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Who will win the Nicky Rackard this year. No outright favourite this year as I see with Roscommon and Armagh gone. What's the story with the Fingal team?

Look I wasn't criticising Sean D directly, I know he's a dedicated player and devoted to the cause but it just wouldn't happen in the counties serious about winning McCarthy. Players would never organise a wedding or holidays around June or July as its pretty evident that championship will be on this period. If they were restricted to this period due to their partner's and /or family commitments they would drop out of the panel for the year or forego the honeymoon until after championship. The latter is very common at this time of year in both codes.

Clare (bonus)
Dublin

Amazed that there has been no comment about the captain of the team Sean Delargy getting married and missing possibly the only two All Ireland Hurling championship games v Galway and prob Waterford due to a 2 week honeymoon.
I'll make little comment other than to suggest that this epitomises why Antrim hurling is going nowhere at senior inter-county level. this wouldn't happen in a Rackard Cup county in the 26 never mind one of the top counties from Munster or Leinster. Should be possible to arrange your personal life around the inter-county scene or else give up pretending to have some sort of commitment to your county.

Kilkenny V Offaly (+13.5)
Wexford V Dublin (+3.5)
Antrim V Down (+7.5)

Offaly
Dublin Bonus
Antrim

keep it going! 

BBC Sport have this brief report on website: I'd say the teams were the starting 15 named during the week. Probably some changes. Sounds like Paddy Richmond in good form.
Antrim 2-17 1-12 Derry 

"Paddy Richmond scored two goals and three points for Antrim
A 14-man Antrim side came back from a half-time deficit to defeat Derry in an Ulster SH Championship semi-final clash at Casement Park on Sunday night.

Antrim lost the experienced Liam Watson after two yellow cards in the first half by which time they were trailing by two points.

But Antrim came back strongly in the second half with skipper Paddy Richmond finishing top scorer with 2-03.

Rory Convery was Derry top marksman with eight points.

Derry could only score four points in the second half after leading 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.

Antrim will now face Down in the final after they saw off London earlier in the day



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Antrim: Ryan McGarry, Aaron Graffin, James McKeague, Sean Delargy (capt), Ciaran Herron, Karl McKeegan, Johnny Campbell, Karl Stewart, Michael Magill, Paddy Richmond, Liam Watson, Paul Shiels, Michael Herron, Cormac Donnelly, Donal McNaughton.

Derry: A Magill, M Craig, C Quinn, C McQuillan, R McCloskey, S Henry, S McCullagh, D Brunton, O McCloskey, P Henry, K Hinphey, SL McGoldrick, P McCloskey, R Convery, G Kelly. "

Not that bad with 14 men for the whole game and 9 points on the trot at the end suggests Derry ran out od steam. Any report from the game? Did McKeegan play or did he take that flight?

Anyone at the game? Sounds like Derry taking advantage of the extra man. Why was Winker sent off?

any score update?

Clare (bonus)
Derry
London

Some win for the British college. Letterfrack will be stiffer opposition in the final. Thanks for the updates Coilin. Any score on the nUI Maynooth win over Mary immac.?

Any word on the second Ryan Cup and Maher cup semis?

All of the main hurling sliotars are made in Pakistan, in Sialkot city in the Punjab region to be precise. Cheap labour and leather, and years of expertise from stitching cricket and other leather sportsballs, otherwise sliotars would be about €20 each if made at home.

Congrats to Sambo and Woody and the Antrim team defeating Offaly 3-9 to 2-7 in wet and windy casement. Couldn't get to the game but heard some sporadic commentary on Midlands radio via the web. Lets hope they can translate that form to NHL.