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Antrim hurling RIP

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Antrim hurling has been dead and buried for years, today was just further confirmation. Seriously lads just give it up. You are not good enough nor mentally or physically strong enough. Stop wasting your time!

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 10/06/2017 19:13:52    1997643

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If that's the attitude it certainly will die.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2322 - 10/06/2017 19:47:59    1997647

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Antrim hurling has been dead and buried for years, today was just further confirmation. Seriously lads just give it up. You are not good enough nor mentally or physically strong enough. Stop wasting your time!"
Any wonder with supporters like you following them and coming out with comments like that. Telling your county to give up is just disgraceful.

Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 926 - 10/06/2017 19:49:22    1997648

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Their best hurler was playing for Warwickshire earlier today...

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 512 - 10/06/2017 20:06:47    1997650

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Replying To Wally:  "Any wonder with supporters like you following them and coming out with comments like that. Telling your county to give up is just disgraceful."
Ulsterman, instead of being on here lambasting those out there trying their best to keep hurling alive in ulster against a tide of football bias from the ulster council and county boards, why don't you put yourself forward to help out or bring forward ideas that will work. With attitudes like yours it's no surprise that hurling is in decline, where you even there today to see your team? Die hard Tyrone hurling supporters and the hard work of a few passionate people have kept things going in the county. Yes we may not be all-Ireland winners like kk or tipp but we can and will compete at a level that our resources and talent allow. To get to the final is a good achievement in itself but some days you just come up against a better more determined team.

bulmccabe (Tyrone) - Posts: 361 - 10/06/2017 20:13:45    1997651

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Antrim hurling has been dead and buried for years, today was just further confirmation. Seriously lads just give it up. You are not good enough nor mentally or physically strong enough. Stop wasting your time!"
Since the 4 provinces melded in to 2 unfortunately Antrim have been on the slide.

I remember it was supposed to help Antrim to get better and improve but is it that Antrim have gone back or are the lesser known hurling teams just getting better?

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 10/06/2017 20:21:35    1997653

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I knew some were going to go after me for my opinion and that's fair enough, swings and roundabouts. However before you lambast me as uncaring, fair weather or pessimistic I will give my reasons.
On a sporting level Antrim senior hurlers and footballers are just not good enough. They look afraid on the pitch and weaker and smaller than their opponents. They don't have the stomach or bottle when the going gets tough and fold like cards when the slightest pressure is on. Fellas get on to the senior panels and think that's where the work stops instead of it just beginning.
Furthermore the county is rife with division, pettiness, egos, bigheads and jealous people. Many clubs don't give a toss about the senior county teams.
I played football and hurling to a decent level in Antrim for a second division team. I was hounded all my career to transfer to a Div 1 side after being told I was good enough to play at county minor and senior level but I didn't move and was consequently told I wouldn't get near the county panels, that's Antrim.
Some of the best players in both codes at club level are not on the county panels because they are not with the right clubs or have decided to opt out because they couldn't be arsed with the politics. I opted out of the club scene and while still a GAA member I am not actively involved for the same reasons.
I have followed my county all over Ireland over the past 3 decades and watched them plumb new depths. In my opinion Gaelic Games used to be on a life support in Antrim, now I think that particular machine has been switched off.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 10/06/2017 20:52:52    1997660

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "I knew some were going to go after me for my opinion and that's fair enough, swings and roundabouts. However before you lambast me as uncaring, fair weather or pessimistic I will give my reasons.
On a sporting level Antrim senior hurlers and footballers are just not good enough. They look afraid on the pitch and weaker and smaller than their opponents. They don't have the stomach or bottle when the going gets tough and fold like cards when the slightest pressure is on. Fellas get on to the senior panels and think that's where the work stops instead of it just beginning.
Furthermore the county is rife with division, pettiness, egos, bigheads and jealous people. Many clubs don't give a toss about the senior county teams.
I played football and hurling to a decent level in Antrim for a second division team. I was hounded all my career to transfer to a Div 1 side after being told I was good enough to play at county minor and senior level but I didn't move and was consequently told I wouldn't get near the county panels, that's Antrim.
Some of the best players in both codes at club level are not on the county panels because they are not with the right clubs or have decided to opt out because they couldn't be arsed with the politics. I opted out of the club scene and while still a GAA member I am not actively involved for the same reasons.
I have followed my county all over Ireland over the past 3 decades and watched them plumb new depths. In my opinion Gaelic Games used to be on a life support in Antrim, now I think that particular machine has been switched off."
Maybe the players are showing as much stomach for the fight as the supporters.

To say give up is pretty daft and sure by that reckoning you'll have hurling dead and buried in the country before long.

Antrim has always had a geographical inferiority complex which usually kicks in around Newry,from schools through minor and now senior. Until they think we can compete we won't. Chuck in clubs that loathe each other with a ropey enough county board and we're not going to go anywhere particularly quickly.

