Messages

Probably wore his jeans.

Thing about it Johnney, the Christy Ring is Antrim's level at present and if they are to play in the CR next season there is absolutely no guarantee they will win it

If the current management are to remain, which I think they will, then they really do need to get the tactics and set up right.

Why was Simon McCrory playing at corner back when he is a superb No.5. and wasn't utilized there. Other lads played out of position..

Re Aaron Graffin - superb hurler for club and county without doubt.

TBH if Antrim are to be considered as part of the new hurling proposals and placed in the section along with Carlow, Laois etc then management really do need to get things sorted on that front.

I don't think that Antrim are ready to step up to that level yet and would need another year in the Christy Ring where Derry are lying in wait ready to have a crack. With the Sleachtneil lads on board I reckon they'll be a handful next season.

I wouldn't be surprised if Carlow will take Laois in the next round.

According to a few Dall lads I was talking to, when Aaron Graffin was asked back into the county squad he texted all the players to enquire if there would be any issues if he was to return. Apparently the players had no issues with the decision.

Carlow dragged our full back line all over the place, their full forward gradually moved out towards the midfield area and Rocky followed him out which really exposed the 2 corner men. Not Rocky's fault but I think we lost this on the sideline.

No tactical decisions or changes were made until Carlow had rattled in 4 goals and we were chasing the game.

thesaffrongael.com

New webpage set up by Curly covering Antrim club and county games.

Badly needed after the demise of the Antrim Post & The Ballymena Chronicle.

That Cork chap would appear to be a member of Na Piarsaigh who's club badge is a red hand without the thumb.

The thinking behind the badge is when the 6 counties are returned then the thumb will be added.

Then again Cork is full of West Brits so I wouldn't expect anything less than a partitionist attitude from a Langer.

Not a UVF thing.

Between 2 individuals who 'worked' together and had a serious falling out.

Apparently this chap who was scooped is related to one of these individuals through marriage.

Endas must have good numbers to field in the Z Squad and South Antrim leagues.

I think those games are played on Tuesday evenings.

Big commitment but benefits outweigh the negatives

I see St Enda's have been listed as one of the teams playing in South Antrim.

I would have thought they would have remained in North Antrim where they were seen as an excellent addition to NA and their hurling has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years with a JHC win and a narrow defeat to Cloghmills in last year's IHC Final which was a great game to hurling for the neutral to watch.

Part of Jim Nelson's root and branch review at that time also recommended a Director Of Hurling which was never acted on.I got fed up repeating myself at county meetings regarding this matter as well as putting the point across that hurling is on life support in many parts of the county.I gave up as it was the same sound bites from the same people and walked away when the club collapsed

Interview with Sambo on the Sports Joe podcast.

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/antrim-hurlers-preseason-training-sounds-like-absolute-nightmare-115915

Can't help feeling that if they'd:

- Replaced the existing stand.
- Put a roof over the existing terrace opposite.
- Bought up surrounding land and laid floodlit 4g pitches down for the locals/local clubs to use. It probably wouldn't be beyond the wit of man to make these transformable into parking areas for big matches.

That, in my opinion, would be a much better solution than a high-maintenance white elephant.

+1

And all that could have been done without ever shutting the pitch. There hasn't been a game there now for, what, 5 years? I'm beginning to fear that there'll never be another.

This would have been a pitch for Antrim, but not much use of the windfall money for the rest of us.

However, there is no reason why the pitch could not have been kept open while this planning etc was taking place. The pitch should not have been closed until they were ready to go, even if they didn't have any big games using all the capacity.

The stand in Casement required rewiring in order to obtain a safety certificate from the Belfast Council. It would have cost £10,000 to complete this.

As the funding was in place to develop the stadium the Antrim County Board decided against spending that type of money on a structure which was to be demolished as part of the new stadium build. As a result the safety certificate was not awarded and the ground closed as a result

Na Magha and Coleraine have played in the Ulster Junior and Intermediate Championship in alternate years. There was never a play off to determine which club played in which championship.

That changed last year when Coleraine won the Ulster JHC and lost narrowly in the All Ireland JHC Final v Glenmore.

I wouldn't rule out their chances v The Biddies though.

Na Magha and Coleraine have had to enter the Derry SHC as a result of Derry running a half arsed Intermediate / Reserve Hurling Championship.

Obviously the step up to senior is a massive difference with both teams suffering defeats versus senior opposition.

Coleraine didn't field in the Derry SHC as a result of football commitments etc. I thought a team had to play in their own county championship in order to play provincial.

As usual Ulster appear to have fudged the issue.

Philthy 'Animal' Taylor.

Pairc Watty looking well.

Think the grass has been cut recently and if the rain stays away the pitch should accommodate both games without any bother.