So with the Hurling underway and the Football due to start this weekend with the Juniors what are peoples thoughts on where the silver will end up at the end?
Football: Taking the Junior as it starts first it is really hard to even contemplate anyone but Sarsfields winning this. They won Div 3 at a canter to go back to Div 2 and should make short work of the opposition. Especially when you consider that the 3 big teams in this Championship are going to take each other out before the semi final stage - with the Paddies and O'Ds meeting in the Preliminary round and the winners meeting Ardoyne in the Quarters.
Intermediate next - think this is maybe the toughest of the football championships to call when you consider that by the end of the Preliminary round 2 of St Brigids, Randalstown, Rasharkin and Moneyglass will be gone already. Then when you look at who is waiting in the Quarters you have Ballymena, Dunloy and GNM. But, have to go with someone so will go with St Endas to lift it.
Last but not least - the Senior: a few tasty enough ties in the preliminary and QFs but it is all set up to be a St Galls/Cargin final if both teams overcome the early hurdles though no doubt there will be a couple of clubs there who will be doing their best to spoil the party and are more than capable of on their day.
Hurling:
Junior - with it being at semi final stage now we're left with Glenravel v Glenarm and GNM vs St Pauls. The first semi could be a clinker as there is never much between these two teams in recent years with some fierce battles. Could go either way but will give the nod to Glenravel. The second should also be a tight affair with GNM having the edge I think setting up a Glenravel/GNM final. Having seen the results from the league you would have to then go with GNM for the silverware.
Intermediate - another hard enough one to call as it is pretty much at semi final stage and there are teams in there capable of beating the others on their day and Championship can be a funny beast. Will stick my neck out and go for Carey.
Senior - again there are a couple of clubs probably capable of winning this in 2017 but I think the winner will come from the Loughgiel/Cushendall path though Dunloy could have something to say about that. Again - if have to stick the neck out with go for Loughgiel.
Replying To Offside_Rule: "So with the Hurling underway and the Football due to start this weekend with the Juniors what are peoples thoughts on where the silver will end up at the end?
Football: Taking the Junior as it starts first it is really hard to even contemplate anyone but Sarsfields winning this. They won Div 3 at a canter to go back to Div 2 and should make short work of the opposition. Especially when you consider that the 3 big teams in this Championship are going to take each other out before the semi final stage - with the Paddies and O'Ds meeting in the Preliminary round and the winners meeting Ardoyne in the Quarters.
Intermediate next - think this is maybe the toughest of the football championships to call when you consider that by the end of the Preliminary round 2 of St Brigids, Randalstown, Rasharkin and Moneyglass will be gone already. Then when you look at who is waiting in the Quarters you have Ballymena, Dunloy and GNM. But, have to go with someone so will go with St Endas to lift it.
Last but not least - the Senior: a few tasty enough ties in the preliminary and QFs but it is all set up to be a St Galls/Cargin final if both teams overcome the early hurdles though no doubt there will be a couple of clubs there who will be doing their best to spoil the party and are more than capable of on their day.
Hurling:
Junior - with it being at semi final stage now we're left with Glenravel v Glenarm and GNM vs St Pauls. The first semi could be a clinker as there is never much between these two teams in recent years with some fierce battles. Could go either way but will give the nod to Glenravel. The second should also be a tight affair with GNM having the edge I think setting up a Glenravel/GNM final. Having seen the results from the league you would have to then go with GNM for the silverware.
Intermediate - another hard enough one to call as it is pretty much at semi final stage and there are teams in there capable of beating the others on their day and Championship can be a funny beast. Will stick my neck out and go for Carey.
Senior - again there are a couple of clubs probably capable of winning this in 2017 but I think the winner will come from the Loughgiel/Cushendall path though Dunloy could have something to say about that. Again - if have to stick the neck out with go for Loughgiel."
From what I've seen through the league campaign Dunloy have impressed the most but come championship Loughgiel are different class and experience shines through! I'd expect the shamrocks to win this year but Dunloy are now back as serious challengers!
So a couple of weeks on and a step closer to seeing who is in the finals.
Football Junior - A Sarsfields and Lisburn final which should go with probably everyones pre-Championship thoughts in that it should be a facile win for the Paddies to lift the Junior.
Intermediate - now at the Semi Final stage and my prediction of St Endas gone down the swanny after St Brigids took them in the 1/4 final. Finding it hard to call which of the 4 teams left will be eventual winners. Will go with a Moneyglass/St Brigids final with the SW team taking the cup (cue a Dunloy v Ballymena final........)
Senior - again had predicted a St Galls/Cargin final but not surprised at the same time that St Galls were put out after just squeezing past PG1 with a late flurry before being put to the sword by Lámh Dhearg. Still think it will be Cargin in the final but the other is a tougher one to call - league form would say Creggan (having won both meetings) but I've a feeling Lámh Dhearg might take their Championship momentum in to the game and win on the day. Should be a good game though.
Hurling Junior - A Gort na Mona v Glenarm final and will stick with my earlier prediction of GNM though will be a tight one.
Intermediate - a Sarsfields/Carey final - again will stick with Carey to lift the silverware.
Senior - two interesting semi-finals. Will stick with Loughgiel to pip Cushendall and in the other would say Dunloy with a few to spare.
Hurling Junior - Gort by 5 - they can lift their game in championship Intermediate - Sarsfields by 10 . seem to flying at minute and carey could possible get relegated this weekend senior semi - dunloy and loughgiel .
times for junior and intermediate finals are changed to 2 and 330 apparently still find it strange that for 2nd year in row that 2 Belfast teams have to travel to armoy to play a final
Disappointing to see Ballycastle floundering so badly a couple of years after taking Cushendall to the pin of their collar. Something badly wrong there. Not a real test for Dunloy. Antrim need all their senior clubs to be strong, not just 2 or 3.
What can you say about Cushendall. Written off by many, as per usual, but executed a very professional performance against the resilient champions Loughuile, in what were dire hurling conditions.
Yeah well done to both Dunloy and Cushendall on their victories. The Loughgiel/Cushendall game was always going to be a tight affair and it seems to have turned out that way reading the reports. Expected Dunloy to win alright and with a few to spare but didn't see it being the hammering it turned out to be. Should be a decent enough final and a bit novel as the pair haven't met too often at this stage.
The bookies are in big disagreement with the intermediate final. Paddy Power have Carey 4/5 with Sarsfields 11/10. Boylesports have Carey 6/4 and Sarsfields 4/7
Jaysus - just looking back at my initial predictions and now i know why I don't gamble!!! Apart from the Junior in both codes every other one hopelessly wrong.
A bridge too far for Dunloy yesterday with Slaughtneil running out comfortable victors and see the Paddies lost out by the minimum to Lavey. At least GNM are still flying the flag on the Ulster front in the Hurling.
And with St Galls and Cargin now both packed up and finished for the year in the Senior it leaves the small matter of the Final in it and in the Intermediate to be played out with Dunloy hoping to keep the Ulster dream alive with the big ball when they face St Brigids. As to who is going to win both - don't ask me, I've no idea and even if I did predict it would more than likely be wrong. Good luck to all teams!