Antrim Hurling

[Last Man]

How long have St Enda's been attending the blitzes with the NA clubs? My wee man played a few years ago and they were  regular attendees. Has that been happening long enough to have had an impact on the win last night? Do you think playing those teams has helped them?

My memory is around 2008 we joined N.Antrim and in that time we have had some really decent groups that have fed into our senior team. Contested a few finals but didn't get over the line. This current crop of 16s looks like our best ever group in that there's none of them just making up the 15 as can happen in juvenile squads. Hope they keep at it.

[Last Man]

St Endas won U-16 A championship tonight v Ard Ni Ri, would say it's been a while since any of these haven't been won by a NA team ?

Gaelfast starting to pay dividends?

Lol

Well Ard Na Rí gave Loughgeil some thumping in the semi-final, St Enda's only beat the Gorts by a point in their semi-final and  St Pauls had a tidy enough U16 team down with us for a friendly, so something must be happening.

No doubt, anyone of those teams could have won it, that's U16s for you.

[saffman]

St Endas are N Antrim now. Been playing there for 12 + years.

Up the Nordies 

18+ years

The move has allowed St Endas seniors to move from div 4/ junior to div 1

As prev mentioned juvenile teams have contested finals/semi finals at A grade with this years u16 making the breakthrough

Could St Endas be the next team since Rossa of 03/04 to win a championship outside of the big 3?

Still dont see anyone outside of the big 3 winning for another 5+ years at least

[Last Man]

The North Antrim project has been a massive boost for us but establishing the Gaelscoil plus all the new residential development has really improved our catchment.
We have still a way to go though.

[imtommygunn]

Your senior game against st johns this weekend is a very interesting one. I would expect St Johns are possibly strong enough favourites but if you were to win that then it would be massive progress. I do suspect St Johns will be too good but it will be interesting to see where you stand.

[paddyjohn]

Super club St Endas, some rockets like every other club but anytime I've been up there, I've been more than well treated.

I can't see anybody but the big 3 for the next few years tbh. Maybe a Belfast select team will have to be gathered up and play.

[Last Man]

Your senior game against st johns this weekend is a very interesting one. I would expect St Johns are possibly strong enough favourites but if you were to win that then it would be massive progress. I do suspect St Johns will be too good but it will be interesting to see where you stand.

Can't argue with any of above, they are certainly favourites but they also know we are no longer the pushovers we might have been at a stage. Hoping we show.

[imtommygunn]

Super club St Endas, some rockets like every other club but anytime I've been up there, I've been more than well treated.

I can't see anybody but the big 3 for the next few years tbh. Maybe a Belfast select team will have to be gathered up and play.

St endas do seem to be the only city team pushing on in hurling. The rest seem to be dropping off a bit. Big three miles ahead these days.

[Beirbua2024]

St Endas have put a lot of hard work in to get themselves where they are now. A shrewd decision all those years ago to go North Antrim at juvenile which is paying dividends it would seem. St John's and Rossa both great teams also when talking about the city clubs and fair play to all 3 clubs also as it can't be easy to maintain Div1 status in both codes but they have done so for a few years.

Outside of those 3 I think hurling in the city is on a bit of a lull at least at senior level, Div2 down to 2 city teams next season with Sarsfields relegation to Div3 to join only LD and GNM as the city teams there.

Paddyjohns suggestion of a Belfast select team might sound a bit outlandish (change can be scary) but if the big 3 are to be challenged it'll take something to change. Plus when it comes to schools hurling St Mary's CBGS seem to fair pretty well with their collection of players from different clubs.

[Slemishgael]

Rossa and St Pauls - historically what is the story there, 2 clubs literally beside one and other - would it not be better to amalgamate? Isnt there a club just down the road from St Johns also on the Whiterock Road? Is there too many clubs in Belfast? Excuse my ignorance, not from the city although played against many of the city teams through the years.

[paddyjohn]

Rossa and St Pauls - historically what is the story there, 2 clubs literally beside one and other - would it not be better to amalgamate? Isnt there a club just down the road from St Johns also on the Whiterock Road? Is there too many clubs in Belfast? Excuse my ignorance, not from the city although played against many of the city teams through the years.

Sarsfields are the 3rd club in that group.

[Cnoc Bán]

Rossa and St Pauls - historically what is the story there, 2 clubs literally beside one and other - would it not be better to amalgamate? Isnt there a club just down the road from St Johns also on the Whiterock Road? Is there too many clubs in Belfast? Excuse my ignorance, not from the city although played against many of the city teams through the years.

Rossa, St Pauls and Sarsfields are all right beside each other with really only fences between each pitch.

St Teresa's are only a stones throw away as well.

St John's and O'Donnells are both on the Whiterock Road.

[Slemishgael]

I know easier said than done, but amalgamating clubs in west belfast in particular could be an idea worth looking into. We want hurling to thrive in Belfast and stronger more competitive teams to come out of the city. 20 years ago since a belfast team (Rossa) won a county championship. crazy. Im sure theres great work being done in all clubs in belfast its just tapping into the population and getting folk participating.

[imtommygunn]

Rossa and St Pauls - historically what is the story there, 2 clubs literally beside one and other - would it not be better to amalgamate? Isnt there a club just down the road from St Johns also on the Whiterock Road? Is there too many clubs in Belfast? Excuse my ignorance, not from the city although played against many of the city teams through the years.

Rossa, St Pauls and Sarsfields are all right beside each other with really only fences between each pitch.

St Teresa's are only a stones throw away as well.

St John's and O'Donnells are both on the Whiterock Road.

Not to mention St Galls who are just down the road a wee bit from there and then GNM who are just up the bypass and then I think there's another one on the falls there? (Might be dwyers I'm thinking of who maybe don't compete so much now)

[Kidder81]

Rossa and St Pauls - historically what is the story there, 2 clubs literally beside one and other - would it not be better to amalgamate? Isnt there a club just down the road from St Johns also on the Whiterock Road? Is there too many clubs in Belfast? Excuse my ignorance, not from the city although played against many of the city teams through the years.

Rossa, St Pauls and Sarsfields are all right beside each other with really only fences between each pitch.

St Teresa's are only a stones throw away as well.

St John's and O'Donnells are both on the Whiterock Road.

Not to mention St Galls who are just down the road a wee bit from there and then GNM who are just up the bypass and then I think there's another one on the falls there? (Might be dwyers I'm thinking of who maybe don't compete so much now)

Davitts are in Beechmount, just off the Falls Rd