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Anyone know what happened at the hurling 'trial' last night?

All Loughgiel players turned up. The additional Cushendall boys did not

Does anyone actually know what happened in Ballycastle?

Good riddance. What an awful effort.

I'll say it again. Why is it that we shaft managers only to replace them with terrible ones?

I'll say it again also, I think everyone was delighted that he was appointed. You can't blame the County for some of the stuff that has happened.

Dick to come back in with Colly McFall?

So Dick and Sambo were right to leave?

Dick yes,

Sambo definitely not   

I can see everyone's point here to be honest but some are contradictory.

I mean, if Sambo's main focus was the minors then as HardStation says - he should not have been there. What otehr county whould have a mentor invovled with their senior team when it is not their main focus!
Also, if he was just there to learn from Wallace, then why would he jack it in because of a lack of input? After all sure he is only there to learn?

The issue over the Maor Faoirne bib does sound ridiculous. I would have though such things were behind us and we had some sort of professional way of doing things but yet again these matter show how far we are behind proper teams.

Do you not know many coaches that are with two different teams/squads

If he was wanting to learn from Wallace as he came with a great reputation (and we were all pleased he was appointed) but found out he didn't like his methods, the way he done things, actually wouldn't learn much and wasn't valued why would he stay around?

If there is blame being thrown out here, I for one wouldn't put it at the door of Sambo and certainly not the County Board either as he was the man WE ALL wanted

OK here goes then;

Dall to beat Galget
Shamrocks to beat Town
Johns to beat Pferry]
Dunloy to beat Cran (possible upset)

On the subject of Sambo - I am not sorry to see him go!
And I think it is a mark of the man that he has jumped ship mid-championship!
Sorry to be harsh but I think Sambo has issues - that is that he believes himself to be the main man, in front of even the players. I think he has departed simply becasue of his perceived reputation of himself. He wanted to be involved for his profile, but now things have gone sour he wants to jump ship rather than be tarnished further.
Sorry if thats harsh on your club man Colonel but that's my reading of him. Much better men through the Ruairi Og club.

Otherwise - Antrim oh Antrim - we really cant seem to keep much together! Constantly shooting ourselves in the foot!
I wonder what Dinny thinks of all this!

I'm gonna have to defend Sambo here, his priority is the county minors, he spends enough time with them, also has irregular working hours with his role as hurling coach with Moyle Council. He went to work alongside JW as he felt he could learn something, and it was not all about him. How many men would have went back to take lesser role at the request of the current manager? If you are making journeys to Mullingar, Clare, Laois etc you would like to think that the man who asked you to come along would be decent enough to value your input? It is well noted that Dick left because he had no input. I don't know Jerry Wallace, and I'm sure not many on here do either but I no Sambo well and his heart is in the right place.

Another thing, why was Hippy Maor Foirne at the weekend? This is not about Hippy but why wasn't Sambo or Colly given that role. Quite disrespectful in my opinion to those pair and having to watch Sambo take the Maor Foirne jacket from Hippy in the stand was a bit embarrassing.

From Hoganstand

Terence McNaughton has walked away from his role as Antrim senior hurling selector.

'Sambo' stepped down in the wake of the Glensmens' shock 0-14 to 0-12 Leinster SHC defeat to 14-man Westmeath at Mullingar last weekend.

That result represented a massive setback for Jerry Wallace's team, who were hoping to build on the feelgood factor that had been injected into Antrim hurling by Loughgiel's All-Ireland club success two months earlier.

Cushendall clubman McNaughton is himself a former Antrim manager and his son Shane is one of the star players on the current team. He cited other commitments as his reason for stepping aside.

Ronan Curran had Joe Deane, Brian Corcoran, the McCarthys, the O'Connors to lay the ball into to name just a few where as Antrim don't have anywhere near that quality. You can't expect to have a successful game plan if the players are not capable of carrying it out. Ronan Curran also had Sean Og and Gardiner beside him to play the game plan also.

