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I think these lads would benifit more from a years club hurling rather than going straight in to Senior. Take a look at what Ross Carr is doing in Down. He is deliberately not selecting the star minor players from a couple of years ago so they can enjoy their football for a year or two before they are ready to be called in at 21/22. Both Shortie and Paddy are dual players and have had a hard two years slog already in the minor ranks (shortie in particualar). Paddy Doc has still to prove his worth at Senior level for his club so why include him in a County Squad at such a young age? Dinny did this with Darren Quinn for 3 years and he's still not the hurler everybody expected him to be for the simple reason (IMO) that he sat on the bench for 3 years instead of cutting his teeth with his club first. I do think Darren will come though. Shortie is a class act, but he needs to fill out and that will take time. I think this is not in the best interests of the player for him to be included

Were there any other minors playing on Saturday?

I agree.....scrap the U21's

A shortage of qualitry coaches is a major problem all over. Some of the larger clubs in terms of membership cann't get anyone prepared to look after the kidsat all, never mind quality coaches. Even getting parents to drive to away matches is a struggle. They expect the club volunteers to do it all for a membership fee of a £10 a year!
The only way to improve hurling in the north is through coaching at a young age. That's where the focus of the association needs to be.

Although quality coaching from a young age is only part of the package G2. These take it or leave it parents take me to the fair. For the life of me I cannot understand why these people are not trying to invest in their child future by showing a bit of interest in what they are doing and actively encouraging them. So many of todays parents think that buying a playstation and subscribing to sky sports makes them good parents. 

Me still thinks that the GAA should be giving some of those 800 tickets they give to past GAA presidents to some of the national school teachers whose teams feature in underage - or encouraging hurling more in Primary Schools by whatever means they can cajole the teachers to do more.

Agree with that Bud. Was at our primary school nativity play a few weeks back (just before christmas in fact   ) and was amazed at the number of boys who didn't play the game. The are alot more young footballers training now than hurlers now even though from a membership point of view we would be viewed as hurling club who play a bit of football. Do you think the danger element is leading kids to opt for the lesser sport (no flames please - this is a hurling thread)? I'd be interested to hear how we could possibly address this issue.

Another big issue for hurling is the general reduction in the size of families, which in turn means those families with a hurling tradition are taking up a smaller slice of club panels. The big task for hurling is to get non traditional families enthused about the game and help them understand the effort required at home to make the game become enjoyable and positive outlet for their children. Its so easy to see even at 7 year of age the ones who practice at home from those who pick up the stick once or twice a week. To the non traditional families training is a baby siting exercise in our club at the moment. We're hoping to change that over time.

My third issue within our club is the lack of coaches (from both a bodies on the ground perspective and a coaching standards point of view). Our juvenile hurlers need serious work over the next 5 years. It will take dedicated quality coaching to turn them round. We will have failed these kids if we don't grasp the nettle now. Here's hoping

Is it Eddie Quinn from Moortown that is taking Rasharkin?

yes

been a while since there has been any urling chat on this thread, anyone know the list of entrants for the ulster hurling league this year.

Dunloy have entered it this year, personally i think its a good move now as the lack of matches was a huge hinderence last year. what you thik theskull

Well it was either an intention of Antrim GAC last year to "force" clubs to play in the UHL this year or downright ineptness to do their job properly. Either way, any club interested in hurling has had to go this way. I do not expect the standard of hurling to be eanywhere close to the Antrim Leagues as these matches will be played without County Players. Also If the matches are "fitted" into saturday afternoons/evenings I expect people working and dual players with all county league matches the following day not to play either. This will drop the standard to an even lower level. A level which won't do the standard of hurling in Antrim any good at at. Sure there will be games, but the competition has to be mean something and be evenly contested for it to add up to anything worthwhile.
On the club side of things, I reallly hope that our young players get their chance and whatever management comes in has the confidence to stick with them. They will need time to bed in, but they will also need to demonstate the right attitude and show that they want it enough.

Antrim is very much split between football and hurling and I would say there would be a lot of untapped football resources in the hurling areas.

Looking at the GAA landscape tommyg, do you not think that football has enough resources without raping strong hurling areas of thier talents? 

Pricks who fill the car with petrol while you're waiting, then saunter off into the shop to pay or stuff their big fat heads with shite without moving the car out of the way so that I can fill my own car

Did this today BB ...but only because the fecker before me did it to me ......it made sense at the time but on reflection.......

My own personal one would be

People who possess nothing but negative opinions of their local GAA Club but quickly distance themselves whenever the said club are looking for volunteers to change the very things they have problem(s) with........i know what I call them

Sex can be a good cure,but only if you wash your teeth first of course!

Well I can only deal with one throbbing head at a time so that wouldn't work for me. Water the night before bed and a fry first thing in the morning works for me.

Sadly FtB there are people like you in todays enviroment who don't see that this is not the case in a huge majority of the playing population and who always slectively choose to focus on a minority held view to makes these points (which at county player level I do accept that some top flight individuals may share your views). But 99% of the playing population don't look at the GAA in those terms and it would be better for players who think negatively about what they get back from the GAA, to consider the fact that they are doing their bit just the same as everybody else. To cliam the GAA is simply a commercial operation is equivilent to saying the same about the catholic church is it not? Yes they both need money to run operations but it's not what they are about - no?

Do camogs count? 

Anybody aware of who is in and who is out of the county hurling 45? I haven't seen a list anywhere?

Danny Hughes is still a superb athelete at the ripe old age of 54, but I agree with JC, his shooting wasn't his strong point.

Ballybredagh? mmmmmmmmmm

are you sure you're not talking about yourself there

Thats excellent news

BTW does anybody know the full symptoms of this illness? (sorry too lazy to google)

I've heard about the "look for a lump" advice but is there any pain associated or other symtomatic illnesses to look out for?

In fairness SCB, I think too many administrations are becoming more and more interested in faciities and are neglecting the most important area within their clubs..development of young people within their community. I have noticed this within my own club and it has had a noticable affect. I think it's time the penduleum swung the other way.