Antrim Hurling

[podge]

A fine advert for Ulster hurling yesterday I thought.

I don't necessarily subscribe to the the theory that portaferry were the better team to be honest.  Cdall were well on top and the 2 sucker goals knocked the stuffing out of them and gave portaferry a boost towards a 10minute spell that they were certainly very impressive.

Of course when you score a 21 yard free with virtually the last shot of the game you have to count your lucky stars.

Credit to young McLaughlin, at the end he made a couple of very subtle but telling interventions in the tight tackles that led to McManus either getting the last point or the free for the goal.

Assuming the final will be in Armagh, yesterdays outting there will certainly stand to them big time.

I would have thought young McCollam must be pushing for  starting spot as he has been impressive when introduced in the last 2 games.  Maybe Paddy McGill will be pushing also. 

Anyone's game IMO.

[Antrim Coaster]

Dungannon didn't play in Antrim this year did they?

No. Opted out the season after the Damien Casey tragedy.

[Antrim Coaster]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

[NAG1]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

Regardless of the match ups, if Cushendall turn up and play the way they played on Sunday past, it is going to be a long afternoon.

[imtommygunn]

I only saw the goals they conceded on TG4 last night. You could nearly put 3 of them down as howlers - 2 definitely. You would hope that wouldn't happen again.

[Antrim Coaster]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

Regardless of the match ups, if Cushendall turn up and play the way they played on Sunday past, it is going to be a long afternoon.

True.

The Portaferry match will have given Cushendall the opportunity to have shaken a lot of rust from the undercarraige but if they play like that against Slaughtneil they'll be in for a tough shift.

I wonder how the long lay off will affect Slaughtneil. They never got out of second gear in the Derry final against Lynches. I suppose we wont know until throw in.

[NorthAntrim]

Paddy Burke to mark Rodgers for me. If he plays FF, fine, If he goes to half back, fine. Paddy will be comfortable at either end of the pitch either defending or putting the ball over the bar. Gillen and Marty burke with the cover of the half back line are well able for the rest. The question will be can Cushendall get the ball over the bar. Can McLaughlin get any space. McAteer, Delargy. Can McManus operate at the same level. S'neil will have serious legs, Cushendall need to match that with their team selection

[imtommygunn]

Who was Alex Delargy replacing on Sunday? Was it Niall McCormick? He was very good in the county final and would be a good guy to have there too.

Christy McNaughton is honestly one of if not the most skillful player I have seen from Antrim but unfortunately he just doesn't have the conditioning. He is still definitely a very useful boy to have around.

[NorthAntrim]

As for S'Neil, they wont be sitting for 10 weeks playing in house games. County teams are back, club teams down south. I'd say they've made a few trips for games, been there done that wore the tshirt. Experienced side. Looking forward to a good game hopefully in good conditions(as possible)

[NorthAntrim]

Who was Alex Delargy replacing on Sunday? Was it Niall McCormick? He was very good in the county final and would be a good guy to have there too.

Christy McNaughton is honestly one of if not the most skillful player I have seen from Antrim but unfortunately he just doesn't have the conditioning. He is still definitely a very useful boy to have around.

McCormick and Christy dropped out for Delargy and McAfee

[imtommygunn]

i thought that with Christy but I couldn't see McCormick even on the subs that came on so wondered was he injured.

[Saffrongael]

I'd put Paddy Burke on Rodgers. Campbell got it tight against James McNaughton in the county final so I'd probably prefer to try something else. Either way though you're losing a bit going the other way by having one of them doing a man marking job.

Cant see that happening.

Rodgers would drag his marker all over the pitch. If you watch Rodgers, he might have No 11 on his back but one minute he'd be in at full forward, next minute he'd be in at his own corner back position.

A bit like Danny Cullen of Setanta and Donegal if you have ever seen him hurl. Impossible to mark.

To put Paddy Burke to man mark Rodgers would leave a massive gap in the Cushendall full back line which would be exploited by Slaughtneil and you can bet Mickey McShane and Nander would be cute enough to have them do just that.

Id say Cushendall will go with the same defensive set up as the Portaferry match.

If Eoghan Campbell is detailed to man mark any Slaughtneil player, that takes away part of Cushendall's attacking threat, as a lot of ball out of defence goes through Eoghan Campbell who sets up several Cushendall attacks, although he was quiet during the Antrim final.

Regardless of the match ups, if Cushendall turn up and play the way they played on Sunday past, it is going to be a long afternoon.

True.

The Portaferry match will have given Cushendall the opportunity to have shaken a lot of rust from the undercarraige but if they play like that against Slaughtneil they'll be in for a tough shift.

I wonder how the long lay off will affect Slaughtneil. They never got out of second gear in the Derry final against Lynches. I suppose we wont know until throw in.

Normally I would agree but thinking back to last year you would have thought Sneill  v Portaferry in Ulster semi was a good tune up for them before Dunloy and it was advantageous to have that extra game but I thought they were really rusty in Ulster final. Missed pick ups, handling errors etc.

I would say we will know within 10 mins what way the layoff has affected them but I'm sure they have been busy enough & I expect a really big performance from Slaughneil 

[Antrim Coaster]

i thought that with Christy but I couldn't see McCormick even on the subs that came on so wondered was he injured.

Is he not in Canada

[Antrim Coaster]

Who was Alex Delargy replacing on Sunday? Was it Niall McCormick? He was very good in the county final and would be a good guy to have there too.

Christy McNaughton is honestly one of if not the most skillful player I have seen from Antrim but unfortunately he just doesn't have the conditioning. He is still definitely a very useful boy to have around.

Jaysus, he has some set of wrists.

[imtommygunn]

i thought that with Christy but I couldn't see McCormick even on the subs that came on so wondered was he injured.

Is he not in Canada

That would explain it. You wouldn't have dropped him after county final as he was fantastic.