Antrim didn't change from the plan when they should have realised, 'sh*t this isn't working'

Where to start........

First half while not great wasn't all bad. Couple of nice scores taken. Couple of players seemed to be struggling with the pace of the game.

Second half was just awful. To be slightly fair to the players they were trying to carry out the tactic that the manager wanted them to work on. We just sat back and waited for Westmeath to come at us. I hate seeing a spare man used so defensively. Should have used the spare man around the middle where we were really struggling to get a hold of the ball.

Shane really struggled after getting that hit in the first half and wasn't the same. Neil McA and Eddie looked as if they were struggling with fitness. Ball going into Watson was put way out to the corner and by the time he got it, there was little he could do. I thought Darren Hamill was harshly taken off, and was streets ahead of the whole half forward who were all brutal. Neil McM was good in the first half but was trying to overplay in the second. Even DD didn't look comfortable, I have never seen him blocking down so many high balls. Subs should have been made earlier.

As regards to the fight with Watson and not backing him up. It was completely off the ball and not many would have seen it. Deliberate tactic by WM. As soon as it was noticed Hippy, Shane and McFall were straight onto the scene as proven by RTE last night. Sambo entered the ptich to assist Watson with a bit of a tussle late in the second half so some boys are full of shit. I thought some of the WM players, officials and some supporters in the stands were animals

Our game last night v Ballycastle was a real good game. Some good scores. Ballycastle were very direct in getting the ball into their FF line. We struggled first 10 minutes or so but got to grips shortly after. Conor Carson has been excellent in the last few games for us and game Pinky a torrid time, hitting about 3/4 points. With Hippy back for the next game I would say Carson should be moved up. If JW took the opinions of Colly McFall senior and Sambo seriously he would have been told how good CC was last night and in recent games at wing forward.

From website

1   DD Quinn Na Seamroga
2   John Kerr    Ui D Rosa
3   Conor Carson   Ruairi Og
4   Aaron Graffin   Ruairi Og
5   Michael Gettens   Oisin, Gleann Airbh
6   Neil Mc Manus   Ruairi Og
7   Neal Mc Auley   Mac Uilin
8   Barney Mc Auley   Na Seamroga
9   Paul Shiels    Cu Chullain
10   Michael Herron   Lamh  Dhearg
11   Barry McFall   Naomh Eoin
12   Eddie McCloskey   Na Seamroga
13   Darren Hamill   Shane O Neills
14   Liam Watson   Na Seamroga
15   Shane Mc Naughton   Ruairi Og
16   Seanan Mc Toal   Oisin, Gleann Airbh
17   Kieran Mc Gourty   Naomh Gall
18   Mark Rea    Padraig Sairseil
19   Simon Mc Crory   Naomh Eoin
20   Karl Stewart   Naomh Gall
21   Conor Mc Cann   Ciceaim Creágan
22   Colm McFall   Naomh Eoin
23   PJ O Connell   Gaeil Na Cluanaigh
24   Sean Mc Laughlin   Cathaoir an Rí
25   Kevin Grieve   Naomh Una
26   Chris O Connell   Na Seamroga

Conor Carson was full back and very good apparently

Have you seen them play MR2?

Our under 21 manager said they were very good, he thought our lads would have had a decent chance but underestimated them, big time

I wasn't at the match.

I think St John's done the same to be honest. Play our boys in the Semi with Ballycastle v Loughgiel in the other semi

St Kevins fully deserved their win last night. Very strong team with James McCouig, James Black and Conor Laverty dominating throughout. Three very good young hurlers.

Win for our u21s this evening. 4-16 to 0-12

[Why is everyone so interested?]

Loughgiel are not refusing to travel, never have done and never will do.  A request was made to the county board and Ballygalget and this was accepted. Get over yourselves. Common sense one would have thought. Re arranged for 30th May. Why is everyone so interested?

maybe because this thread discusses all things involved with Antrim Hurling..........