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Not too sure what games you were watching MR2 to have seen a lot more heavier players than some on Saturday nite.    You must have been watching a few divisions below but you are right about the expectations. Although Im really not sure why because its the same "Management" and "style" as previous years.   We said at the end of last year after an embarrassing display in Croke that things needed to change -  has it ??  going on Saturday nights overall performance the answer has to be No.  NAG is right " it shows that we are exactly where we have been for the last couple of years" .

Go on to the hurling thread of the board Old Timer and check what other hurling supporters have been discussing about this weekend games, its about the size of some of the players, not Aantrim but other counties..

We havent played these teams at this level for a while but your continuing with the management bashing.. your views on making Antrim better are?

Ah well then sure it's all ok  then cause it happens in other counties.  The only county that I'm concerned with is Antrim. And unfortunately my "management bashing" most certainly is not that -  it is the lack of progress made that speaks for itself. gaining promotion last year was great but to go straight back down again would mean we are no better off. IMO.  As for making Antrim better well if it's not working then we need "change " of some description.  Iv been there. Done my bit and gave my thoughts and concerns many times And unfortunately for Antrim good performances don't bring about points. 

John Kiely Limerick manager has confirmed they will be without their Na Piarsaigh and Fitzgibbon players at the weekend in Cushendall - could a win be on the cards for Antrim ?

Not too sure what games you were watching MR2 to have seen a lot more heavier players than some on Saturday nite.    You must have been watching a few divisions below but you are right about the expectations. Although Im really not sure why because its the same "Management" and "style" as previous years.   We said at the end of last year after an embarrassing display in Croke that things needed to change -  has it ??  going on Saturday nights overall performance the answer has to be No.  NAG is right " it shows that we are exactly where we have been for the last couple of years" .

Was at the match, they actually got 7 from play(we scored more from play) the rest were 65s and beautiful sideline cut from Kavanagh. Ref blew his whistle constantly and the game had no flow. Their free taker never missed. We put in a poor effort and didn't deserve to win truth be told. Still they got some soft frees.

Going south and not getting referring decisions is nothing new and that happens at all levels.  We all know that but that aside you are right in saying we were poor and didn't deserve the win.  it was hard to watch and disappointing after such effort put in previously.  I have said before but I hoped Sheedy's influence would have been greater regarding players and their fitness levels and strengths and weaknesses generally- an outsiders perspective - not just the "managements" usual style  because lets face it in my opinion there were a few out there that are definitely not fit and continue to be given game time and fitted into any position.  Having a bad day on the pitch happens to everyone but for me there is no excuse for being overweight and unfit at this level.  I have asked some of our lads on the panel and they say the boxes are being ticked with regards fitness testing and improving these stats so where is it going wrong?.  After the first two matches there was a sense of definite improvement so was Saturday night just a glitch.? 

Moore Park was extremely cold tonight and result was very disappointing. Hopefully next week on home turf for the cushendall team sorry I meant the Antrim team might bring about different fortunes 😜 here's hoping.

Didn't get to the match today due to the weather but just unfortunate we couldn't have closed the game off. No win but no defeat either.  Get ready for the next one

Why was there a small amount of Loughgiel men on that team?

Who would you have on MR2 and where would you put them?

Young McNaughton is a talent no doubt, my point was that there isnt that group with the right talent at the right age for county hurling.

Well the management are putting McCambridge on ahead of the other two lads mentioned that maybe tells you about their opinions on them and they see them day in day out.

I'm not sure to be honest, but they haven't fallen away that much to have so few players that would be able to show their skills at county level? 

You are right NAG if the management see things the way they want then that's their prerogative. I just asked the questions as to why so little from that team..

I was with a Dall man and his son on Sunday and I thought i only picked out 3 or 4 players from Cushendall at the start, obviously more came on, injuries to players and tactically changing the game, which we nearly drew..

We have been a relatively small team for years, and that's been a downfall in my book when you look around the other teams, certainly Dublin and Galway would be the biggest physically about, that's why is hard to field balls and take the hits, which will reduced the strength of the smaller lads..
That's not taking anything away from the players, like myself that is vertically challenged lol. They have the finer parts of their game that they work on that a larger player will struggle with. But pumping aimless balls into a small corner forward is not going to win games

I would agree but that would make me think that we should be looking at tactics which suit our players. Not trying to play to a game plan which doesnt suit the players we have.

We have a good few mobile players, so a running game style ala cork of old or Clare even more recently in theory should suit us better.

I understand there is difference between theory and application but, what is the definition of madness again?

Would agreee with both of you.  Play to your strengths whatever they maybe.   Height was never an issue for Joe Dean when he played County for years and excelled as a corner forward.  But then that would be the logical thing to do and there doesn't seem to be a lot of that about. Time will tell

Think there ended up being maybe 7 Dall players on the field at the end of the match ?? Rightly or wrongly.   it's certainly not Sheedy at the helm- IMO -

We are basically lacking classy forwards of the right age profile.

