Antrim Hurling

[north_antrim_hound]

There's no talking to some of the lads on here. I never said that half the panel is junior club level, I'm saying they played like that yesterday - and unless there has been a ridiculous outbreak of bubonic plague in the Glens that escaped the national news, I know and any half-decent hurling supporter knows that Antrim could field 100 players capable of much better than we saw yesterday. There were Antrim players yesterday dropping thirty yard passes that were hit straight into their hand, there were players unable to control or lift a barely moving sliothar, it was terrible, and nobody is codded into thinking that's where Antrim really are.


I know there are posters on here who don't have a high opinion of the Antrim County Board and as an outsider, I'm not going to say ye're wrong - yet ye are stretching credibility beyond belief to suggest that they could have got the throw in time wrong. I've played football in Offaly, Dublin, Galway, London, Offaly again and now Roscommon - and due to my complete lack of any kind of ability, it's been Junior B and low division league stuff all the way. Yet in the hundreds of two bit games that I've played, not once have I ever been on a team that collectively, got the throw in time wrong. I've never heard of it happening either.

It's impossible to believe that in a National Hurling league division 1 fixture, not one player on the panel during the week checked a national news website or read a preview, or looked at the odds, and realised that the throw in time was 2pm instead of 3pm and so flagged it up to the management. The game hadn't been moved, and it was the same time as every other NHL game taking place the same day - there is just no excuse for that. 

I do not believe for a minute that it was an honest mistake, and while I'm not sure what the reasoning behind it was, I'm still damn sure there is a reason. When set alongside the lackadaisical manner in which the team hurled, and the fact that the management didn't even bring twenty players to the game, then there is an overall trend of playacting here. I don't think it was sporting, and I am doubly upset that whatever it set out to achieve, it probably succeeded.

If Offaly win next Sunday's game by a 15 point margin or more, then I'll happily come along here and admit I was wrong and that Antrim are actually that poor this year. However there's a reason that this will be a one or two point handicap with the bookies, and there's a reason that I'm 100% certain that Antrim will have the talent and mentality to absolutely wire into us next week. It's because Antrim are so much better than this and we all know it.

I don't think anyone believes the timing was an honest mistake.

It was either deliberate to piss Offaly off - or we had some problems which kept us late.

Either way it's a f**king disgrace and embarrassing.

But then - it's Antrim.

Does anyone genuinely and I mean genuinely that KR or anyone associated with the team would be involved in anything other than this being a genuine mistake.

This is not the type of thing any player or manager would ever countenance, it has been a administrative error along the way somewhere.

Who knows? KR will know that's for sure and he hasn't given the reasons for it. I knew on Wed the game was at 2 as where the other games.

WE ARE PLAYING AT 1.00 in the morningTHIS SUNDAY, BALLYGOBACKWARDS
And we are 5/2 with Paddy Power

[Lone Shark]

Stupidity or incompetence? I'm going for incompetence. So until I hear otherwise, I believe it was an honest mistake

LS needs to outline what Antrim had to gain psychologically from doing it intentionally. Just doesn't make sense to even consider doing such a thing is going to give you an edge the next run out. I'd say all Antrim followers (including the Antrim players and coaching staff) are pretty embarrassed and apologetic about it, so its only for LS to know why an apology just won't do.

Either way it's a f**king disgrace and embarrassing.

Of course I can't outline what KR was thinking when they planned this, I can only speculate. Perhaps he was thinking that Offaly would be complacent and relaxed if they traveled to Ballycastle on the back of a big win. Perhaps he thought that the pedestrian pace of the game in the last twenty minutes would carry over into next week and Offaly would start slow in Ballycastle. Perhaps he did want to annoy Offaly and get their backs up, so they'll get drawn into a fight and lose concentration. Rest assured if I had the ability to read his thoughts I'd happily share, but that's a bit beyond me sadly. I just know it's easier to believe any of the three theories above than it is to believe that a county team got a throw in time wrong for a league match.

I do know this - the majority of Antrim supporters probably are apologetic and and embarrassed, yet they've nothing to be embarrassed or apologetic about. They were all there on time funnily enough - for God's sake they traveled up to 200 miles to go see the game - they owe nobody anything. It was the management and the organisers who should apologise, yet KR certainly didn't do that - instead he railed afterwards about how they "didn't get enough co-operation from the referee". What that's supposed to mean God only knows.

If there was an apology from any of the entities or individuals who have something to apologise for, I'd find it a lot easier to believe that the error was genuine.

