Antrim Hurling

[NorthAntrimSaff]

How many of those lads will start for Loughgiel in the championship? I know of a few of them and theyre extremely talented young lads but pretty sure when grading was done they probably weren't thought of as players they should be grading.

Maybe showing well in training etc and the senior management wanted a look at them in this and the 2nd or 3rd string management are relying on them week in, week out so didnt want to drop them.

I've seen a few of them in Mageean Cup matches so if the lads are that young and pushing for a place in one of the strongest clubs in the county then fair play to them.

We are looking at the top down here. Look from the bottom up and some of Loughgiels bench who got zero hurling over the weekend

[NorthAntrimSaff]

What is the relegation situation across the leagues? I thought it was just one up, one down.  However on the saffron Gael report for the St Endas/Ballygalget game it says about Ballygalget having to play a play off with 2nd in Division 2 (Carryduff). 

It changes from year to year in Antrim.

I think once whoever was top of Div2 didn't want promoted, I have Creggan in mind but not sure.

The secretary of the club just sent me through the Antrim playing regulations for 2026 and section 3.15 states that only the bottom team are relegated from each division with a caveat that if the top team in the division below not wanting to be promoted the bottom team shall remain in their current league.

I see Carryduff haven't played all 13 games in Div2 and are due to play Loughgiel seconds soon, so if their last game is refixed, they could leapfrog Ballycran!

Does (P) mean it's postponed? Will that be replayed? It's against Shane Uí Néill's who have two games with (P) beside them.

But, I believe Ballycran were presented with the Div2 trophy already!

I've confused myself!

Ballycran have 25pts 13 played
Carryduff have 20pts 11 played

[NorthAntrimSaff]

Is there a possibility of a restructure? I feel St Endas are hard done by in relegation after providing 3 county hurlers. Could division 1 go to 12 teams no relegation and 2 up?

[Milltown Row2]

Is there a possibility of a restructure? I feel St Endas are hard done by in relegation after providing 3 county hurlers. Could division 1 go to 12 teams no relegation and 2 up?

Its tough on St Enda's but they are very strong and should go straight back up as the levels in DIV 2 are not great and they should have enough in the tank to go back up again, just been one of those years with 3 lads on the the county team.. The leagues at hurling are working

[Last Man]

Is there a possibility of a restructure? I feel St Endas are hard done by in relegation after providing 3 county hurlers. Could division 1 go to 12 teams no relegation and 2 up?

Its tough on St Enda's but they are very strong and should go straight back up as the levels in DIV 2 are not great and they should have enough in the tank to go back up again, just been one of those years with 3 lads on the the county team.. The leagues at hurling are working

Agreed. We got what we ordered, granted we don't have a deep panel but we haven't looked up for the challenge all season. That's team sport, fail to show, live with the consequences.

[johnnycool]

What is the relegation situation across the leagues? I thought it was just one up, one down.  However on the saffron Gael report for the St Endas/Ballygalget game it says about Ballygalget having to play a play off with 2nd in Division 2 (Carryduff). 

It changes from year to year in Antrim.

I think once whoever was top of Div2 didn't want promoted, I have Creggan in mind but not sure.

The secretary of the club just sent me through the Antrim playing regulations for 2026 and section 3.15 states that only the bottom team are relegated from each division with a caveat that if the top team in the division below not wanting to be promoted the bottom team shall remain in their current league.

I see Carryduff haven't played all 13 games in Div2 and are due to play Loughgiel seconds soon, so if their last game is refixed, they could leapfrog Ballycran!

Does (P) mean it's postponed? Will that be replayed? It's against Shane Uí Néill's who have two games with (P) beside them.

But, I believe Ballycran were presented with the Div2 trophy already!

I've confused myself!

Ballycran have 25pts 13 played
Carryduff have 20pts 11 played

D'oh... 2 points for a win.

Too much soccer ball has confused me.

[Delgany 2nds]

All refixes have  to be played before last round of fixtures.

[Torcrua]

Any updates on the search for the new Antrim senior hurling manager? Has there been any movement or are interviews still ongoing?

[saffman]

St Enda's actually provided 5 county players this year

Tough situation - take 5 boys away from a small squad and its going to have a big impact.

What if these boys decide to focus on club hurling - then we have the old "only 3/4 north antrim clubs providing county players" yet if in this example of St Enda's you have a cohort of players putting their hand up for the county it can be at the detriment of your club..... how do you square that round hole?

The otherside as pointed out, st Enda's where not up to it this year and have probably been on the decline since monty left. Take your medicine and rebuild to go straight back up?

[Milltown Row2]

St Endas, victims of their own success of bringing players to the county panel, that said, they are good enough to go straight back up

As for players sticking with the club rather than county, well playing for the county is an honor that doesn't always present itself to a player, especially from a lesser club..

Punishing, probably too strong a word but putting pressure on a lad from a club to stick with their club rather than county would be the wrong thing to do, having county players will only benefit the clubs profile in hurling and bring a lot more kids through

New County manager this year and things may be looked at differently anyways, and that opportunity may not be available, could will take away the dilemma

Monty was a very good manager and got to grips with the demands of staying in Div 1, Covid helped, as it allowed time to find their feet and get up to speed, but only so much effort you can put in.. They should be a good enough prospect for a decent manager to be interested in...

[Saffrongael]

So Micky McShane the new manager

[Tony Baloney]

So Micky McShane the new manager

Good luck to him.

[SaffronSports]

Think he was the man most people expected. Had been with the u20s the last two years and obviously had some good days with Slaughtneil and Tyrone so feels like the natural successor.

[paddyjohn]

Good man Mickey.

Good luck to you.

[MalluskMan]

Of the two management teams interviewed, the best man for the job. Brings experience, let's hope he has learned from his two sojourns with the u20, underachieved in those two campaigns, difficult age group to manage with everything that's expected of the players!
Hopefully a fresh outlook on how players are used and made available to clubs; improve club leagues, improve the county team. Can't be rocket science.