bumpernut I havent actually. I try and stay away from 'expert opinion' both in the papers and sunday game.

Im sure its well informed but as the recent McCann incident shows people seem to follow news blindly. I dont even listen to the pundits on the sunday game if I can help it. Good old sky plus ha ha

From what ive been hearing though is Antrim u21 are struggling at the min. I dont think they are expected to repeat their previous heroics over wexford

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 20/08/2015 10:27:20    1772985

DoireCityFC

this is no lazy journalist or pundits view this is from a man who managed those players and knows them all personally. http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2015/0820/722459-kevin-ryan/

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 20/08/2015 11:58:23    1773095

Have just seen this article on the main page, not sure how useful these comments from the Antrim Chairman are.
http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=242920

I'd imagine its in response to Kevin Ryans comments on the U21 hurlers, but the chairmans comments don't seem to be addressing any of the issues. He can call for a more positive mindset all he wants, but there's nothing to base that positivity on if the problems aren't addressed. What do Antrim posters think, is the chairmans attitude a symptom of the general problem? What would be the best way for central council to intervene, if they were to?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 21/08/2015 20:14:17    1774093

Marlon_JD

The only useful thing the board could do is resign. They couldn't run a small club in the county let alone the county itself and that has been evident in so many issues I don't have time to go into them all. Kevin Ryan did nothing but tell the truth and I admire his honesty, he's clearly a passionate hurling man who tried his best to help a county in crises. However it must have seemed like trying to help a dog with rabies, no matter how much you try to help you still get bitten. We are currently well on our way to being the weakest football county in Ireland,we're plummeting down the ranks in hurling as well and we don't have a county ground fit for purpose. The county has had its fill of this crowd and any change would be welcome, the only way would be up from here.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 22/08/2015 13:53:33    1774224

Playing Wexford in 40 mins in the u21 semi. 13 players at the last training session. While there are loadsa problems you would think that young lads would be proud, honoured to pull on the county jersey. Seems not. Only the clubs and passionate hurling fans will bring the changes that are needed. There are many of us.

I understand that 2 prominent players from a city club did not travel with the u21 team today. Nothing to with the fact that they are playing club championship next weekend against the holders . You couldn't make this up. Shameful

Glensboy (Antrim) - Posts: 290 - 22/08/2015 15:26:11    1774245

While Antrim are losing & no doubt will be well beaten in the end, they are showing today that they can hurl with passion & skill. That's an exceptional Wexford team who hammered Kilkenny in the Leinster Final.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 22/08/2015 17:00:25    1774260

Imagine if we had our full team out here today.... Jackson, two Johnstons, Bradley etc

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 22/08/2015 17:07:44    1774262

It looks like they still gave Wexford a decent enough game so they obviously have some good players. Two years ago when they beat Wexford, their preparations were just as bad from what I recall. The apathy of the players is hard to understand when they have so much potential.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 996 - 22/08/2015 17:30:39    1774268

What Saffron Don said. We are an utter basket case at the minute.
I honestly don't know how to turn it around. I think the clubs see winning at that (winter) level as their gateway to success so the county team is seen as an inconvenience. As I posted earlier, there are four lads missing today who would have made a major impact. ok, Niall McKenna and Paddy Burke were injured too but why are these lads now busting themselves to get back to an All-Ireland final? To play a club game next week? It's a small-time attitude that persists in our place right across the board. People can't see past the end of their street and fail to recognise the bigger picture.
Fair play to those lads who lined out today. They gave it everything and came out with real credit, just a shame we couldn't have given it a real go because with a half assed approach today we weren't a million miles off.
Kevin Ryan is not the problem. Brian Cody could be the next Antrim manager and you would have the same barstool warriors calling him an idiot because their mate isn't on the team.

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 22/08/2015 17:39:23    1774270

SRB - 2 of the players you mention in your post decided not to travel today. They have form for not turning up. Shouldn't be let anywhere near a county team again. See my earlier post.

I was very proud of the lads who took the field today. Great skill, determination and teamwork against, what appears to be, a very good Wexford team. We live in hope!

Glensboy (Antrim) - Posts: 290 - 22/08/2015 18:07:09    1774289

i think geography nor the GAA are helping antrim.would i train to the level of the leinster or munster counties for 1 game?i would in me....

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 22/08/2015 20:54:49    1774364

Very difficult for ulster hurling counties. The best Im hoping for in the next decade or so is that a few Ulster clubs come through and claim an all Ireland club title like Loughgiel a few years back.
There are pockets of Antrim with a great hurling tradition and for me, the best bet would be to concentrate on building,maintaining, and spreading those traditions, and hopefully something bigger will develop in time on the all Ireland stage.
Id also like to try out Donal Og cusacks idea of an Ulster hurling team.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 22/08/2015 21:12:27    1774373

perfect10
County: Wexford
i think geography nor the GAA are helping antrim.would i train to the level of the leinster or munster counties for 1 game?i would in me....

To be fair, at U21 its not just one game, Antrim need to win Ulster first, and the final against Derry sounded fairly competitive

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 22/08/2015 21:48:06    1774390

Good to see the Antrim manager looking to get their bye into the final scrapped

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 27/08/2015 14:04:45    1777084

Id also like to try out Donal Og cusacks idea of an Ulster hurling team.

It's a curious idea.

Galway hurling thrived in the late 1970's and early 80's when they were supplying the majority of the Connacht team.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 27/08/2015 14:17:44    1777092

Antrim are comparable in hurling terms to the likes of Westmeath where maybe 3 clubs (who would be strong in any county) rule the roost. Very hard to drive forward with a mediocre county setup as a result.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/08/2015 14:27:52    1777108

keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 2484

1777108 Antrim are comparable in hurling terms to the likes of Westmeath where maybe 3 clubs (who would be strong in any county) rule the roost. Very hard to drive forward with a mediocre county setup as a result.

I disagree Keeper, we are comparable at intercounty level with Wesmeath. However, I would say at club level we are relatively strong and certainly stronger than the equivalent clubs in Westmeath.
The all Ireland club series is surely a gauge for the strength of club hurling within respective counties and in Antrim we are one of the more successful counties.
With the exception of Loughgiel and Clooney gaels at opposite ends of the spectrum all the other Division 1 clubs are capable on their day of beating one another.
Our club leagues are probably one of the few areas where we can pat ourselves on the back to be honest.

I don't need to repeat myself re the issues that need addressed within Antrim which provide a mediocre intercounty team

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 27/08/2015 15:43:49    1777163

stop this Ulster hurling idea......
didn't the Cork County Board but a stop to the Ulster Hurling Schools team from participating in the 'A' Schools All-Ireland

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1676 - 27/08/2015 16:30:10    1777188

"stop this Ulster hurling idea......
didn't the Cork County Board but a stop to the Ulster Hurling Schools team from participating in the 'A' Schools All-Ireland"

Sounds like Donal Óg V Frank Murphy all over.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/08/2015 16:44:05    1777192

Bumpernut,

What I meant was Loughiel, Cushendall & Dunloy will invariably make the county semis while in Westmeath it's Raharney, Clonkill & Castletown-Geoghgan. They dominate on the field & politically in the county & each club's continued success is seen as being more important than the county making a breakthrough.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 27/08/2015 16:49:29    1777195