We have loads of decent backs but we have no fire, we dont really even have someone to hold the ball up for, never mind create something.

Dont know that I would agree totally with that although what was on show on Sunday would make you think that.   Murphy and Maol both on the bench and McCambridge goes on as a forward ??  I thought Carson held the ball up well enough in forwards on Sunday  not a lot of pace but a physical presence to knock the ball down.   I watched Murphy last year against Armagh who between him and McNaughton came on and won the match and then I watched him down here in Cushendall where he proved to be a half decent free taker.  In McGurk cup matches he was scoring- granted a different  type of opponent and hes Maybe not the biggest but has speed and an eye for a ball, from what I remember??   As for Maol he is a good hurler and I didnt think he did a lot wrong last week in Galway and could have easily came on against Dublin.  IMO

Strange game and how we nearly managed to get a draw ill never know, i thought in the first half we where awful bar Neil. Forwards where totally non-existent and only for fouls we would have been out of sight. Start of the second half wasn't much better.

Was good to see they didn't give up though and fought till the end, Overall the backs done rightly bar a couple imo, midfiled was poor, young McNaughton made a difference when he came on. Up front was the usual antrim, our forwards scored 4 points from play and Neill scored 3 of them.

Great not getting hammered in these games but its important not to get carried away, the Laois game will tell us more of where we are at and i hope the confidence gained from these two games will help us.

Horse was not in the match and stayed on?? Could have been easily taken off or maybe not-McCambridge gave the foul for the Dublin point to win. Does that come from not being a forward regardless of where he played for the Dall.  Hurling is about scoring and if there's is only one doing it then the others shouldn't be fitted in somewhere else on the pitch IMO.  One person can't carry a team. Thought Sheedy would have had a bigger input but obviously not. Nepotism did spring to mind yesterday but that's just my view.

Any body think Saul McCaughan could add to the panel? I think he's a fine hurler.

To be honest I think  there's a lot who could add to the panel but for whatever reason they don't want to or is it the case that they aren't asked.  Has Saul been asked?  Watched him a few times and thought he was decent.  "It's an open door" according to Management (Sambo) and we seen that last year when they brought people into the panel  at the end of last year and played a few in the final in Croke albeit Cunning only got a few minutes so you never know.  Given that they talked all last year about commitment and sticking with the ones that had worked hard all year.......  but that was then. You never know who they might bring back

Another two points absolutely vital on Sunday. The panel has been working harder than most players can remember, and enjoying the training too. All the vibes coming out of the camp at the minute are very positive, credit where it's due to Lenny and his backroom staff.

Now there's a bit of positivity for Antrim. A happy dressing room  a bit of interaction and communication between players and management- that's the difference. Well Done to all involved

Carson maybe isn't one of the best 15 in the county but against the big teams he is one of few we have who is physical enough to compete.

Mccambridge played 11 for cushendall a bit i think.

Completely agree about Carson and he gives you what he has.  But let's face it is the team the anywhere near the strongest 15 in the County ? for me I don't think so.  As a NA man I would say there are a lot of players especially up here who could be there but aren't for various reason. In my own day it was never really any different But we are where we are. As for Ryan coming on in front of two scoring forwards who were both on the panel last year it seems strange. But that's Antrim hurling for ya.   

On a separate note - There was a lot of Dall players on today - do they maybe fancy themselves for Championship?? Too early ??

Neil scored on the 39.04 minute! I was sure the ref was going to blow on the puck out!

Yeah
Refs normally think it's all level times up blow the whistle. Where he got the extra time I don't know.
Still we have them a big lead and to much to do
Mc manus was outstanding and plugged a lot of holes all over the pitch
Rocky and young Mc Naughton caught the eye
Thought the rest where poor

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that.  Without mcmanus they would have been hammered unfortunately that won't continue for many more seasons and  to be honest McKinley really shouldn't have been on as long as he was. Moving him out was just keeping him on the pitch.  Nigel was not on form either. Forwards got nothing out of that match. Was glad to see Big Carson getting a run out and he battled well and mcAuley but couldn't understand McCambridge (who I thought was a back? Maybe not) coming into the forwards??  Surely Maol or even young Murphy (who scored well during the McGurk matches) would have been a better option?  But we will take the positives  two games and two narrow defeats!

Well done Lenny and the players . A positive start and hopefully we can make some progress. Positive Mental Attitude by everyone is all we can ask

Surely all we want is a venue that's suitable and a half decent game.  Dubs are no fools and after the weekend and the scare Galway had I would say they will try to ensure it's not tight.  My only hope is that "the management team" whether it's Sheedy or the other 4 make changes a bit quicker this week if we are still close enough to them. Personally I thought the players were out on their feet, having given their all, and fresh legs with 15 mins to go could have made a difference.  IMO Maol didn't do anything to warrant him being taken off and the young fella that came on didn't really get himself into the game.  Then with 5mins to go to make changes was no good to the team or the players coming on.  It's impossible to make a difference or to even try and get up to the speed of the game in 5/7 mins.  But I'm an old timer who maybe doesn't know a lot