Antrim Hurling

[marty34]

Going back to what we need to improve on with regards to juvenile setup.

Weekend my lad had an u10 game, got to the pitch that that was lined out for the previous game which was 10 aside. Looking at our numbers and opposing numbers this game was only 5 aside, pitch size wasnt then altered, they played 2 7 minute halves and that was that, first game in 4 weeks as the previous fixture didnt go ahead as opposing team couldnt field.
A total shambles!!!!

Was that a challenge game or Go Games?

Go games

I think the key is in the title there. Go Games - plural.

Should be more than one game and in most cases I've seen there are multiple games?

Does go games not stimulate that everyone gets a "go"?

Anyway my point being that in a month all he and his team mates have played is 2 seven minute halves of hurling, not nearly enough, if we want to look at what is hindering uptake or preventing improvement surely it lies here.

If I knew that it'd be only 15 mins of hurling, I wouldn't be travelling anywhere.

What do you do in this situation then though?
All my young lad wants to do is hurl, if i said we arent going he would be extremely upset.

I presume you're in the age whatsapp group?

Put in a message asking how long the games will be and who is your team playing etc.

If they say 7mins and your travelling 10 mins or 30 mins to get there, put the thumbs down and say it'd be better training at your own pitch for 1 hour.

[paddyjohn]

Does anyone know if Ciaran Clarke ever made it back from his injury?

Not yet ITG, has had a bit of a set back recently from what I've heard. Not sure if ever will get back to the levels he was capable of.

He was one of the best hurlers I've ever saw.

Cracking talent for sure, hopefully he can get himself right and get back playing regularly.

Would be great to see. Get Saul McCaughan back. Those pair and Niall McKenna be some full forward line for the Town.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

If one thing NA do well is accommodate all of the underage games as best as possible.

U12A has 8 teams in the league
Ballycastle
Loughgiel
Swatragh
Dunloy
Na Magha
Naomh Padraig
Cushendall
Shane O'Neills

U12B has 10 teams
Shane O'Neills B
Loughgiel B
Clooney/All Saints
Tir Na nOg
Glenravel
Creggan
Rasharkin
Sarsfields
St Endas

There is a world of games and different oppositions all the time for the kids to play in. The fact that Sarsfields & Swatragh asked to join the leagues shows that the clubs want more games.

The NA blitzs have to turn down clubs sadly on occasion to attend from other counties like Derry and some Belfast clubs simply because there is no space to work them all.

What they need is more help from clubs coaches to make the blitz's work better. Everyone has ideas how it can be done better but wont come forward to do the work.

[NAG1]

If one thing NA do well is accommodate all of the underage games as best as possible.

U12A has 8 teams in the league
Ballycastle
Loughgiel
Swatragh
Dunloy
Na Magha
Naomh Padraig
Cushendall
Shane O'Neills

U12B has 10 teams
Shane O'Neills B
Loughgiel B
Clooney/All Saints
Tir Na nOg
Glenravel
Creggan
Rasharkin
Sarsfields
St Endas

There is a world of games and different oppositions all the time for the kids to play in. The fact that Sarsfields & Swatragh asked to join the leagues shows that the clubs want more games.

The NA blitzs have to turn down clubs sadly on occasion to attend from other counties like Derry and some Belfast clubs simply because there is no space to work them all.

What they need is more help from clubs coaches to make the blitz's work better. Everyone has ideas how it can be done better but wont come forward to do the work.

What we need is Gaalfast taking some initiative and running this model in Belfast and seeing if we can make it work.

Kids shouldn't be in the car for an hour traveling to play in a blitz every weekend. Not sustainable for parents either.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Agreed.

The fact that Sarsfields want to travel to get games tells a tale.

The County development wanted to stop kids playing U14 NA league on a sat so that they could train the players. A nice idea that suited them but what about all the other kids that don't play county?

No hurling on a sat means a chance to go play another sport like rugby or soccer. Eventually its easier to work with it than playing during the week in an already cramped calendar.

