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What be considered a good result for the u21 hurlers today

Personally i think if we get within 10 points i think it would be a great showing. Would love to be 'in the game' at half time, would be a real sign of progress from last years meeting.

Senior st galls
Intermediate casements
Junior winner of aggies and antrim

So it's that time of year again, championship, after this weekend some teams will get that shot in the arm a championship win can give and others will be left to pick up the pieces for the league ending. Here are my predictions for this weekend:

JFC

Lisburn v Ballycastle: Fancy the castle by 2-3 points, don't think either team will be in the mix for JFC but both will fancy their chances of progressing here.

IFC

Glenravel v Randalstown: Going to go with Tir Na nOg here, seem a decent side anytime i've seen them they seem to move the ball well and work good scores, no more reliance on Magill.

Ballymena v St Endas: Both teams going well in their leagues, St Endas could cause a surprise here and will be quietly confident of an upset, but this Ballymena team have been there done that at this level and i can see them winning by 2-3 points.

Glenavy v Davitts: Fancy Glenavy here by 6-7 points, Davitts are a decent side but in their 1st year back at this level i think they might struggle. Hopefully they prove me wrong and run it a bit tighter, some excellent footballers.

Sarsfields v Dunloy: All Div 3 clash, can't see past Sars though, good young team with that bit of experience, Dunloy having their usual problems with hurlers gearing up for SHC, Sars by 4.

Gort Na Mona v St Brigids: Think the Malone Road men will have enough here to get through, Gort will make it difficult for them though, will be tighter than league form shows, Brigids by 2.

Portglenone v O'Donells: Cant look past Portglenone here, seem to be coming back slowly but surely, blooding a few of the players that got them the U-21 title last year, will stand them well for a crack at IFC this year, Casements by 7.

MR2 - I understand why people favour the open draw but what these pesky Belfast teams argue doesn't matter. If the big NA teams want seeding then it will happen.

The mac - you started by arguing Rossa should not be in intermediate and finish by saying that division 2 should form intermediate championship!

Was more arguing the fact that it isnt based on league at the min, there are clubs playing senior who are in div 2 (which Rossa are top of) as i said, i wasnt getting at rossa just thought they should play senior. As it is at the min senior is basically div 1 & top div 2 sides, intermediate is rest of div 2 and top div 3 sides with junior the rest of div 3.

Rossa play St Enda's in 1st round of IHC team top of div 2 against a mid table div 3 team, can you tell me these 2 teams are more evenly matched than Rossa and Johnnies/ Galls/ Sars/ Clooney/ C'Mills?

As i say, i've no gripe with Rossa doing it, quite within their right to do so, I just think there has to be a better way to structure our championships.

Loughgiel are deserved favourites - I don't see anyone other than loughgiel men claiming any different! It would be a shock if they don't win it - but shocks are what happen in championship! Altho given the current internals there's no chance of that shock coming from corrigan!

I think sometimes we under estimate how great a county championship we have.

After this years draw I would not be surprised if there was a move to seed the draw - this is not something I would necesssarily disagree with. Not in terms of the championship but because it would make league positions more meaningful.

On the same subject - this does already have an influence on championship grade. Maybe Galls & definitely The paddies might have looked at intermediate championship this year - but they are dictated into senior by being in division 1. (Clooney & cloughmills recent winners of intermediate so playing senior).
It's is this that opens up the possibility of Rossa & glenarrife playing intermediate - the fact they are in division 2. It's always a shock when a formerly big club drop down a level.
I'm not winding up HS but rossa's results over the past number of years would indicate intermediate is logical. Their current teamsheet bares little resemblance to the players who made them competitive. In cork na piarsaigh face possible drop to intermediate - and this has happened "big" teams in ither counties - so why would it be any different here?

Great to finally see the prospect of some sustained and competitive club hurling. We can also judge the division1 split over time. For me the big question is towards ballycastle and if they are going to step up or continue to promise in league but fail to deliver in championship. Will an up/down Dunloy time their season for championship?

To be honest i think the best way to sort out who plays what championship is by league, the only spanner in the works are the down teams but i would say we could work around that handy enough.

