Messages

Why would the full forward initiate any wrestling? He's a much faster player. I've seen both of them play both codes multiple times.

Full back should not have lasted the 60 minutes. Weak officials.

It is 100% true that the ref went to Eamon Hasson after speaking with his two umpires. He took the easy option of booking both players.

Brendan McTaggart photography on Facebook. 3 examples of the holding. Kevin lynches also scored a free in first half due to similar. FF missed the ball, FB held onto him so he couldn't reach rebound.

You may watch a lot closer next time Antrim Coaster.

The Lynches full forward was at it as much as the Lavey full back. Fact.

On what basis would you have sent off the Lavey full back if you state that he should not have lasted the 60 minutes and not the given the Lynches full forward the line ?

There was nothing to suggest a straight red for either player.

As previously mentioned, if the officials were miked up the Lavey full back and the Lynches full forward would have probably been booked in the first half followed by a second yellow in the second.

Would you rather the referee not consult his officials and make an incorrect call - hardly weak officiating if the referee took soundings from his officials.

You state weak officials – have you ever thought of taking up the whistle yourself if you genuinely feel you could make a positive contribution to refereeing GAA matches.

As for watching a lot closer, I was right beside the play.

[Ref didn't know what to do so had to ask eamon hasson]

Going to be a cracking final round of the hurling Group B

Best to keep the donegal officials at home. Out of their depth

What happened?

Full back wrestles with full forward half a dozen times. Both players get booked.

Ref didn't know what to do so had to ask eamon hasson.

Not true. Lavey full back and Lynches full forward were at it all through the match and were warned about their behaviour. 

The referee was aware of this and booked the pair after they were wrestling in the square in the second half.

Its very easy to criticise the referee in the heat of what was a full on hurling championship battle with no quarter asked and none given and probably the best hurling championship match in Derry for a few years.

Why would the Lynchs full forward be wrestling with the full back when the balls coming in? Full back was at it all game and neither the umpires or any of the linesmen who seen it had the balls to intervene. If you take a look at the photos from the game you will see plenty of what happened.

Surprising result in the other game with Coleraine beating Banagher. It will sure be an interesting last round of fixtures, does it go to score difference or head to head if two teams are level on points?

Are you saying the Lynches full forward wasn't at it as well ?

The facts are this - the Lavey full back AND the Lynches full forward were at it all throughout the match. They were warned by the umpires to cut it out. The referee was later notified about the off the ball antics and if the referees, linesmen and umpires were miked up, chances are the 2 players would probably have been issued a yellow card in the first half followed by a second yellow / red in the second half.

I've no need to rely on photos of the match to see what happened as I seen what was going on with my own 2 eyes.

The fact that only one Derry match official was on duty speaks volumes. Obviously due to a shortage of referees.

Cushendall are well ahead of loughgiel IMO and will push Dunloy all the way.  Only 2 contenders.   Intermediate is wide open as always.

  I have never understood the rationale in 6 teams making it through the group stages in senior (rendering the group stage almost meaningless) whilst only 4 go through in the intermediate which is way more competitive.

Money talks. That's all it is. The senior games have been terrible. Next meaningful game will likely end up St Endas v Ballycastle. St John's v Rossa the only other up to this stage.

Do the group winners get home advantage in the semi finals ? Cushendall and Loughgiel in Loughgiel in 2 weeks time to decide the winners of Group 2.

St Endas v The Town to decide the other quarter final place.

Dunloy through in the other group.

Meanwhile in Derry in Group B of the hurling championship, 4 teams, Lavey, Lynches, Banagher and Coleraine, are all on 2 points each going into the last round of fixtures.

[Ref didn't know what to do so had to ask eamon hasson]

Going to be a cracking final round of the hurling Group B

Best to keep the donegal officials at home. Out of their depth

What happened?

Full back wrestles with full forward half a dozen times. Both players get booked.

Ref didn't know what to do so had to ask eamon hasson.

Not true. Lavey full back and Lynches full forward were at it all through the match and were warned about their behaviour. 

The referee was aware of this and booked the pair after they were wrestling in the square in the second half.

