of the location, Id say a lot of neutrals will take the option of watching the match via live stream.

Corrigan Park wouldn't be ideal with the grass banks opposite the stand / terracing not suitable to hold a large crowd compared to the terracing in Ballycastle.

Which makes one wonder why the occupiers of Antrims second county ground were not informed when funding was being sought to develop one of the two county grounds to be used as an interim to Casement.

You left out the 'clique

Ballycastle is a great venue, I've been involved in many a county final up there and its suits parking and viewing, just missing a covered stand that the county should have helped in line with Corrigan

There I hope that helps

Cue MR2 in to defend all things County Board and Corrigan

It makes perfect sense to host the hurling final in Ballycastle. Its location 12 miles from Loughgiel and 15 from Cushendall makes it ideal.

It is well capable to accommodate the crowd and provide a decent atmosphere. 

As a result of the location, Id say a lot of neutrals will take the option of watching the match via live stream.

Corrigan Park wouldn't be ideal with the grass banks opposite the stand / terracing not suitable to hold a large crowd compared to the terracing in Ballycastle.

Which makes one wonder why the occupiers of Antrims second county ground were not informed when funding was being sought to develop one of the two county grounds to be used as an interim to Casement.

You left out the 'clique' 

Ballycastle is a great venue, I've been involved in many a county final up there and its suits parking and viewing, just missing a covered stand that the county should have helped in line with Corrigan

There I hope that helps

Surely you aren't referring to the neighbours on up the hill     

Any funding that was secured was earmarked for Corrigan and the owners of the second official county ground were not consulted when funding was being sought for ground development

So if we are taking Casement as 1st County ground and Corrigan as 2nd, would that now make the next one in line 3rd county ground? Was there ever such a thing and if there was who are you referring too?

Loughgiel

['clique']

Cue MR2 in to defend all things County Board and Corrigan

It makes perfect sense to host the hurling final in Ballycastle. Its location 12 miles from Loughgiel and 15 from Cushendall makes it ideal.

It is well capable to accommodate the crowd and provide a decent atmosphere. 

As a result of the location, Id say a lot of neutrals will take the option of watching the match via live stream.

Corrigan Park wouldn't be ideal with the grass banks opposite the stand / terracing not suitable to hold a large crowd compared to the terracing in Ballycastle.

Which makes one wonder why the occupiers of Antrims second county ground were not informed when funding was being sought to develop one of the two county grounds to be used as an interim to Casement.

You left out the 'clique

Ballycastle is a great venue, I've been involved in many a county final up there and its suits parking and viewing, just missing a covered stand that the county should have helped in line with Corrigan

There I hope that helps

Cue MR2 in to defend all things County Board and Corrigan

It makes perfect sense to host the hurling final in Ballycastle. Its location 12 miles from Loughgiel and 15 from Cushendall makes it ideal.

It is well capable to accommodate the crowd and provide a decent atmosphere. 

As a result of the location, Id say a lot of neutrals will take the option of watching the match via live stream.

Corrigan Park wouldn't be ideal with the grass banks opposite the stand / terracing not suitable to hold a large crowd compared to the terracing in Ballycastle.

Which makes one wonder why the occupiers of Antrims second county ground were not informed when funding was being sought to develop one of the two county grounds to be used as an interim to Casement.

You left out the 'clique' 

Ballycastle is a great venue, I've been involved in many a county final up there and its suits parking and viewing, just missing a covered stand that the county should have helped in line with Corrigan

There I hope that helps

Surely you aren't referring to the neighbours on up the hill      

Any funding that was secured was earmarked for Corrigan and the owners of the second official county ground were not consulted when funding was being sought for ground development

It makes perfect sense to host the hurling final in Ballycastle. Its location 12 miles from Loughgiel and 15 from Cushendall makes it ideal.

It is well capable to accommodate the crowd and provide a decent atmosphere. 

As a result of the location, Id say a lot of neutrals will take the option of watching the match via live stream.

Corrigan Park wouldn't be ideal with the grass banks opposite the stand / terracing not suitable to hold a large crowd compared to the terracing in Ballycastle.

Which makes one wonder why the occupiers of Antrims second county ground were not informed when funding was being sought to develop one of the two county grounds to be used as an interim to Casement.

Final in Corrigan, Sunday 15th at 2.30.

I hope the Antrim County Board see sense and schedule the senior hurling final for Ballycastle, 12-15 miles from both clubs instead of having to trek up to Corrigan.

Creggans victory over Cushendun was a bit of a shock.

Conor McCann is not long back from a serious injury and probably ready to do the business for his club.

Creggan won one match in Division 2 and usual stories coming out of their camp that players weren't bothered etc. Different animal come championship time.