best 15 in North Antrim

DD Quinn (Loughgiel Shamrocks)

Sean Delargy
Odhran Scullion
Aaron Graffin (All Ruairi Og Cushendall)

Malachy Molloy (Cuchullains Dunloy)
Johnny Campbell (Loughgiel Shamrocks)
Donal McNaughton (Ruairi Og Cushendall)

Karl McKeegan (Ruairi Og Cushendall)
Eddie McCloskey (loughgiel Shamrocks)

Paddy McGill
Neil McManus (Both Ruairi Og Cushendall)
Liam Watson (loughgiel Shamrocks)

Shane McNaughton (Ruairi Og Cushendall)
Paddy Richmond (Cuchullains Dunloy)
Joey Scullion (Loughgiel Shamrocks)

goalgetter (Antrim) - Posts: 87 - 08/07/2009 16:16:25    337513

Let's hope the players aren't in Portugal come this mythical North Antrim v South Antrim game come throw in time!!!

BelfastFella (Antrim) - Posts: 60 - 08/07/2009 20:14:45    337897

North v South Antrim is a stupid argument and one of the many reasons for the lack of progression in Antrim hurling.

Benandonner (Antrim) - Posts: 459 - 08/07/2009 22:14:13    338064

Lads we need an outside manager like Baker who will walk in and not give a flying **** about North and South and South West Antrim players and will kick players off the panel for the good of the team. Despite the current black mood, I think we have the talent in the county. We need the application, direction and impetus. We need to include the colleges in any plans as well and look at integrating the development structures between the divisional boards. I would concentrate on promotion to Division I in the hurling and staying there. If we are in the top 6 teams in Division I on a regular basis (i.e. not getting relegated), we will be more competitive for the championship. I'd take the Christy Ring next year and adopt a 2 year plan to get out of Division II on a permanent basis. That means a long term commitment from the county panel and a proper structured training and skills programme. We also need to do our talking on the pitch, not in committee rooms.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 09/07/2009 11:31:44    338588

Well said Pearsesabu.

BelfastFella (Antrim) - Posts: 60 - 09/07/2009 14:17:14    338930

What about Tosh in that N Antrim. Think if the right manager was in place he would still play. He,s flying for Oisins.

Meercat (Antrim) - Posts: 4 - 09/07/2009 16:56:35    339276

I know the best hurlers in Antrim are in North Antrim and it wouldn't annoy me if there were always 130 players from the Glens representing the county. HOWEVER if they are as good as they think and often say they are why aren't they proving it on a national level when in the county jersey? If hurling is as strong, healthy and competitive in North Antrim as we are led to believe they should be able to field a county team capable of beating Laois, Carlow and Westmeath at the very least. If the Glens men are as tough, skillful and talented as they would have us believe they should be revelling the chance to prove it when up against the established counties? They don't and never do so it's time to get real. I am tired listening to all these excuses and moans, the fact is that Antrim just about belongs at the Christy Ring level and that's the sorry truth.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 09/07/2009 23:45:00    339980

In reality Antrim hurling is North Antrim and despite all the swagger within the county that the Glens hurlers go about with the truth is, on a national level, they are second/third rate players. They, players and management, continually fail to deliver when pitted against the ordinary hurling sides let alone the best. It's time our country friends drew their horns AND BIG EGOS in and started to work out how we go forward as a hurling county. All this talk about the right to be in the Liam McCarthy and how Antrim shouldn't be relegated is rhubarb because Antrim currently doesn't deserve to be mentioned on the same page as the established counties let alone play with them. We go about lecturing Croke Park and others about 3 year agreements when in effect we are a hurling laughing stock not fit for purpose. It's embarrassing and shameful, that's what it is. If we had ANY self respect left, after Wexford gub us, we would slink away quietly to the Christy Ring and earn the right to play with the big boys instead of yapping, moaning, whinging and demanding undeserved things from others.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 25/07/2009 23:05:41    362013

