Messages

That's fair enough I suppose, but they'd be playing a gather up. I'm sure they'd want to win the league by beating our first choice team. No?

It's a case of getting the game played and putting everything to bed. Remember we postponed the home game against Loughgiel twice at their request which seems to be forgotten.

as we have done for yourselves throughout the years. so what's your point?

You asked why we wouldn't want to play you, I answered. What's your problem regarding my answer? I just stated facts. You're a fierce man for whataboutery going back over years. We have accommodated yourselves this year twice, surely three times in one year is more than enough. And we were slated in the Antrim post Championship supplement for apparently not wanting to play yourselves even though we helping yourselves.

That's fair enough I suppose, but they'd be playing a gather up. I'm sure they'd want to win the league by beating our first choice team. No?

It's a case of getting the game played and putting everything to bed. Remember we postponed the home game against Loughgiel twice at their request which seems to be forgotten.

Knew we were gonna get questioned about not posting but as Milltown says sometimes you just want the dust to settle

No excuses, played completely dire. Dunloy on top on all sections of the pitch and had more hunger for the game. Don't really no what more to say

Can anyone else hear that record jumping?   

Care to comment on the incident?

I spoke to a few shams who saw it, I will let you know what they said after you comment

Still loughgiels to lose IMO

wasn't at it, but no doubt it was the worst atrocity ever witnessed on a hurling field.

I'll save you the bother, I've been told he was lucky to stay on. It happens, not justifying anything, but it does happen in most games.

Was at the game myself. Loughgiel obviously superior all over as score suggests. Barney ran the show and hit some great scores. St Johns dry very poor and been disarray in camp last few weeks with players quitting etc. 2 Johnstons were in programme to start but weren't seen.

On the Watson incident. Was called exactly as a poster stated above. He took a shoulder and turned round and drive the bas of the hurl into the face of the St Johns defender. Now SIE you have said that you weren't at the game, and told that he did indeed deserve the red card which is just right. To say that happens in every game is a complete lie. Your posters were in arms about a tackle on James a few weeks ago and this was in the similar mould, serious hospital treatment could have been needed.

Should have been looking at a fair suspension and I think it's fair to say you got the luck of the green on that one. Questions to be asked about the call by the red and his team of officials. If one of them had saw it then it should have been red. If none saw it then no action should have been taken. I do not know how a yellow card could be issued for this type of offense. I won't comment in issue again for fear of saying I have a broken needle.....

Looking forward to our game tomorrow. Hopeful of a victory and if we are to win I think it will be of a narrow margin

[to come]

Have heard these rumours. News seems to come direct from Loughgiel via wee Joe in Casement.

Corrected that for you there Colonel 

Fierce suspicious NAG

Have heard these rumours. News seems to go direct to Loughgiel first

Games confirmed as 6pm in Ballycastle for Loughgiel v St Johns and Sunday at 3.30 in Loughgiel for ourselves v Dunloy. Both double headers with Junior Championship games

Final date will not be decided I would imagine until after the games this weekend. Obviously it is unlikely St Johns will beat Loughgiel but if they did then you couldn't have a double header on the Saturday as they are in the football final

Is the game still on tomorrow night between cdall and lgiel?

Despite Mr Watsons recent incorrect claims that we have refused to play them it is on yes

Elliott's awarding of the penalty was controversial, 2 men physically contesting a high ball was all I saw. Then he gave Stewart 2 goes at it. The rest of his performance was ok but the penalty award and retake was questionable to say the least. He seems to like giving dubious penalties against Cushendall.

While I thought the penalty may have questionable however according to one of our hurl carriers he hadn't blown his whistle for the original strike and his back was turned to the ball.

[The McGourtys obviously didnt stop gurning at the final whistle, they continued into the club as well.]

just to point out lads, this rough treatment handed out to St Galls did not happen, maybe a few players digging at each other at stages, thats it. (it is championship after all)

There where only 3 or 4 dirty strokes in the game and they didnt come from Dall players.

The McGourtys obviously didnt stop gurning at the final whistle, they continued into the club as well.

Nothing new there man! The Ciaran lad is the only hurler among them.  Seems like a trait they picked up from their father, another major gurner and still is by all accounts?

