Antrim Hurling

[Last Man]

I agree Milltown, but I would say that a lot more people including yourself in your club contribute something where a few have to do it all in ours. A bit of success makes it easier up to point, they'd be cueing up to bask in the glory no doubt if it came our way. The johnnies will be making sure that doesn' t happen though. (Meaning the juveniles of course)

[milltown row]

too few doing so many jobs, it happens in all clubs last man. we just have more things to look after

[milltown row]

oh by the way, the senior hurling team is currently looking a senior Manager? any thoughts on this? would like some ideas. sensible ones Hardstation please

[Tony Baloney]

How in the name of God would we be in a position to take Dublin for granted ?

He doen't actually say that, or anything like that:

From the Chairman's Address:

In hurling, a consistent performance in what is now a better structured league is required, but I want to caution against any expectations in the championship against Dublin. Dublin hurling is far more advanced in their development than Antrim. The expectation and sense of anticipation must rest with them in a Croke Park that will be packed with the hungry “Jacks”. The Glensmen will be the underdogs against an Anthony Daly led Dubs, let there be no doubt about it.

Aye Minder don't let the truth get in the way of yet another attack on Dr McSparran.

[NAG]

Time for the Christmas 2008 awards?

Best Player?

Best Score?

Best Tackle?

(mainly from the antrim scene but will accept others if they are up to scratch, feel free to add your own criteria)

[Tony Baloney]

That's a good win for the gorts today. Anyone at it?

[milltown row]

Was at the match Tony, first half was great considering the conditions. Gorts blew them out of the water, going 6 up at half time. two goals one well taken and the other a clanger from the Emmets keeper. 2-4 to 0-4

half time and Gorts failed to score till the 60th minute. the Gorts goal keeper was sent of for a what can only be described as a karate kick on the ex Gorts player Sean Quinn. straight red. Emmets leveled the game on 60 minutes and looked as if they were going to win. but a hopeful punt into the goal area keeper caught the ball and then threw it into his net, gorts then score 3 more to win by 6. strange game. Gorts need to improve for the 25th of Jan. Blarney from Cork will be tougher.

fair play Gorts

[milltown row]

Na Panzer went into nets from playing half back. kept Gorts in the game. the goal keeper was a big lad. has done nets for Gorts for a awhile but that could have cost them big time. Greavesy was in the panel but not as the second keeper!!!! is he any good out of nets?

[JamesH]

Acmhl The good Doc and The NAC at loggerheads over the leagues, No interest in the Leagues from NA and SW in hurling or football, i wonder why. Why the count didn't act when the Belfast clubs didn't turn up  for their matches two years ago, Typical of the doc trying to force NA to slow progress instead of helping the other divisions. Their must be a grant somewhere or he wouldn't be looking at club hurling.

[Last Man]

There probably are big funding implications no doubt and I dont think the county exec should be having to waste their time on what is essentially a Divisional board issue. However the SA board have stood over the development of a very unhealthy situation in juvenile hurling, they have let a few manipulate and dominate to the detriment of all other clubs, and lets face it, hurling in Belfast is going down the toilet. Going all county with U16 and minor is in principal a good thing as it provides more games, more competition, more hurling, great..But will the Belfast clubs be able to deliver...thats the gamble and it pushes the real problem down the road in that the SA board needs an injection of talent, enthusiasm, forward thinking to lead clubs out of this mess. NA and SW are very protective of the progress the have made and are making and why wouldn't they be. I have heard nothing from the SA board about this, but God love them they probably haven't a clue what to do any way. The Divisional system works in NA and SW and these 2 boards clearly cooperate for the mutual benefit of their clubs, so why is SA not at the same level?? Answer: Personel. So Belfast clubs you need to call an SA EGM and get a decent commitee in, sort yourselves out and stop expecting everyone else to carry the can.

[JamesH]

Last Man the County board are intrested in doing away with the divisional boards, which i see as a mistake at present. We do not have the structures resources or more importantly the manpower to run the county from one committee. Two years ago the Co. tried to get rid of the Divisional chairmen off the management Co but the Doc was out voted. This was to me the first step in getting rid of the divisional board. It does seem strange the the Doc comming from a division that is working pretty well although there is room for improvement wants to get rid of it and i can't for the life of me see why. There seems to be a problem in SA with some clubs picking and choosing when they play, which is no good for the betterment of the division, but at the end of the day the other clubs don't seem to complain or not to there face anyway, which wouldn't happen in NA or SW.
But why get rid of something that works? there's more to it than meets the eye.

[Last Man]

Well if thats the case James I think when it all shakes down we will find that its down to funding from UC or Croke Pk. I agrree totally, I think it would be mad to go All county. The only reason it works so well in N.Antrim is that it is pushed and well administered.
The Doc probably isnt too worried about N.Antrim as his own club is unfortunately slowly falling off the radar anyway. The ACB most likely see the problems in SA being sorted by the higher standards and structures in NA lifting them out of the shit they are in. The big danger is that the good standard will be dragged down. This broad brush approach is to simplistic, why not treat the problems at source, get all areas up to an acceptable standard, look at some inter divisional competitions and if that is a success then consider all county because in principle I'm not against it, when the time is right.
It would be good to know what the facts behind this are, could even be down to personalities/ powre struggles,who knows.
Don't forget, theres fellas building legacies for themselves here.

[imtommygunn]

It would be a massive mistake to get rid of divisional boards.

From the outside looking in it appears like south belfast is in a bit of a mess which would be why we're seeing st endas in south west / north and lamh dhearg I think I heard are going that way too. Maybe that has something to do with it too.

[milltown row]

21 Belfast teams

17 south west

12 north Antrim

Too many Belfast clubs. Not enough kids or enough people looking after them with either the passion or recognised coaching qualifications.

You can take models from Tipp Dublin or even Kilkenny if they are not being monitored or assessed then they will fall by the wayside. Times have changed and Belfast has not moved. The Senior South Antrim leagues in hurling have been back two years and, against my initial fears have proven to be very good and well run. In two years we had a referee at each game and finals have been played at Casement. I hope more teams enter it this year to give the players more games.

The juvenile set up has been a disgrace, I'm not blaming the south Antrim board on this one. Clubs fail to put any effort into deciding whether or not they will be able to field teams consistently all year and have evenly contested games, instead of the hammerings handed out when St Johns play St Galls in under 16 hurling. This puts kids off and doesn't help. This is not St Johns fault of course its something that my club is currently trying to sort out and good progress has been made by great individuals taking the teams.

[Last Man]

Agreed Milltown, there probobly is too many clubs. Clubs with no pitch, what chance do they stand of ever developing juvenile structures????I'd say none so lets get them out of the equation. More importantly though there has to be loads of kids who are not being encouraged to take part in Gaelic games, who we just let go to "Simply Soccer" just because clubs cant be arsed to provide a decent alternative. We have to get rid of this "Field of Dreams" mentality, clubs need to sell themselves better. Where is the generation of 40 something ex hurlers who throw their kids out of a sometimes still moving car on a Sat/sun Morning and disapear in a cloud of dust in case they might be asked to help out. I help coach our kids and  have to say it is one of the best things I ever decided to do.