Messages

Obviously the championship has been a disaster so far and the performances have been terrible, but when you're missing forwards like Coby, Seaan Elliott, Conor Johnston, Keelan, Niall McKenna, either all season or at different stages, Antrim are going to struggle.

I might have missed others too..

That sort of stuff is unhelpful at times, the best ref's need to be getting the best games, and Ciaran has been doing intercounty and club games for many a year and due to Loughgiel's appearances in finals of late it's going to throw up limited chances to do a county final.

There are also things that can help a ref's CV in a very competitive market for ref's and that's getting to do a county final.

Two penalty calls, no major bookings and no major talking points bar the wind/gales.

The fact we are not talking about the ref on here is a positive

A lot of questionable calls where made in favour of cushendall, a full frontal charge on Eoin o Neil by Burke was deemed to be shoulder to shoulder etc. Tosh was trying to find Rationale for some of the decisions, I have no problem with his comments on the officiating. I wouldn't be expecting other officials on the day to highlight bad decisions TBH. Both penalties were soft and some of the frees cushendall got in first half where soft.
Dunloy lost it by not using the breeze as well as cushendall to be fair but some dodgy calls for sure.

Burke stood his ground. Was a good tackle imo. Correct call from the ref

BS he turned his shoulder into him and if he just stood his ground why did Ref gesture shoulder to shoulder.
All the questionable calls mentioned by commentary team was on the money.

That sort of stuff is unhelpful at times, the best ref's need to be getting the best games, and Ciaran has been doing intercounty and club games for many a year and due to Loughgiel's appearances in finals of late it's going to throw up limited chances to do a county final.

There are also things that can help a ref's CV in a very competitive market for ref's and that's getting to do a county final.

Two penalty calls, no major bookings and no major talking points bar the wind/gales.

The fact we are not talking about the ref on here is a positive

A lot of questionable calls where made in favour of cushendall, a full frontal charge on Eoin o Neil by Burke was deemed to be shoulder to shoulder etc. Tosh was trying to find Rationale for some of the decisions, I have no problem with his comments on the officiating. I wouldn't be expecting other officials on the day to highlight bad decisions TBH. Both penalties were soft and some of the frees cushendall got in first half where soft.
Dunloy lost it by not using the breeze as well as cushendall to be fair but some dodgy calls for sure.

Burke stood his ground. Was a good tackle imo. Correct call from the ref

BS he turned his shoulder into him and if he just stood his ground why did Ref gesture shoulder to shoulder.
All the questionable calls mentioned by commentary team was on the money.

PB's shoulder should have been a free, but I'd say Tosh said at least another 7 or 8 times that Dunloy should have had a free for this or that. It was embarrassing

Has anyone checked on Tosh? Poor fella was gutted on Sunday

Since when has our PRO become the Cargin PRO? The love in with the Toome lads is getting a bit cringeworthy

It will be the same with whoever wins the hurling on Sunday. Probably worse.

Both are terrible excuses

My point is since cushendall lodged their complaint they haven't played a neutral game there since

So this is incorrect then???

Both are terrible excuses

My point is since cushendall lodged their complaint they haven't played a neutral game there since

Did Cushendall not play a game there in 2022?? Possible semi final or quarter final against Loughgiel?

Rosss QF was in 2021
Played a neutral group game v Loughgiel in Dunsilly in 2022 I think.

Neutral matches in the last couple of years v St Enda's & St John's have been played in Ballymena
SF v Ballycastle in Loughgiel last year.

Is it the same club appealing, who also pulled out of the Senior Hurling Championship the night before the draw was taking place?
Then I wouldn't be too worried about them....

What a mess

It was an absolute disgrace the Cushendall game was played tonight on that surface. Thank Christ nobody got hurt.

I think it was the same for JHC on Friday, All Saints v Armoy, few at it said it was treacherous

Ballymenas fault? Or the near two weeks of constant rain

Games played on different pitches btw

Can't blame Ballymena for the weather but surely some common sense.

I wouldn't blame Ballymena at all. I'd imagine it's the referee who does the pitch inspection?? When I seen players run through puddles during the warm up I couldn't believe the match was being played. Madness

Unfortunately I can't think of many players who haven't been there under Gleeson who could step up??

Portugal get what they deserve for hiring Martinez. He done nothing with the incredible players Belgium had. He has done nothing with Portugal too.

Dunsilly was only built as a training base/Centre of excellence for the county teams.
It was never to be used for County/club matches cos Casement was meant to be build years ago!!! It was last used in 2013 ffs

I'm not sure how the hell Conor Bradley has done what he has done the last the last couple of weeks. What an incredible young man!

May his father RIP

Delighted to see St Thomas' win it. O'Loughlin Gaels will feel aggrieved about the one that looked over the line but I can't stand simulation and karma bit them in the ass, that was never a red card.

Much to be admired about St Thomas' mentality, physical and mental toughness and endurance over the 2 games, the semi final and final.  But they have some amazing hurlers too, Conor Cooney obviously, the Burke's etc. Those last 2 points of Eanna Burke's were simply magical, worth the admission fee alone.

With Ballyhale missing a few last year O'Loughlin's will see that as a huge missed opportunity. They lack a few forwards and have relied on scores from further out. It's a long way back for them. 

Agree - very hard to see that as a red card. Mind you, Burke could easily have got a second yellow just before he scored that amazing point. You know, I sort of wanted O'Loughlin Gaels to win it, but I fancied Thomas', and they were the better balanced side.

Yep he should have been off for a second yellow for the loose slap at the gaels player's hand.  I can't recall what the first yellow was for though.

Dragged down Mikey Butler off the ball in the first half?

[When McManus eventually goes Cushendall will be well down the pecking order in Antrim for a few years.]

That and McManus won't have much left in him and he will be impossible to replace. That was the best chance cushendall will get at an all Ireland 

Tend to agree with this... Missed the boat today. That and they would have had every chance vs St Thomas's in the final.  No disrespect to them, they have some super hurlers and real physical and mental strength but they are not Ballyhale. They were fortunate last night, Ballygunner beat themselves with the free count they conceded and their game management every time they went ahead.

When McManus eventually goes Cushendall will be well down the pecking order in Antrim for a few years.

Who knows? As good as Neil is, and I mean absolutely unbelievable....
Not comparing him but
Argentina recovered after Maradona, Brazils with Pele, KK with Shefflin etc
Neil will leave a legacy to aspire to.
You just have to keep going
After your Slaughtneil prediction 😂