Div 1 senior, Div 2 intermediate, Div 3 Junior and Div 4 Junior B. 2 up and 2 down from each every year, the league winners and championship winner, if this is the same team then 2nd in the league play championship runners up for the next place. if a team who wins championship is in the bottom 2 then the next team goes down. make things alot more interesting. Personally would do the same in football. Would take away the clubs option of picking what they want to play.

The Johnnies were lucky to win Ulster at Casement and were put out in the semis of the All Ireland Intermediate.  Glenariffe at full strength will give Rossa all they want, but from what I've seen of Rossa this year they have the extra bit in them to take it to another level.

As for senior, Ballycastle have come up short against Loughgiel in the championship when I expected more. They have made good intentions this year in the league but leagues mean feck all. It's a serious draw with all the big ones and the Johnnies clustered together lol. Loughgiel favourites to come out of that.

As for the other side of the draw, we are clear favourites but anything can happen, Cloughmills, Sarsfields and Clooney Gaels will also see themselves as good chances to get to a senior county final, we need to win two hard games (for our standard anyway) to get to the final, would be a grand year in the club if we could get to both finals, but that's just a side.

I'm looking forward to it, would love to be still playing. Will be a changed final for a start.

Right enough, I think it was yourselves got to the final actually, my bad! Lol. Personally I'd like to see league status dictate championship, prob harder to implement in hurling due to the number of down teams playing in our leagues, def think it should happen sooner rather than later in football tho so we don't have this 'why are they playing in that champ' debate every year

[get momentum just like johnnies]

Why should Rossa not be hurling at this level ? They would be nowhere near a senior championship.

Not getting at rossa, they are probably looking at it as a chance to drop down and get momentum just like johnnies a few years ago. Just because you aren't going to win SHC doesn't mean you shouldn't compete at that level. Can't seriously tell me rossa couldn't beat/ compete with the likes of st galls, cloughmills or St. John's?

I keep hearing this and it was even mentioned when we discussed this issue in our club. What momentum? For me, the Johnnies returned to senior hurling at the same level as they left it.

The biggest reason why we are dropping to intermediate is because the vast majority of our senior hurling team have never won a senior championship match!

I can't remember off hand but didn't they get to an all Ireland final? Surely a big lift to the club etc good to still be competing at that time of year. My own personal feeling is a club like rossa should be playing SHC, looking at the clubs who are playing senior rossa would mix it with most of them. You are gambling with the luck of the draw though and hoping to pull one of the so called weaker sides.

Genuine question would. You rather be considered a senior club or win an IHC? Suppose that's the question committees ask themselves making these decisions

Or is there merit in playing one championship game or perhaps a handful. Who knows.

True, but does that the  filter down to the IH team you knock out 1st round who only get 1 game. As you say it's all about how ya look at it, not gonna criticise rossa, good luck to them and if they do win antrim il support them as far as they go in ulster or AI series

Without sounding selfish, you're hardly gonna give a fiddlers about some other club.

Of course you're not, always look out for no1 and all that. Personally I don't think it should be left up to clubs to decide themselves, turkey's aren't gonna vote for Christmas, but getting our co board to realise this would prob be difficult they like the philosophy if it's broke don't fix it! Prob another debate for another time!

[get momentum just like johnnies]

Why should Rossa not be hurling at this level ? They would be nowhere near a senior championship.

Not getting at rossa, they are probably looking at it as a chance to drop down and get momentum just like johnnies a few years ago. Just because you aren't going to win SHC doesn't mean you shouldn't compete at that level. Can't seriously tell me rossa couldn't beat/ compete with the likes of st galls, cloughmills or St. John's?

I keep hearing this and it was even mentioned when we discussed this issue in our club. What momentum? For me, the Johnnies returned to senior hurling at the same level as they left it.

The biggest reason why we are dropping to intermediate is because the vast majority of our senior hurling team have never won a senior championship match!

I can't remember off hand but didn't they get to an all Ireland final? Surely a big lift to the club etc good to still be competing at that time of year. My own personal feeling is a club like rossa should be playing SHC, looking at the clubs who are playing senior rossa would mix it with most of them. You are gambling with the luck of the draw though and hoping to pull one of the so called weaker sides.