Until the infighting with the clubs is sorted we'll always underachieve, Antrim has no divine right to be in the top tier but that's no reason to throw in the towel.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 10/06/2017 21:18:02    1997687

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "I knew some were going to go after me for my opinion and that's fair enough, swings and roundabouts. However before you lambast me as uncaring, fair weather or pessimistic I will give my reasons.
On a sporting level Antrim senior hurlers and footballers are just not good enough. They look afraid on the pitch and weaker and smaller than their opponents. They don't have the stomach or bottle when the going gets tough and fold like cards when the slightest pressure is on. Fellas get on to the senior panels and think that's where the work stops instead of it just beginning.
Furthermore the county is rife with division, pettiness, egos, bigheads and jealous people. Many clubs don't give a toss about the senior county teams.
I played football and hurling to a decent level in Antrim for a second division team. I was hounded all my career to transfer to a Div 1 side after being told I was good enough to play at county minor and senior level but I didn't move and was consequently told I wouldn't get near the county panels, that's Antrim.
Some of the best players in both codes at club level are not on the county panels because they are not with the right clubs or have decided to opt out because they couldn't be arsed with the politics. I opted out of the club scene and while still a GAA member I am not actively involved for the same reasons.
I have followed my county all over Ireland over the past 3 decades and watched them plumb new depths. In my opinion Gaelic Games used to be on a life support in Antrim, now I think that particular machine has been switched off."
Ulsterman WHY DO YOU NEVER COME ON HERE AFTER THE ANTRIM FOOTBALLERS ARE SLAUGHTERED SHOUTING FOR THEM TO GIVE IT UP??? Away and play tag rugby with the rest of the sissy's. For those that dont know Ulsterman he is a wee football man with jaundice around the belly button that ignores the times the hurlers do well e.g. most of this season, but loves the times they slip up as it makes him happy.

Brian_Coyote (Antrim) - Posts: 346 - 10/06/2017 21:27:23    1997690

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maybe Antrim have just never been that good?

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 10/06/2017 21:32:29    1997692

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Typical GAA begrudgery at its finest. Carlow are a good side and no mention of them or a word of congrats.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 10/06/2017 21:38:40    1997696

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In the words of Woody after the Div 2 final Fear Uladh "no disrespect to Carlow, but..."

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 534 - 10/06/2017 21:50:15    1997699

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Comhgháirdeachas Carlow you went out there today as probable underdogs, great result. Not sure what to think of antrim to be honest as I wouldn't be their greatest admirer but have to admire them for what they are doing against the odds in ulster even if it is preferential treatment. Anyhow enjoy the hurling summer looks like the football is going to be another summer of dire football, cynical tactics, controversial decisions and a love hate obsession with tyrone , Dublin, Donegal, Kerry and mayo on here

bulmccabe (Tyrone) - Posts: 361 - 10/06/2017 21:52:12    1997701

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Congrats Carlow. Good luck in the qualifiers.

It wasn't all bad this season from Antrim by any means. Promotion to 1B should help us progress.

It looks like we'll be in the development group next season in championship, is more opportunity to play at a good standard. I do feel this to be unfair on Meath and there should be a playoff between the 2 teams for that final spot. May not be feasible now but between league and championship it could be fit in.

If we'd won I think everyone would be looking at this season as being fantastic.

Our county board are not completely inept like some would have you believe. They run a very strong program of club games in both codes and at underage level.

There are challenges that probably hold us back at intercounty level. I don't want a pity parade by naming them. They won't be fixed overnight and they won't be fixed with the sort of attitude the OP has shown.

I also hate when supporters question the mentality of players. You don't deserve to, these are the guys who have put in the hard work to get where they are. Sometimes things don't go right for them on the day, that doesn't mean their dedication and will to win should be brought into question.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4526 - 10/06/2017 23:33:30    1997737

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Yeah, congrats to Carlow. Carlow v Laois could be a little gem to look out for. One tid bit, I watched this game on TG4 player, try watching it with the closed caption enabled, it's funny as hell, the auto cc is operating as English on English....

murrax (Wexford) - Posts: 90 - 11/06/2017 01:46:21    1997764

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Congrats Carlow. Good luck in the qualifiers.

It wasn't all bad this season from Antrim by any means. Promotion to 1B should help us progress.

It looks like we'll be in the development group next season in championship, is more opportunity to play at a good standard. I do feel this to be unfair on Meath and there should be a playoff between the 2 teams for that final spot. May not be feasible now but between league and championship it could be fit in.

If we'd won I think everyone would be looking at this season as being fantastic.

Our county board are not completely inept like some would have you believe. They run a very strong program of club games in both codes and at underage level.

There are challenges that probably hold us back at intercounty level. I don't want a pity parade by naming them. They won't be fixed overnight and they won't be fixed with the sort of attitude the OP has shown.