And how Antrim can be 5/2 when we consider their form from their last two games at Ballycastle is something I can't fathom. That suggests a three point handicap and if I was from anywhere other than Offaly, Antrim plus three would be a cracking bet, worthy of a serious punt.

[Milltown Row2]

Stupidity or incompetence? I'm going for incompetence. So until I hear otherwise, I believe it was an honest mistake

LS needs to outline what Antrim had to gain psychologically from doing it intentionally. Just doesn't make sense to even consider doing such a thing is going to give you an edge the next run out. I'd say all Antrim followers (including the Antrim players and coaching staff) are pretty embarrassed and apologetic about it, so its only for LS to know why an apology just won't do.

Either way it's a f**king disgrace and embarrassing.

Of course I can't outline what KR was thinking when they planned this, I can only speculate. Perhaps he was thinking that Offaly would be complacent and relaxed if they traveled to Ballycastle on the back of a big win. Perhaps he thought that the pedestrian pace of the game in the last twenty minutes would carry over into next week and Offaly would start slow in Ballycastle. Perhaps he did want to annoy Offaly and get their backs up, so they'll get drawn into a fight and lose concentration. Rest assured if I had the ability to read his thoughts I'd happily share, but that's a bit beyond me sadly. I just know it's easier to believe any of the three theories above than it is to believe that a county team got a throw in time wrong for a league match.

I do know this - the majority of Antrim supporters probably are apologetic and and embarrassed, yet they've nothing to be embarrassed or apologetic about. They were all there on time funnily enough - for God's sake they traveled up to 200 miles to go see the game - they owe nobody anything. It was the management and the organisers who should apologise, yet KR certainly didn't do that - instead he railed afterwards about how they "didn't get enough co-operation from the referee". What that's supposed to mean God only knows.

If there was an apology from any of the entities or individuals who have something to apologise for, I'd find it a lot easier to believe that the error was genuine.

And how Antrim can be 5/2 when we consider their form from their last two games at Ballycastle is something I can't fathom. That suggests a three point handicap and if I was from anywhere other than Offaly, Antrim plus three would be a cracking bet, worthy of a serious punt.

On Sunday LS I'll buy you a pint, that's if Ballycastle are opening the pavilion with great views to watch the match If not tea and  soup would be the most you'll get. Bring your own tea and soup BTW!!

[north_antrim_hound]

Stupidity or incompetence? I'm going for incompetence. So until I hear otherwise, I believe it was an honest mistake

LS needs to outline what Antrim had to gain psychologically from doing it intentionally. Just doesn't make sense to even consider doing such a thing is going to give you an edge the next run out. I'd say all Antrim followers (including the Antrim players and coaching staff) are pretty embarrassed and apologetic about it, so its only for LS to know why an apology just won't do.

Either way it's a f**king disgrace and embarrassing.

Of course I can't outline what KR was thinking when they planned this, I can only speculate. Perhaps he was thinking that Offaly would be complacent and relaxed if they traveled to Ballycastle on the back of a big win. Perhaps he thought that the pedestrian pace of the game in the last twenty minutes would carry over into next week and Offaly would start slow in Ballycastle. Perhaps he did want to annoy Offaly and get their backs up, so they'll get drawn into a fight and lose concentration. Rest assured if I had the ability to read his thoughts I'd happily share, but that's a bit beyond me sadly. I just know it's easier to believe any of the three theories above than it is to believe that a county team got a throw in time wrong for a league match.

I do know this - the majority of Antrim supporters probably are apologetic and and embarrassed, yet they've nothing to be embarrassed or apologetic about. They were all there on time funnily enough - for God's sake they traveled up to 200 miles to go see the game - they owe nobody anything. It was the management and the organisers who should apologise, yet KR certainly didn't do that - instead he railed afterwards about how they "didn't get enough co-operation from the referee". What that's supposed to mean God only knows.

If there was an apology from any of the entities or individuals who have something to apologise for, I'd find it a lot easier to believe that the error was genuine.

And how Antrim can be 5/2 when we consider their form from their last two games at Ballycastle is something I can't fathom. That suggests a three point handicap and if I was from anywhere other than Offaly, Antrim plus three would be a cracking bet, worthy of a serious punt.