Genuine question would. You rather be considered a senior club or win an IHC? Suppose that's the question committees ask themselves making these decisions

Or is there merit in playing one championship game or perhaps a handful. Who knows.

True, but does that the  filter down to the IH team you knock out 1st round who only get 1 game. As you say it's all about how ya look at it, not gonna criticise rossa, good luck to them and if they do win antrim il support them as far as they go in ulster or AI series

[get momentum just like johnnies]

Why should Rossa not be hurling at this level ? They would be nowhere near a senior championship.

Not getting at rossa, they are probably looking at it as a chance to drop down and get momentum just like johnnies a few years ago. Just because you aren't going to win SHC doesn't mean you shouldn't compete at that level. Can't seriously tell me rossa couldn't beat/ compete with the likes of st galls, cloughmills or St. John's?

I keep hearing this and it was even mentioned when we discussed this issue in our club. What momentum? For me, the Johnnies returned to senior hurling at the same level as they left it.

The biggest reason why we are dropping to intermediate is because the vast majority of our senior hurling team have never won a senior championship match!

I can't remember off hand but didn't they get to an all Ireland final? Surely a big lift to the club etc good to still be competing at that time of year. My own personal feeling is a club like rossa should be playing SHC, looking at the clubs who are playing senior rossa would mix it with most of them. You are gambling with the luck of the draw though and hoping to pull one of the so called weaker sides.

Genuine question would. You rather be considered a senior club or win an IHC? Suppose that's the question committees ask themselves making these decisions

Well any predictions for the upcoming championships? I can't see there being too many arguments about the SFC but I'm sure there will be a few posts of 'it's cargins year' lol. Anyway I'd already posted this in the hurling thread but obviously this is the place for it so just a cut and paste job, here are my predictions

SFC St Galls; Still the best club team in the county by a mile and arguably the province, great to watch, nobody in Antrim will stop them.
IFC Portglenone; Seem a decent side, after their U-21 win last year and defeat in IFC can see this being a good year for them. St Enda's could be dark horses, a good bit of momentum in Div 3 can count for an awful lot.
JFC Antrim; Prob the hardest champ to call, any of 5 teams could take it Antrim, Eire Og, Ardoyne, Mals or Aggies. Always enjoy JFC teams seem to 'go for it more' Antrim seem to be building a good side and think they have enough for it.

Why should Rossa not be hurling at this level ? They would be nowhere near a senior championship.

Not getting at rossa, they are probably looking at it as a chance to drop down and get momentum just like johnnies a few years ago. Just because you aren't going to win SHC doesn't mean you shouldn't compete at that level. Can't seriously tell me rossa couldn't beat/ compete with the likes of st galls, cloughmills or St. John's?

Well not long to the business end of things starts, lets here opinions.

SHC loughgiel; hard to look passed them, been there done that, sometimes thats enough to get you through a tight game or 2.
IHC Rossa; Would argue prob shouldnt be playing at this level, can see them getting through ulster and getting close to an AI
JHC Glenarm; Decent side with some good hurlers and possibly the best hurler at this level in Hamill
B JHC Glenravel; Wouldn't know too much about this championship but seen Glenravel in it and was surprised so thought id back them here!

SFC St Galls; Still the best club team in the county by a mile and arguably the province, great to watch, nobody in Antrim will stop them.
IFC Portglenone; Seem a decent side, after their U-21 win last year and defeat in IFC can see this being a good year for them. St Enda's could be dark horses, a good bit of momentum in Div 3 can count for an awful lot.
JFC Antrim; Prob the hardest champ to call, any of 5 teams could take it Antrim, Eire Og, Ardoyne, Mals or Aggies. Always enjoy JFC teams seem to 'go for it more' Antrim seem to be building a good side and think they have enough for it.

Anyone any idea when club championships are due to start now that there are no County distractions?

Did they go down? I thought only Aggies went down and 2 were coming up to make a 10 team league. If it does go ahead I think they could make a handy side, not sure bout Eire og but mcdees always have a few very good players, always thought they were maybe 4 or 5 good players short, I'm sure the og players will give them that bit extra needed to push on

It is a strange mix alright! Take it they will be playin div 3 then as I think that's what both teams were gonna be playing this year, would there be much red tape in amalgamating at senior level?