Antrim camogie

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

she looks very strong and attacks the ball well and shows a lot of desire in the game.

She's a dual player and Moneyglass have higher ambitions with an all Ireland compared to her camogie club, Cargin, who will be aiming to try and win an intermediate championship. Not easy to play both esp. when both associations don't fall under the same umbrella.

The difference between D1 and D2 sides in camogie is pretty big in Antrim hence why there's only 6 teams in the top flight.

If Antrim are to push on and make that permanent step to senior we need more teams at senior club championship and in D1. It isn't sustainable to have the bulk of the players coming from the same clubs, it wont last long term.

It needs other clubs to be able to step up, rather than the constant stepped down to play at safer & easier levels.

[Rawhide]

Antrim took a serious beating in the Ulster u16 final from Derry at the weekend.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

You have to wonder about the sense of these U23 fixtures just after the league and prior to the All Ireland series.

Its ok for the larger counties with big numbers but those with smaller pools of players have more players involved with two sets of the panels with no break.

A nice idea on paper for the likes for Cork, Galway, Dublin etc with large numbers but no so for the likes of us who have the same players in our senior panel. 14 of our U23 panel are in the senior panel.

Player welfare means zero when they are constantly on the go and its only April.

[whereshegoinref]

You have to wonder about the sense of these U23 fixtures just after the league and prior to the All Ireland series.

Its ok for the larger counties with big numbers but those with smaller pools of players have more players involved with two sets of the panels with no break.

A nice idea on paper for the likes for Cork, Galway, Dublin etc with large numbers but no so for the likes of us who have the same players in our senior panel. 14 of our U23 panel are in the senior panel.

Player welfare means zero when they are constantly on the go and its only April.

The doubling up of players is a decision by Antrim, they aren't forced to do that. Go to the C grade if need be and bring forward a wider pool of players.
Having said that it shouldn't be too tough an ask to play a game a week for girls who aren't doing anything with their clubs (this weeks games excluded), they would be training just as hard if there was no game or playing friendlies.

[johnnycool]

You have to wonder about the sense of these U23 fixtures just after the league and prior to the All Ireland series.

Its ok for the larger counties with big numbers but those with smaller pools of players have more players involved with two sets of the panels with no break.

A nice idea on paper for the likes for Cork, Galway, Dublin etc with large numbers but no so for the likes of us who have the same players in our senior panel. 14 of our U23 panel are in the senior panel.

Player welfare means zero when they are constantly on the go and its only April.

The doubling up of players is a decision by Antrim, they aren't forced to do that. Go to the C grade if need be and bring forward a wider pool of players.
Having said that it shouldn't be too tough an ask to play a game a week for girls who aren't doing anything with their clubs (this weeks games excluded), they would be training just as hard if there was no game or playing friendlies.

Down were caught out with the late change in the rules barring the use of U18's and had to scramble a team together for the U23's.
I think it's a good idea, but realistically you want to be bringing in girls just off senior intercounty level, maybe some senior panelists not getting much gametime etc and give them exposure at this level.
It'll take a while to bed in and get organised for it.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

See i dont disagree with the logic behind the grade, its more that it doesnt work as well for the smaller pool of player counties.

Antrim dont have a large county panel, despite what many would think.

We only have 6 teams in Division 1 and in truth theres the top 4 and then Ahoghill & Bridini Oga who are a fair bit off them.

The drop to Division 2 is just as high as well.

So in truth Antrim are relying on 4 clubs to make up the bulk strength of the panel -if they are to be competitive.

Down are in a similar position as you have Clonduff, Portaferry and then below that is Liatroim, Ballycran & Ballygalget.

Again the drop off is high to intermediate level.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

You have to wonder about the sense of these U23 fixtures just after the league and prior to the All Ireland series.

Its ok for the larger counties with big numbers but those with smaller pools of players have more players involved with two sets of the panels with no break.

A nice idea on paper for the likes for Cork, Galway, Dublin etc with large numbers but no so for the likes of us who have the same players in our senior panel. 14 of our U23 panel are in the senior panel.

Player welfare means zero when they are constantly on the go and its only April.

The doubling up of players is a decision by Antrim, they aren't forced to do that. Go to the C grade if need be and bring forward a wider pool of players.
Having said that it shouldn't be too tough an ask to play a game a week for girls who aren't doing anything with their clubs (this weeks games excluded), they would be training just as hard if there was no game or playing friendlies.

