Antrim Hurling

[NAG]

Guys

I have to play devils advocate here, he was on the football panel and trained with the hurlers on the morning of their game and on the day of the hurlers game he played in a game for his club.

What is this guy thinking? Can you honestly see shefflin turning out for his club on the day of a championship game?

And dont give me all this he was serving his club and he was doing the right thing. We as antrim people invest a hell of alot of time money and effort to get our county teams ready for the big days like he has been invovled in and he has shown that preparation of months absolutely no respect at all by his actions.

Im not saying that his injury is anything to do with turning out for his club but its the idea of the best preparation that he so badly failed to get on board with.

[milltown row]

Magill I'm sure was put under pressure to play/train for both teams throughout the season. Common sense should have prevailed and allowances regarding training should be implemented to accommodate players who have the ability to play hurling and football for his county. He's obviously talented at both, fit and keen to play. Is there any need to make all the sessions, or is it a strict rule to not play players who wont commit to one code?

As regards to injuries and in particular Magills' players at that level always pick up injuries. They are going full pelt all year and it happens. I wish him a speedy recovery and he's young enough. Might be early enough for him to get States side. 

[NAG]

Tongue firmly in cheek there milltown.

I think if the full truth was out then it would be clear that he was missing as many sessions for the hurlers as he was for the footballers. Think there was more than enough allowance made in this case.

[Two Hands FFS]

Antrim hurling joint-manager Sambo McNaughton has revealed that former Saffrons manager Jim Nelson has become part of the county's backroom team.

McNaughton told BBC Sport Interactive that Nelson would be "an extra pair of eyes in the stand".

"He will also be a liaison officer between us and the county board," McNaughton added.

The Saffrons face a Down team in Sunday's Ulster Final who are managed by previous Antrim boss Jim McKernan.

McNaughton added:"Jim Nelson has great experience and will also be doing statistics for us and advising us if we're doing something wrong."

Nelson first managed McNaughton when the Cushendall man joined the Antrim minor panel as a 14-year-old.

"Everybody seems to be doing it (getting an advisor) and if they are doing it, they must be getting something out of it. It's another opinion from somebody you respect."

McNaughton added that Liam Watson's dismissal in Antrim's Ulster semi-final win over Derry led to the decision to bring Nelson on board.

"I thought if we had a man in the stand, we could have seen what was happening earlier.

"Watson was warned not to do it but we felt we were concentrating on the other parts of the game."

Loughgiel man Watson did receive a red card against Derry but he will be eligible to line out in Sunday's provincial decider at Casement.

In his interview with BBC Sport Interactive, McNaughton pointedly mentioned that Down have trained at the west Belfast venue on as many occasions this year as his team.

"We are on the phone every night trying to scrounge pitches and Casement is sitting empty. It would drive you up the wall."

Michael Magill is the latest Antrim player to suffer a long-term injury after suffering a muscle tear near to his Achilles tendon and calf.

McNaughton expects Magill to be out of action for rest of this summer while the Saffrons are already without Neil McManus and Neil McAuley for the remainder of the championship.

[Minder]

Sounds like a pretty pointless exercise with Nelson.

[theskull1]

The "good room" in me mothers house gets more abuse than Casement. Does the groundsman have embarassing pictures of the  county board or what is it with not letting the side train there at least once a week?

[Glensman]

Answering y own question here but been told that the report on Magill's injury in the Irish News was crap...completely made up. He is to see specialist in Dublin over next couple of days and prognosis not known. He could be out for a while but not known yet. Must have been a slow news day.

Joke that the hurlers aren't given more access to Casement. Its a good enough pitch and could take at least the once a week access as suggested by Skull.

What was your take on the Feis final Skull?

If it stops someone getting sent off with someone (Nelson) taking a wider view of the game, and being instructed to do so, then it will work. Eg Watson getting abuse (albeit not much) then he could be instructed to take his man for a run, Richmond sent in to hit the man a shoulder, managment can draw it to the referee's attention before it spills over.
Someone might have been able to tell them with one less player v Derry to take an extra second on the ball and deliver the right pass in.
From the stand you can see patterns in the game developing whereas sometimes you are so wrapped up in the thing pitchside.

