Antrim Hurling

[Saffrongael]

Yeah Carey deserved it, Glenariffe very young, 4 minors started today and probably 10 of them under 25 - they will have other days but nothing guaranteed.

Thought when Glenariffe got first three points of second half there was only one winner but Carey dug in well & were physically much stronger I thought, as you would expect. Dominated in the air and won so much breaking ball. Really good crowd at the game and the pitch looked in great nick

[Gael-in-exile]

I seen the clips on county twitter and I'm not sure it was a double save by the keeper, did the first shot not ricochet off the full backs hurl, and possibly even come off the bar?

[Saffron71]

The reward for winning Intermediate Championship -  tankings next year in the Senior Championship and I'm guessing your management team jumping ship. Perhaps I'm being cynical.

Yea unfortunately the intermediate clubs in the county tend to lack the squad depth to go up and compete at Senior level.  They almost need to remain injury free at all times. St Enda's have been the only team in the past 10 years or more (Rossa did,  however Rossa were never an intermediate club and we're only down there due to league structures) to do so but of course they have more playing numbers than even some of the big clubs.  As for the Carey management,  it's hard to know what will happen.  Eddie and Co might stay to try and consolidate their place in Division 1.  However with Loughgeil's tame exit in the senior championship and with the young squad that they have Eddie might see this as an opportunity to take on that role.

[imtommygunn]

Hard to know what to make of this. Wind ruining it. 7, I think, in it at ht with a missed penalty for McManus.

[imtommygunn]

Really that game was a lottery. Cushendall very good at dogging things out and did just that. Still some good scores etc but must have been so hard to play in those conditions.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I think the conditions favoured Cushendall and they probably should have won by more.

Now that we've finished up the debate on the ball in/out in the football final, I thought McManus had a very iffy point given from a free in the first half.....

[imtommygunn]

   Looked a wee bit funny on the stream but I think it was ok.

Yeah cushendall should have won by more though Dunloy caused a lot of bother when they ran at them too.

[Saffron71]

Games like that are awful to play in.  Very difficult to hold onto a lead in those conditions unless you really go to town with the breeze in the first half.  When the wind is so strong it nearly always favours the team who has it in the second half as in alot of games it can take 10/15 mins to get settled into the game at the start.  Seemed to pan out that way today.

[Jonkunlon]

Wind ruined the game unfortunately. Just became 2 halves of keeper puck outs passing the 45m then incredibly blowing back inside it. Cushendall managed the conditions slightly better. 6 points wasn't a big enough lead at halftime. Felt for the players, near on impossible to hurl against the gale. Would love to have seen both teams going at it in better conditions.

Both keepers had great games, making vital saves and managing their puck outs. One even scored from what must have been 109+ metres.

[Jonkunlon]

Games like that are awful to play in.  Very difficult to hold onto a lead in those conditions unless you really go to town with the breeze in the first half.  When the wind is so strong it nearly always favours the team who has it in the second half as in alot of games it can take 10/15 mins to get settled into the game at the start.  Seemed to pan out that way today.

Agree wholeheartedly. Team with the wind first half are at a disadvantage due to the settling in period at the start of the game. 6 point lead was never going to be enough. Soft penalty kept Dunloy in it.

[podge]

From the first 5 mins Cushendall just looked like they were handling the conditions that bit better and in truth should have won my more.

I thought a few of cushendalls less high profile players had big games- gillan, mccollam, McAfee, McQuillan.  A really well worked goal as well.  McGill did it again when he came on. 

Most bizarre thing was how Cdall invited Dunloy on them in the last few minutes - looked like it was set up for a total sucker punch.

[Jonkunlon]

From the first 5 mins Cushendall just looked like they were handling the conditions that bit better and in truth should have won my more.

I thought a few of cushendalls less high profile players had big games- gillan, mccollam, McAfee, McQuillan.  A really well worked goal as well.  McGill did it again when he came on. 

Most bizarre thing was how Cdall invited Dunloy on them in the last few minutes - looked like it was set up for a total sucker punch.

Agree. Was thinking Dunloy were sensationally going to win it with a goal in the last minute the way Cushendall were set up.

In contrast to your point, the Dunloy young guns were not quite ready for this level of championship hurling. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[Saffron71]

On another note,  the Derry Hurling structures are insane.  Ballinscreen won the intermediate title last year and now have won the junior this year.  That would be like Carey dropping down and winning the Antrim JHC next year.  I know that in a county with a small number of clubs it's difficult to have a perfect structure plus with all the teams of a similar standard barring Slaughtneill and Na Magha but it's still madness IMO. 

[Around the glens]

Not getting the cdall should of won by more theories...Dunloy hit plenty of wides and had 3 goal chances saved..

Definitely thought the free in the first half was wide from where I was standing.

Another thing, Ryan saved a direct puc put from mcallister, if that went to the net does it count or is it a free out?

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

It would have counted.