If they didnt double up then they wouldnt have a team. The fact is that the bulk of the current senior team are U23 level.

You could argue that they could get others outside of that panel to come forward and play instead of the girls playing senior but therein lies the problem - they dont want to play.

[johnnycool]

See i dont disagree with the logic behind the grade, its more that it doesnt work as well for the smaller pool of player counties.

Antrim dont have a large county panel, despite what many would think.

We only have 6 teams in Division 1 and in truth theres the top 4 and then Ahoghill & Bridini Oga who are a fair bit off them.

The drop to Division 2 is just as high as well.

So in truth Antrim are relying on 4 clubs to make up the bulk strength of the panel -if they are to be competitive.

Down are in a similar position as you have Clonduff, Portaferry and then below that is Liatroim, Ballycran & Ballygalget.

Again the drop off is high to intermediate level.

Most of the Down U23's were girls from junior and intermediate clubs who'd come up through the county development squads, minors etc and were a bit off the level for the senior panel as well as a handful of senior panelists who'd be getting limited gametime.

No harm in giving them a run out and exposure to a higher level

[Cnoc Bán]

See i dont disagree with the logic behind the grade, its more that it doesnt work as well for the smaller pool of player counties.

Antrim dont have a large county panel, despite what many would think.

We only have 6 teams in Division 1 and in truth theres the top 4 and then Ahoghill & Bridini Oga who are a fair bit off them.

The drop to Division 2 is just as high as well.

So in truth Antrim are relying on 4 clubs to make up the bulk strength of the panel -if they are to be competitive.

Down are in a similar position as you have Clonduff, Portaferry and then below that is Liatroim, Ballycran & Ballygalget.

Again the drop off is high to intermediate level.

Most of the Down U23's were girls from junior and intermediate clubs who'd come up through the county development squads, minors etc and were a bit off the level for the senior panel as well as a handful of senior panelists who'd be getting limited gametime.

No harm in giving them a run out and exposure to a higher level

100%. That is how that panel should be viewed, not as a means of getting current county panellists doubling up.

It is a great way of maybe finding a player that may have otherwise been overlooked, if they step up when playing at that level.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Agree, this most likely would of been a better suggestion rather than fleecing the players who already have played a full national league campaign.

Unsure as to who set the ambitions of the team though - management or the county. It really should of been thought throught.

A bit like fixing All county minor league games a day before Antrim play Derry in the Ulster minor final 

[johnnycool]

Agree, this most likely would of been a better suggestion rather than fleecing the players who already have played a full national league campaign.

Unsure as to who set the ambitions of the team though - management or the county. It really should of been thought throught.

A bit like fixing All county minor league games a day before Antrim play Derry in the Ulster minor final 

I've witnessed worse.

The Down camogie Feile was last Saturday in Hilltown and some of the players for Kilcoo and some other clubs played their first game and then took off to Lurgan to play LGFA for Down u14's and then back to the feile.

According to my Kilcoo source the Down Camogie board were informed months earlier and refused to move their date...

Intransigence from those in positions of power helps no one.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

To be honest JC i dont see any hope of the amalgamation of the codes ever happening. Too many people with power to loss.

We have seen a degree of working together last year with both codes speaking before working out fixtures but again there was some small problems.

Play senior championship games midweek when the light was failing badly whilst giving the football the weekend. The smart move would be to put the small ball in the better light. But hey ho

[Cannon Fodder]

Congratulations to our County Minor team and management on retaining the Ulster Minor Championship on Saturday in Cushendun. A team made up with nobody from the Dunloy and Loughgiel clubs and only one from Cushendall.

The player of the match was Caoimhe McErlain from the Cargin club. A strong half back line of Amy Gault (St Pauls) Fiadh Sands (Ballycastle) and Hannah Mead (St Johns) turned a lot of ball throughout the game with McErlean and Eimear McCaughan showing extremely well up front.

Some great overhead catching on view - not something you see with camogs normally. Starting team made up of 5 city girls, 4 from the South West and 6 from North Antrim.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Very good result for the minors.

When you seen the result from the U16 final and the massive gap between the side it was a welcome victory for the girls.

[imtommygunn]

Why so few players from Dunloy Loughgiel Cushendall? Are they all just not as strong at that age group?