Antrim Hurling

[Last Man]

And then several of them played Down and Derry in the U17 Celtic Challenge games the next day....and not a sniff of player welfare concerns.

With alot of these players already dual for their club .... I hope the U17 & U18 county mentors can work better to ensure they don't flog talented players ... we all want them to be fit come summer time

We are talking about 17/18 year olds......They'll be grand

Question, Do Antrim have any U16's on their U17 Celtic Challenge team?

I know Down have and as its meant to be a development team I don't think its right even if some of the U16's are better hurlers than some of the U17's, but as its for "development" I don't think that's the point of the exercise.

Totally correct JC but its hard to get U17s out and clubs arent that bothered about encouragement of their players leaving the mentors in a difficult position. Good U16s looking ahead to minor are generally more willing hence you see them playing up. Not an easy job taking this age group.

[clootfromthe21]

I see the minors had a big win over Laois on Saturday, any reports on their performance?

No reports but the scorers (per twitter) were Ed McQuillan 3-0, Seann Elliott 0-6, David Kilgore 1-1 and Anton McGrath, Micheal McGreevey and Conor McHugh 0-1 each.

We were beaten by Dublin 2-17 to 0-9 the previous week. Read somewhere that was the Dublin "B" team but whether Dublin streams minors or mixes them up, I'm not sure, as Laois beat Dublin the week before that by 2-13 to 1-13.

Minors now play Westmeath in Leinster Shield Semi Final.

[johnneycool]

And then several of them played Down and Derry in the U17 Celtic Challenge games the next day....and not a sniff of player welfare concerns.

With alot of these players already dual for their club .... I hope the U17 & U18 county mentors can work better to ensure they don't flog talented players ... we all want them to be fit come summer time

We are talking about 17/18 year olds......They'll be grand

Question, Do Antrim have any U16's on their U17 Celtic Challenge team?

I know Down have and as its meant to be a development team I don't think its right even if some of the U16's are better hurlers than some of the U17's, but as its for "development" I don't think that's the point of the exercise.

Totally correct JC but its hard to get U17s out and clubs arent that bothered about encouragement of their players leaving the mentors in a difficult position. Good U16s looking ahead to minor are generally more willing hence you see them playing up. Not an easy job taking this age group.

In fairness to the lads involved with the Down U17 development squads they wouldn't have nearly the same player pool to pick from, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least try to fill it with 17 year olds willing to give up the time and effort required and actually develop them in the truer sense to become better hurlers even if they're not going to be proper intercounty hurlers, but will go back to the clubs in theory better hurlers for their experiences..
Plus its never too late for someone to break through at 17 like one of our lads did the last time Down won the Ulster minors. One lad had never played for any county team at any level but his improvements from 16 to 18 was unreal and he got a late call up to the county minors and a starting berth and is now a regular starter for Down seniors.

[paddyjohn]

All the best to St Marys this weekend..

[Minder]

So where does that defeat leave Antrim re promotion ?

[Two Hands FFS]

So where does that defeat leave Antrim re promotion ?

Still in the final v Carlow next weekend as far as I know.

Pure shite today.

[imtommygunn]

What happens after the final? Winner plays off bottom team or has that changed? I am not sure we will beat carlow anyway mind.

[BrendanAntrim]

that has changed now, winners of 2A final go up - no play off.

[Hand up]

And by today's display, straight back down again!!

[Last Man]

How significant was the red card?

[johnneycool]

that has changed now, winners of 2A final go up - no play off.

Not according to the Independent, but you could be right as Wexford go straight up out of Div1B.


Edit from GAA.ie
"Carlow and Antrim will contest the Division 2A Final with the winner earning promotion to Division 1B. Armagh have been relegated from Division 2A to Division 2B."

Image that, the GAA having entirely different rules for the big counties than the lesser counties...

[Minder]

that has changed now, winners of 2A final go up - no play off.

Not according to the Independent, but you could be right as Wexford go straight up out of Div1B.


Edit from GAA.ie
"Carlow and Antrim will contest the Division 2A Final with the winner earning promotion to Division 1B. Armagh have been relegated from Division 2A to Division 2B."

Image that, the GAA having entirely different rules for the big counties than the lesser counties...

Yeah I saw that somewhere yesterday too

[BrendanAntrim]

Promotion decider on Saturday in Newry, 3pm. Good venue for us I would say.

[clootfromthe21]

Promotion decider on Saturday in Newry, 3pm. Good venue for us I would say.

Last time I saw an Antrim team play a Carlow team there, it didn't end so well for us!

[podge]

How significant was the red card?

Not convinced that the red card was overly significant in the end result but it was very very harsh to say the least.  Overall the ref was absolutely brutal.   

Westmeath are big and powerful outfit and outmuscled antrim for large parts.  For Antrim, Dillon at full back and Matt Donnelly at centre half were excellent.  Up front I thought young murphy in the corner was the biggest threat