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No he's on Twitter last night at 11.20pm saying it was his decision. Thanks for that CD that's it cleared up for me. Don't let the fact of great game, great venue, great crowd/atmosphere cloud the issue, it was a clear breach of the rules. Fantastic btw the gates going to charities it was that or everyone free in for next instalment.

Firstly can I say great game, however our CC took the rule book and fecked it out the window, he made the call on his own last night, common sense yes all day and it was late granted,  however rules are rules and that's why we have them and the CCC/CHC. Its not his call full stop, we can all make the case for common sense, player welfare etc. Has he and his committees this year not punished and fined clubs for managers etc taking teams off the pitch, and those same people claimed welfare, common sense in their defense etc etc . They where fined and banned for long periods of time this year, Aghagallon Minors being a prime example, destroyed their season this year. So again back to my point made in previous posts, this executive does what it wants when it wants! Delargy yellow card incident with referee and his officials, farcical.  Same five players taking the next round of frees? Anyone want to educate me on this one? Is not supposed to be a new set of players taking the next 5? MR2 you've gone quiet there ahead of your final wanna educate me on rule? Not talking about individuals?

Bannside great to see the club organising the Tournament in memory of Paul Mc Keever, what a fantastic pic in todays Irish News (Online) of him,  the one with the cubs around him celebrating, reminds all of us I'm sure of days like those we all had and experienced, GAA in its purest and unspoilt form. Congrats   

MR2 you mentioned that the county presently doesn't have enough Refs, where did Hassan, Elliott Kelly, Duffy and I'm sure there are others go within Antrim? Most of the lads are still refereeing in other counties at the minute as I have watched games in Derry & Down and University Games where those lads are still in the middle, still fit and going well from what I've seen?  Elliott referred the Derry Senior championship last week!  Why are they not refn in Antrim anymore ? 

Not being from the hurling side of the house, but again to highlight the basic issues within the county Kevin Parke is due to referee one of the Intermediate Semi Finals tomorrow and his own club sits in the other semi final? Seen this back in the football 1/4 finals also.... putting the lad in a situation that could blow up in his face.. or maybe we just dont have them MR2 ?

I take it you and Stillwater have looked at the fixtures for senior hurling?

Congrats MR2 does this mean that the Senior Final is yours? That doesn't make it right mo chara it just means that the committee doesn't have the refs with enough experience or numbers  .. Totes I'm sure has a plan with big Anto, what happened to Owen Elliott, Duffy Kelly ? Kelly and Duffy reffd both codes did they not..

I take it you haven’t watched many games this year or the past 3 years? I’m not engaging on this subject while we have championship. I’ll certainly chat about it afterwards, it’s not fair on clubs or players to have a ref discussing these matters, nor is it fair to slinging mud at officials

Fair enough MR2 and I genuinely hope your in the Hat for the SHC Final, I have watched many games this year including some of yours,  I'm not slinging mud I know those officials a long time back in the days when they played and things haven't changed much to be fair. Good luck over the weekend have a goodn.

Not being from the hurling side of the house, but again to highlight the basic issues within the county Kevin Parke is due to referee one of the Intermediate Semi Finals tomorrow and his own club sits in the other semi final? Seen this back in the football 1/4 finals also.... putting the lad in a situation that could blow up in his face.. or maybe we just dont have them MR2 ?

I take it you and Stillwater have looked at the fixtures for senior hurling?

Congrats MR2 does this mean that the Senior Final is yours? That doesn't make it right mo chara it just means that the committee doesn't have the refs with enough experience or numbers  .. Totes I'm sure has a plan with big Anto, what happened to Owen Elliott, Duffy Kelly ? Kelly and Duffy reffd both codes did they not..

BS two minor semis look to be potentially great contests, St James v St BT9ers should be nip & tuck, fancy Galls to edge Cargin however (P Hughes) down to ref so this one could be a disaster for both teams.

Not being from the hurling side of the house, but again to highlight the basic issues within the county Kevin Parke is due to referee one of the Intermediate Semi Finals tomorrow and his own club sits in the other semi final? Seen this back in the football 1/4 finals also.... putting the lad in a situation that could blow up in his face.. or maybe we just dont have them MR2 ?

Ciaran is doing a good job following on from the great work done by Saffron Vision under Collie, Terry and Paul McCann.  There is a lot good about Antrim GAA but there is a lot still needs improved.  But we need more people to take on very important roles lower down the order.  The one big failing I see is the lack of communication in how decisions are made and the reasons why.  Sean does a brilliant job of PRO promoting our games etc and long may it continue but I would like to see greater transparency and communications.  Publish the fixtures plan, venues, times, contingencies.  Don't say they are sent to your club secretary.  Put them on the website for all to see.  Everybody should have known before a ball was kicked at the weekend what the next stage was if any of the four games ended in a replay.  It looks from the outside we're making this up on the hoof.  We have a full time secretary and administrator and now we're advertising for a Financial Controller, and we are becoming more professional.   Lets get our priorities right, give our blue ribbon events (SFC & SHC) the status and recognition they deserve.  Is that too much to ask?

