Antrim Hurling

[theskull1]

Ryan is spot on, but is it the most important issue that needs addressing to get Antrim up a standard or two? Id say it wasn't. Our inability to have a sustainable development program for our top U16/18/U21 players to get them used and able to compete with the bigger counties is where it all goes pear shaped. Lots of stakeholders needed to make this a success and I'd have reservation of whether we have anywhere close to the right numbers of passionate hurling men to make it work, but at the outset it needs someone with the credentials to create the vision (one which has some meat on the bones) for starters. At the minute we have individual effort just getting a job done with no real long term plan because the proper long term structures and finance commitment isn't there. 

[Tony Baloney]

Just reading Kevin Ryan's comments on the national hurling league re-structure.

Firstly - he is right that it has been done to suit the "bigger counties".
Top teams go up - bottoms teams go down.
Sometimes!

But for me the reality is somewhat different.

The new div1 is a natural top tier - no argument.

Our league consists of teams at roughly our level and will provide competitive games in every round with teams beating each other - that's the hallmark of a good league.
Simply out its a league which represents our level fairly.

Ryan says that not facing the likes of cork will harm Antrim hurling.
Personally I don't think we have any business facing cork at the minute. I don't know why this fascination exists with playing the best teams when we're not at their level at this time.
We probably won't be promoted from our existing league (hopefully will) so let's walk before we can run. And if we are able to face the division1 teams then we will win division2 and earn the right to play them in the semis.

All in all I think the re-structure is sensible and mirrors the natural tiers that exist in inter-county hurling.

And on a side note - Ryan and our county board need to realise that it's not everyone else's job to introduce structures to suit Antrim!
Others will look after themselves and we need to paddle our own canoe!

What triggers these changes?

No one believes they're done to be detrimental to antrim but there are two things here:
1) yes that is the top teams but the smaller set of teams means in 1 means a higher standard in 2 and it means better fighting for relegation in 1. Better standard in 2 equals = better for teams at levels like antrim (and various other teams) - i.e. developing teams.
2) every time something happens cork there seem to be people in the top brass of the gaa to assist them.

There is no consideration for developing teams(not just antrim) and it stinks a bit.

The county board are a bti embarassing at this stage. They can't even look after their own house never mind complaining about others but Ryan isn't too far wrong.(again)

Ryan is entirely right, Antrim would learn a lot more playing against a Cork or Limerick than he will against Carlow or Westmeath. IMO to improve you need to be playing these teams more often and learn from it even if it is a tanking once in a while.

What would an appearance of Cork up in the Glens or wherever Antrim are to play their home fixtures do for the profile of the game and bring the youngsters out to see them?

Croke park can polish this up any way they like, but this is the big hurling counties calling the shots and fúck everyone else.

Championship structures mean they have a chance at the best of Leinster so they aren't entirely *reduced* to playing teams in and around their own level all year. I honestly think it is getting to a stage where it is a no win situation whatever way the structures are sliced up. There have been many, many proposals for varying structures made on this board and whilst your argument is valid, throwing them into the lions den will inevitably result in "we are learning nothing from taking tankings" type arguments after a few heavy beatings. Answers on a postcard!

[btdtgtt]

Ryan is entirely right, Antrim would learn a lot more playing against a Cork or Limerick

Its not the job or desire of cork & Limerick to improve Antrim - they want to play against each other for their own benefit. Antrim need to get ourselves up to standard.

than he will against Carlow or Westmeath.

We are not impressive enough against these teams to be able to say that. Thats the reality.


IMO to improve you need to be playing these teams more often and learn from it even if it is a tanking once in a while.
What would an appearance of Cork up in the Glens or wherever Antrim are to play their home fixtures do for the profile of the game and bring the youngsters out to see them?

Again this is all true (except for learning from tankings) but again there seems to be some notion of what would improve Antrim being the most important thing! In the bigger picture we are not the priority so stop expecting these top teams to be nice guys and come the length of Ireland to play us just to be nice guys - they can play better teams next door with bigger crowds.

Croke park can polish this up any way they like, but this is the big hurling counties calling the shots and fúck everyone else.

Such is life. Altho I would say it f**k everyone else - Antrim are still in a competitive league which they wont be favourites to win. No complaints.
If we want to play the big boys - then get promoted.

Otherwise - can we restructure the Antrim leagues so that St Theresa's can play Loughgiel?
After all thats what will improve them?!

