Antrim Hurling

[paddyjohn]

Was at dunsilly a couple of weekends ago and heard "tuggy" mcgrath  and "queenie" jr mcmahon was interested in a joint management. Would be a coup and would keep everyone on board for next year.

How on earth could this be viewed as a coup?

Somebody has been in the pound on bank holiday weekend. Best ignored

[ck]

Wee Davy using 'they' quite a bit there when talking about Antrim.

He's gone

Yes I spotted that too. He's definitely gone. At least I hope so.

[Antrim Coaster]

The general opinion in Tullamore yesterday was that the Offaly match would be Davy's last.

It's obvious that the Davy experiment hasn't worked.

Sambo's article wasn't too far off the mark. Any manager needs to get all his players onside instead of throwing lads under the bus as Davy has done. Antrim could have done with one of those lads yesterday who he ostracised after the Dublin match.

I thought Michael Kennedy gave Offaly that wee bit more, but he was correct when it came to the sending off as television cameras later showed.

I don't think the lad O'Connor is county standard, and his stupidity cost Antrim yesterday.

If Antrim had the 15 players on the pitch Id say they would have won and Offaly deployed their extra man in and around the half back line which Antrim had difficulty bypassing, especially in the second half when Antrim played their best hurling of the year. It was do or die at that stage.

Paddy Burke and Stephen Rooney in the full back line, Conor Boyd, Big Joe and Conor Bohill in the half backs were immense. Scott Walsh played a blinder, James McNaughton his usual excellent performance and Gerard Walsh fairly came into it in the second half.

However, Id question why Ryan McCambridge was deployed at full forward in the first half - his strength is in around midfield / half forward and why Eoghan Campbell was playing in the full forward line. Lads played out of position.

If Derry win the Christy Ring next week, there'll be 3 Ulster teams in next seasons Joe McDonagh.

Regards the next Antrim manager, Eddie Brennan's name has been mentioned. He hasn't been involved with a county since he was thrown under the bus by Wooly on his podcast.

Obviously, Mickey McShane will be in pole position. If he gets the job, Antrim will need to look at the U20 set up to continue the work that Mickey has begun at that age group.

[Saffron71]

Was at dunsilly a couple of weekends ago and heard "tuggy" mcgrath  and "queenie" jr mcmahon was interested in a joint management. Would be a coup and would keep everyone on board for next year.

How on earth could this be viewed as a coup?

Somebody has been in the pound on bank holiday weekend. Best ignored

Yea, this is very clearly someone taking the P***. Tuggy and Queenie are two good lads but surely the pre requisite for managing/coaching at inter county level is:
-Playing experience at this level.
Or
-Proven coaching/management record at club level.
Or
-Coaching/management experience at underage county level.
Or
-Coaching/management experience at senior inter county level.

I don't think these two lads have even coached at underage in their own clubs.  I think they've been involved in coaching adult soccer with Dunloy FC but that's a completely different sport. 

[Last Man]

The general opinion in Tullamore yesterday was that the Offaly match would be Davy's last.

It's obvious that the Davy experiment hasn't worked.

Sambo's article wasn't too far off the mark. Any manager needs to get all his players onside instead of throwing lads under the bus as Davy has done. Antrim could have done with one of those lads yesterday who he ostracised after the Dublin match.

I thought Michael Kennedy gave Offaly that wee bit more, but he was correct when it came to the sending off as television cameras later showed.

I don't think the lad O'Connor is county standard, and his stupidity cost Antrim yesterday.

If Antrim had the 15 players on the pitch Id say they would have won and Offaly deployed their extra man in and around the half back line which Antrim had difficulty bypassing, especially in the second half when Antrim played their best hurling of the year. It was do or die at that stage.

Paddy Burke and Stephen Rooney in the full back line, Conor Boyd, Big Joe and Conor Bohill in the half backs were immense. Scott Walsh played a blinder, James McNaughton his usual excellent performance and Gerard Walsh fairly came into it in the second half.

However, Id question why Ryan McCambridge was deployed at full forward in the first half - his strength is in around midfield / half forward and why Eoghan Campbell was playing in the full forward line. Lads played out of position.

If Derry win the Christy Ring next week, there'll be 3 Ulster teams in next seasons Joe McDonagh.

Regards the next Antrim manager, Eddie Brennan's name has been mentioned. He hasn't been involved with a county since he was thrown under the bus by Wooly on his podcast.

Obviously, Mickey McShane will be in pole position. If he gets the job, Antrim will need to look at the U20 set up to continue the work that Mickey has begun at that age group.

Couldn't agree less with your take on NO'C. He is full of potential if he was allowed to realise it. Potentially fcuked up yesterday, I didn't see it first hand but as level a headed young lad you wouldn't find. Big Joe gets the headlines in our club but Niall is a way more consistent performer.

