they may be great players to you, but compare them to the great players from the real counties, and you should fastly remover your "great" tag.

osama_bin_laden (USA) - Posts: 246 - 06/03/2009 19:50:29    226188

right enough, if you dont hve anything positive to say then just be quiet and dont say anything.

bgael (None) - Posts: 211 - 07/03/2009 01:28:46    226416

antrim hurling has had greats that would get onto any county, mick mckeown played in goals for antrim but midfield for his club and has always been mentioned as than all time great.
1. mick mc keown
2. sean mc naughton
3. ger rogan
4. (young) gary o'kane
5. sambo
6. leonard mckeegan
7. james mcnaughton
8. humpy
9. danny mcnaughton
10. aiden mcgarry
11. john carson
12. seamus richmond
13. klute
14. ciaran barr
15. alistair elliott
subs; aiden delargy, liam watson, gregory o'kane,eddie donnelly, dessie donnelly, brian donnelly,brendan laverty, jim close,jim connelly,randall mc donnell
i've tried to be as fair as possible with a mixture off town and country but can't please everyone. the team is made up mainly off the 89 team and have added in the players who were GREAT but played in bad antrim teams. there are a few younger players not in this team but have the potential to get in such as neil mcmanus and aaron graffon, but was looking for all time greats even bin laden can't dispute these selections, would give most counties a run for their money.

exref (Antrim) - Posts: 73 - 07/03/2009 10:48:55    226462

None, of these teams would get neat any of the top 5's all time greats. its a simple fact, no stop going about these guys as if they have achieved something.

osama_bin_laden (USA) - Posts: 246 - 07/03/2009 13:56:50    226522

every player i put there are there on merit. they have done something special for their clubs and county. sure they never won an all ireland for their county but they came very close twice, for this they are great. dj carey won many all irelands and all stars but what did his club do ?, won senior medals? all counties have had great players, ours never came together at the right time. the early antrim team was picked from city men when the best players were from the country and had no way to travel , yes other counties had their all stars but so did antrim and this is a fact that even you cant take away.so what ever bitter pill you have or whatever team rejected you take this and swallow or wallow, but never despise your county for your failings.

exref (Antrim) - Posts: 73 - 07/03/2009 23:19:50    226804

Can't see how your turning this onto me, we are talking about the men in this topic, and im sure a lot of them wouldn't like to hear you calling them greats, becuase they know themselves that they were at best average, can you not remember the score from '89 final embarrasing scoreline that day as a saffron, as was today against westmeath, joke. Johnny Campbell out!

osama_bin_laden (USA) - Posts: 246 - 08/03/2009 17:12:44    227030

yes i remember the 89 score ,i was there. yes tipp thumped us that day but it was more to do with antrim players freezing on the big occasion than being average remember antrim beat a very good offaly team in the semis and just got beat two years later in the semis by the cats who won that year. yes this antrim team are not in the same league as the 89 team but there are two or three good(not great) players to build on. i just hate when so called antrim people run down all the greats players that have played throughout the years for their clubs and county even if it was for antrim.

exref (Antrim) - Posts: 73 - 08/03/2009 17:46:08    227055

Exref - don't bother responding to bin laden, he's not even brave enough to list his own county.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 09/03/2009 09:19:43    227643

we can all talk about good hurler but my dad would say the best display by antrim was in 86 v cork in all ireland semi cork 7 11 antrim 1.24 and that team could and should have got to final the county board suspended the captain sean mc naughton for 4 week sent of in club gameand was missed badly in the back line u had jingo dessie donnelly and he said the best diplay by antrim ma n in croke pkever was the antrim midfielders ger cunninghamwho was outstanding with humpy his partner then u had forwards like porky boyle brian donnelly who should have got all stars and the team was managedby sean mcguinness who then fell out with the county board and jim nelson took the team to the89 final not taking any thing from jim nelson but my dad said that mcguinness build the team that got there

shambo (Antrim) - Posts: 67 - 09/03/2009 11:58:21    227817

pearsesabu,
There is very little to the old programmes, basically just a 2 leaf thing containing the team, but they were nicely printed and produced, if you would like photocopies I can send you some, my mobile is 07979888996, text me or ring if you want them.

cathalger (Antrim) - Posts: 5 - 09/03/2009 18:32:28    228264

J.P O'Kane

superred (Down) - Posts: 30 - 11/03/2009 15:13:45    230124

J.P Leeson , cica late 1940s.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 11/03/2009 18:12:02    230337