I also hate when supporters question the mentality of players. You don't deserve to, these are the guys who have put in the hard work to get where they are. Sometimes things don't go right for them on the day, that doesn't mean their dedication and will to win should be brought into question."
Indeed well done to Carlow and I by no means intended to minimise or disrespect their victory. They appear to have grasped what Antrim hurlers don't; basic skill level, fight, heart, stomach and belief.
I also have been around the Antrim GAA scene long enough to know the score. There are good people doing good work but neglect by Croke Park and the Ulster Council have all but destroyed Gaelic Games in Belfast. We have lost the battle to soccer and 80% of young Nationalists in the city prefer to play it.
I would actually go further and say that the Irish Football Association (IFA) have probably put more coaching and development into Nationalist districts than Croke Park and that is a disgraceful indictment on the GAA.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 11/06/2017 03:08:59    1997774

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Ulsterman is 100% correct in his assessment, I will add to it that the pathetic standard of refereeing in antrim at club level is also a contributing factor and turning kids especially from the smaller clubs away. Who wants to train and play all year, take the hits, sacrifice work and family time until it comes to the business end of the season and repeatedly and continuously get short changed by the parochialism and club rivalry and attention craving affecting the refereeing and outcome of your match/efforts? Unfortunately committees and boards in clubs at divisional level and at county level are made up mostly of individuals who crave some degree of authority or wish to be important as they are of little relevance in most aspects of their daily lives. But hey those are the guys prepared to give up their time so I can't be too hard on them! As for the players, again Ulsterman is correct, big egos,, big fish in small backwater ponds and physically small and frail on the pitch. As far as I am see the Belfast guys only concern seems to be how many expenses they can claim (admittedly they don't get much from Antrim) and how much free gear they can get, it's all about the freebies and so say you play for your county! Trust me guys at this rate you'd be better keeping that bit quiet. I will also say that Valley84 is correct, we have never been that good, we have always been second division in hurling and playing in secondary competitions apart from a really good spell in the 80s and early 90s when we had a big strong physical competitive team (few Belfast ones involved as they seem to be affected by the small frail genes and a diet of chip butties) but also the impact of Sean McGuinness and Jim Nelson, both forward thinking hurling men from Belfast who didn't get involved in the North Antrim club rivalry pettiness and managed to pull everyone together. My own kids are young and play some gaa, even at U8 the referring is pathetic when some of the opposing clubs coaches are involved. Compare and contrast to the soccer that they play and prefer and it's easy to see why. The Gaa in antrim is dead, the football has been for decades apart from a couple of years with Bradley (but we didn't have the players to go any further) and the Hurling is as mediocre as it's always been and it's all being overseen by individuals at county board level who never got to be on any committees in any other walk of live and have finally achieved their status in live that they craved.

oso (Antrim) - Posts: 168 - 11/06/2017 09:29:51    1997791

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Replying To bulmccabe:  "Ulsterman, instead of being on here lambasting those out there trying their best to keep hurling alive in ulster against a tide of football bias from the ulster council and county boards, why don't you put yourself forward to help out or bring forward ideas that will work. With attitudes like yours it's no surprise that hurling is in decline, where you even there today to see your team? Die hard Tyrone hurling supporters and the hard work of a few passionate people have kept things going in the county. Yes we may not be all-Ireland winners like kk or tipp but we can and will compete at a level that our resources and talent allow. To get to the final is a good achievement in itself but some days you just come up against a better more determined team."
Good post Bul.
Tyrone is a football county. Always has and will be for the foreseeable future. The work the hurling people put into Tyrone hurling is unbelievable. Tyrone hurling is getting stronger, some good structures been put in place at underage and new clubs forming/re-entering the fray. They are a credit to the GAA. The new pitch at Dungannon is fantastic.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2093 - 11/06/2017 09:41:58    1997794

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So if GAA is finished in Antrim surely the Casement Park scheme is finished too??......

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1072 - 11/06/2017 10:04:00    1997799

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Can't let you away with this Ulsterman and OSO.

I pay tribute to all of the Antrim panel, managers, selectors and tireless volunteers who give of their time to further our national games and be competitive on an All Ireland stage. Undoubtedly we have issues, as do all counties, and some that are particular to this part of the country. But that is a discussion for another post.

What I totally refute is some of the language that is used here to describe our players and officials. It is unworthy of the people who use it.

The management team will have mixed views about the success of the season. Promotion gained in an excellent league campaign will be balanced against the failure to secure the Christy Ring. The gamble to select 2 players barely returned from injury failed, but I understand why they took the chance. Anyway, dust down, back to clubs and look forward to a competitive league and championship.

I already posted my congratulations to a magnificent Carlow team on their forum and genuinely hope they put it up Laois in their next game.

Glensboy (Antrim) - Posts: 321 - 11/06/2017 11:21:25    1997829

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