Ulster Hurling Final

[ONeill]

It's the most unpredictable of championships though. Any team can hammer any other on its day.

[rolloutking]

Is Braniff still out with the knee injury he got in the Ulster v Leinster match in September? If so, why did he leave it so long before getting the op. Surely the Down CB would have supported him. I seen that incident and it just looked like he feel awkwardly...not a season and a half ending injury

[Lecale2]

Is Braniff still out with the knee injury he got in the Ulster v Leinster match in September? If so, why did he leave it so long before getting the op. Surely the Down CB would have supported him. I seen that incident and it just looked like he feel awkwardly...not a season and a half ending injury

He had major problems with the same knee before. They've got him back on his feet but I've heard it's tough and go if he'll play again.

[Syd]

Is Braniff still out with the knee injury he got in the Ulster v Leinster match in September? If so, why did he leave it so long before getting the op. Surely the Down CB would have supported him. I seen that incident and it just looked like he feel awkwardly...not a season and a half ending injury

The most serious knee injuries are usually when there is no contact from another player, when the foot plants and the knee twists. How many soccer players have you seen with pretty innocuous looking injuries when no one is near them, they end up being out for 12 mths.

[No1]

One word - diabolical.   

[orangeman]

The suppporters should get their money back !

[johnneycool]

One word - diabolical.   

I thought it was worse than that to be honest.

Only Finty, wee Liam and possibly Graham put up any sort of a showing and you can't turn a tide as they say.

Even though the conditions were bad for both teams, Antrim had the better first touch and striking all the way through and more importantly played and looked like a team. Down were very much individuals with no game plan of note. If Courtney is going to be the main target man for puck outs the rest of the midfield and half forwards need to be bombing past him at angles to a: take a pass if he catches it, or b: be ready to pick up the breaking ball when he doesn't. Neither happened yesterday and Karl McKeegan had a field day in this regard.
It's not looking good for Down and with away games against Kerry and Westmeath in the Christy Ring we may be club hurling again a lot quicker than anticipated.

Yesterday will tell Antrim very little and possibly a few bad habits may of crept into a few players games, Micko Herron had a tendency to stop to hit the ball yesterday, against better opposition he'll be found out. The two corner forwards are a bit off the mark yesterday even with the huge amount of ball that came their way, their return wasn't great. With less quality ball I don't think they'll make too many silk purses in the AI round robin games. Brian McFall even though he scored 1-2 (he can thank Neil McManus for that) has went up a few shorts sizes and has slowed him down. Paddy Richmond never looks like an athelete but doesn't rely on speed as much as McFall and will start the next day if Terence and Dominic have any sense.

[milltown row]

2-24 on any day is a great score regardless of who your playing. the conditions yesterday were the worst ever, i'm only starting to dry out today. the rain brought no athmosphere to the game, Down failed to show, no game plan and did not win any personal battles, Savage played his usually busy game but no support, was impressed with Antrims stick work considering the weather, stuck to the task and obviously they were told to get points and if goals came a long take them. Clarke's a great keeper but was at fault for the first, a miss hit free by Tosh.

i'd say Antrim need to play a few challenge games before the Clare game to see where they are at, no offence johnneycool but i would have been embarrassed yesterday. where is Simon Wilson and the lad from Ballygalget, corner back good player

[johnneycool]

i'd say Antrim need to play a few challenge games before the Clare game to see where they are at, no offence johnneycool but i would have been embarrassed yesterday. where is Simon Wilson and the lad from Ballygalget, corner back good player

I was indeed embarrassed yesterday but it doesn't seem to worry any of the county board responsible in hurling in Down as we've got a few more years of this ahead of us due to lack of proper juvenile structures and development squads.
Add to that the fact that the present Down team don't have any leaders on the park, someone like Gazza to take the bull by the horns, far too many sheep, hence the fragile confidence. Scoring forwards are a scarcity in Down, Dule and Magic are all that's really of a decent standard, able to win their own ball and score more often than not. None of the other 5 forwards yesterday are ever going to seriously trouble the score board operator at this level, in fact two are actually reserve team hurlers for their club teams and don't exactly stand out at that level either. Simon Wilson has went back in recent years plus has a young family and couldn't give any sort of commitment, but if he'd seen the amount of commitment some of the lads who started yesterday gave he'd probably of been fine turning up once a week or whatever.

One of many dark days ahead for Down hurlers I'm afraid.

[Maximus Marillius]

Lads I am not going to pretend I am an expert on hurling...I'm not..but Down were a total and absolute disgrace ....no other way of saying it....regardless of not being good enough, there is no excuse for their lack of genuine honest effort..the manager is responsible for ensuring the players go out and give it everything, in this one area he failed miserably...how could he have the face to take another session after that show. Players are not good enough...that happens to every team and county at various stages over the years, but there is no excuse for lack of pride, effort and committment. The managers responsibility.

[johnneycool]

Lads I am not going to pretend I am an expert on hurling...I'm not..but Down were a total and absolute disgrace ....no other way of saying it....regardless of not being good enough, there is no excuse for their lack of genuine honest effort..the manager is responsible for ensuring the players go out and give it everything, in this one area he failed miserably...how could he have the face to take another session after that show. Players are not good enough...that happens to every team and county at various stages over the years, but there is no excuse for lack of pride, effort and committment. The managers responsibility.

Have the players no responsibility let alone the ultimate responsibility. If only a dozen lads turn up to training on a regular basis what's a manager to do considering the very limited resources at his disposal?

[Maximus Marillius]

Johnny resign, if they are turning up why, it is the amnagers resposability to create the climate for players to want to be there, if that is not happening, whether it is his fault or not, surely resigningis the only option, why stay and end up with a defeat such as yesterday