Antrim Hurling

[SaffronSports]

Statement from St Mary's.

FORRESTER'S CUP FINAL 'NULL AND VOID'

Unfortunately, this year's Ulster Schools' Forrester's Cup competition was deemed null and void.

There were two factors that led to this conclusion.

1. Our opposition played an ineligible player in the final

2. Incorrect competition rules were applied by the Ulster Schools' Council in the final; the game was level after extra time and a penalty shootout was played. According to competition rules, the game should have gone to a replay. Therefore, Ulster Schools GAA deemed the competition null and void.

We want to say a massive thank-you to the team who have shown great commitment to extra-curricular life in our school and have demonstrated what it means to be a Simmarian. This team has quietly, and without question, trained consistently for three or more mornings per week since year 9. This shows their commitment to Hurling and will undoubtedly stand by them in their development into senior hurlers over the next number of years. We want to particularly thank their parents for the help and sacrifice in ensuring that their sons could make the early morning training sessions.
The team reached 3 Ulster Finals in a row, losing by a point in the year 10 final, winning the Leonard Cup competition last year and reaching this year's final.
On the team's behalf we want to thank our canteen staff who have prepared breakfast after each training session ensuring that the pupils were prepared for their school day ahead.
Lastly, and most importantly, we want to wish our pupils well as they embark upon their GCSE exams.

[Gael-in-exile]

Reading the St Mary's post there and looking back over other posts and without any inside track it seems that Ballycastle were deemed to have played an illegal player, although age limits are not on the official Schools GAA site so hard to know how that rule is applied.
And then both teams took park in penalties when it should have went to a replay.

Harsh on all to have competition deemed null and void (according to St Mary's post).

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I'm not sure what other option there was.
They couldn't award it to a team who played an ineligible player in the final.
The beaten finalists did not appeal the result nor wanted the game replayed.

[Gael-in-exile]

I'm not sure what could be done other than replay the game possibly.
If the beaten finalists didn't appeal does that mean the schools body conducted the investigation/review of their own bat??

I'm still a bit confused as both teams took part in penalties, but the ineligible player would be assumed eligible on an age basis by following the link posted to the schools site.

Disappointing for all involved no doubt, especially more so for Ballycastle who at some point believed they won fair and square.

[Saffron71]

I'm hearing that a number of clubs particularly in Div 2 have lost their home games due to no referee.  I think this was maybe in the fine print previously but has never been enforced.

[Milltown Row2]

I'm hearing that a number of clubs particularly in Div 2 have lost their home games due to no referee.  I think this was maybe in the fine print previously but has never been enforced.

Always enforced, but clubs put refs out just to cover their backs and they probably did a few games so they didn't lose home games.

I suppose it gives you an idea how lacking we are for people doing it

[Around the glens]

He must be some hurler whoever he is.

Serious player.

[Hectic]

I'm hearing that a number of clubs particularly in Div 2 have lost their home games due to no referee.  I think this was maybe in the fine print previously but has never been enforced.

Always enforced, but clubs put refs out just to cover their backs and they probably did a few games so they didn't lose home games.

I suppose it gives you an idea how lacking we are for people doing it

So is there no quota that has to be hit - do a couple of games, even at like of U16, and box ticked?

[Milltown Row2]

I'm hearing that a number of clubs particularly in Div 2 have lost their home games due to no referee.  I think this was maybe in the fine print previously but has never been enforced.

Always enforced, but clubs put refs out just to cover their backs and they probably did a few games so they didn't lose home games.

I suppose it gives you an idea how lacking we are for people doing it

So is there no quota that has to be hit - do a couple of games, even at like of U16, and box ticked?

Not really, ref's are given notifications for games via a server and it obviously records the no's as well as the yes's .. So there is a tally that will show how many times a ref refusing a game, for whatever reason, so if they are only doing 2 or three games then they are only doing it to keep the club home games.. So the club should lose its home games as they are not fulfilling their end of the deal.

This has always been the case, I can remember this going back 30 odd years, its only fair that clubs look to encourage  members to take up the whistle

[Milltown Row2]

We are absolutely abysmal

As much as I hate to say that and hit the negative button but we have won little or nothing of break ball or any rucks.. that's nothing to do with playing against the wind, physically Dublin are always far bigger than us so win those dirty balls, or we foul them..

That all said, we are missing so many that we can't afford which reduces our effectiveness

Hoping for a better second half

[Deerstalker]

Totally outclassed and out muscled. As poor as I have seen in a while & little to no signs of improvement

[Upandover]

Abysmal today, 3 points scored in 20 minutes at home!!

I dont really know what our style of play or tactics are.

[paddyjohn]

Brutal. The Davy Fitz project is over.

[Saffrongael]

Brutal. The Davy Fitz project is over.

Heard quite few saying that at the game today, doesent look like much craic to play in that "system"

[saffman]

Do I want to look at Fitzy and blame him? Yes but that's lazy

Fact is, the squad of players available at the moment aren't division 1 or Liam McCarthy quality - too many injuries/retirements

I think I said this before either last season or start of the year. There are better and physically more mature players more capable of having an impact on the pitch on days like today than some of the players.

That also isn't a shot or direct criticism of the young lads putting their hand up as I absolutely think we need to mould the u20's and have them exposed to intercounty demands so that by the time they're 23/24 they are the next crop really driving forward and being leaders.

I just feel the squad is extremely light (numbers/weight) and lacking experience, there are at least 7/8 players performing regularly for their clubs who would do better than some of what we currently have yet fitzy and co are relying on u20s to win us a championship game