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Ok, so took a drive to the county final on Sunday, arrived a casual hour early!!!
Got a prime car space in the first field opposite! Good banter from officials of Ahoghill club ( well done, and thank you btw).

Nice cup of tea and a bitta banter with the lassies behind the counter!

Had the pick of the place, ' where will we stand?'

Half way line, on the bank/hill/slump whatever it is!

Couldn't hear the tannoy, muffled at best ( where I was - although wind played a part in that)

Pitch was in superb condition, great surface! Access to pitch for teams was less than ideal, but did suffice!

As the time approached, I glanced over my shoulder and looked up at the road, a tailback as far as the eye could see!

As the ball wAs thrown in , we jostled for position on the 'bank' to get the best view of the action, heads bobbing up and down like apples in a barrel!

Now WINGNUT this is absolutely no slight on Ahoghill - the banter I had with the welcoming Gaels was great, the tea magic!  But to host a county final with that sort of crowd is beyond the facilities on offer! A great club, a great venue - but not at that standard!

It probably should have been in Ballycastle - based on facilities all in!

What in heavens name are we gonna do in the future?

And btw CB, I expected a little more from you guys, or did I?

There's talk of this Galls team coming to an end, the truth is, when Kelly, MCGourty, GAllagher, STewart etc retire, it will probably happen! Until then we should all just suck it up!

Yeah thats fair enough. You can only work with what you have. There was a bit of panic with the rain on thursday past that the fields might be too wet to use for parking so it wasnt as bad as it might have been.
Id say until they get the casement issue sorted its a conversation that will come up every year with the final likely to be down the country somewhere. Ballycastle a good venue too, maybe slightly out of the way though for the teams/supporters likely to be in it.

Seriously WN?

Deary me...

Seriously what? You offered criticism of the venue based on your experience at one match 1 year ago and you questioned the ability of Ahoghill to host the final this year which is definitely disrespectful and offensive to the volunteers who have gave up their time previously to oversee these matches and Im talking first hand here. Since that match there have been changes in the way these big matches have been hosted and Im sure youll see the benefits of that at the final.

Im not acting like I own the club, I just have a lot of pride in it and couldn't let your comments pass without replying. If it came across as self-praise that wasn't the intention at all.

'as well'

Would never disrespect fellow gaels CB!  Ahoghill do a sterling job, and there ground is a fine facility. 

Its just not ideal, nor the best location or facility for a county final. IMO

Leaving aside your obvious dislike of ahoghill as a venue,which as your opinion is fair enough, some of the points you make are laughable and id say disrespectful too.
You couldnt see the pitch last year?? Why didnt you move somewhere where you could see the whole pitch. Theres plenty of vantage points around the grounds which allow this privilege and any of the stewards would have pointed you in the right direction.

The parking was a joke? In what way? On sunday past all cars were cleared from the pitch and field within 15mins of the full time whistle. For a crowd that size, thats not bad

What does the other venues you mentioned have over ahoghill that make them more of an ideal location and facility? Dont get me wrong, theyre all good venues which would have done a great job in hosting the match. I just dont understand why you have had such a dummy spit with ahoghill being chosen.

Deary Deary Me...

There were no cars on pitches last year? they were parked all the way up the road, both sides! (if they have cars on pitch now, then a welcomed progress indeed).

I couldnt move from my location because the place was mobbed, completely around the pitch, hanging over the fences, standing on fences, hills, anywhere they could grab an angle!  No gael should have to pay in to grapple for a look!

I dont have any personal issue with Ahoghill, hence my post!  Interesting reaction from the other posters on your input though! Think they might have a point.

But hey, you arent the first gael to react as if you own the club!

How is it disrespectful, did i offend someone?

It wasnt the intention to sound like self-praise, i was merely offering a reply on behalf of the club to some of your negative comments, thats all.

I sincerely hope you dont have as a negative experience this year, that is if you decide to put yourself through that ordeal two years on the trot!!

'as well'

Would never disrespect fellow gaels CB!  Ahoghill do a sterling job, and there ground is a fine facility. 

Its just not ideal, nor the best location or facility for a county final. IMO

Leaving aside your obvious dislike of ahoghill as a venue,which as your opinion is fair enough, some of the points you make are laughable and id say disrespectful too.
You couldnt see the pitch last year?? Why didnt you move somewhere where you could see the whole pitch. Theres plenty of vantage points around the grounds which allow this privilege and any of the stewards would have pointed you in the right direction.

The parking was a joke? In what way? On sunday past all cars were cleared from the pitch and field within 15mins of the full time whistle. For a crowd that size, thats not bad

What does the other venues you mentioned have over ahoghill that make them more of an ideal location and facility? Dont get me wrong, theyre all good venues which would have done a great job in hosting the match. I just dont understand why you have had such a dummy spit with ahoghill being chosen.