Its very easy to criticise the referee in the heat of what was a full on hurling championship battle with no quarter asked and none given and probably the best hurling championship match in Derry for a few years.

Ardoyne winning div 4 a bit of a shock. Report on SG look to have big numbers. Fair play. A club on the rise

I think they got a good few lads in from up the West when Ollie Bellew was manager last year- not sure who's taking them this year.

Always had a few handy enough hurlers in the past but were balanced out by a good few lads who wouldn't have had much respect for the rules

At the same time they're providing a great facility and identity for a lot of the youth of North Belfast where social issues have been lacking.

The report in The Saffron Gael says there had been rumours this was it for him. I think he's the type who would want to go out on a high as well by leaving Antrim in the best position possible.

Based on his performances, he absolutely could go again but I suppose we don't know at what cost that's coming at. He's been with Antrim since he was very young and has played longer than all the lads he played with in the early days. Regardless of what he does, he's left a fantastic legacy on the pitch but he's also done an awful lot off it too with regards promotion of the game.

Maybe fancies one last big push for another championship with Cushendall before he hangs them up completely.

If he retires from the county he will play on with Cushendall for a few more years.

A good few lads from Sambo and Woody's minor team from back in the day are still plying their hurling trade with their clubs.

I think he will stay on for another year at least. He'll get a few weeks rest, probably a holiday and back on the horse with Cushendall for this year's championship.

I can see him going again. Hes in fantastic shape and still delivering

Fantastic result

I think you might be right. I think after a good rest and recuperation that Neil will be around for Darren Gleeson's final year. Hoggie and TJ still producing the goods at a similar age. There was no mention of him retiring from county hurling until the Antrim Twitter feed mentioned it and I definitely wouldnt trust whoever operates the Twitter feed.

The strong breeze blowing down the field towards the Dunnes Stores end was definitely a factor. Westmeath started their comeback when Ryan Elliott was black carded in the 30th minute of the first half to lead by two at halftime. Antrim held out until halftime and when Elliott returned Antrim were back to 15, rattled off the next 3 scores in a row to take a lead they wouldnt lose. Used the breeze with some impressive scores from out the field.

Some of the catching from both sides was a joy to watch and Antrim must have went back to basics at some stage during their training as the blocking was top drawer.

Was one of those games where every player played well in their position (not unlike the Cushendall v Sarsfields match All Ireland semi final in 2016) . Jonty was buzzing around the forward line as was Niall McKenna, Coby, James Mc but I think Neil McManus was outstanding.

Large support in Mullingar for Antrim which was great to see.

[Found it strange selection of the first substitution to replace NE, just from a positional and tactical POV.]

Unfortunate not to take the win at the weekend. The lads gave it absolutely everything.

Some strange tactical elements from our side, but that's the manager's prerogative. Hopefully can take a bit of confidence from this forward into the other games.

In what way NAG1? I give us more than a fighting chance this weekend. I think Wexford are very average

Dublin were probably bang average too and we had them at home.

Found it strange selection of the first substitution to replace NE, just from a positional and tactical POV.

Puck out strategy was another one I couldn't understand.

Look I'm not trying to be negative because the team gave absolutely everything and commitment was there in spades, it's just a few things that I didn't get watching on.

He went over on his ankle in front of the Antrim mentors.

That part wasn't the issue. He was clearly unable to continue...read again.

Just highlighting that he went over on his ankle was the reason he went off.

Re puck outs, I agree 100%.

Constant puck outs down Antrim's left wing in the second half against the breeze where Dublin had copped on to this and a few of their players had drifted to that side therefore outnumbering the Antrim midfielders / half forwards.

One of these puck outs resulted in a turnover where Dublin played the ball down their right, fed the ball into Donal Burke who drilled it into the net.

Antrim's puck out strategy when they go short really puts the fear into me.

Rarely is the ball pucked to the hand, resulting in the recipient having to readjust his stance and losing vital seconds. Remember the Joe McDonagh match v Offaly in Corrigan last year where 2 goals were conceded as a result of poor puck outs.

