Semi finals were home venues for teams onetime...reading an excellent article by shane McNaughton in this weeks gaelic life..his club cushendall of antrim played at home to middleton of cork in 1988....MLR would want to focus on the game and forget about the venue..newry would appear fair enough from looking at map.

hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 870 - 18/01/2014 20:44:23    1533517

I'd fancy Portumna mainly because of the Canning affect. I know NP were lethal in the Munster final but sixmilebridge don't seem to be too strong of a team based on the times i saw them against Midleton and then the Munster final. Midleton are 70% Conor Lehane, i still think sars are the best team in Cork and Sixmilebridge were lucky to beat Midleton in the semi-final even though Midleton played very poorly that day.

RebelCork (Cork) - Posts: 789 - 18/01/2014 21:06:41    1533537

MLR,

Doesn't today's result vindicate everything I say? Antrim beaten by NINE points by Westmeath; Antrim hurling is at the lowest point it ever has been and some in the county would say fatally so. I would say that MLR are strong favourites against a pretty average Loughiel side who were the poorest team by a long way of last four semi finalists.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 19/01/2014 15:39:50    1533722

That should have read " Loughiel....who were the poorest team by a long way of LAST year's four semi finalists". Their basic skills and stick control in the semi final was dreadful.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 19/01/2014 15:56:10    1533736

Loughiel drew with eventual All-Ireland champions St. Thomas' in the semi-final last year. They were somewhat fortunate to draw but luck deserted them in the replay when they had some great goal chances early in the game.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 19/01/2014 16:13:24    1533747

Keeper,

The Galway boys basic skills and ball control were head and shoulders above Loughiel who huffed and puffed for most of the two games and hit a lot of fresh air most of the time. Antrim hurling has been on the critical list for a good decade or more and is dying on it's feet in Belfast where soccer is the Number 1. sport amongst young Catholics by a big, big margin. The GAA has lost the battle in Belfast.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 19/01/2014 16:37:38    1533764

2 years ago Loughiel were worthy All-Ireland champions. On their day they're still a match for anyone. Antrim's problems in county football & hurling seem to me to be more to do with internal divisions.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 20/01/2014 12:26:56    1534169

By your logic, if MLR are beaten by Loughiel it means Leinster hurling (which includes Kilkenny) is dead then???

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 21/01/2014 11:50:41    1534574

Just to let people know. Not all Belfast/Antrim Gaels are as depressed as Ulsterman.

There are approx 16 clubs in West Belfast the majority of which field hurling and football and have at least two teams at adult level. By my reckoning that's about 32 teams which, by the way, is the rough equivalent of 44 soccer teams. Are there 44 soccer teams from a 'Nationalist' backgroundin W Belfast???? BTW there are about 10 other clubs in the greater Belfast area. (3 on the County Down side).

It's also nonsense to talk about Loughiel in those terms. MLR will deffo not be looking forward to playing the team who won the AI two years ago playing brilliant hurling and beating the Leinster and the Munster champs along the way.

FGS, Ulsterman, cheer up. It's not all doom and gloom out there.

PolMacF (Antrim) - Posts: 3 - 21/01/2014 14:36:32    1534660

Good on you and those like u POlMacF. Bloody well done promoting our games. People like you make the GAA or any sporting organisation and we are lucky to have you. Only a fool would write off loughgiel. If one looks at it objectively they won it ut 2 years ago drew with eventual winners last year (while not playing partiuclalry well) and they have (with all due respect) the easier draw in the semi. I dont write off anyone but if i were from NA P or Port I would rather loughgiel's semi. If the limerick boys dont do it Pol I will be an Antrim man (if youll have me) for the day.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 21/01/2014 15:06:00    1534694

Fair enough Pol I was a bit hard on Loughiel; they are a decent side and I wish them success. I also know there are good people in Antrim putting effort in BUT there are also a lot of egos, jealous and petty people in the county as well; it seems to be one step forward and two back at times. However it's the inability of good Antrim club players to perform in a county jersey that is baffling. They seem like Samson when he had his hair cut, they lose strength and become very weak physically and mentally when they pull on a Saffron jersey. I think Oisin McConville was correct when he said many players in the so called weaker counties know they have no hope with their counties and put all their ability and focus into their club sides. That is Antrim in a nutshell; some of our clubs in both codes are as good as any club sides on the island but when it comes to county level it all goes pear shaped and nothing seems to change.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 21/01/2014 15:46:49    1534732

Course we'll have you Limerick Man.

Míle fáilte. Might have to ask Ulsterman's permission though. Looks like he stands at the Carrickdale (beware MLR, it's near Newry) checking people's passports!

PolMacF (Antrim) - Posts: 3 - 21/01/2014 15:52:05    1534740

Ulsterman,

I was wondering about Neil McManus' statement that an All Ireland semi final hasn't been played in Ulster for decades.., did Loughgeil play St. Thomas in Clones last year?

And I defiantly remember being at a semi final between Dunloy and Birr about 10 yeas ago.

Anyway... I think we're in for 2 good semi finals, I reckon it will be a Na Piarsaigh v Shamrocks final with the Limerick men to avenge the defeat of 2 years ago!

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 21/01/2014 19:21:03    1534878

I forgot to add on the Dunloy v Birr game I was referring to was in Clones

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 21/01/2014 19:23:42    1534880

Heard here before and strong rumours in Limerick one of Na Piarsaigh;s main forwards is out,any news from other camps around the country?

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 25/01/2014 16:59:31    1536506

sat navs are selling fast in carlow,their not use to playing teams outside leinster

sidewinder (Laois) - Posts: 89 - 26/01/2014 09:52:47    1536638

sidewinder
County: Laois

sat navs are selling fast in carlow,their not use to playing teams outside leinster
26/01/2014 09:52:47

Unlike here in Laois where we're perennial All-Ireland contenders...

MLR are in bonus territory and Loughgiel would be naieve to take them lightly. I think Loughgiel have the know-how to come through but regardless, I think the winner comes from the other semi.

merman (Laois) - Posts: 84 - 26/01/2014 14:00:57    1536713

I know this thread is about the allireland senior club, but I would like to congratulate the creggan junior team for making their way into the junior final in two weeks time beating fullan gaels from England by five points today. A feat even more impressive due to half the team being under twenty years of age.

the pitch in newry was very heavy after all the rain but the players coped well with some fantastic scores coming from both sets of players, although the energy levels really sapped in the last ten and there were a lot of tired legs out there.

frankbhoy77 (Antrim) - Posts: 1300 - 26/01/2014 19:42:29    1536935

Great post frankbhoy. Half the team under 20 wow. Good luck in final watch out for young Bennett if ballysaggart make it.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 26/01/2014 20:05:16    1536952

There's been a bit of a stretch in the evenings last week and its time to get ready for the hurling year ahead. Listening to the commentary today on Westmeath and Carlow that Tinryland - a big football club is running a bus to Newry. Great to have a team like MLR in an All Ireland Semi Final - and a big football club running a bus!!! That is something very new for Carlow.

What a great organisation the GAA is !!!

Hey sidewinder - there will be so many cars and buses on the road to Newry - we will just follow each other. And my car is full - no room for begrudgers!

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1875 - 26/01/2014 21:13:01    1537024