[paddyjohn]

Was at dunsilly a couple of weekends ago and heard "tuggy" mcgrath  and "queenie" jr mcmahon was interested in a joint management. Would be a coup and would keep everyone on board for next year.

How on earth could this be viewed as a coup?

Somebody has been in the pound on bank holiday weekend. Best ignored

Yea, this is very clearly someone taking the P***. Tuggy and Queenie are two good lads but surely the pre requisite for managing/coaching at inter county level is:
-Playing experience at this level.
Or
-Proven coaching/management record at club level.
Or
-Coaching/management experience at underage county level.
Or
-Coaching/management experience at senior inter county level.

I don't think these two lads have even coached at underage in their own clubs.  I think they've been involved in coaching adult soccer with Dunloy FC but that's a completely different sport. 

I don't know who Tuggy McGrath is.

[Antrim Coaster]

The general opinion in Tullamore yesterday was that the Offaly match would be Davy's last.

It's obvious that the Davy experiment hasn't worked.

Sambo's article wasn't too far off the mark. Any manager needs to get all his players onside instead of throwing lads under the bus as Davy has done. Antrim could have done with one of those lads yesterday who he ostracised after the Dublin match.

I thought Michael Kennedy gave Offaly that wee bit more, but he was correct when it came to the sending off as television cameras later showed.

I don't think the lad O'Connor is county standard, and his stupidity cost Antrim yesterday.

If Antrim had the 15 players on the pitch Id say they would have won and Offaly deployed their extra man in and around the half back line which Antrim had difficulty bypassing, especially in the second half when Antrim played their best hurling of the year. It was do or die at that stage.

Paddy Burke and Stephen Rooney in the full back line, Conor Boyd, Big Joe and Conor Bohill in the half backs were immense. Scott Walsh played a blinder, James McNaughton his usual excellent performance and Gerard Walsh fairly came into it in the second half.

However, Id question why Ryan McCambridge was deployed at full forward in the first half - his strength is in around midfield / half forward and why Eoghan Campbell was playing in the full forward line. Lads played out of position.

If Derry win the Christy Ring next week, there'll be 3 Ulster teams in next seasons Joe McDonagh.

Regards the next Antrim manager, Eddie Brennan's name has been mentioned. He hasn't been involved with a county since he was thrown under the bus by Wooly on his podcast.

Obviously, Mickey McShane will be in pole position. If he gets the job, Antrim will need to look at the U20 set up to continue the work that Mickey has begun at that age group.

Couldn't agree less with your take on NO'C. He is full of potential if he was allowed to realise it. Potentially fcuked up yesterday, I didn't see it first hand but as level a headed young lad you wouldn't find. Big Joe gets the headlines in our club but Niall is a way more consistent performer.

Unfortunately, it was a stamp and the referee was right on top of it. His sending off did cost Antrim as that was the turning point in the match.

Obviously as your club mate you have seen much more of him, and you state he is full of potential if allowed to realise it. Is he being played out of position or what would appear to be the issue?  Which position does he play for NE and would more time under a different county manager bring him on?  Im making my judgement on what I have seen from the county team this year.

[Deerstalker]

Who are we replacing Niall O'Connor with then ?

When we say "X,Y & Z isn't inter county standard" are we talking top tier Div 1 Liam McCarthy standard? Because we have plenty of those, and that's not being disrespectful that's just where we are.

Was no fan of the Davy appointment but he was dealt a shitty enough hand with injuries. We also have short memories, had some decent days under Gleeson but plenty of hammerings too. 

[Around the glens]

Was at dunsilly a couple of weekends ago and heard "tuggy" mcgrath  and "queenie" jr mcmahon was interested in a joint management. Would be a coup and would keep everyone on board for next year.

How on earth could this be viewed as a coup?

Somebody has been in the pound on bank holiday weekend. Best ignored

Yea, this is very clearly someone taking the P***. Tuggy and Queenie are two good lads but surely the pre requisite for managing/coaching at inter county level is:
-Playing experience at this level.
Or
-Proven coaching/management record at club level.
Or
-Coaching/management experience at underage county level.
Or
-Coaching/management experience at senior inter county level.

I don't think these two lads have even coached at underage in their own clubs.  I think they've been involved in coaching adult soccer with Dunloy FC but that's a completely different sport. 

So your telling me the 4-2-3-1 they have planned to use in the joe McDonagh is a waste of time?

[groundlie]

It's a tough gig being Antrim manager. Apart from Dinny, has anyone really made a huge impact on the national stage in championship? Sambo Woody? Jingo? PJ? Gerry Wallis? Kevin Ryan? Pedan? It's really not an easy job.

You could say Davy keeping us Division 1, with what he has, is pretty decent.

Gleeson made good progress but also got relegated to the McDonagh back in 2021, which we won again in 22. We also took some awful beatings under Gleeson, again it comes with the tough task of managing Antrim.
 
