Antrim Hurling

[slow corner back]

I was refering to the crowd in Carlow

[Owenbeg]

Tis indeed, they are playing Bredagh in the first round, there are a few Down clubs in there, the three Ards clubs, Bredagh and carryduff. I cant see a Donegal team playing in the South Antrim league?

It wouldn't be unheard of for a team to travel that far for the Antrim League, sure Strabane were in the league for a few seasons a couple of years ago travelling as far away as Glenarm for games.

Setanta are St Paul's/ Gort Na Mona and few other clubs who didnt have the number at underage. They are sponsored by the hurl makers in bfast. They were down playing our u16's today. Aint a great side.

[Two Hands FFS]

From BBC website

Carlow 3-12 1-15 Antrim

Antrim joint-manager Sambo McNaughton was unhappy with his team's lack of discipline on Sunday

Antrim joint-boss Sambo McNaughton said his team were the "architects of their own downfall" after they crashed to a shock Allianz NHL defeat in Carlow.

Saffrons goalkeeper Ryan McGarry was sent off for retaliation in the first half and Paddy Richmond received a straight red card in the second period.

With the Saffrons imploding, Carlow led 2-7 to 0-5 at the break.

A Neil McManus goal helped Antrim to get within a point of Carlow but Richmond's red card was a massive blow.

To make matters worse, the Saffrons also lost two players because of the experimental yellow card rule, including influential Cormac Donnelly.

"The new yellow card rule is very annoying but we got what we deserved today," McNaughton told BBC Sport.

"The two boys got sent off for retaliation and they know that you just can't do that sort of thing and get away with it.

"We played nearly all of the match with 14 players and a large part of the game with 13.

"You just cannot afford to do that."

McNaughton acknowledged that the defeat "probably" leaves Antrim needing to win their final three Division 2 games - including the game against table-toppers Offaly in Tullamore on 19 April - to keep alive their promotion hopes.

"That's providing we can beat Kerry and Laois in the next two games which is by no means guaranteed, given the way we are playing at the moment."

The Saffrons started off their campaign with wins over Down and Wexford but the wheels have come off in the last two games as a home draw against lowly Westmeath was followed by Sunday's shock reverse.

Antrim will be back in action against Kerry at Casement Park next Sunday.

[Glensman]

Jesus (can't really say much more than that)...and Dublin beat Waterford.

[slow corner back]

Another wee boost to Antrim hurling today with CPC's win in the All Ireland Colleges B semi final against Hosptital from Limerick. 1.11 to 0.10 was the final score but in truth CPC were never in too much bother but they just couldnt kill the game off. You cant say that too often about Antrim teams in All Ireland semi finals!

Any idea who you get in the final fairhead? Some excellent work been done in there two all ireland finals in three years is some achievement for a comprehensive school.

[imtommygunn]

That is a horrendous result - players sent off or not!

We need to get the finger out or like sambo says kerry and laois will beat us too.

Dublin are looking all the more ominous.

[Minder]

Are things any different now to previous regimes? I remember Sambo saying that things would be different, there would be no carryouts on the bus etc etc......... It all sounds very familiar. I also heard from a reliable source that the University players went on the rip the night before the Westmeath game because Antrim management told them they could as they wouldnt be needed the next day........... 

[TheDoc]

Indisciplined Antrim beaten by Carlow in NHL Div 2

Antrim hurlers unbeaten run in Division 2 of the Allianz National Hurling League came to an abrupt end at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday when they were beaten by three points by Carlow after a scrappy and undisciplined display.
Facing a stiff breeze in the opening half Antrim started reasonably well but their lost their way as the half progressed and the dismissal of full-back Cormac Donnelly for a yellow card offence and goalkeeper Ryan McGarry for a straight red offence dealt their chances a heavy blow.
Antrim were now in disarray and before the break they conceded a second goal when Carlow substitute pulled a ground stroke to the net after good work by the home side's best player Paudi Kehoe.
Eight points behind at the break Antrim looked like they could close the gap as they started the second half with much more vigour, but their insistence to go for goals when easy points were there for the taking cost them dearly.
A series of points from frees by Paul Shiels saw them close the gap to a single point at one stage, but the concession of a third goal and the loss of Paddy Richmond from another straight red card all but killed off the fight-back.
Substitute Neil McManus did manage to grab a late goal from a penalty but it was too little too late and Carlow held on for a deserved win, a result which all but ends Antrim's promotion chances.

[TheDoc]

How can they keep picking the same players who have been playing so poorly week in week not just this year, but over the last three years.
There are players in that team who know that no matter what they will start every week. The previous results should now hit home that certain players need to get out of their little comfort zones.

I hope that Dublin is the last thing that these boys are thinking about. I fear that we could get beat by Laois, I really do. All I can say is dont quit.

Very true.

[NAG]

What is going on seems like the wheels have well and truly come off the wagon!

[Tony Baloney]

They seem to be having real bother motivating themselves for matches against "lesser" teams. Unfortunately they are realising that they are actually Antrim and not Kilkenny and still need to pull the finger out in all their matches. At this stage of the year it must be a mental rather physical problem. Stories of going out on the pish doesn't exactly help.

[youngfella]

They seem to be having real bother motivating themselves for matches against "lesser" teams. Unfortunately they are realising that they are actually Antrim and not Kilkenny and still need to pull the finger out in all their matches. At this stage of the year it must be a mental rather physical problem. Stories of going out on the pish doesn't exactly help.

Id totally agree with you, would do no harm to bring in a sports and spend a few sessions with the lads.

[Guillem2]

Carlow have improved in recent years but remember the hidin we gave them in the Christy Ring final? I couldnt see this one coming despite the poor show against Westmeath.

Any talk of promotion is maddness now. Lets concentration on playing well as a team against Laois, get the result and improve the aul discipline. You can't expect to beat anybody if we have 13 and they have 15.

[clootfromthe21]

Another wee boost to Antrim hurling today with CPC's win in the All Ireland Colleges B semi final against Hosptital from Limerick. 1.11 to 0.10 was the final score but in truth CPC were never in too much bother but they just couldnt kill the game off. You cant say that too often about Antrim teams in All Ireland semi finals!

Think they play Colaiste Eoin of Dublin (who beat Loughrea) in the final - presumably in Newry or Dundalk. Lets hope they can lay down a marker for June!

[Fairhead]

Another wee boost to Antrim hurling today with CPC's win in the All Ireland Colleges B semi final against Hosptital from Limerick. 1.11 to 0.10 was the final score but in truth CPC were never in too much bother but they just couldnt kill the game off. You cant say that too often about Antrim teams in All Ireland semi finals!

Any idea who you get in the final fairhead? Some excellent work been done in there two all ireland finals in three years is some achievement for a comprehensive school.

It is Colaiste Eoin from Stillorgan in Dublin. They would get a lot of their players from Crokes who are very strong underage and they supplied a good chunk of the South Dublin combined team that got to the Leinster A Colleges semi final. CPC will be doing very well to get by these boys but at least they are there. Thats 5 yrs in a row Ulster schools have got to this B final (Maghera twice, St Marys once and CPC twice now) although only 1 victory to date by Maghera. Its on April 4 and as Cloot says it will probably around Dundalk or Newry.