Your obviously very worried about Sunday and this has you looking for things that simply are not there
Let me put your mind at ease, you are raging hot favourites for this weekend
If KR where deploying some sort of head frying tactics yesterday it seems to have taken the reverse effect so no harm done there
Even if by some miracle Antrim break of those junior standard shackles and come out on top your still not going down as your play div2 winners
But as your a proud Offaly man imm sure your don't want lose to a bunch of Cretans who can't even get the throw in time right and imm sure your players will be of the same mindset so job done your as good as through

[Jeepers Creepers]

Remember the clocks go forward on Sat / Sunday 

[Milltown Row2]

Remember the clocks go forward on Sat / Sunday 

Oh FFS!! bed early Sat night

And it's Mother's day !!!!

[btdtgtt]

I cannot countence that Antrim GAA and the senior hurlers - all 30 or so of these people - all missed;
- official croke park notification
- national newspapers
- local newspapers
- countless websites
- twitter
- GAA app
Are we really expected to believe all of these people live in a bubble sheltered by all of this information and blindly assumed a 3pm throw in time without ever thinking to check?!

Wise up!

They must have all been "on the run" with the DUP.

[Seamroga in exile]

 

[brendanbelfast]

The Antrim twitter account (Brendan please comment?) made a pathetic comment about supporters complaining - and would they go to ballycastle next week?
Again I'm reminded of the website guest book - contempt for supporters.
What about those who went to tullamore to be betrayed?
What about giving them a reason to support the team in ballycastle?
What about treating paying supporters with respect?

It's not county admin job to argue with our own!
[/quote]

Again with comments about the county website guest book. I would be grateful if you could go on and cut & paste the last contemptuous comment towards a poster on the site.

[Tony Baloney]

The Antrim twitter account (Brendan please comment?) made a pathetic comment about supporters complaining - and would they go to ballycastle next week?
Again I'm reminded of the website guest book - contempt for supporters.
What about those who went to tullamore to be betrayed?
What about giving them a reason to support the team in ballycastle?
What about treating paying supporters with respect?

It's not county admin job to argue with our own!

Again with comments about the county website guest book. I would be grateful if you could go on and cut & paste the last contemptuous comment towards a poster on the site.
[/quote]Regime change? You missed a few questions from the OP by the way.

[btdtgtt]

The Antrim twitter account (Brendan please comment?) made a pathetic comment about supporters complaining - and would they go to ballycastle next week?
Again I'm reminded of the website guest book - contempt for supporters.
What about those who went to tullamore to be betrayed?
What about giving them a reason to support the team in ballycastle?
What about treating paying supporters with respect?

It's not county admin job to argue with our own!

Again with comments about the county website guest book. I would be grateful if you could go on and cut & paste the last contemptuous comment towards a poster on the site.
[/quote]

If I get time I will try delve into it but to be honest I haven't been on it in ages - because of such comments! I didn't stop using it because I imagined them!
Do you think other posters here also imagined them?!
Fair enough if this has now ceased - I'm happy to see that!

Altho I note your post blatantly ignores the tweet I referred to which I still see as pointless abrasiveness towards other Antrim Gaels. That's fine for the bar or private conversation but not official
County twitter especially after the debacle in tullamore. It puts a poor reflection on both our support and county admin.

[Apparently so]

This thread is great craic

Keep er lit

[btdtgtt]

This thread is great craic

Keep er lit

Wait till the mc cooeys vs the rednecks kicks off!

Or the world vs loughgiel!

[brendanbelfast]

If I get time I will try delve into it but to be honest I haven't been on it in ages - because of such comments! I didn't stop using it because I imagined them!
Do you think other posters here also imagined them?!
Fair enough if this has now ceased - I'm happy to see that!

Altho I note your post blatantly ignores the tweet I referred to which I still see as pointless abrasiveness towards other Antrim Gaels. That's fine for the bar or private conversation but not official
County twitter especially after the debacle in tullamore. It puts a poor reflection on both our support and county admin.
[/quote]

Since you haven't been on the county guestbook 'in ages' maybe its not so wise to comment on the content on a fairly consistent basis?

And last night's tweet was about encouraging supporters - and alleged supporters - to get out to next weeks crucial match and support the team. The fuss and the 'aren't we awful' / 'isn't it embarrassing' comments about the team selection....it would be legitimate view to regard that as nonsense. BW didn't field anything like a full strength team, why would KR? When we played Offally in the Walsh Cup a number of U21s got a run out then, well this match was even less meaningful than that was.  This was an ideal opportunity to get a good run out for young players - they will benefit from it.

Turning up late, that seems bad form though I don't know the whys and wherefores of that one. But playing our strongest team the week before a relegation play off? Never going to happen and  rightly so I reckon.

[Milltown Row2]

All this fighting and the page number is