Antrim Hurling

[theskull1]

We can all agree that Carlow and Laois will smell blood

[NAG1]

At the moment can't see us beating Carlow away, hope to be proved wrong but our form on the road doesn't suggest anything other than a defeat.

Laois in Ballycastle was always one to be targeting.

[Saffrongael]

Is now time enough to start being worried MR2, maybe I was wrong to be so concerned after the first game against Dublin.

Problem is I'm seeing the same problems being repeated time and time again aligned to some crazy tactical decisions.

Personally I'd be in the worried camp. We were at a much higher level last year and then there are what sounds like excuses. I hope I am wrong and MR is right. We'll know better by the end of the league but I don't think it looks good so far. I don't expect him to be winning AIs or anything but we'd have been a lot more competitive in at least 2 of these games last year.

I dunno about that ITG, we lost every league game last year, including to Westmeath, with a few heavy beatings.

Now there was no relegation and it was a much stronger division - and we should have beaten a weak enough Dublin team in the first home game, but you saw what they did to us in Leinster when it mattered.

I wasn't a fan of the appointment at the time but let's see where we are after Leinster Championship.

I would love to know how complex this new "system" is as well, it's hurling not chess.

[Milltown Row2]

We can all agree that Carlow and Laois will smell blood

And they should, if I were management these games against those around you will be the making and breaking of your year, so you'll have the players ready for that, they just got the bonus of beating (Carlow) Waterford.

I definitely feel that Donegal in that game against Galway applied the mantra of these are the games were are going for and the other games if we win we win but no biggy

[johnnycool]

We can all agree that Carlow and Laois will smell blood

And they should, if I were management these games against those around you will be the making and breaking of your year, so you'll have the players ready for that, they just got the bonus of beating (Carlow) Waterford.

I definitely feel that Donegal in that game against Galway applied the mantra of these are the games were are going for and the other games if we win we win but no biggy

I wouldn't see a whole pile of Antrim county hurlers, but would see most of them at club level and the problem I'd suggest is physical size is a limiting factor when you see the likes of Waterford and even Carlow and to a lesser extent Laois, they have a serious amount of lads 6'2" plus in their ranks and that's the norm now.

Offaly would probably have a similar build to Antrim and their age profile is probably younger, Dubs are big too now.

If you are losing out in the physicality stakes, then winter hurling can be a bollox, but don't compound the issue by running at big men and expecting anything other than turnovers.

[Antrim Coaster]

Ryan Elliott's poc outs in the first half were a concern.

Against the wind he put snow on his poc outs as he normally does, which were held up by a very strong breeze.

Several poc outs in a row came down the right, by the stand, which Waterford copped on to early and their players drifted over to that side, winning most of the breaks and setting up several scores.

You'd need to query why the poc outs weren't varied.

Antrim's man marking was poor - too many Waterford players santered through the Antrim defence, especially in the second half but the heads had dropped by that stage.

A right balls up regarding the substitution when Keelan Molloy was 'mistakenly' taken off. He wasn't the intended substitute, but the slip given to the 4th official had his number written on it.

Wee Davy wasn't too happy and the correct substitution made at the cost of one of the allowed changes.

Id say the Westmeath and Laois matches at home would have been matches that were targeted to gain points, especially as the Carlow match next week is probably not going to result in a victory going on recent performances.

Enda Rowland has left the Laois panel and he's a huge loss..

Most of the the players on the squad were involved in going toe to toe with Cork after winning the Joe McDonagh.

It was level scores until the 65th minute when Hoggie rattled the Antrim net and Cork added on more scores after Antrim had emptied the tank and began to tire.

So the hurling is definitely there. The question is can Davy find the magic League - Championship switch in time for the Leinster Championship.

[groundlie]

Carlow and Laois would always smell blood against Antrim. As do we against them. I honestly think if we can get something out of both of those games then the league has been good to us.

We've had poor(ISH) leagues over the past few years, full of heavy defeats, including defeat to Westmeath last year, so let's keep it real.

Transition is hard and I hope Davy sticks at it. He's a highly knowledgeable manager who's had tons of success. Stay up and survive Leinster and DF will have something to build on for next year.

[SaffronSports]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

[groundlie]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

Fair point. At our best, which is rare, I'd say we should target Dublin, Offaly and Wexford.

[SaffronSports]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

Fair point. At our best, which is rare, I'd say we should target Dublin, Offaly and Wexford.

Definitely big underdogs in all those games. Not sure if the draw has been made yet? Can't see anywhere but hopefully those games at Corrigan.

[Saffrongael]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

Fair point. At our best, which is rare, I'd say we should target Dublin, Offaly and Wexford.

Definitely big underdogs in all those games. Not sure if the draw has been made yet? Can't see anywhere but hopefully those games at Corrigan.

Wexford, Offaly & Galway are away - just two home games against Dublin & Kilkenny

[SaffronSports]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

Fair point. At our best, which is rare, I'd say we should target Dublin, Offaly and Wexford.

Definitely big underdogs in all those games. Not sure if the draw has been made yet? Can't see anywhere but hopefully those games at Corrigan.

Wexford, Offaly & Galway are away - just two home games against Dublin & Kilkenny

Not good news. Probably have to beat Dublin at home to have a chance and even then, they'll probably pick up points elsewhere.

[Antrim Coaster]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

Fair point. At our best, which is rare, I'd say we should target Dublin, Offaly and Wexford.

Definitely big underdogs in all those games. Not sure if the draw has been made yet? Can't see anywhere but hopefully those games at Corrigan.

Wexford, Offaly & Galway are away - just two home games against Dublin & Kilkenny

Wexford will be waiting in the long grass after last year's match. Rossiter will probably have them hopping off the changing room walls for that match.

The Biffos in Tullamore is winnable and its a match that Antrim must win.

[Antrim Coaster]

Wexford   V Antrim, Saturday, 19.4.2025, Wexford Park, 2.00pm

Motorway / dual carraigeway most of the way.

[johnnycool]

Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford.

Who are we targeting for a win there to keep us in Leinster?

Fair point. At our best, which is rare, I'd say we should target Dublin, Offaly and Wexford.

Definitely big underdogs in all those games. Not sure if the draw has been made yet? Can't see anywhere but hopefully those games at Corrigan.

Wexford, Offaly & Galway are away - just two home games against Dublin & Kilkenny

Wexford will be waiting in the long grass after last year's match. Rossiter will probably have them hopping off the changing room walls for that match.

The Biffos in Tullamore is winnable and its a match that Antrim must win.

Three weeks ago I'd have agreed with you and yes, maybe that's a game that could be more for Antrim to target, on current form Offaly are going into that game as favourites although they historical have been pretty generous to us Nordies in terms of results against them.

What is Davy at with Antrim?

I always thought he set out teams way too defensive, allowing opposition teams to dominate possession and at this level all teams use possession very well and won't allow a sweeper or sweepers to control the game when sitting deep in front of their fullback line.

Ironically his last crowning glory was the 2013 AI final replay (with Kinnerk I hasten to add) when he knew Cork were weak defensively and went man to man with them, bagging 5 goals in the process.