[Found it strange selection of the first substitution to replace NE, just from a positional and tactical POV.]

Unfortunate not to take the win at the weekend. The lads gave it absolutely everything.

Some strange tactical elements from our side, but that's the manager's prerogative. Hopefully can take a bit of confidence from this forward into the other games.

In what way NAG1? I give us more than a fighting chance this weekend. I think Wexford are very average

Dublin were probably bang average too and we had them at home.

Found it strange selection of the first substitution to replace NE, just from a positional and tactical POV.

Puck out strategy was another one I couldn't understand.

Look I'm not trying to be negative because the team gave absolutely everything and commitment was there in spades, it's just a few things that I didn't get watching on.

He went over on his ankle in front of the Antrim mentors.

[Meath beat us]

Remember where we were at! Meath beat us, we have improved ten fold, but yes the gap is massive, with our best 15 all fit we still fall away with 7 minutes of normal time this year in the league, we need personnel that'll improve the team mid way through second half when our lads our busted.

Strength in depth helps pull everyone along and fighting for positions and maintaining standards when going into the last quarter

Twice LOL   

[Westmeath]

I think the problem with the Leinster Championship will be the other teams have never really been at full pelt in the league and have a gear or two to go up, we don't in my opinion and for most matches have put out close to the best we had available. I expect losses in all games aside from Westmeath which will decide our fate. I'd love to be wrong obviously but just an honest and realistic opinion.

Westmeath have had the Indian sign over Antrim the past few years.

They have big strong bucks at 3, 6, 11 along with Killian Doyle who rarely misses a free.

[Look at the 2nd half against kerry in croke, thank god we had a big lead cos we folded like a deck of cards]

Look at the 2nd half against kerry in croke, thank god we had a big lead cos we folded like a deck of cards.

Aye, if that match had have went on another 5 minutes, Kerry would have won it.

They built up some head of steam especially after Jordan Conway came on and scored 2 goals which put Antrim on the back foot, coupled with Podge Boyle missing very little from the placed ball.

I don't think it's the end of the world but if he's young enough I would get him to do it correctly, toe out. If you dip it with toe in and then have to strike it you have to change your grip. In such a fast sport that split second can hinder a player. I know people may say sure whatever the child is comfortable doing but I'm guessing in IC hurling it's probably less than 1% dipping with the toe in.

Seen another video where Martin Fogarty advises toe out. Toe out every time for me.

[Sad, they have done savage work over the last few years to keep goin]

As far as i know an amalgamation between st teresas and st agnes?

Another hurling team gone. Latharna Og.

More to follow id imagine. Some clubs are really struggling

Sad, they have done savage work over the last few years to keep going.

Unfortunately, that really isn't the case.

Underage isn't great and hurling isn't really promoted by the primary schools, which is strange given the Rossa connections of one of the head teachers in one of the primary schools although Woody has been in coaching as part of the Gaelfast initiative.

As most of the primary school children will be continuing their second level education at St Killians, these children are at an immediate disadvantage when it comes to school sports as there is a serious promotion of hurling and camogie in St Killians.

One or two other issues may exist which contribute to the club's demise plus a few lads have not committed and given up, which left a senior panel of 14-15, not including lads with a few longer term injuries, coupled with lads who couldn't commit due to other reasons.

[I grew up in Larne and it obviously isn't a GAA stronghold]

As far as i know an amalgamation between st teresas and st agnes?

Another hurling team gone. Latharna Og.

More to follow id imagine. Some clubs are really struggling

Hadn't heard anything official but see on the Official Antrim site the points have been allocated to the other clubs for all their matches.

They still have the Camogie team and they were fielding at juvenile blitzes last season albeit with low numbers. I grew up in Larne and it obviously isn't a GAA stronghold. There will be a small band of volunteers very disappointed but it's obviously not an easy place to run a club. Still surprising to hear this though.

Neither is Ballymena, Ahoghill or Antrim town but they have no shortage of willing volunteers to drive on and promote their clubs.

How come you didn't volunteer to assist the hurling club when living in Larne?