Antrim Hurling

[Tony Baloney]

Seems there's a distinct lack of enthusiasm for all things County, both from clubs and players alike.........wonder why ?

Maybe the boys on the panel see the success of the Shamrocks against the comparative failure at county level and fancy a piece of that action. Obviously not as easy as that!

[maxpower]

Just thinking recently on ways to improve our own club championship! As I see it two flaws in the current system.  One is the number of games is limited and two is (and no disrespect meant here) but the Ulster Championship has become a bit of a step down in standard!

Would it be possible to merge the championships.  A bit like the six nations in Rugby.

Top 8 teams in Antrim, top 3 in Down and top 4 in Derry, best of the rest!

4 groups of four!

For example - Loughgiel, ballycran, Rossa, dungiven.

Top team gets home advantage on QF against second places teams. Bottom of each group goes into a relegation play off with each other, with ulster intermediate champions coming up.

If an Antrim team wins they are awarded Antrim and Ulster Championships. Whichever down team does best gets a bye to down final. Who ever does 'worse' loses home advantage

Same applies to Derry teams!

Not without flaws but every team gets 4 meaningful championship games at least and even the group games would be a high standard.

[btdtgtt]

Radical.
I love the sentiments behind it - would be fantastic competition.
Usual problems but mostly will never happen due absence of forward thinking by powers that be.

[theskull1]

Wouldn't work in practice for a couple of reasons

• Not much chance of silverware for Down or Derry
• Overlap with Derry football championships impossible

[north_antrim_hound]

Seems there's a distinct lack of enthusiasm for all things County, both from clubs and players alike.........wonder why ?

I think clubs, fans and players are still feeling the tremors from the disaster that was last year. Hippy and shorty have been going at county level since minor and have seen a lot of false dawns along the way. we cant come on here and criticise them when they just don't have the stomach for it at present. The apathy shown by all clubs(generally not all members)towards county is a big problem. I feel alot of people are a bit disillusioned with our county board (they are not behind the door at hammering clubs with fines and stuff but when it came to showing hippy some support this summer they chickened out). We are in a bad place, but when you look at Laois they seem to be going through the same motions. maybe the dedication required even to hold out own(div 2) just doesn't seem worth it

[maxpower]

Wouldn't work in practice for a couple of reasons

• Not much chance of silverware for Down or Derry
• Overlap with Derry football championships impossible

I take point 2 but if an Antrim team won the championship the Down and Derry Championships would still happen. Home advantage for performing well in the Antrim championship!

Derry football would be the biggest practical concern. 

[Lecale2]

Interesting proposal Maxpower. Worth considering I think.

[theskull1]

All the considering Lecale2 wont change the fact that the Derry Co Board wouldn't sanction it.

[johnneycool]

Wouldn't work in practice for a couple of reasons

• Not much chance of silverware for Down or Derry
• Overlap with Derry football championships impossible

a home game once in a while would obviously help in point 1

[Lecale2]

All the considering Lecale2 wont change the fact that the Derry Co Board wouldn't sanction it.

True enough. When Frankie Q first proposed the Ulster club league the Derry Board were the only county against it on principle.

[Milltown Row2]

The Loughgiel lads should be interested in this game today, could end up meeting this team in the final

Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) v Sarsfields (Cork), Thurles, 2pm think it's on tg4

[btdtgtt]

Ballyhale might have something to say about that mr2!
All shamrock final for my money.

[Seamroga in exile]

Ballyhale aren't out of Kilkenny yet lads. It isn't a foregone conclusion that they will either.

[Seamroga in exile]

16 mins gone in Kilkenny final. Ballyhale 5-4 up. They were 4-0 up after 10.

[Milltown Row2]

16 mins gone in Kilkenny final. Ballyhale 5-4 up. They were 4-0 up after 10.

Sounds a bit turgid to me.