Antrim Hurling

[Saffron71]

The Carey game is in 2 weeks.  I'd imagine Ulster council might try to play it as a double header with the Cushendall match.  Rasharkin play this weekend again,  and if they win then the final is the week after.  I think Sean Tracey's in fairness are quite poor.  They won the Armagh Junior title by beating Cuchullains reserves after a replay.  To put that into context.  Cuchullains seniors would have played in Antrim Div 3 in recent years where Rasharkin and then would have had fairly competitive encounters against one another.  As for the Cavan outfield it is hard to know what they will bring as have a fella Maher who was once part of the Kilkenny squad and a fella at FF Kenny who received a Champion 15 All Star this year.  I also wouldn't read too much into their demolition of Omagh as they and other Tyrone representatives at Junior tend to have a poor record at this level (Barring Naomh Colmcille in 2011). 

[Saffrongael]

You would assume Ballinascreen will be strong

[Saffron71]

Yea I think Ballinscreen will beat Ballela comfortably with a good bit to spare.  They would certainly be favourites for that grade I feel.

[Saffron71]

What's everyone's thoughts on Saturday's game between Cushendall and Slaughtneill.  I think Cushendall might just edge it.  More experienced side and there seems to have been a changing of the guard in Slaughtneill with alot of younger players featuring in their team.  Tho I wouldn't completely rule out Slaughtneill.  Carey should win on Sunday in their semi final and unfortunately it wasn't to be for Rasharkin last Sunday.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Fancy Cushendall to win it by 6 points. Sneill are no longer the team they were which was evident last year.

Portaferry will be the bigger test for them.

[left peg]

Fancy Cushendall to win it by 6 points. Sneill are no longer the team they were which was evident last year.

Portaferry will be the bigger test for them.

Cushendal beat S'neil by 4
Dunloy beat S'neil by 2

Wouldn't rule Slaughtneil out just yet.

You boys weren't ruling Dunloy out when Slaughtneil were beating them off the park year after year. Dunloy came back and beat them. Hurling is a funny old game and Slaughtneil are going well at the minute.

Saturday evening will tell the tale.

[OakLeaf]

Fancy Cushendall to win it by 6 points. Sneill are no longer the team they were which was evident last year.

Portaferry will be the bigger test for them.

Cushendal beat S'neil by 4
Dunloy beat S'neil by 2

Wouldn't rule Slaughtneil out just yet.

You boys weren't ruling Dunloy out when Slaughtneil were beating them off the park year after year. Dunloy came back and beat them. Hurling is a funny old game and Slaughtneil are going well at the minute.

Saturday evening will tell the tale.

If they play like they did against Banagher, Cushendall will beat them easily enough.

[faughs]

Castleblaney will be a very tough game - similar to Carrickmore, a heavy pitch and not much time on the ball and very physical. The days of assuming an Antrim team will win easy due to playing a non traditional hurling county are over - ask Rasharkin.

What's everyone's thoughts on Saturday's game between Cushendall and Slaughtneill.  I think Cushendall might just edge it.  More experienced side and there seems to have been a changing of the guard in Slaughtneill with alot of younger players featuring in their team.  Tho I wouldn't completely rule out Slaughtneill.  Carey should win on Sunday in their semi final and unfortunately it wasn't to be for Rasharkin last Sunday.

[left peg]

Fancy Cushendall to win it by 6 points. Sneill are no longer the team they were which was evident last year.

Portaferry will be the bigger test for them.

Cushendal beat S'neil by 4
Dunloy beat S'neil by 2

Wouldn't rule Slaughtneil out just yet.

You boys weren't ruling Dunloy out when Slaughtneil were beating them off the park year after year. Dunloy came back and beat them. Hurling is a funny old game and Slaughtneil are going well at the minute.

Saturday evening will tell the tale.

If they play like they did against Banagher, Cushendall will beat them easily enough.

If I thought you knew what you were talking about I'd take your comments on board.

Banagher played with two sweepers and scored 4 points, 1 from play. In those circumstances 16 points was a pretty good return in the conditions.

[marty34]

I think Carey will be strong favourites. They have already played at Carrickmore's football pitch so I think that should give them a huge advantage. 'Blaney won Junior last year and 2018 IIRC, so they are decent and are experienced. Rafter and Garland key men still for them. The Antrim boys can't afford to take anything for granted.
But having already played in Carrickmore, I'll give the nod to the Glensmen.


Screen should win junior but ECG's have pushed on and with Nickey Kenny on board, they've developed well which is great to see. Dungannon's pitch, I feel, is tight enough so expect a battle.


Cushendall, as champions, will be favourites to regain their senior crown. SN need to up their scoring power. With a lot of big guns (OLG's, St. Thomas' and Shamrocks Ballyhale gone, will Cushendall take their eye off the ball?


Best game of the week-end could be Swatragh V Bredagh. Two evenly match teams in my opinion. Swatragh had a tough battle with Lisbellaw the last time out as well as the Derry 'Intermediate' Final V Kevin Lynch's. That should stand to them.
Bredagh are similar and are coming good at the right time. They're experienced so there should be fireworks in Ahoghill.

It's great to see these club games running week-on-week. I'm sure the players are delighted with the schedule. Plus with the milder weather, it's an added bonus.

[Saffron71]

Yea blaney will bring a tough challenge.  Carey should have just enough to get past them.  Bredagh and swatragh is very hard to call.  If there's any advantage to take for either team it's the fact that PJ O'Connell will be back playing on his home turf. He seemed to come to the fore against lisbellaw.   

Screen should win against ECG but like last week against Ballela they might only pull away at the end.   

[Brendan]

Slaughtneil haven't had a competitive match Since Cushendall a year ago...

[Glensman]

Yea blaney will bring a tough challenge.  Carey should have just enough to get past them.  Bredagh and swatragh is very hard to call.  If there's any advantage to take for either team it's the fact that PJ O'Connell will be back playing on his home turf. He seemed to come to the fore against lisbellaw.   

Screen should win against ECG but like last week against Ballela they might only pull away at the end.   

I missed that about PJ O'Connell not playing for Ahoghill these days. Would have always looked for his name in their team and assumed he was injured or, less likely, retired. Is there a story there (not hunting for one!) or just a case of geography (unlikely), age, family??

Great player at that level and part of that Clooney Gaels/Ahoghill team(s) that deserve a lot of credit.

[paddyjohn]

PJ lives in Kilrea so he plays football for Pearses and Hurling for Swatragh.

[Slemishgael]

All the best to Conor McCann on his retirement from County hurling. A decent fella and put in a decent shift over the years for Antrim.