When Sambo and Woody managed the Antrim minor hurlers on 23 July 2005 against Limerick in the All-Ireland Quarter Final in Parnell Park, they competed and were one point off a team who contested the All-Ireland Final that year. The same day Offaly trounced Antrim in a relegation semi-final 5-17 0-18. It was remarked that day how there was a gulf in class between the skill and determination of the minors and the feeble attempts of the senior hurlers. There was a future and hope for Antrim hurling that day. If someone told Sambo and Woody then, that four years later they would be involved in the very same match with the very same result as the seniors, they would scarcely believe it. They wouldnt have accepted such a result then, and with the band of committed hurlers they managed that year and the following they needn't have worried. Sambo and Woody declared, and many agreed, that it was crucial that those hurlers stuck together as they came up through the ranks of U21 and into Senior hurling. In my opinion, Sambo and Woody faltered when they took the senior job in 2007. Instead of focusing on the U21's, the grade was no more than an after-thought. In 2008, when those same hurlers that showed so much hope in '05 were now U21, Derry beat them in the Ulster Championship 2-16 1-18. To field a Saffron hurling team against Derry that trained only a handful of times is a disgrace in itself, but I believe Sambo and Woody's greatest failure was in letting down this group of hurlers who had the potential to win an u21 All-Ireland. Four years later and Antrim hurling appears to have gone nowhere, back to the days of Galway trouncing us in the minor championship, and that glimmer of hope that should have been nurtured and developed into a successful hurling team is fading away.
It doesn't take a genius to see that the future of Antrim hurling depends on the development and promotion of the game in the schools and clubs, from the u6, u8, u10 and u12 age groups, through to senior. Strong underage structures are the reason why hurling is strong in other counties, and until such times as those structures are put in place throughout Antrim, more suffering will be endured by Antrim Gaeils.
In saying that, looking back to that day in 2005, the future looked bright, and it pains me to think that now with the end of Sambo and Woody's unsuccessful tenure as Antrim hurling managers, the death knell has also been sounded for that opportunity we had to make real progress in the near future with regards producing competitive teams and one day realizing the dream of many Saffrons in lifting the Corn Liam Mac Carthaigh. I hope I am wrong.

Shooter (Antrim) - Posts: 5 - 26/07/2009 13:20:04    362418

Iagree with earlier posters in the irony of the Sambo/Woody tenure.When Jim McKiernan in `06 won the Christy Ring by hammering Carlow in the final he was rewarded by being replaced by Sambo /Woody who ,basking in the glory of their u21 success ,were going to take us to " Another level", according to county committee.They replaced good county players like McIntosh/McFall/Quinn/Scullion prematurely with raw youngsters and assured us that these kids were the real deal.Other players like Liam Watson and Malachy Molloy seemed to leave for `Personal ` reasons.Three years later and after quite a bit of experience against other counties these whizz kids can`t cope with the likes of Carlow and we are back in Christy Ring territory.We are no nearer getting our players up to the intensity level required for first class hurling and our reputation around the country is that of a team who play nice hurling but in slow motion.Two years ago we were a match for Dublin and beat them twice but now they have moved up to that `other level` we were promised.One problem is that half a dozen of our players from Rossa, St.Galls and Lámh Dearg in particular aren`t even playing first division county hurling with their clubs and the only Belfast club in division one aren`t represented although they have an outstanding prospect in Simon McCrory.There are too many personality clashes holding back the county so it was good to see Joey Scullion returning to the squad after a long absence. Replacing the present managers may not solve anything but resolving personality issues certainly would.

