Antrim Hurling

[Tony Baloney]

So St Killians get over the line in mageean final, they made hard work of it. Up 0-9 to 0-2 at one stage in first half but deserving winners in the end.

They looked a bit more polished in some key positions and physically a bit further on as they would be an older team than CPC.

CPC just didn't have it in key positions across the pitch. The Tower well worth the win. Amazing it has been so long since they've won it considering the teams they'd have had in the past.

[Jonkunlon]

That Was an entertaining game served up by the players. A great experience for them to play in such a venue and in front of a sizeable crowd.

All the great Dunloy, Loughgiel and Cushendall players on display and yet it was a player from Glenravel who lit up the game. Players and parents from smaller clubs should take note of the example set by Cormac McKeown. What a star in the making. Pace, tenacity and skill all there. Coincidentally CPC's number ten, Rosey, was also their best player on the evening though had to go off with cramp.

Lack of clean catching last night stood out. Must chat to some of the players, but you have to assume the lights had an impact on that front. On a large proportion of occasions players went with the stick when the catch was on.

CPC did well to curtail the threat of Joseph McLaughlin though he stood up when it mattered with his last two points. The one from play was exceptional, the free was from a very tight angle, impressive.

4 throw balls given. First two against CPC then two in their favour (to even it up). The slide tackle was the most controversial non-decision of the night. Clearly deliberate and overly aggressive - play on. There was one other big call - that was the red card for supposed deliberate striking off the ball. Ref gave a yellow - I think it was probably the right decision....but what would I know.

Fair play to both schools for serving up a great evening of hurling. 60 year gap bridged for Garron Tower. It's a great competition.

[NorthAntrim]

Cormac has a years football and hurling at senior level under his belt. Great player to have coming through for Glenravel hurling especially

[paddyjohn]

Niall Hynds at 13 is also a Con Magee

[SaffronSports]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

[johnnycool]

Niall Hynds at 13 is also a Con Magee

I wonder if there's a Downpatrick connection there!!!

[NAG1]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

[marty34]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

Yeah, it's tight alright. A rugby pitch.

I suppose when Mageean Cup Final is in December (for the supporters), it's really the only option travel wise.

[johnnycool]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

It's one of those 130 metre pitches, feckin hate those for anything above U15/16.

[NAG1]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

Yeah, it's tight alright. A rugby pitch.

I suppose when Mageean Cup Final is in December (for the supporters), it's really the only option travel wise.

The main pitch at Dunsilly (weather permitting) would have been/ be a better option for players and spectators.

[NorthAntrim]

Niall Hynds at 13 is also a Con Magee

Brilliant. Hopefully they can push Glenravel forward hurling wise as they have shown they are a club on the up and by staying intermediate championship last year look to have big ambitions on the hurling front too.

Too many young lads throwing in a transfer form to a bigger club instead of throwing their shoulder to the wheel and helping their own club push on

[Milltown Row2]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

Yeah, it's tight alright. A rugby pitch.

I suppose when Mageean Cup Final is in December (for the supporters), it's really the only option travel wise.

The main pitch at Dunsilly (weather permitting) would have been/ be a better option for players and spectators.

Where was it played? Queens? The pitch is generally in great condition and yes it may be short but rucks happening more and more and the size of the pitch has nothing to do with it, possession hurling has a bigger say in how and way more rucks are occurring. As for viewing, Queens has a covered stand.

If it wasn't at Queens ignore everything I said, except the rucks lol

[NAG1]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

Yeah, it's tight alright. A rugby pitch.

I suppose when Mageean Cup Final is in December (for the supporters), it's really the only option travel wise.

The main pitch at Dunsilly (weather permitting) would have been/ be a better option for players and spectators.

Where was it played? Queens? The pitch is generally in great condition and yes it may be short but rucks happening more and more and the size of the pitch has nothing to do with it, possession hurling has a bigger say in how and way more rucks are occurring. As for viewing, Queens has a covered stand.

If it wasn't at Queens ignore everything I said, except the rucks lol

It was at Queens and agree the pitch is always in a decent standard but the length of the pitch definitely contributes to the type of game that it was.

[johnnycool]

Cormac McKeown had a great game as did Charlie McAuley at 6. Think 4 clubs had players on the panel. Cushendall, Glenariffe, Glenravel and Glenarm.

Probably a big factor was that Glenariffe team that won the All Ireland Feile a couple of years ago. A lot of those boys on this panel.

This had to be the year for the Tower. Think there was 11 of last season's starting 15 back again this year.

Interestingly, a lot was made of CPC being a young team but their average age was actually very slightly older than GT in the starting 15s.

Although it has been a good venue for the Final in the past couple of years, I think it may be time to look at a new spot for it. The pitch is way too short and narrow for hurling.

Even in an u19 game the bunching is ridiculous and leads to too many rucks and mauls.

Yeah, it's tight alright. A rugby pitch.

I suppose when Mageean Cup Final is in December (for the supporters), it's really the only option travel wise.

The main pitch at Dunsilly (weather permitting) would have been/ be a better option for players and spectators.

Where was it played? Queens? The pitch is generally in great condition and yes it may be short but rucks happening more and more and the size of the pitch has nothing to do with it, possession hurling has a bigger say in how and way more rucks are occurring. As for viewing, Queens has a covered stand.

If it wasn't at Queens ignore everything I said, except the rucks lol

It was at Queens and agree the pitch is always in a decent standard but the length of the pitch definitely contributes to the type of game that it was.

Shorter pitches do lead to poor games IMO. We'd a senior championship game on one of these pitches in the summer against Bredagh in Cherryvale and on at least four occasions the keeper hit a short puck out to a defender 30 metres out, the defender ran about another 5 metres and went for the score. The Bredagh centre back got two points doing this, now our lads were asleep at the wheel, both sets of forwards were got very little intentional ball into them as the scoring zones are now 75% of the pitch.

I'm being told our local council who are still on the hook for a MUGA on the peninsula able to support gaelic games are in the process of starting one just outside Portaferry in conjunction with the EA and it's to have a pitch 135 plus metres long and 90 wide, but I'll wait until I see it.

Jamie Bryson will be pleased 

[johnnycool]

Niall Hynds at 13 is also a Con Magee

I wonder if there's a Downpatrick connection there!!!

I think there is, if his Da is big Ian, better known for the footballing exploits who happened to marry into the large Higgins crowd of females who were abound in the Elms back in the day.