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Messages - groundlie

#1
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
May 01, 2026, 04:03:00 PM
(Allegedly) Attempting to remove the manager with three games to go is idiotic in my opinion. We aren't exactly coming down with supreme coaching talent within our own county to replace the current coaching team, especially at this stage of the season. This isn't the premier league and it just stinks of an amateur approach all round.

As for the players, what work did they do in Portugal? More wasted money by the looks of things. Get them their t shirt and get this season over an done with!
#2
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
April 29, 2026, 04:06:53 PM
Needs resolved as soon as possible. Very difficult trip to London awaits and the longer this drags on the better it suits our opponents in forthcoming games.

Meet all parties, come to an agreement, move on!
#3
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
April 20, 2026, 11:02:30 PM
The bizarre thing for me with Davy is that in his last two county jobs before Antrim, which aren't that long ago, he was outstanding.

He made Wexford genuinely competitive, won Leinster and unlucky not to have reached a all Ireland final in 2019. And with Waterford in 2023 and 2024, they were really unlucky not to make the all Ireland series in what wasn't a great time for Waterford hurling.

We probably just don't have players good enough to adapt to that style of play and need to revert to a simpler system. It's a pity it's not working out.
#4
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
April 18, 2026, 08:33:03 PM
This isn't the best Down team we've ever seen, which makes our recent defeats difficult to swallow. Sheehan has done an outstanding job with them and they've clearly built something special here, hats off to Down.

I think the last time Down beat us before this year was around a quarter of a century ago. You could settle for being beat once, however twice, in the space of a month, well, that's frightening.

This is the result of chronic neglect of underage structures within the county for a significant amount of time. Despite the disaster which is the current management, this team just isn't good enough and what's coming behind them won't be good enough either.
#5
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
March 22, 2026, 11:33:35 AM
The word from within the camp,according to Neil McManus on the league Sunday show, is that despite results, it's a very happy squad and that the lads like Davy and the coaching. So is it ability? Is McDonagh and teams like Down/Kildare/Laois this teams level?

I thought after the Carlow game when we played well that we would turn a corner but I was wrong. We have regressed. Hopefully time together in Portugal can focus their minds but it's going to take something miraculous to salvage an awful season.
#6
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
March 21, 2026, 07:10:29 PM
Terrible result even if the game was a dead rubber for both. Fair play to Down. We survive in D1, just about. Hopefully see an improvement in Championship. However, that is an alarming defeat.
#7
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
February 22, 2026, 04:30:27 PM
Quote from: podge on February 22, 2026, 04:21:49 PMNot sure I would describe it as 'awesome' but credit to them, good result and what was needed.

I thought the ref was more than fussy with a lot of strange calls and ultimately it started to irritate Carlow who lost their discipline totally.

I would still be concerned that at least 2 of our forwards were very largely anonymous.  And some of the shot selection in the second half was poor enough - quite a few wides and dropped short.

In fairness the attitude and work rate couldn't be faulted.

We are a tough crowd to please 😅 Personally, I feel that beating a team by double figures that we have notoriously struggled against, regardless of who's been the manager, should without doubt be enjoyed. Keep it going and give Dublin a good rattle. Up the Saffron!
#8
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
February 22, 2026, 03:54:23 PM
Fair play to all involved today. Antrim were awesome and the tactics worked well. We looked like a team capable of surviving in this league. Under pressure, Davy didn't flinch! Going into the Dublin game, it's game on!
#9
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
February 10, 2026, 09:51:04 AM
Quote from: NorthAntrimSaff on February 09, 2026, 05:04:11 PMWe have a good strong u20 team and panel this year. it will be interesting to see how they shape up this year.

I'm certainly not getting at anyone involved in this but did Dublin not beat them by 20+ points recently and Derry pushed them all the way on Friday.

Personally I feel the standards have slipped massively over the last two decades (not Davys fault) and currently the senior team is simply a reflection of poor structures within the county.
#10
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
February 09, 2026, 02:28:40 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on February 09, 2026, 02:15:09 PM
Quote from: groundlie on February 09, 2026, 02:09:51 PMThis team is the product of seriously underperforming underage teams for the last two decades. I do not blame the players at all, collectively their level is their level.
When was our last competitive minor teams? 05/06 under Sambo if am correct. Yes, we have a decent club game but intercounty is an entirely different animal.

The heat on Davy may actually provide a welcome distraction from how flawed our underage to senior system is within the county. My opinion is our fingers should be pointing elsewhere rather than the convenient scapegoat from Clare.

That said, it's highly possible we could finish on 4 point. It's looking unlikely but I wouldn't be surprised if we turn Carlow and Down over.

You'd still go down on the head to head with Kildare.


I was making the point that, despite how poor we've been, it wouldn't be surprising if we won the Carlow and Down games.
#11
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
February 09, 2026, 02:09:51 PM
This team is the product of seriously underperforming underage teams for the last two decades. I do not blame the players at all, collectively their level is their level.
When was our last competitive minor teams? 05/06 under Sambo if am correct. Yes, we have a decent club game but intercounty is an entirely different animal.

The heat on Davy may actually provide a welcome distraction from how flawed our underage to senior system is within the county. My opinion is our fingers should be pointing elsewhere rather than the convenient scapegoat from Clare.

That said, it's highly possible we could finish on 4 point. It's looking unlikely but I wouldn't be surprised if we turn Carlow and Down over.
#12
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
May 26, 2025, 11:02:51 PM
I totally understand the logic here and it's one that in a perfect world I would love to see. But,  things in Antrim feel complicated at times.

Someone from within has a pride in taking the team that just cannot be matched by a coach from another county. But, have we not seen this film before? Coaches from Antrim have never really had much success for various and complex reasons.

I speculate that the thinking over the years has been to get an outsider from a strong hurling county who has no baggage or club allegiances and will bring knowledge and fresh ideas.

It depends what the vision is short, medium and long term? I have always felt southern coaches are like a sticking plaster and very much a top down approach. It would be nice to see an Antrim man do well at it, however history shows it's very tricky.
#13
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
May 26, 2025, 05:56:21 PM
It's a tough gig being Antrim manager. Apart from Dinny, has anyone really made a huge impact on the national stage in championship? Sambo Woody? Jingo? PJ? Gerry Wallis? Kevin Ryan? Pedan? It's really not an easy job.

You could say Davy keeping us Division 1, with what he has, is pretty decent.

Gleeson made good progress but also got relegated to the McDonagh back in 2021, which we won again in 22. We also took some awful beatings under Gleeson, again it comes with the tough task of managing Antrim.
 
Granted, Fitz tactics failed and at times make for difficult watching. But, he's tried something different. Personally I think give it another year. See how Division 1 goes, see if we can have a real good crack at the McDonagh. If it fails then regroup.
#14
Antrim / Re: Antrim Hurling
May 18, 2025, 08:24:50 AM
Not really much to say about yesterday. Next week is our season!
#15
Quote from: Rossfan on March 07, 2025, 12:40:22 PMThe 15,000 Armagh supporters might have helped them in their decision.

Yes absolutely they have such a great and passionate support, one which I can only envy.

With this logic maybe all games where it's an elite team playing a so called lesser county, home advantage should be sacrificed purely based on supporter size.

Mayo would never play Leitrim in Carrick on Shannon,
Cork/Kerry should never play Clare in Cusack Park Ennis,
The Dubs should never have to travel to Longford or Wicklow. All these counties could easily fill these stadiums twice over.