[Minder]

If the story in the Irish News was made up it is strange that there is a quote from Terry Mac saying he probably would not be back this year

[groundlie]

Team for Sunday named, shows one change form the semi final demolition of Derry. E McCloskey in for M Magill

1 Riain  Mac  Fhearaiigh

2 Arron Mac Grífin
3 Seamus Mac Thaig
4 Sean Ó  Duílearga

5 Ciaran Mac Giolla Chearáin
6 Carl  Mac  Aogáin
7 Sean  Mac Cathmhaoil

8 Carl Stiobhard
9 Eamon Mac Bloscaidh

10 Micheal Mac Giolla Chearain
11 Cormac  o  Donnaille
12 Donal Mac Neachtain

13 Padraiog  de Riseamann
14 Liam Mac Uait
15 Pol   O  Siail


16 Criostoir  Ó  Conaill
17 Micheal   Mac Ambrois
18 Micheal Mac Coitíl
19 Breandán Ó  Coinne
20 Niall Mac Fhearaigh
21 Simon Mac Ruairi
22 Sean Mac Neachtain
23 Padraig Mac an Ghoill
24 Cathal Mac Amhalai
25 Micheal Mac an Ghoill
26 Padraig Seosamh Ó Conaill
27 Darren  Ó h Amaill
28 Colm O Duifinn

[theskull1]

Any thoughts on the team selection Groundie? 

Poor Feis final Glensman IMO but maybe's thats just from my perspective. Overall quality was poor from both sides and the shams were well worth their win. Playing winker in the corner worked well for him and we didn't deal with him well for the whole game. Thought our own play was laboured and lacked any conviction. Couldn't name anybody in the Dunloy team who had a good game...that was how bad we were.

[Glensman]

Not far off exactly what I thought Skull.
Was a very poor game and no one really played well for Dunloy (the again no one played that great for the Bodies bar Winker in patches and their wee corner back no 2 on Ally).
Richmond for the first ten then he stopped, Rab made a few interceptions, Shorty cleared a bit.
Winker was on great form and Loughgeil's tactic worked really well...keeping the left half forward in field and giving them the space to hit him. Mickey McC didn't do that badly on him all things considered as he was popping them over from the sideline.

Neilly McGarry looked strong but maybe his ankle didn't pass the county fitness test.

Graffin and Delargy will have to be on form on Sunday. McKeague playing grand but a fit Magic might cause some damage if he is in there.

[NAG]

Feis final very poor all round.

Dunloy looked very flat compared to their usual sharp fast game. Loughgiel did hurl well in most areas of the field but this looked to be more due to dunloys lack of appetite than them physically dominating. Think the worrying thing for loughgiel would be that if dunloy has scored the penalty they would have gone on to the game which loughgiel totally and utterly dominated posession in.

Interesting times ahead.

[Two Hands FFS]

Casement Park - Management Committee Addresses Popular Myths
11 June 2008
Antrim County Management Committee has taken steps to dispel the popular myth that Casement Park is not available often enough for either county team training, or for various games and that it is lying empty on a regular basis.

From May 1st until today (42 days), Casement Park has hosted 16 training sessions for various teams and 8 matches. The pitch was closed for 4 days for sanding and re-sodding of the goalmouths and for 3 days for fertilising.  5 days were set aside for match preparations.

There was therefore just 8 occasions when Casement Park was not used in this time period and no request for use was received on any of these occasions.

Did the county board read this thread then make a statement??

[Minder]

I would say it was more to do with the Antrim management whining about it in the press.

[theskull1]

I would say it was more to do with the Antrim management whining about it in the press.

You would think that the Executive and County Management would actually talk to each other rather than responding to each others comments in the press

John: "How can I help you Terence?"
Terence: "Call me Terry, John"