Jesus now we have talk of boycott's!!!!

Mother of God......boycotting All-Ireland Finals!!

Too late to object NOW..this should have been raised ages ago when first proposed not now when you get to a final. But the Antrim County Board couldn't have cared less then.

Even if I have a soft spot for Antrim hurling but talking of boycotting Finals if a step too far.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 28/08/2013 11:18:04    1469918

Or maybe it's a useful way of getting a siege mentality into your squad.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 524 - 28/08/2013 11:29:38    1469933

its disrespectful to antrim

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 28/08/2013 11:37:03    1469940

sure isnt thurles he home of hurling? antrim selector said theyve only being training for a month in an interview about a player county v club interview... so if they give a walkover its not as if theyve too much time wasted

CRedmond95 (Dublin) - Posts: 9 - 28/08/2013 11:50:45    1469964

Total disrespect saying they will buycot an all Ireland, I am sure Wexford would travel any where in Ireland to play in a U/21 all Ireland, if this is the case show them the road and let Wexford through to final a team that wants to play in a final. I was delighted to see Antrim win the semi but this carry on and the whole Limerick saga is leaving a nasty taste to the what was a great summer of hurling.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 28/08/2013 12:01:29    1469974

I, like most Ulster hurling supporters, am delighted an Ulster team have finally made the U21 final and have said so here but this nonsense re the venue is unbelieveable. I feel sorry for the Antrim players in all of this but I do hope they play and and it would be brilliant for hurling especially in Ulster if they won the U21 final.

I find it strange in how the Antrim Co Board had no interest in their U21s hence a full round of football championshiop matches the same day as the AI semifinal, now they have awakened from their slumber. The clubs dont really care as they are in hurling championship mode and the manager Kevin Ryan who had a trip booked to America for this week obviously didnt worry too much either.

On top of this Antrim seem to be annoyed that Clare have an advantage due to Thurles being a Munster venue.

Now this would be a seem to be a fair comment normally but the fact Antrim got to play both the semi and final of the U21 championship at Casement Park, dont forget this pitch was closed all season but it suddenly became available - they afford Armagh Derry and Down and the rest of Ulster no such latitude in hurling and now go crying about pulling out when this agreement re venue has been in place since 2010 apparently - laughable really, crying child syndrome

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 28/08/2013 12:08:03    1469977

Bring it to Duggan Park Ballinasloe, a beautiful hurling pitch. The Town could use a bit of a lift and it's in a neutral province........

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1762 - 28/08/2013 12:08:49    1469980

A county board that set football games for the same time as the semi-final is objecting to the venue for the final!! You could not make it up. Pathetic.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 28/08/2013 12:19:49    1469988

Now i dont agree that any team should ever boycott a final, but i do think that the venue for this final should definitely be reconsidered. The GAA obviously set the venue for thurles because they never thought that Antrim or any other Ulster team would get to the final in the forseeable future. I dont even think Antrim themselves thought they would get to the final, I certainly didnt. I seen it mentioned last night that North Antrim players would only be at Belfast with 3.5 hours still to travel by the time the Clare players arrived in Thurles. That is a joke! I think Clare should do the honourable thing and agree to play the final at a halfway venue. Afterall, their senior players are getting their day to shine at Croke park the week before.

antrimman91 (Antrim) - Posts: 127 - 28/08/2013 12:29:14    1470003

Why no objection before the semi final about the venue? Why none raised in congress at the start of the year? As a hurling county that would be in the semi final nearly every year you'd have thought that they would have planned for this when they make the breakthrough. Or is this more anti northern rubbish we see spouted on here. Don't mind Dublin giving out about playing in Breffni park in U21 football final in 2010 against Donegal. held in ulster against a team familiar with the venue. Semple seems to suit Antrim. they won and shouldn't fear anyone. sounds to me that the Antrim management had no faith in their team and expected them to get hammered so this would never have been an issue. we constantly hear about Not playing southern counties enough but now the chance arises they are shying away??? if Antrim boycott this they shouldn't be allowed to compete next year. I'm sure Derry or Down would have no problem going to Thurles.

Bain (Donegal) - Posts: 470 - 28/08/2013 12:37:02    1470014

I have to say, I think antrim are wrong here. Kerry are heading to croke parke for donkeys years, usually to play dublin! If it is ok for them then it is ok for antrim. The decision was put in place long ago and look the game has to be played somewhere and that means that sometimes it will suit some more than others - just like croke park. I dont think antrim should get special treatment - if they decide to move games out of croker for the same reason then fair enough, otherwise muck in with the rest of us.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/08/2013 12:40:16    1470021

antrimman91
The GAA obviously set the venue for thurles because they never thought that Antrim or any other Ulster team would get to the final in the forseeable future.

