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I would say its a hopelessly drawn out safety net!

Getting relegated is becoming a hard job - although its the contempt for club fixtures while the whole process labours out that bothers me.

Some atmosphere in Offaly this weekend - no matter what happens we meet again next week and its more important than the this meaningless game?!

There is too much protection for division 1 teams. So if you win division 2 you will maybe be promoted. Shouldn't be that way.

You'd almost think the big teams didn't want to be bothered with the lesser lights, wouldn't you?

True Johnny - the exact same as the Antrim Division 1 Hurling league this year when it splits at the midway stage. At least the National League has the wit to disregard teams in other divisions. We disregard teams within our own division.

I don't agree its too short - the hurling season is too long already. Only teams playing in February should be those in AI campaigns.

I think hurling in pitches in march is completely different to hurling in late summer.  I don't agree playing friendlies or Ulster league now helps get ready for Championship, but a good fitness/skill programme now would

I agree there shouldn't be matches in March/April but the fixtures committee continue to play club games (league and championship) outside the core summer months of June/July/August. That is the long standing issue here. I know county teams, leinster hurling championship, Ulster football cship etc etc are on. But playing our club cship off over 3 weeks in Septmeber (when the weather is on the downturn) is not the solution and chances are you'll be standing up in Ballycastle on county final day at the end of September in the cold with the wind howling and rain lashing which will not provide a great spectacle for players or supporters.

Was Ballycastle not basking in sunshine on county final day last year?

Did Naomh Gall play Rossa at the weekend MR2?

Played them last week lost by a couple of points, beat Portaferry on Sat and the reserves (I played, legs sore today) O'Dees on Sunday.

Rossa Played Johnneys team on Sunday, was a ok affair till it got a little fiesty at the end, Rossa with the bare minimum and Ballygalget missing county lads.

Whats the story with a lot of Antrim teams not playing the Ulster League?

Any other challenge games this weekend?

MR2, according to administrators, the Ulster League is being re formatted this year. Allegedly it is going to be run throughout the season and not just a pre season thing. In addition, it will not include the Antrim teams. Possibly a way of developing hurling throughout the province.

It's only the last couple of years though MR that St Enda's have started coming on. I'd expect it'd be another 3 or 4 years before(or if) that benefit is really seen at senior level.

Tommy, in Cormac Ross, Ruairi Diamond and John McGoldrick St Endas have three superb talents that would fit in to any senior PANEL in Antrim. A result of the good work they did at juvenille level. Whilst the club has done good work with the juveniles, as MR2 said, the same work needs to be put in at senior level. No point in bringing these kids through playing at the top table and competing with the best to suddenly find themselves competing in third tier competiitions. I hoep for those lads sake, St Endas get their act together soon.

Not only was James McNaughton a legend of Cushendall, Antrim and Ulster hurling, but he was a beautiful person too. A very humble and extremely mild mannered man. Interesting to talk to and funny too. The sidelines of the Antrim championship will be an eerie place in the 2014 championship because everyone will know he should have been there. Today is a sad day.

Funny - I see NO mention of the result on the Ladies website either. Why are you so quick to look to the 'county board' to publicise your efforts and you DON'T do it yourselves? Is there a ladies PRO this year? Good luck to you for the rest of the year.

Mmmmmm (suspicious groan) You sound very like the administrator for the couty's website. Very similar defensive lines. But anyway, you are right - people should do more. But eqully if someone is in post to carry out such an administrative job, they too should be doing their bit too.

Loughiel lost the game on Saturday - nothing to do with the ref. He made some questionable calls against both sides, but in the balance of it there was no particular bias towards one side or the other. The only person who can feel hard done by is Ronan McCloskey. Ronan was ran ragged for 10 mins and just when he could have been taken off he settled and was in complete control in the area where MLR were sending all balls to their man of the match. The "non yellow card" which he was awarded meant it was too much of a risk to leave him in there - PJ made the right call. Pity - because i fully believe Ronan could have been the key to stopping their attack.

On another note, Loughiel didnt have the same appetitie as MLR. The team that wanted it most won it!
However, Loughiel were still within touching distance despite the below par performance. I honestly think the difference was the 'Jim Nelson' factor. Whilst Jim's ill health is devastating for all Antrim people - his calm and calculated eye was missing on Saturday. There were a few things happening on the pitch which Jim would have eradicated in seconds. The sideline had a lot to do on Saturday but Jim would be coolly sitting back and noticing small things like the fact that LG forwards didnt win any high ball - which was consistently fed in to them.

It was just an unfortunate day for Antrim and LG and MLR deserve a lot of credit.

Old dog for the hard road. Johnny is the right man for Saturday. Hopefully he'll be 100%

I totally agree. But with his censoring powers from a dictatorship era, no-one will get the chance to pass comment on the site. If a member of the county board/executive or team manager was to put in such a poor performance there would be calls for his/her head to roll.

There might very well be a cry for seeding in future - but this is what championship has always been about. The luck of the draw and being the best - come what may!
The league has already been engineered so that the strong get stronger and the rest get ignored ie splitting the league in two at the halfway stage. The only reason the All Ireland championship has evolved the way it has is to generate more money for HQ. It provides great entertainment but you can, and often do, have champions who have been beaten at some point in the championship season. So are they really champions?

The Antrim hurling championship is, in my opinion, the best club hurling championship in the country. It has taken a serious twist this year and we're all going to be in for a good summer. Lets hope those that come through the "other side of the draw" do so with raw hunger and give it a real go.