Cathalger

Dessie Cormican was most definatley a Mitchels player along side his brother Joe who also played in that game. My father who himself is a much awarded gael although known mostly for his football played with both on the Antrim minor team who reached the 1940 hurling final. My father was most uncompromising in his assessment of Antrim footballers and hurlers especially of the modern era but he always insisted that the 2 most naturally gifted and talented hurlers to come from Antrim were Dessie and Jackie Bateson. It is of no surprise that these gentlemen are also very non assuming and quiet, they let their ability do the talking and one of the reasons they were voted on to the hurling team of the century. My dad was voted on the football team and I loved listening to the stories of these players and the great footballers of the 40's and 50's teams on which he played. It's funny how they all played for different clubs but when they pulled on the county jersey they would have died for each other, a few modern day players should take a leaf out of their book.

Unfortunatley most of these great hurlers and footballers have passed away a great loss to Antrim GAA.

I also have original cuttings from match reports from the 40's and 50's and loads of photos one of which is the 1940 minor team. I also have a cd which is of the Antrim '47 team against an entertainers all star team and to see McCallin, Armstrong, O'Hara, Gibson et all play even though retired by then is amazing.

Also the list for the "best" is very difficult as most people will vote for people they have seen which is quite ok but from a different perspective a number of other criteria might have some bearing. All Ireland winners and runners up at both club and county level which OBL refuses to believe happened, Hurlers from Dunloy, Rossa, Cusendall ,Ballycastle and winners Loughile. Footballers from St. Johns and St Galls. Antrim u21 AI winners the list could go on and should include Allstars we even have 1 football allstar, Andy McCallin.

godhelpus (Antrim) - Posts: 29 - 30/03/2009 05:50:03    242981

To Cathalger - the Jackie Bateson you mention was my uncle - my dad, Billy, also played for both Mitchells & the 1940 Antrim minor team - would love to see those clippings & photos you mention.

JGBSPOONER (Dublin) - Posts: 1 - 26/10/2010 11:49:51    803529

not one of you has mentioned Antrims first hurling allstar( well replacement) - Niall Wheeler of glenariffe never seen him but must be up there, i dunno can't say.

didn't see to many people mention Ciaran Barr either our 1st all star in 88

Outdone (Antrim) - Posts: 106 - 26/10/2010 12:33:55    803563

I have to be honest, I watched Ciaran Barr hurling a lot and I think he was over rated, he was superb under a high ball but more often than not there was no end product with him.

jesusjones (Antrim) - Posts: 385 - 26/10/2010 14:19:20    803657

There's one player will stand out thats Seany Burns he was picked for i think three all Ireland hurling teams before allstars were introduced no replacements there ,ask any of the ole boys an outstanding hurler would have graced any county team now or then .

mambo (Antrim) - Posts: 111 - 26/10/2010 17:01:21    803799

You have all forgotten maybe ,the best of them all, Seamus Mc Donald of Rossa. Brendan and Robbie Elliot could take their place in any team,and what about Brendan Mc Garry and Sam Mulholland from Loughgiel.

bushwhacker (Antrim) - Posts: 261 - 26/10/2010 18:05:31    803857

and for all you football analysts out there...

my selection (from 1970 onwards):

1) Liam Turbett
2) Ciaran Hamill
3) John Burns
4) Joe McGuinness
5) Donal Laverty
6) Sean Kelly
7) Alec McQuillan
8) John McKiernan
9) Liam Jennings
10) Aidan Hamill
11) Gerry McCrory
12) Gerry McCann
13) Andy McCallin
14) Pat Armstrong
15) Mickey Darragh

Subs: Jim McCorry, Jimmy Ward, Eamon Grieve, Tony McAtamney, P.J.O'Hare

TheSafronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 1 - 26/10/2010 21:10:08    803990

Are ye havin a joke? Best Antrim hurlers ever? Yer only drawin attention to the fact that hurlin is so weak in Antrim with some of the lads ye have picked. If there isnt a bit a passion put back into Antrim hurlin it will never take off. Well time something was done, it's a complete joke and nobody should be asked to have to put up with the humiliation that comes with playing for Antrim.

mmmmmmmm (Galway) - Posts: 343 - 27/10/2010 12:39:34    804192