Missed all these matches at the weekend unfortunately.

I love the AI Club finals on St Patricks Day.

And I love watching Antrim teams compete in the hurling final.

Muilleann (Tipperary) - Posts: 114 - 08/02/2016 12:07:01    1823417

Sadly looking at the bigger picture in Antrim unfortunately 3 or 4 of the main players on saturday have already declared they'll not play for the county next year for one reason or another.

My own perception though is that its more to do with the county manager's club and the return to the fold of some of those disaffected players from last year.

Heads really need to be knocked together asap, we cant have the situation of one club or the other boycotting the team every year depending on who's managing the county team and perceived allegiances.

My big worry is that the damage may already be irreparable for both clubs although I hope the new County Board can somehow sort it out for next year as it seems this year may be gone in that respect.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 08/02/2016 12:40:11    1823439

apologies they'll not play this year for the county!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 08/02/2016 12:42:56    1823441

Looking at both games i think Sarsfields were the only team who played poorly.Cushendall were good,but are Sarsfields really that bad?Worst Galway club team ive ever seen at this stage of the competition.
Oulart can be proud of their display.They died with their boots on.Na Piarsaigh seemed to be fresher and stronger in extra time.Because of the four stiff tests Na Piarsaigh have overcome,and taking into account Cushendall's impressive display,i fancy Na Piarsaigh to win the final,and possibly with a bit to spare.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/02/2016 14:01:39    1823494

Am I correct in saying that Cushendall's game on Saturday was the first they played without being behind in this championship campaign? They've over come some tough challenges in Antrim before a slight scare against Middletown and then squeezing past Slaughtneil who are no slouches by any stretch of the imagination; add to that a few challenges against top county sides they seem to have been well prepared. Didn't Loughgiel beat Na Piarsaigh a few years ago en route to their AI victory? Wonder would they give their old mates in the Dall a few tips lol...

northarmaghgael (Armagh) - Posts: 40 - 09/02/2016 10:56:40    1823823

The quality of club hurling in Ulster cant be too bad if Ruairi Og had to struggle so hard to succeed in both Antrim and at provincial level. I suppose the problem still is, outside of Antrim, the game is only played at a decent level in pockets of a few Counties here and there.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 09/02/2016 13:57:23    1823952

clonjon problem inside Antrim too - big problems in fact - I will be watching with interest this year to see if anything changes but I imagine it will be one faction in the other out. North Antrim clubs despise each other and no doubt many within the like of Loughguile, Dunloy and Ballycastle will be willing NP to do a number on Cushendall come Paddys day. Then throw them city boys into the mix with the tribal Culchies and then try to get the thing to knit together - lot of folk need a good shake.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 09/02/2016 14:41:49    1823980

I understand what you''r saying Naysayer but a lot of other counties have the same problem with huge club rivalries, which sometimes boil over. This is where strong leadership from the County Board should come into play, and strong management of the county team is a must. It is very important when the game is over that any animosities are left on the field and that everybody shake hands, otherwise grudges develop and fester and the game itself is the looser. Certainly if the Antrim county senior team enjoyed a higher profile it would hugely benefit the development of the game of hurling within the county.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 09/02/2016 18:21:29    1824156

sadly yes all north antrim clubs hate each other, and they do find it hard to gel for the county. they have the players but not the passion for the county. for a few years jim nelson got them pulling in the one direction and were unlucky to only get to one all Ireland final. the couple of cushendall players are not playing for the county, not because of the manager but because they are both getting over very serious injuries and have been told that they both need a break. they had made their decisions before a manager had been selected. neil and aaron have always made themselves available for the county but both deserve a bit of 'me' time. they are still young lads and im sure both will be back sooner rather than later.

exref (Antrim) - Posts: 63 - 09/02/2016 18:24:09    1824158

Exref I might need to clarify some of my points, I wasn't saying they had an issue with the manager specifically as from what ive heard hes a sound fella.
As for Neil McManus, Aaron Graffin and indeed Shane McNaughton not playing you're right they owe the county nothing for their years of service.
However, you cant deny the perception that there is still some ill feeling from the whole 'I'm not passing to him carry on' from a few years ago and these sabbaticals are linked.
Anyhow, im not really interested in who's right or who's wrong, it would just be nice to have them all pulling in the same direction for the county team regardless of egos.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 10/02/2016 12:48:41    1824349