Granted, Fitz tactics failed and at times make for difficult watching. But, he's tried something different. Personally I think give it another year. See how Division 1 goes, see if we can have a real good crack at the McDonagh. If it fails then regroup.

[Saffrongael]

It's a tough gig being Antrim manager. Apart from Dinny, has anyone really made a huge impact on the national stage in championship? Sambo Woody? Jingo? PJ? Gerry Wallis? Kevin Ryan? Pedan? It's really not an easy job.

You could say Davy keeping us Division 1, with what he has, is pretty decent.

Gleeson made good progress but also got relegated to the McDonagh back in 2021, which we won again in 22. We also took some awful beatings under Gleeson, again it comes with the tough task of managing Antrim.
 
Granted, Fitz tactics failed and at times make for difficult watching. But, he's tried something different. Personally I think give it another year. See how Division 1 goes, see if we can have a real good crack at the McDonagh. If it fails then regroup.

I think that's all very fair and probably where I am at too. People do have short memories.

[BrendanAntrim]

Keeping us in Div 1 meant beating Laois, that's it. I am sure Davy would have been targeting at the very least a more competitive Leinster campaign, but apart from yesterday we weren't really competitive in any championship game after half time. That's a poor championship campaign, more so than this last few seasons.

[Tony Baloney]

It's a tough gig being Antrim manager. Apart from Dinny, has anyone really made a huge impact on the national stage in championship? Sambo Woody? Jingo? PJ? Gerry Wallis? Kevin Ryan? Pedan? It's really not an easy job.

You could say Davy keeping us Division 1, with what he has, is pretty decent.

Gleeson made good progress but also got relegated to the McDonagh back in 2021, which we won again in 22. We also took some awful beatings under Gleeson, again it comes with the tough task of managing Antrim.
 
Granted, Fitz tactics failed and at times make for difficult watching. But, he's tried something different. Personally I think give it another year. See how Division 1 goes, see if we can have a real good crack at the McDonagh. If it fails then regroup.

I think that's all very fair and probably where I am at too. People do have short memories.

It's a tough gig being Antrim manager. Apart from Dinny, has anyone really made a huge impact on the national stage in championship? Sambo Woody? Jingo? PJ? Gerry Wallis? Kevin Ryan? Pedan? It's really not an easy job.

You could say Davy keeping us Division 1, with what he has, is pretty decent.

Gleeson made good progress but also got relegated to the McDonagh back in 2021, which we won again in 22. We also took some awful beatings under Gleeson, again it comes with the tough task of managing Antrim.
 
Granted, Fitz tactics failed and at times make for difficult watching. But, he's tried something different. Personally I think give it another year. See how Division 1 goes, see if we can have a real good crack at the McDonagh. If it fails then regroup.

If a high-profile and expensive outsider from halfway down the country is no better or worse than a local, would we not be better investing locally in someone who will genuinely have the interests of Antrim hurling at heart? It's that or someone using it as a stepping stone to a bigger job.

[groundlie]

I totally understand the logic here and it's one that in a perfect world I would love to see. But,  things in Antrim feel complicated at times.

Someone from within has a pride in taking the team that just cannot be matched by a coach from another county. But, have we not seen this film before? Coaches from Antrim have never really had much success for various and complex reasons.

I speculate that the thinking over the years has been to get an outsider from a strong hurling county who has no baggage or club allegiances and will bring knowledge and fresh ideas.

It depends what the vision is short, medium and long term? I have always felt southern coaches are like a sticking plaster and very much a top down approach. It would be nice to see an Antrim man do well at it, however history shows it's very tricky.

[SaffronSports]

I totally understand the logic here and it's one that in a perfect world I would love to see. But,  things in Antrim feel complicated at times.

Someone from within has a pride in taking the team that just cannot be matched by a coach from another county. But, have we not seen this film before? Coaches from Antrim have never really had much success for various and complex reasons.

I speculate that the thinking over the years has been to get an outsider from a strong hurling county who has no baggage or club allegiances and will bring knowledge and fresh ideas.

It depends what the vision is short, medium and long term? I have always felt southern coaches are like a sticking plaster and very much a top down approach. It would be nice to see an Antrim man do well at it, however history shows it's very tricky.

Are we at a point where this is just our level regardless of management?

Like I see the work being done at a lot of clubs in North Antrim. Some struggling for numbers but they're putting the wee lads out every other week for a blitz. Those kids are getting a load of hurling and have lads that were good hurlers themselves coaching them.

I know geography has always been mentioned. We're not able to have loads of games against the Tipps, Kilkennys, Limerick, Cork etc as these lads grow up. Is it just we're at our ceiling?

If you wrote everything down there's probably 100 different opinions but the only thing we know is for over 30 years we've barely laid a glove at Liam McCarthy level.