Messages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BQlrrIr8uA

Fill yer boots boys. Not All Ireland talent show material but Pat Kerwick lacks nothing in passion. Still makes the hairs stand on the back of the neck.

Who'll get the county final? I think that Herbie should get it.

Has anybody got the Galtee Mountain Boy from yesterday on You Tube?

What chance do the Johnnies have against St Galls?

Great game and delighted for Tipp. Richly deserved. It was funny watching the faces of  some of the Tipp people when the Galtee Mountain Boy was sung. Some tried to pretend to know the words and ended up making fools of themselves. A bit like that Brit minister who made an arse of himself with the Welsh anthem - it gets shown on those compilation TV shows.

Corbett was outstanding and given the slippery conditions underfoot there were some excellent displays of skill all around the park.

I was of the opinion that supporters not going on to the pitch would have detracted from the celebrations, however, a clear pitch made for a much more enjoyable spectacle.

Just heard that the SAHC semi-finals have been postponed until further notice.

What's the odds that it will be a typical SA farce and the competition will not be played?

Credit where its due, the SA League has been well run and the games have been regular but I just feel that the McGuigan Cup will be shelved.

Taking MR's point, it would be better to replay the games with eligible players rather than let a committee decide the outcome of a game

I was watching this on the news yeaterday, they were interviewing people signing a book of condolence. One woman was holding back tears, said she had a lump in her throat.

Take it that she doesn't swallow?

I see from the South Antrim fixtures that St Galls are not being put out as they are down to play the Gorts or the Johnnies

Anybody any idea what the story is there?

I would agree that they sure have some quality but you're right NAG stag weekends and the like come championship don't really go hand in hand.

Hurling needs strong city teams and the Johnnies have the raw material to make a big splash if they apply themselves and hold on to the young talent they have developed. There certainly seems to have been a big change in attitude in Corrigan Park and to be fair I think that they have learned their lessons from their neighbours in Milltown. Their footballers appear to making progress but as they are punching below their weight in the hurling its hard to measure if they have made any progress. Assumimg they can come out of Antrim, attitudes, application and committment will be certainly tested in the trek through Ulster and beyond if they are fortunate enough to get that far.

They certainly have proved to be too strong for those who have come up against them, however, they haven't won anything yet and it would be wrong and disrespectful to dismiss Carey.

From a Johnnies perspective SHC proved unfruitful and didn't allow them to progress so IHC seemed like a logical step.

What it does show is the gap which exists between the grades in Antrim - for example the Johnnies are too weak for SHC but too strong for IHC. Where do they play?

[that same year should not be considered as being eligible to play SA championship.]

A fairer rule would be that the graded fifteen as well as anybody who has played championship at a higher grade that same year should not be considered as being eligible to play SA championship.

Thats the problem NAG for years in South Antrim the bigger clubs did use their senior ungraded players to shaft not only the other clubs but people within their own clubs who were playing in the third tier and when championship came along the lads who had lined out all year were brushed to the side. It also killed off the competition as clubs like the Aggies, McDs, O'Ds who fielded teams at South Antrim level had no incentive to participate.

But you are right, we do need to change things to make it easier for players to play - the idea that a fella can't play South Antrim Championship because he played 10 minutes in a SHC match last year is just nuts.

The question is can the clubs be trusted to govern themselves?

Milltown, it doesn't matter what your argument is, they shouldn't have played. Them's the rules.

I was talking to a fella from St Johns last night and he said Connor McSteen couldn't play because he played 10 minutes in the SHC last year. Apparently Gorts tanked them but they - GNM - also played some boys who played SHC last year. Bottom line here is both Galls and Gorts played ringers.

You'll find that if South Antrim apply the rules then yourselves and Gorts will be put out and the Johnnies and St Pauls will go through. That said the championship rule should relating to a previous year's competition serves no good, especially when there are no senior clubs in the city. Another reason for the need to change this rule is that clubs are struggling to get numbers out and with fellas being ineligible to play depletes already dwindling squads especially at this time of year when lads are away on holidays

God help us if that Muppet got near the Aras. Thats all we need a little shoneen representing the Nation.

I think Widgery deserves an OBE