Antrim Hurling

[SaffronSports]

I'd say it's very different to a regional team. A regional team is a select team of all clubs in an area. This isn't that. The majority of this team have been together for years. 13 of the 16 that got on the field today were on the panel that won the All Ireland Feile 3 years ago. The others are two lads that are a bit younger but now playing up and then one Glenravel lad as the Feile win was before the amalgamation.

[SaffronSports]

Cushendun is an interesting one, Naomh Padraig is obviously their "club" but a couple played for Cushendall minors last year.

If I lived in Cushendun I'd probably send my kids to Cushendall TBF but obviously the main complexity of it is you'd want them back to Cushendun when adults which could be difficult. Naomh Padraig covers such a vast area so some might decide to send them 10 mins round the road for consistency rather than different pitches with I believe 4 clubs involved in that amalgamation.

[paddyjohn]

Cushendun is an interesting one, Naomh Padraig is obviously their "club" but a couple played for Cushendall minors last year.

If I lived in Cushendun I'd probably send my kids to Cushendall TBF but obviously the main complexity of it is you'd want them back to Cushendun when adults which could be difficult. Naomh Padraig covers such a vast area so some might decide to send them 10 mins round the road for consistency rather than different pitches with I believe 4 clubs involved in that amalgamation.

Why would you send them to Cushendall if Cushendun had a team?

[SaffronSports]

Cushendun is an interesting one, Naomh Padraig is obviously their "club" but a couple played for Cushendall minors last year.

If I lived in Cushendun I'd probably send my kids to Cushendall TBF but obviously the main complexity of it is you'd want them back to Cushendun when adults which could be difficult. Naomh Padraig covers such a vast area so some might decide to send them 10 mins round the road for consistency rather than different pitches with I believe 4 clubs involved in that amalgamation.

Why would you send them to Cushendall if Cushendun had a team?

If Cushendun had a team training in Cushendun I'd stay put. However, if I lived in Cushendun I'd want to know the training schedules as I'd be very reluctant to drive 20 mile to hurling training a couple of times a week. Each to their own and tbh I know people there whose kids are at Naomh Padraig and I know others who are at other clubs for different reasons.

Personally, I don't think it would suit my family to do it but I do have admiration for people in those communities trying to keep things going. Rural clubs are struggling for numbers as it is so to try to make it work across four clubs must be extremely difficult.

[Gael-in-exile]

Cushendun play under the amalgamation of Naomh Padraig, but as is mentioned above they are based quite a lot in Armoy which is 20mins at least.
Cushendall have struggled with numbers so I think happily accept Cushendun parishioners as its only 5mins away.

I do know of some Cushendun who have played with Cushendall but I think it's as they have older siblings who play with Cushendall camogie so it fits a bit better.
Most are comfortable that they are Cushendun by family/living location etc so will return after minor.

[SaffronSports]

In a perfect world every club would have teams in all codes at all ages but there are massive challenges to that all over the country.

I do think in the Glens area the future will be amalgamations. When I look at my own kids when my eldest started primary school to my youngest leaving it, the numbers per class were more or less halved.

If that continues it's going to be a real struggle to get teams on the field unfortunately.

[johnnycool]

What's the rules around sanctioned players in Antrim?

In Down you can have up to 5 sanctioned players from other clubs before you need to become an amalgamation.

By the numbers quoted Glenariffe would have been able to sanction those players and played under the Glenariffe banner alright, but maybe it was a more even handed approach they took for the optics of it all.

Either way, well done to this group who've been pretty strong all the way up through the agegroups, and now to get them bedded in to adult where it really matters.

[scamroc]

What's the rules around sanctioned players in Antrim?

In Down you can have up to 5 sanctioned players from other clubs before you need to become an amalgamation.

By the numbers quoted Glenariffe would have been able to sanction those players and played under the Glenariffe banner alright, but maybe it was a more even handed approach they took for the optics of it all.

Either way, well done to this group who've been pretty strong all the way up through the agegroups, and now to get them bedded in to adult where it really matters.

Glenravel have 8 players on the minor panel (3 played up from u16) and 10 players on the u16 panel. All of the Glenravel boys on the minor panel have at least 1 more year at minor.

[Saffrongael]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

[scamroc]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

[Saffrongael]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

[scamroc]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

That's a worry yes, but if a player is good enough and works hard enough then he should get a fair crack. Glenravel wouldn't have enough to go alone again just yet but numbers are healthier further down. The amalgamation is a lifeline to that batch of players at the minute.

[SaffronSports]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

That's a worry yes, but if a player is good enough and works hard enough then he should get a fair crack. Glenravel wouldn't have enough to go alone again just yet but numbers are healthier further down. The amalgamation is a lifeline to that batch of players at the minute.

Glenravel have some great players at the u16 group. They must play matches on a Tuesday or Thursday night as I stayed a few nights after training to watch matches. There's one fella who wouldn't be the tallest but he's like a wee bull and a great hurler too.

Is it right enough that the classes in primary school in Glenravel are big? From talking to boys they'd tell you the primarys in Glenravel and Dunloy are massive whereas here by the coast all the schools are getting smaller. 

[scamroc]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

That's a worry yes, but if a player is good enough and works hard enough then he should get a fair crack. Glenravel wouldn't have enough to go alone again just yet but numbers are healthier further down. The amalgamation is a lifeline to that batch of players at the minute.

Glenravel have some great players at the u16 group. They must play matches on a Tuesday or Thursday night as I stayed a few nights after training to watch matches. There's one fella who wouldn't be the tallest but he's like a wee bull and a great hurler too.

Is it right enough that the classes in primary school in Glenravel are big? From talking to boys they'd tell you the primarys in Glenravel and Dunloy are massive whereas here by the coast all the schools are getting smaller. 

Yeah most classes have around 30 in them with varying splits of boy/girl. Current P1 class has 20 boys which bodes well and loads of work being done at fundamentals, u6, 8 and 10 to keep them engaged and developing.

[johnnycool]

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

Was talking to a lad at that final in Ballinascreen and he reckoned the amalgamation had a panel of 30 plus stripped out.

Why do you need an amalgamation with those sort of numbers?