Ballycran set to dominate

[Balboa]

Great team? One Down SHC in 12 years  .

He'd be enough to put you off Ballycran if I didn't know some of the great hurling men in that parish.

Speaking of Ballycran men reminds me of a story i heard, Mick Braniff was in the bar at the Kilmacud Sevens talking to a few southern lads about hurling and the next thing the boul Sambo arrived on the scene and was stuck in the middle of it for a bit of back slapping, he said to the southerners in a jovial matey tone, arm round Mick Braniff at the time,"oh dont talk to me about Mick Braniff, you couldnt get hurling with him pulling and slapping", Mick retorted with "you should never have been allowed to hurl again after what you did in Casement against Ballycastle"........Sambo exited the scene sharpish

[theskull1]

 

Both funny AND true

[glens73]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7055350.stm

Dunloy too strong for Ballycran
Dunloy's Gregory O'Kane
Gregory O'Kane hit eight points for Dunloy at Casement Park
Dunloy progressed to next Sunday's AIB Ulster Club Hurling final against Kevin Lynchs by beating Ballycran 1-19 to 1-12 in Sunday's semi-final replay.

The Antrim side led 1-10 to 0-7 at half-time - helped by Liam Richmond's goal midway through the first half.

Richmond notched 1-5 for Dunloy while Gregory O'Kane hit eight points and sub Conor Cunning notched four scores.

James Coyle's 53rd-minute goal reduced Dunloy's lead to six points but the Antrim side had already done enough.

[whiskeysteve]

egg on your face now young man

[theskull1]

"Hormones are also responsible for the emotional changes that take place during puberty. You may feel confused, have emotional outbursts, feel sad, or have strong emotions or mood that change quickly. You might be overly sensitive or easily lose your temper. There are those crazy hormones working on you again. "

Go easy on the young lad...were youse never teenagers yourself ? What with the wet dreams, acne, and body odour it's not easy sure it's not son?

egg on your face now young man

Thats not egg!!!!!!! 

[johnneycool]

No sign of the young fella yet?

He's maybe got the day off school after a few pints in JG's..

[whiskeysteve]

Popped into into renshaws there for lunch - fine cuisine indeed. There was a large contingent of Ballycran ones in drinking away, since half 8 this mornin apparently!

[Hurling addict]

I was up in  Casement today and am still really gutted we left it behind the first day in the drawn game against Dunloy in the real final.The second day the puck out  mix up sealed our fate!

We know we are the best club in Ulster and I stand by the assertion that we are set to dominate for the coming years.Dunloy know that and the real hurling people do.

But from all in the Ballycran area best wishes and well done to Dunloy!!

Baile Crainn Abu.

[billy the kid]

I think the GPA should be ashamed of themselves they are undermining everything the GAA stands for.  What they are asking for is Pay for |Play dressed up in fancy clothes.

They are an elitist Organisation who are only concerned with themselves and I firmly believe its a case of a few leading the many.

Don't get me wrong i totally agree with players being treated well and looked after if they get injured but they are always looking for more and more.

Currently every season inter-county players in Derry get:

2 pairs of boots
2 full kits a season,
2 full sets of training gear. (1 wet and 1 normal)
1 rain jacket
1 zip up top
1 jumper
2 polo shirts
1 tracksuit
Home training Equipment
Free access to state of the art gym

All the above are official Derry gear from O neills with emblems and crests and this is only the gear I KNOW FOR CERTAIN they get!

Also they have access to a top class physio, team doctor dietician and heart screening facilities.

they receive meals after ALL games and on the way to away games

they get fed after every training

and they also get VERY GOOD rebates on their mileage expenses.

Again these are jut the things i KNOW FOR CERTAIN!!

for each national league game they receive 4 passes each allowing friends and family to gain admission to the games for FREE and the passes can be used for both hurling and football even if only involved in one code.

They receive at least 2 and sometimes more FREE tickets for ALL championship matches they are involved in

They receive 2 good tickets for the all Ireland final in their code (hurling or football) for FREE

Before the club championship begins they receive a pass allowing them to gain FREE entry to ALL championship matches within the county in EITHER code at ANY level
 
The above list was given to me when I asked a PRESENT COUNTY PLAYER from our club about conditions at inter-county level.

I don't think anyone would begrudge them these things as the gear and medical farcicalities are a MUST and so are the mileage expenses and the meals.

The other stuff are added perks and again I would say Just right they are training very hard and giving a big commitment to Our County.

Looking at the list I would say our county players are fairly well looked after wouldn't you? And this is just the example of our county alot of other counties like Armagh and Tyrone get even more gear and perks which again is fair enough.

But to ask for money and to make out that they are so hard done by and listening to some of their leaders you'd think some were hardly fit to feed themselves and on the way to financial ruin is an absolute myth and border line lie!! Nobodies making them play!!!

What ever happened to being proud to play for your county and pride in the jersey? That used to be enough to make people play for their counties.

Has Pride and honour fallen of the radar of the GPA in their obsession with self-worth and self-gain.
If pride in the jersey and being honoured to represent your County plus the list i have supplied aren't enough to make individuals play for OUR county teams do we really want them to? The type of character who would undermine the very fabric of our great organisation to line his own pockets.   

I was also informed by the County player from my own Club that most county players don't want to strike but are being openly pressurised to do so. Is this Democracy?

Its also evident the GPA are so far removed from the grassroots GAA and the supporters that they haven't noticed that the vast majority are strongly against it, but why would they listen to us mere mortals?

Down Manager Ross Carr has the right idea:

If these prima donnas strike and refuse to play Each County should find a panel of players who will represent their counties for pride honour and the other perks i listed. There would be a stampede to trials and it would totally negate the strike and render their actions futile and meaningless.

We cannot let the elitist few hold the rest of us to ransom while they try to gain financially for doing what most TRUE Gaels consider an Honour and a privilege – PLAY FOR YOUR COUNTY  

[stew]

Hurling Addict, you are changing my mind here. I would have loved to have seen you lot make the breakthrough this year but after reading that narcissistic drivel, you deserve to get stuffed on Sunday.

I agree100% hardstation.