fearnagcloch (Antrim) - Posts: 3 - 26/07/2009 20:52:45    363009

At one stage on saturday we had six intermediate players on the team.If this is the future the God help us.On another issue what about the treatment of supporters leading up to Saturday's game.All week the focus was rightly on the footballers but we were constantly being told to make sure to go to Dublin and support the hurlers whilst our county board at the same time were trying to get the game called off.I know there wasn't a great deal of support there but those that did attend were kidded into believing this was a relegation play off when in fact it was nothing more than a meaningless friendly.As for the game itself this was truly the most insipid performance by our hurlers for a long time.I think it's time for the current management to go and for the next guy to pick the best 15 hurlers in Antrim regardless of age,club or personality

takeyourpoint (Antrim) - Posts: 8 - 27/07/2009 09:25:50    363523

fearnagcloch/takeyourpoint

didn't one of those intermediate hurlers you talk about win ulster hurler of the year last year? Granted he's not currently playing but if he was fit we'd have had 7 intermediate players on the field. Would you drop Stewart because he plays for an intermediate club?

spyboy (Antrim) - Posts: 343 - 27/07/2009 11:28:07    363696

We need a new approach, Looks like Sambo and Woody have taken us as far as they can. I'm worried about our short term future. We are weak at the minute and nothing to shout about coming through. That result for the minors V Galway is very worrying.

Cmills Fan. (Antrim) - Posts: 508 - 27/07/2009 11:38:25    363725

No Spyboy i'd drop him because he's not good enough.

takeyourpoint (Antrim) - Posts: 8 - 27/07/2009 12:09:56    363804

I think the minor's result is more worrying. We were competitive for a while until 2-3 years ago. Ultimately, we'd be better dropping to the Christy Ring next year. We need time to re-group and get ourselves organised - from underage all the way through. The bottom line is that we aren't going to win the Liam McCarthy Cup next year or any time soon with our current form, so why not concentrate on getting ourselves out of Division II which realistically means beating Clare, Wexford, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath, Down and Meath. Maybe, we also need to be a bit more statesman like internally. For instance, we could get all our Division I and II club teams working on extensive fitness programmes to get our speed up - this will benefit the clubs and the county team (although the Ards teams can do their own thing, who cares about them). No point in having 25 hurlers who are a bit faster than the rest - we need them all moving faster and hurling quicker. We'll still be in the Ulster championship next year but I'd forget Leinster and concentrate on winning another Christy Ring. That and promotion would be a more tangible return than a first round exit from Leinster and a series of hidings in the qualifiers/relegation phases. We need to work our way out of this, there is no quick fix.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 27/07/2009 12:44:00    363895

Slightly worying then takeyourpoints. If the ulster hurler of the year isn't good enough for the Antrim team it doesn't say much for the rest of the team.

Agree with the other posters that the biggest worry is with what's (or what's not) coming through.

spyboy (Antrim) - Posts: 343 - 27/07/2009 13:47:50    364059

The award for Ulster player of the year was voted on by journalists who know as much about hurling as you (hopefully) or i know about line dancing.There are far better players in Antrim than Karl Stewart but seemingly half of them don't want to play under the current management.The first priority for any future manager is to get messrs Watson,Molly et al back playing for the county.I don't think that the county team should be a closed shop for intermediate players but no team in Ireland in either code will progress with almost half their team not playing at the highest level available.

takeyourpoint (Antrim) - Posts: 8 - 27/07/2009 14:50:22    364219

Dont mean to take anything away from Karl but in 2004 the person named ulster player of the year wasnt even making his clubs starting 15 granted dunloy are a great club but how do you make the county panel and ulster hurler of the year when your on the bench for your club?

mc81 (Antrim) - Posts: 21 - 27/07/2009 17:08:05    364576

Guys Guys, John Crossey is the man for the job! He has been successful where ever he goes!

He is a true Antrim Gael.

Lets all try and have him be the next manager!

Who will take this on??

2010antrimabu (Antrim) - Posts: 10 - 27/07/2009 23:22:43    365330

How has jonh crossey been successful what has he accomplished im not questioning you just not in the know about his success

mc81 (Antrim) - Posts: 21 - 28/07/2009 05:08:56    365571