[Seamroga in exile]

There's always begrudgers mate.   On all walks of life.   Ballygalget winning today just doesn't leave us in a semi.   Ulster needs winning. But there's a small bit of hurt after last years semi.  Not wanting to look to far infront.  But we again maybe have something to prove.

Whilst we won handily enough today after a bad start we're a good few steps down from the standard Loughgeil are at. Can't see us trouble Loughgeil, but hope the young lads on the team learn a valuable lesson on where they're at and the gulf in speed of hurling, stickwork etc may stand to them in later years.

Will the Ulster council revert to a 'home and away' arrangement for Ulster club fixtures in the absence of Casement?

I hear you boys have drafted in some outside help from not too far away from ourselves Jc. I also hear probably Armagh 13th october for the semi.

[theskull1]

I hear you boys have drafted in some outside help from not too far away from ourselves Jc. I also hear probably Armagh 13th october for the semi.

For a boy that hears plenty, unbelievable isn't it you didn't hear how well youse got on in Dublin prior to playing the town? 

[Seamroga in exile]

I hear you boys have drafted in some outside help from not too far away from ourselves Jc. I also hear probably Armagh 13th october for the semi.

For a boy that hears plenty, unbelievable isn't it you didn't hear how well youse got on in Dublin prior to playing the town? 

My ears were ringing from pink floyd music.

[Saffrongael]

Why do the Cushendall posters on here never post after a Championship defeat ?

[theskull1]

In fairness the shams only found the internet a few years ago.

[Milltown Row2]

Ya only post when you're winning, post when you're winning!! ya only post when you're winning

I should only post on the football thread ffs

[Seamroga in exile]

In fairness the shams only found the internet a few years ago.

we only got electric in glenbush 3 years ago.   

[cfclg]

Are there any Sarsfields men on here? Looks like you are destined for Division 1 hurling next year, whats the feelings on that?

Division 2 relegation will be sorted out this wknd. Will St Pauls avoid the drop by beating Carey or will Lambs turn over Sarsfields to maintain their Div 2 status?

[btdtgtt]

Its an exciting enough finish to a league thats for sure - all 4 teams in these fixtures have something to play for!

Pity they aren't at the bear pit & st pauls ground - could watch them both at the same time!

It would be a massive blow for either club to be relegated - and how do galls carey & sars view potential div 1?

[manballandall]

I dont think any of the 3 teams mentioned are strong enough to survive Div one...not enough strength in depth. I have said it already to our club that we need to be at championship level/fitness at start of league in the hope we catch a few teams on the hop and gain enough points early on. That means starting a few months of gym work, strength and conditioning now and then build on fitness at start of year. Otherwise we and any other team going up is going to struggle big time. I still believe teams going up need to 2 years to find their feet but i know that would be a loigistical nightmare unless we extend the number of teams in the division but we have already covered that ground previously on here so lets just see what happens

[Milltown Row2]

If we win on Sunday we'll go up to Div 1,

Two two down this year, St Pauls would need to win and Lamhs lose to have a chance Carey are looking to get second place so will be giving St Pauls a hammering I think

[johnneycool]

There's always begrudgers mate.   On all walks of life.   Ballygalget winning today just doesn't leave us in a semi.   Ulster needs winning. But there's a small bit of hurt after last years semi.  Not wanting to look to far infront.  But we again maybe have something to prove.

Whilst we won handily enough today after a bad start we're a good few steps down from the standard Loughgeil are at. Can't see us trouble Loughgeil, but hope the young lads on the team learn a valuable lesson on where they're at and the gulf in speed of hurling, stickwork etc may stand to them in later years.

Will the Ulster council revert to a 'home and away' arrangement for Ulster club fixtures in the absence of Casement?

I hear you boys have drafted in some outside help from not too far away from ourselves Jc. I also hear probably Armagh 13th october for the semi.

That outside help has been up and down the road on and off for the better part of 10 years now Seamroga, hardly anything new, our backroom staff payroll is still a pittance to yours, but then again you're a big time club compared to us minnows.

Heard at the weekend you were down playing the crokes in Dublin and got beat, must have been the extended panel you gave a run out. 

It was the same day as the AI u-21 final and the Crokes lads I was talking to were surprised you'd went ahead with the friendly considering your county was in an AI final in Thurles.

Dublin club hurling is pretty strong now as Ballyboden tanked us a week later.

Sure we'll get Graham to keep it pucked out to you considering how easy you saw off Cushendall and Ballycastle who're well ahead of us standard wise.