Antrim Hurling

[Minder]

Glenariffe 1-15 Loughgile 0-21

[slow corner back]

Armoy beat Rasharkin by a point, Ballycastle beat again. Was not at either match but got a text.

[NAG1]

did the loughgiel Glenarriffe match cut up rough last night?

[Minder]

did the loughgiel Glenarriffe match cut up rough last night?

Was a very good game I believe and one we maybe should have won. Didn't cut up rough from what I heard, Ding Gillan did his party trick of drawing off a player in the first half. Tosh got two stupid yellows for backchat to the ref and another one of our fellas drew off Winker after a bit of a schemozzle.

Heard we called off the Dublin friendly by informing the Dubs it was Antrim championship that Tuesday night, not league games. You couldn't make it up.

[NAG1]

Minder sure we had 18 traveling to Cork at the weekend for the pre championship bonding/ training weekend what a farce.

Its embarrassing that 3 weeks before a championship game that we could even field for a challenge game, not that the match should have been fixed mid week anyway.

Yeah Ding at it again, would love to see the stats on his record, I would say he has been sent off in every season since he started hurling senior level not many can rival a record like that. Long may it continue 

[oman]

i was at the oisins match last night and they had a great chance to win the match. it was the sub who came on at half time who missed a sitter. think it was the yound lad aaron cosgrove not sure.

[the colonel]

From county site. Norris Murray other sending off (not surprising). Tosh has had a couple of reds over the years that have been down to back chat to ref's.

Loughgiel edged out Glenariffe in a high scoring and very entertaining Division One league game at Waterfoot on Wednesday evening, a win that moves them back to the top of the table. Just two points in arrears with the game entering injury time Oisin's almost snatched a result when 'Ronnie' McDonnell placed substitute Aaron Cosgrove clear in front of goal, but a great block from a Shamrocks defender saved the day for the visitors and they broke away to seal the win with Liam Watson point.
Glenariffe got away to a flying start and were 0-6 to 0-2 ahead after twelve minutes with Johnny 'Tosh' hitting four and 'Ronnie' the other two, but Loughgiel hit back and some lovely scores from Eddie McCloskey and Liam McKillop, and three from full forward Damian Laverty, sent them in level at the break on nine points apiece.
Glenariffe had the perfect start to the second-half as corner-forward Kevin McDonnell reacted quickly when a ball rebounded off the upright to flick it to the Loughgiel net. Watson hit back with two quick Loughgiel points but 'Tosh' sent over two at the other end to keep the home side in front.
McIntosh then received a second yellow card and joined Loughgiel's 'Ding' Gillen (who had been sent off in the first-half) on the sideline and while Glenariffe were trying to re-adjust Loughgiel hit three points inside a minute through Eddie McCloskey (2) and Liam Watson to edge in front for the first time.
The remainder of the game was score for score with Loughgiel finding a reply each time the Oisin's closed to within point. Glenariffe's cause was not helped when Norris Murray was red carded in the forty-ninth minute, but they kept themselves in contention with some great points from Randal McDonnell.
There was just two between the sides entering injury time when the home side made a late bid for glory only to be denied by some great Loughgiel defending as the Shamrocks held out to keep their league title bid very much alive.
Glenariffe – Seanin McToal, Norris Murray, Mark Nulty, Chris Sheppard, Conor kerr, Mickey Gettins, Dan McKillop, Conor McAllister, Karl Healey, Paul McDonnell, Randal McDonnell, Daniel O'Boyle, Alex McDonnell, Johnny McIntosh, Kevin McDonnell. Subs – Aaron Cosgrove

Loughgiel – DD Quinn, Conal Dobbin, Barney McAuley, Mark McFadden,  Paul Gillen, Johnny Campbell, Oran McFadden, Liam McKillop, Declan Laverty, Eddie McCloskey, Martin Scullion, Ciaran McKinley, Joey Scullion, Damian Laverty, Liam Watson.  Subs – Ronan McCloskey

Dunloy and Ballygalget also ran up a big score in their game in Dunloy with the home side beating the Down men by 2-19 to 2-15 to stay in joint second place in the league table.
The much travelled Portaferry, who made their third trip to North Antrim in ten days, were rewarded when they beat Ballycastle by 0-19 to 1-13 at Pairc MacUilli

[Milltown Row2]

Rossa beat Clooney by 4 (no stolen phones to be reported)
Johnnies beat St. Galls handy enough.

yes the Johnnies won handy enough. was not at the match but heard we had a man sent off which wouldn't help, coupled with the county players unavailable due to the game on Sunday its unfair on the  lads.

think we must be the only Club to have 10 representatives for their county, seems that the bigger clubs don't get anything out of producing quality players that end up being with the county more than their club. I'd say at a stretch the county players manage 10 league games a year with their club.

on a side note our Division 4 team beat St Agnes up in woodlands. was not for the purist but was mighty exciting!!!

i think the ball must have been attached to my shins as they are black and blue today!!

[theskull1]

Dunloy and Ballygalget also ran up a big score in their game in Dunloy with the home side beating the Down men by 2-19 to 2-15 to stay in joint second place in the league table.

A good open game last night. Played in the right spirit throughout (just about) officiated very well (just about) by Garrett Duffy. The game flowed from start to finish with some lovely scores from both sides. Dunloy wides/missed chances kept Ballygalget in the hunt and they responded well which made for a good exciting game right to the finished. Performance levels much better from Dunloy who are still missing a few players through injury. Good to see us putting up a decent scoreline

[Two Hands FFS]

Watson gone from county panel.bbc ni website.no suprise there

[Minder]

Watson gone from county panel.bbc ni website.no suprise there

Maybe a few big scrambler competitions coming up.

[the colonel]

BBC page

Liam Watson's walk-out reduces Antrim hurlers' options 

Watson was previously dropped from the Antrim hurling squad in July 2008
Antrim hurlers' options for the summer have been reduced by Liam Watson's decision to quit the county squad.

An Antrim county board statement said that a players representative had informed the management on Thursday night of Watson's decision.

The management was told that Loughgiel man Watson had taken the decision because of "personal commitments".

Watson was dropped from the county squad in 2008 but was coaxed back by Dinny Cahill at the start of this year.

Cahill, who started his second stint as Antrim manager last Autumn, was keen to get Watson back on board after the player was dropped by previous bosses Sambo McNaughton and Dominic McKinley for playing soccer.

Antrim will face Offaly in the Leinster Championship at Parnell Park on 30 May.

Watson has played for Irish League team Donegal Celtic in recent seasons and helped the west Belfast side achieve promotion to the Carling Irish Premiership.

Friday's Antrim county board statement said that the squad had trained in Randalstown on Thursday night.

"It was a very intensive session where all the current squad players were available and trained," added the statement.

After winning their opening National League games against Carlow and Kildare, Antrim suffered a slump and the Saffrons will go into the Leinster Championship clash with few pundits expecting them to trouble Offaly

[NAG1]

Was only a matter of time!

[theskull1]

Ding seeing Red and winker walking away just when he's needed....history has a habit of repeating itself doesn't it

[NAG1]

Is there an element of self protection in this move? Doesnt want to be shown up in the match next week?