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Watching the Sunday Game there and really liked Donal Og Cusacks idea about an Ulster team playing in the Liam McCarthy Cup.  I think it would really promote hurling in Ulster and gives Antrims better players a chance of mixing it with the best of Ireland. 

Antrim/Down/Derry etc will never be overly competitive in the All Ireland and you only have to look at the combined Colleges team that played in the A Colleges All Ireland, even though they got beat, they were competitive and should of won.  Resources were put in and the players bought into it, surely our seniors would buy into it as well.

Folks calm down - I forgot about Karl Stewart for the Ulster squad but don't worry he would be in it. Regarding players that are not on the County Squads at present but I have named, you would need to ask the previous and current County Managers why there not in County squads cause I have seen Tony McCloskey and Kevin Molloy numerous times this year and they have been 1st class.

C Baillie and D Toner have played County hurling for at least 1 year now and seemed to feature on the score sheet. Whilst the probably wouldn't start they could be options. Hence I named a panel and not a team!!!

Remember this is my opinion folks!!!

few players I feel would make a combined Ulster squad - As I say this is my opinion and with the right training and management structures in places could and I stress could do something down South.

Antrim

DD Quinn, Johnny Campbell, M Scullion, T McCloskey, L Watson, E McCloskey, J Scullion, N McManus, A Graffin, S McNaughton,           R McGarry, C Donnelly, N McAuley, P Shiels, S Dowds, K Molloy, B McFall, S McCrory

Down

C Baillie, S Ennis, C Woods, M Ennis, D Toner, P Braniff

Derry

D McDermott, M Warnock, L Hinphey, O McCloskey, K Hinphey, P Henry, R Convery

Armagh

R McGrattan, D Carvill, C Carvill, R Gaffney

Antrim Senior Hurling Championship 2013 Idea

This is my idea for next years Championship (dates are only a guide by the way):

10 teams - Loughgiel, Dunloy, Cushendall, St Johns, Glenariffe, Ballycastle, Cloughmills, Rossa, Sarsfields and St Galls.

Open draw played on 1st weekend of August (3rd and 4th) with 5 winners through to the 1/4 finals.

5 losing teams play then in a round robin system through the rest of August with the top 3 then through to the 1/4 finals.

RD 1 -  10th and 11th August (Team 1 v team 2 and team 3 v team 4)
RD 2 -  14th and 15th August (team 5 v team 1 and team 2 v team 3)
RD 3 - 21st and 22nd August (team 4 v team 5 and team 1 v team 3)
RD 4 - 24th and 25th August (team 2 v team 4 and team 5 v team 3 )
RD 5 - 28th and 29th August (team 1 v team 4 and team 2 v team 5)


1/4 finals on w/e 7th and 8th September.

Semi finals on 17th and 18th September

Final 29th September. 


I think this way might work and give the 5 losing teams more games and then give them a chance of providing a shock or 2 come the knock out stages.  Also everyone gets a minimum of 2 games!!

Also I know it could be a bit of a problem regarding Gaelic Football fixtures for the CCC but I think it has a chance.

Any thoughts/tweaks etc