The most galling thing about this is the fact there is a solution in front of them but no-one will grow a pair and make the call.  Ciaran did the right thing with the league and the error with Cargin and the trophy and got widely applauded  for it.  Time for another big decision.  Its now 8.50am the clock is ticking, please someone make the right decision for all concerned.  I know you read this page.......

If only Memory Man if Only............. Great PR piece though " Eventually we all have to accept full and total responsibility for our actions, everything we have done and have not done"

Our club has been thrown into complete disarray half an hour ago with this late development. We havent trained or played on a 3G pitch, different feel to it completely. I've talked to a few of our top club officials and those involved in the team management, and at this stage I would very much doubt if we will be there.

I'm a big supporter of the new administration but if Ciaran Mc Cavanagh wants to lend his support to this (and I know he has)  then the gloves are off because I'm led to believe this decision comes from the top down. This would not happen in any other county full stop, and totally degrades the value  of our biggest domestic competition.

In case I am reading this too close to the action  can I take a quick straw poll from neutral people on here with no affiliation to Casements or St John's. Would YOUR club fulfil this fixture at a days notice, to play on a false surface that you were completely unused to??

I had genuine sympathy for the plight of St John's dual players, and would have supported a compromise if it was sensible, but this latest development stinks from a great height, and wont go down easily.

If this is true then it just confirms once again what I have been saying a full purge of the structure is needed in the county. Most clubs voted these people in so its hard to be sympathetic to be fair, however its a ridiculous situation, do as I say not as I do... 

MR2 come on get real, you wouldn't expect anyone to come on here and directly name present county panel lads that spoke in confidence about what allegedly occurred you wouldn't!  You've nothing to hid because we all know who you are and posters have over time and postings have highlighted this, its not that you "stood tall" and outed yourself!

Surely you have to admit that you have tempered your comments over time on the board only because you have allegedly been spoken to in the past about your comments from the county board while you continue to ref and I have no issue with this to be fair? As I said don't want to get into a spat with you, btw good luck today Glenavy should progress without too much trouble.

Back to my original posting, Bannside watched some great youngster's yesterday, young Adam Loughran from St Mary's Agahagallon looks a fabulous talent as does young Connor Morris from St James's to name a few young guns from yesterday's games. Thoughts?

MR2 you must have been given a nod & wink for championship game maybe even a final Totes reads this board on a regular basis Don't want to get into a slanging match MR2 but happy to trade if that's what you want. Bannside, Ceasar & I were having a reasonable discussion and if true it will out in good time Ref "expense gate"  and you decided to weigh in. Happy to let it rest or up for the sport I'll leave it with ya.

Want we to PM you MR2 like before? That's neither open or transparent?

Thanks for that Caesar I am aware of the procedure but that wasn't what I was saying, no arguement with what GPA do annually it's the last paragraph I have issue with as allegedly some players have indicated that's not what has transpired, one lad supposedly took his and spun off to America. Agreed that's what should have occurred as indicated in your response. Open and transparent .

[You mention Higher Level. Are these guys you talk of playing Sigerson? Because that's the minimum standard I would suggest! I'm not debating here with you by the way. We are all looking for the Antrim to fulfil their potential.]

Respectfully bannside, I feel your still missing my point.

You mention Higher Level. Are these guys you talk of playing Sigerson? Because that's the minimum standard I would suggest!  I'm not debating here with you by the way. We are all looking for the Antrim to fulfil their potential.

Your still at 10 so to speak Im at 3 in relation to this talent, it needs to be assembled separately and then worked with and investment put in  to eventually become our senior panel. We need to accept the fact that Div4 is a reality for the next few years which is realistic and build with a specific focus, most of these young guns will I'm sure play Sigerson for their universities as well as lads that aren't at uni.

Lots of genuine lads on here talking about Cargin Galls etc and the older lads that can still do a job, where's the vision? BTW I know Lennie and most of the senior management of both codes a long time, this is not a criticism around those lads in any way.  I squarely leave the blame of where we are today as previously said with the decision makers around all the committee's for years (same faces different roles) in the county for lack of vision, couldn't do it then cant do it now! 

Corporately why would you work your backside off  encourage substantial investment/sponsorship  into the County when I know probably like you that this would be squandered or disappear on "self help" scenarios and never reach the likes of Lennie or other committed lads managing teams within the County levels looking with some intelligence to the future without the financial and full support of the county. 

Who made the decision allegedly and ridiculous if this did happen, to pay all the players before last season started a set one off figure to cover expenses for the year? Which btw I believe  goes against all GPA rules ? This would be an example of what I'm talking about if this actually did happen, and I accept that this may just be a scurrilous rumour, clubs need to be included it needs to be open a fully transparent.