Theres plenty of counties with club rivalries that are fierce. Its an old excuse used by under performing Counties with poor structures and officials. In Limerick Na Piarsaigh arent popular. They are separated from the rest of the county and border Clare. The club was founded in the sixties and contributed to the demise of the famous 'Treaty Sarsfields' of Thomondgate. A Legendary northside club that could get thousands to matches v Ahane in the 30s and 40s. If that wasnt enough then half their members are either Clare or Tipp men. So the ingredients for spite are there. What stops it and maybe whats missing in Antrim is that everyone feels in Limerick that if we get our vest team out on the pitch we could bring home the All Ireland.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 10/02/2016 13:25:02    1824361

Exactly Bloodyban, what the antrim lads are describing sounds like stuff you'd get from teenagers! Yes there are hurlers in antrim, I'd guess its the structures, or lack of, thats the problem!

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 10/02/2016 14:23:34    1824396

Maybe every county has the same issues I do not know but I can only comment from what I see and maybe what you describe in Limerick is why they have only managed one All Ireland win since 1940 and none in over 40 years despite being positioned in a hotbed of hurling in terms of neighbouring counties, schools etc.

An excuse for Antrim - maybe - fair point though that when Jim Nelson did get everyone pulling in the one direction we were much closer to the top of the game.

I remember in my youth going to discos around the North Antrim area and at the end of the night it was tribal warfare on the streets between the different parishes - it was not individuals - all representatives of one parish were weighing in against another with more than one battle going on as well - it was pretty deep rooted stuff plus much as I love the Glens and the people in them they can be among the most thran individuals you would meet anywhere and I have covered a fair few corners of this planet.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 10/02/2016 14:47:35    1824406

Sure i wont pretend to know the ins and outs of North Antrim. Its true that its unique geographically and all that 'Troubles' baggage is another factor I suppose. Plus the integration with the city is complicated.
Limerick have completely under achieved for years. We blame the strength of Rugby and management. The inter club rivalry was a factor too.The truth overall is and was structures..amature stuff which still isnt completely sorted. Funny thing is if hurling did go pro Limerick would be better off. No more county board and a proper chief executive

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 10/02/2016 15:08:28    1824416

Funny thing is bloodyban the glens iro the war would have been one of the quieter areas so we cant use that as an excuse!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 10/02/2016 15:17:30    1824418

Yeah I think I read one time that the Glens were one of the very few areas in Ulster never to have been colonised - maybe that is the problem :)

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 10/02/2016 15:21:11    1824422

I didnt know that at all. I suppose they were better off as that wasnt a 'war' worth fighting. Any how i hope Antrim do pull together. Theres talk of a protestant club starting in Belfast. 'Tigers Bay Loyalist Gaa'. Would that go down well..? Ha

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 10/02/2016 15:26:20    1824424

easy enough to say that from the comfort of Limerick, some had no choice!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 10/02/2016 15:36:27    1824431

Bloodyban, was that Tigers Bay remark a poor attempt at a joke? I don't know where you pulled that one from, did you just stick a pin in a map of Belfast? Anyway in hindsight we all have 20/20 vision and there are many things in Ireland that should never have happened but they did sadly. The Glens of Antrim were more or less NOT colonised and that's why it remains a hurling/Irish Nationalist stronghold in a sea of Unionist Orange. It's mainly because there were no roads into the Glens up until the mid 1800's and all trade/travel was carried out by sea. The Glens was also rocky, hilly land only really good for grazing sheep and the Planters couldn't be bothered with the hassle. It is today arguably the most beautiful, scenic part of this island.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 10/02/2016 15:55:38    1824443

It was a joke yeah. I didnt mean to offend any Northern sensibilities..

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 10/02/2016 18:52:02    1824525