Winker if you knew anything about hurling you would know that CJ can more than hold his own

I know a fair amount about hurling man, although I would never profess to be an expert,
not like you and many other.  CJ in my view maybe be talented, but it take much more than talent to be able to hold your own!  Personally, I believe him to be a liability on any team,as he forgets about the fundamentals of teamwork and commitment. Talent in my view is only one key component of being a good hurler or making a vital contribution to "the team".  Of this I am certain. e.g.  Does Watson, Donnelly, McManus, Shields not hold their own at their respective hurling clubs?  Is only their talent, contribution and ability to hold their own the only key factor towards a teams success?  CJ in effect, could potentially cost you a game in my opinion.  But remember, I am no expert!

In defence of CJ and not attacking other you have named, some of their disciplinary records could be questioned so I think that is a silly point. CJ scored about 1-2 yesterday (maybe more from frees) and was really good at centre back last year against Dunloy and ourselves which for me is a worthwhile contribution. I will of course remember you are no expert 

[The McGourtys obviously didnt stop gurning at the final whistle, they continued into the club as well.]

just to point out lads, this rough treatment handed out to St Galls did not happen, maybe a few players digging at each other at stages, thats it. (it is championship after all)

There where only 3 or 4 dirty strokes in the game and they didnt come from Dall players.

The McGourtys obviously didnt stop gurning at the final whistle, they continued into the club as well.

Nothing new there man! The Ciaran lad is the only hurler among them.  Seems like a trait they picked up from their father, another major gurner and still is by all accounts?

Winker if you knew anything about hurling you would know that CJ can more than hold his own

Lads at the end of the day St Galls have some great hurlers who won a lot of underage county titles in hurling at the expense of ourselves particularly and St Galls backboned county squads for years. Add that to last years showing then respect had to be given to them. What is the point in approaching Quarter Finals differently or not being prepared for the games.

This physical approach chat is OTT in my opinion but this a forum where opinions are expressed and I don't think anyone connected with our team will be too concerned about people thinking this. As I said, this was nothing compared to the clashes between Kevin McKeague and Malachy Dallas yesterday evening.

Yesterday after a slow enough first few minutes due to stoppages we got going but over complicated things. If we had kept it simple we would have been out of sight in first half. Instead of popping the ball over the bar we took too many touches and let St Galls get a few openings from the turnovers (penalty and a point).

As regards to any physical stuff I would say we weren't bad, just letting St Galls know they were in a game. All the wild strokes in the game came from St Galls as far as I could see- Karl Stewart on Karl McKeegan at the start, CJ On Sean Delargy which was very early, and also the one on the keeper from Anto Healy. I am glad we have came out unscathed and were able to use a few off the bench. I am not sure what happened Kevin McGourty as I never seen it. Himself and CJ gave all the officials serious abuse and were reported several times to the referee without any real action.

Went to the game in Loughgiel. Ballycastle looked sharp at the start and the two corner forwards looked as if they were going to cause serious damage. McLister started very well. He was starved of ball in the second half and all the ball went to Saul McCaughan who struggled as the game went on as Paudie Shivers got to grips with him. Strange from Ballycastle. The two Cunnings coming on helped Dunloy in the half forward line. Hopefully Conor is ok as he looked to be in discomfort as he was stretchered off. Big Paddy still has the touch of class even if the legs can't take him any more. Ballycastle missed some opportunities from frees as Cossie was off form. Serious one sided. Milltown if you want to see jabs in the ribs etc then you should have seen Cossie and Kevin McKeague who completely bullied Cossie. James McLister was lucky to stay on the pitch after a very wild pull when a Dunloy player was on the deck and also for a slap back when he was bottled up. Very stange decisions by Herbie who gave a hop ball for the first and done James for over carrying for the second.

I thought Neil McAuley was quite good but performance of the weekend for me had to be Karl Stewart who was immense again.

In my humble opinion, bring back Dinnie C. Alternatively, approach Justin McCarthy, Donal O'Grady.  Keep it outside the county.  Coaching is one thing, managing is a completely different can of worms, also together.  This county needs to be managed from the top down, at admin and team levels.  We can play hurling in Antrim, what we need to do is apply it in the right form and have strategy and tactics managed.

Johnston can coach, there is no doubt, but as for respect of the players and managerial ability, well, lets not go there! 

Well you can't have Donal O'Grady, he's already agreed to assist the Down hurlers this year and will be picking up Brian Cody on the way through for a few sessions as well.
Nicky English is to take our minors next year as well.

I heard that the timetable for the ferry is getting changed to suit the fellas as well.