What is with this victim mentality stuff? No that isnt the case. They put it there because an u21 fixture wont pay in croke parke and thurles is a more suitable venue, no more no less. It is also a hurling stronghold, and therefore you might get a few more neutrals going. If you go into an argument having already decided that the world is out to get you, that is what you will find.

Let them make a motion next year and see how it goes. It is too late now and trying to bully your way into a change is not the way to go about it. If they do that tehy should be punished.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/08/2013 12:47:01    1470030

Im a little bit surprised and disappointed at Kevin Ryan after reading this, other posters are 100% correct, there was ample opportunity to complain about this beforehand and why wasnt it an issue for the semi final.
Instead of us having a 3 week build up of anticipation and excitement about being in the final we are now going to have the charade of 'will we, wont we' which is going to take the shine off the day.
Kevin Ryan should have kept his counsel and expressed his views after the game win, lose or draw,as for the county board well im not really interested in their opinion to be honest.
I think he would have gained more respect that way and to me if i was a clare selector/player/supporter it looks now like we're running scared.
There is an issue, however, about promoting the game north of Dublin rather than paying lipservice to the idea. That is a topic that has been spoke about continuously and no doubt will again.

Play the game at Thurles and stop moaning otherwise one of the county's finest hurling performances in years will be overshadowed by this nonsense!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 28/08/2013 13:06:10    1470049

Its not like the decision to play it came out of the blue... Shocking stuff. Even more so if Antrim pull out.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 28/08/2013 13:18:41    1470066

This is getting silly now. The U21 final venue is Thurles, just get on with it. It's surely an advantage to Clare with travel times and that but it's just the way it is. Didn't do our lads any harm making same trip at the weekend. This is starting to overshadow the win on Saturday and the upcoming final.

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 28/08/2013 13:19:10    1470067

Kerry may be going to Croke Park for years and winning but that is a weak comparison. First of all, All-Ireland semi finals have always been played in Croke Park. That is tradition. Many under 21 finals have been played outside of Thurles. The venue can be changed to suit.

Second of all, Kerry have a brilliant record in Croke Park and hence do not complain about playing Dublin there. However, many other people do complain. The evidence of that is the numerous threads that are started here every year whinging about Dublin's 'unfair' advantage.

Clare are odds on favourite to win this match. They have an excellent team. Though I hope I am wrong, I think Clare will win this handy. That said, the game provides the GAA with another glaring opportunity to raise the profile (and hopefully a knock on effect- raise the standard) in another county and make them more competitive. Play it in neutral venue that may bring more supporters.

Boycotting might be extreme, but GAA needs to see common sense. It cannot keep passing up these opportunites.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 28/08/2013 13:21:35    1470070

The Down poster has made the best comment here:

For years the Ulster final in all grades were played in Casement Park regardless of who was in it,

BUT

Hurling and Croke Park have to recognise that huring is played north of Dublin-

I have nothing against Thurles, but it was unfair for Galway to play an U-21 final there against Tipperary,

its not too late to change, but it should be changed next year...

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 28/08/2013 13:24:36    1470073

2 things really: Why did the GAA feel it necessary to name Thurles as the venue for all U21 hurling finals? That gives no room for manoeuvre in this instance & in 2010 it was a huge advantage to Tipperary. Secondly, Antrim players should now be concentrating solely on the final itself, not the venue. It's an unwanted distraction. To think these players might be denied an All-Ireland final appearance over this is outrageous.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 28/08/2013 13:26:49    1470075

Thurles is a brilliant pitch for hurling and if the decision was made a few years back that decision should be respected. Three and a half hours from Cushendall to Thurles on great roads. Stop whinging and get on with it, Antrim U21 won there last weekend why are we wanting to change the venue!

Brian_Coyote (Antrim) - Posts: 346 - 28/08/2013 13:27:46    1470078

I am of the same opinion as the other Antrim posters on here - the finals are set for Thurles so play the game in Thurles. End of. Don't take the gloss off this achievement because of some more idiotic sounds made from those involved within the County set up. What they are complaining about is a justifiable issue to complain about but do so at the next congress or any time in the future - not on the back of the team making history and reaching the counties (and provinces) first appearance in the final at that grade. Why do the powers that be within this county keep shooting us in the foot. Its so infuriating.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 28/08/2013 14:28:18    1470138