Personally for me Gaelfast is not working.

[Upandover]

Sarsfields were playing u10 go games in down last year also.

[johnnycool]

Sarsfields were playing u10 go games in down last year also.

Met the Sarsfields lads at a Down blitz in Warrenpoint of all places. They're regular attenders in Down.

Down have gotten this bit right when it comes to development IMO, first Saturday of the month is an All County blitz and they've gotten that big than only a handful of clubs can cope with the numbers at them, the third Saturday is split into regional blitz's across the county and the fifth Saturday if there is one you can organise away yourself.

You're guaranteed a minimum of 5, 10 minute games, 7 aside for P3P4, 9 aside for P5P6 so every kid gets plenty of opportunity to get game time and very little standing about for parents and kids alike.

[Upandover]

Sarsfields were playing u10 go games in down last year also.

Met the Sarsfields lads at a Down blitz in Warrenpoint of all places. They're regular attenders in Down.

Down have gotten this bit right when it comes to development IMO, first Saturday of the month is an All County blitz and they've gotten that big than only a handful of clubs can cope with the numbers at them, the third Saturday is split into regional blitz's across the county and the fifth Saturday if there is one you can organise away yourself.

You're guaranteed a minimum of 5, 10 minute games, 7 aside for P3P4, 9 aside for P5P6 so every kid gets plenty of opportunity to get game time and very little standing about for parents and kids alike.

Why cant this be organised for south antrim?

One game every 2 weeks against a single club isnt the exposure needed, a blitz as mentioned certainly offers more.

[NAG1]

Sarsfields were playing u10 go games in down last year also.

Met the Sarsfields lads at a Down blitz in Warrenpoint of all places. They're regular attenders in Down.

Down have gotten this bit right when it comes to development IMO, first Saturday of the month is an All County blitz and they've gotten that big than only a handful of clubs can cope with the numbers at them, the third Saturday is split into regional blitz's across the county and the fifth Saturday if there is one you can organise away yourself.

You're guaranteed a minimum of 5, 10 minute games, 7 aside for P3P4, 9 aside for P5P6 so every kid gets plenty of opportunity to get game time and very little standing about for parents and kids alike.

Why cant this be organised for south antrim?

One game every 2 weeks against a single club isnt the exposure needed, a blitz as mentioned certainly offers more.

Why arent the club in Belfast pushing Gaelfast to do this and if they wont do it, going to the SA Board and demand that this type of model which works elsewhere be implemented.

[Saffrongael]

Thought the minors may have got closer against Offaly today but turned out fairly comfortable in the end

[Milltown Row2]

Thought the minors may have got closer against Offaly today but turned out fairly comfortable in the end

Offaly hurling, certainly at juvenile level these last few years has been at a different level lately

[Saffrongael]

Thought the minors may have got closer against Offaly today but turned out fairly comfortable in the end

Offaly hurling, certainly at juvenile level these last few years has been at a different level lately

Their minors are in tier 2 in Leinster and beat Meath by 3 points last week

[Milltown Row2]

Thought the minors may have got closer against Offaly today but turned out fairly comfortable in the end

Offaly hurling, certainly at juvenile level these last few years has been at a different level lately

Their minors are in tier 2 in Leinster and beat Meath by 3 points last week

Right, so eggs all in the one basket with that Offaly group

[johnnycool]

We took the honours in the early relegation battle against neighbours Ballycran with a huge crowd there as our other neighbours to the south didn't have a game.

Both teams had their county players on display barring the odd stag party or suspended (from last year) player and TBH you'd be concerned for Ballycran who had a lad well into his 40's on (and he wasn't the worst     ).
Young Lavery in nets for them pulled off two great saves to keep it kinda interesting.

We're up in Dunloy next Sunday minus our county players and U20's potentially and that's where we'll get a serious trimming.

[SaffronOak]

Dunloy will be missing the same - quite a number in that contingent missing for them..