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Will be interesting to see how intense it is. Maybe one or all are thinking the same as Ahoghill, drop down and rebuild win another intermediate
Drumsurn are doing it in derry, opting to drop down and saving Ballinderry screen and swatragh the bother
Taking a lot of flak for it too on the derry discussion
Bit like here, some for some against.

Looking at fixtures now they've been published, the div 1 relegation play off only showings Aldergrove and Tir na Nog. Is that right?

Know Ahoghill are already down, but Ballymena somehow exempt because they got to league final?

Wouldn't put it past the county to do that....

Would they not play the losers ?
3 way play off it would seem obvious

Hardly fair if one team gets 2 bites at the cherry to stay up while a team gets one. 3 way play off would mean they could fix it if they knew a result benefited both of them in the last match of the play off. But they can't force Ahoghill to play so whole thing is thrown out of kilter

Correct , 3 teams makes it fairly awkward , each team plays each other once like a league format whoever finishes worst off goes down maybe a fix ?

Would make sense but the website just has the 2 teams on it at the minute
Not just the fixture  but a table with both teams only which would give you the impression Ballymena not involved.

will the reserve finals be played under lights somewhere next Wednesday or at the same absurd 6.30pm as the semi finals

the hurling equivalents are being played next week in dunsilly at 7.30, one on Tuesday, one on Wednesday.
So youd have to assume the football finals will be the same the week after.
But who knows !!

Ahoghill could also house the Cargin Portglenone game. Or Ballymena for that matter.

2 tight looking games in reserve semis tonight
St galls and cargin in a high scoring game.

Cargin Portglenone final.

[main spectator standing area is also the through road for most of the parking]

St Endas would be a lot better yes. My only problem with St Endas is that the main spectator standing area is also the through road for most of the parking.

Portglenone, Cargin and Dunsilly are our best venues for games especially this time of the year. Car parking and surface

aye, fair point that.
agree with the venues too. TNN a decent shout too. Massive Car park.

either way is it on LD's new pitch or old pitch?  Old pitch isn't suitable for a QF championship match

The ground/changing rooms aren't suitable never mind the field

surely st endas be a decent neutral ground for this ?
to be fair, they normally get their neutral venues spot on.

Comhgalls manager screamed and roared for 3 back breaches every time gnm had an attack, linesman called it with gort on the opposition 20 and 2 points in the game, admitted he hadn't seen it and apologised if he'd made a mistake, completely swung the momentum of the game which was all gort at that stage

I heard that boy at the same shite earlier in the season. In 2 different matches
Obviously he does it every game then.

I see on the Antrim website there are a couple of games on Friday, 1 with a 6.15 throw in time and the other in Moneyglass at 6.

Moneyglass changed to 6.45
Hard to expect Moneyglass players you be at their own pitch for about 5.10, never mind expecting Lisburn men to make it through Friday evening rush hour !

Never played the game, but I love it. Just want to ask, is it not worrying the difference between senior and intermediate champions is 40 points ?

The 4 winners from the losers games will play the 4 losers from the winners games...if that makes sense

Ahhh. Ok Brendan. Thanks.

So if you get to quarter-finals, it's straight knock-out. No second chances then. Even if you've won your first 2 games.

Yep. Quarters is the end of the road regardless.

Yes, one chance.
All ireland format next year apparently
Some people will begrudge that today's winners don't get a second go, but I think it's a good format.

Made it to Corrigan today and witnessed the most scandalous red card in recent history. Spectators from both sides completely bamboozled. Hope the man that made that call is proud of himself this evening. And it wasnt the referee who had a fine game. (Nor was it his linesmen before he starts    )

Who was it then ?

Predictions for this week:
Ahoghill / Brids - Brids
Pauls / Aghagallon - Pauls
TNN / Dunloy - Dunloy
Rossa / PG1 - PG1*
Glenravel / Aldergrove - Aldergrove
Creggan / LD - Creggan
Galls / BMena - BMena*
Cargin / Johnnies - Cargin

*wouldn't be surprised to see a home win

Surprised how many taking Aldergrove , I know Glenravel poor against PG1 but think they'll have enough for the Grove especially at home

Is Aldergove Crumlin area?

Their pitch is in Crumlin Town itself.

[Whoever tops it will play either ST Pauls Ahoghill or aghagallon]

the last group game between Dunloy and Cargin could be a tasty meeting....

Only tasty if its not a dead rubber.   if it is then neither side will be giving away all their plans for the later rounds

It would be hugely beneficial for either team to top the group., Whoever tops it will play either ST Pauls Ahoghill or aghagallon. A much easier task than St bridgets.

but will they ?
this time last year the route was mapped out, but changed for some reason after the group stages

I understand Ahoghills reasoning for accepting relegation, but you just know if they played, they would've stayed up
There's always a big performance in them when needed.

Not from Antrim but someone has told me if you play for county and don't play for a Div1 side you've got to move. Surely balls?

Remember hearing that too about Rory Gallagher when at derry.
Told lachlan Murray and niall loughlin they had to move
Again, probably balls but who knows with these outside managers these days.