Messages

Any rumblings of a revamp to the intermediate championship? The 2 big groups taking nearly 2 months to complete before the knockout stages has left it a bit too drawn out and too many dead rubbers. Up until recently it's been the best championship in terms of competitiveness, but seems to have lost its way a bit and gone a bit stale. Championship should be do or die, mini leagues tend to kill that.

Would 4 groups of 3 sharpen it up?

4 x group winners - home venue for q/final knock out against the 4 x 2nd placed teams.
4 x 3rd placed teams - knocked out OR a relegation playoff for a drop to junior for added jeopardy. 

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

Was talking to a lad at that final in Ballinascreen and he reckoned the amalgamation had a panel of 30 plus stripped out.

Why do you need an amalgamation with those sort of numbers?

Possibly bulked up by a few u16's to help training numbers for championship and give them a taste of a championship run. Think the league panels at both age groups were more normal in size.

Bear in mind a lot of the Glenravel and Glenariffe boys play football for Glenravel as well so that might explain the difficulty of fielding another minor team. Like every club, numbers on paper are one thing, but in reality it can be very different during the season when you factor in the usual obstacles like exams and holidays etc.

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

That's a worry yes, but if a player is good enough and works hard enough then he should get a fair crack. Glenravel wouldn't have enough to go alone again just yet but numbers are healthier further down. The amalgamation is a lifeline to that batch of players at the minute.

Glenravel have some great players at the u16 group. They must play matches on a Tuesday or Thursday night as I stayed a few nights after training to watch matches. There's one fella who wouldn't be the tallest but he's like a wee bull and a great hurler too.

Is it right enough that the classes in primary school in Glenravel are big? From talking to boys they'd tell you the primarys in Glenravel and Dunloy are massive whereas here by the coast all the schools are getting smaller. 

Yeah most classes have around 30 in them with varying splits of boy/girl. Current P1 class has 20 boys which bodes well and loads of work being done at fundamentals, u6, 8 and 10 to keep them engaged and developing.

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

I don't know the players but will this end up a Glenariffe/Cushendall team and Glenravel players struggling to get playing time ? Do Glenravel have the players at U-16 to go it alone ?

There was a Glenariffe/Glenravel B minor team last couple of years, I'm not sure they played more than a couple of games this year. Maybe the appetite wasn't there I don't know, but there were 17 subs named the other day. Looks like plenty of players sitting idle, other than training.

That's a worry yes, but if a player is good enough and works hard enough then he should get a fair crack. Glenravel wouldn't have enough to go alone again just yet but numbers are healthier further down. The amalgamation is a lifeline to that batch of players at the minute.

Talk of Glenariffe and Cushendall amalgamating at U-16 this year, they already are at U-12 & U-14. Glenravel going it alone maybe ? Not 100% certain but that's what I heard

That's incorrect. Glenravel and Glenariffe are still amalgamated at u16 and minor. Cushendall may be joining as well but nothings changed as far as Glenravel and Glenariffe are concerned.

What's the rules around sanctioned players in Antrim?

In Down you can have up to 5 sanctioned players from other clubs before you need to become an amalgamation.

By the numbers quoted Glenariffe would have been able to sanction those players and played under the Glenariffe banner alright, but maybe it was a more even handed approach they took for the optics of it all.

Either way, well done to this group who've been pretty strong all the way up through the agegroups, and now to get them bedded in to adult where it really matters.

Glenravel have 8 players on the minor panel (3 played up from u16) and 10 players on the u16 panel. All of the Glenravel boys on the minor panel have at least 1 more year at minor.

I'm hearing that Glenravel are pulling out of the intermediate Hurling championship.

Not true. Struggling with injuries, dual and county commitments all year like plenty of other teams, but the Intermediate championship place will be honoured and respected, then assessed for next year.
 

Any word on the championship draws last night? We've seen a screenshot of the IHC groups, but no fixtures and it's radio silence online.

Any feedback from the meeting on Monday about the hurling leagues?

Does anyone know if u18's have been decoupled from senior next season, or can they play in their last year at minor like it used to be?

11 in 1 and 2 and 9 in 3 so will have to be evened out i would think. 2 down 1 up would sort it in div 1-2. then 3 down 1 up 2 to 3. 2 down 1 up 3 to 4 leaves 10 10 10 8

Yes but is there still promotion for winning the league in Div 2, 3 and 4? That's really what I'm asking

This might have been asked and answered before so apologies if so - what's happening with promotion and relegation in the 4 hurling leagues this year? I heard there's no promotion from Div3 which is harsh on teams playing all year for no prize.

It's not overly important to me but I couldn't get the Creggan result anywhere which is why I posted here.

I see saffron Gael have report up now. Glenravel big shock in junior

The only ones not shocked were Glenravel. Leagues are for playing in lads..

[pitch is far too short]

I don't like Glenravel at all, pitch is far too short. They could always catch a grip of themselves and open Casement for a double header or would that be too simple?

You serious? Glenravels pitch is one of the biggest in the county. Needs to be so you can run away from the feckin' midgies! It's not an option though, maintainence work starting on the pitches next week.

lol. a tad ambitious!