National Forum

The Rise Of Antrim Hurling

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Well done to antrim we have had a few close encounters both up there and down here over the years but as a county on the same level as oursekves it's great to see them take a scalp.

Hopefully we can follow up next week and get a result ourselves. Who knows if antrim can beat Dublin also a win against us could out then through to all Ireland stages

ITSCHOLAR (Carlow) - Posts: 302 - 28/04/2024 13:59:06    2541162

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "We will do, if it matters."
You didn't in 2022, 2019 or 2017.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 28/04/2024 18:52:32    2541246

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Pleased to get over the line today. Always a dog fight with Carlow.

A strange campaign which started off with a not unexpected hiding against Kilkenny, given that we had 5/6 lads having their first outing. Turned out to be a master stroke really. The game time stood to them and we deservedly got over the line against Wexford.

The sending off against Galway killed us. I feel we would have won that game with 15 men on the pitch.
Disappointing how we capitulated against Dublin, who are no bad side.

Lets see if we can build on this through the league and unearth a few more big players in time for Championship. Unlike some other Counties we don't have the luxury of resting many players.

The TV coverage of our games is disappointing and if Croke Park are serious about developing our National game, they should broaden the reach in Leinster and properly invest in Ulster.

Glensboy (Antrim) - Posts: 311 - 26/05/2024 21:39:07    2547420

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "It does change the round robin though.

Wexford now in serious danger again of relegation. Carlow a fair bit better team than Antrim in my humble opinion and if Wexford lose that, its curtains unless Cats throw the subs on the last day again.


Also gives Antrim a shout at the third spot if they beat Dublin. Thankfully for ourselves that's in the Park rather than Belfast and be confident we will beat them there, Can't recall last time they did us in Parnell - be 20 years maybe or more - and MD will have our boys focused on that as the key game now,

Not slagging off Wexford by the way, We were blessed to get a draw last Sunday so there but for the Grace of God, etc, etc ..."
That didn't age well

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3145 - 26/05/2024 21:50:11    2547426

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "That didn't age well"
It was as accurate as any other guesses as to how the group might finish up.

Wexford supporters were worried about relegation up to the Carlow match.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3120 - 27/05/2024 07:07:17    2547427

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "That didn't age well"
In fairness easy to go back now and call out predictions from earlier in the RR. Plenty of Wexford fans on here were considering the reality of possible relegation too after Antrim

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2679 - 27/05/2024 10:03:07    2547473

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "In fairness easy to go back now and call out predictions from earlier in the RR. Plenty of Wexford fans on here were considering the reality of possible relegation too after Antrim"
Relegation was possible for everyone except Kilkenny after 3 games.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 27/05/2024 10:33:16    2547499

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "It was as accurate as any other guesses as to how the group might finish up.

Wexford supporters were worried about relegation up to the Carlow match."
100% I said it myself I was more worried about Carlow than Kilkenny which also didn't pan out

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3145 - 27/05/2024 13:06:59    2547613

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Antrim and Offaly still seem like the two counties who can close the gap to the top 4 in Leinster. I don't think any of the other counties are going to bring big crowds. If Offaly can get past Laois in the McDonagh final, it'll be interesting to see what crowds get behind them upon a return to Leinster. They are building up good momentum with their U20 success.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8286 - 28/05/2024 18:31:13    2547997

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Antrim and Offaly still seem like the two counties who can close the gap to the top 4 in Leinster. I don't think any of the other counties are going to bring big crowds. If Offaly can get past Laois in the McDonagh final, it'll be interesting to see what crowds get behind them upon a return to Leinster. They are building up good momentum with their U20 success."
Why does the crowd you bring make a difference?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 28/05/2024 20:41:31    2548034

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Antrim and Offaly still seem like the two counties who can close the gap to the top 4 in Leinster. I don't think any of the other counties are going to bring big crowds. If Offaly can get past Laois in the McDonagh final, it'll be interesting to see what crowds get behind them upon a return to Leinster. They are building up good momentum with their U20 success."
Going by results, I don't think Antrim's underage hurling is producing enough quality to break into the Top 4 in Leinster, would have Offaly, Westmeath, and Laois ahead of them at underage

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 354 - 28/05/2024 21:38:24    2548045

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Going by results, I don't think Antrim's underage hurling is producing enough quality to break into the Top 4 in Leinster, would have Offaly, Westmeath, and Laois ahead of them at underage"
To sustain a good Senior team you only need a couple of really good lads a year. If you don't have 15 that might mean you don't win much underage.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 29/05/2024 09:29:04    2548073

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Replying To Viking66:  "Why does the crowd you bring make a difference?"
Full houses bring a good championship vibe. If you go to any Munster hurling championship game, you know pre-game there a championship game in whichever city or town.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8286 - 29/05/2024 10:30:49    2548088

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Full houses bring a good championship vibe. If you go to any Munster hurling championship game, you know pre-game there a championship game in whichever city or town."
There was a great atmosphere in Corrigan and Dr Cullen Parks when we visited them this year, even if the crowds weren't huge. Absolute attendance figures are irrelevant to atmosphere. There was a far bigger crowd in Thurles for Tipp v Clare, and no atmosphere at all. And If what you say is the case you may as well do away with most of the Football Championship altogether.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 29/05/2024 11:22:10    2548105

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Replying To Viking66:  "To sustain a good Senior team you only need a couple of really good lads a year. If you don't have 15 that might mean you don't win much underage."
100%.
We have senior hurling clubs who traditionally don't do very well at underage, even up to u21 level but win the snr championship regularly and provide good numbers to our county teams and are equal to the best clubs in the country. They only need to bring through 3/4 players per year to senior level.
The issues facing us are:_

1) Immigration hits hard. Proper investment in rural areas and a long term economic plan for jobs and housing is essential, hopefully on a 'countrywide' basis

2) We miss out on competition at 2nd/3rd level education. If more kids see their future within the country they would be encouraged to go to higher education.

3) The elephant in the room is the fact that we have the biggest county population in the North and 50% of the people do not play our games. Long term political stability and mutual respect for culture will make some impact. We have to do more and this will be a slow burn. I am realistic in this regard but the reality is that we live on a small Island and it is in our mutual interests to get on. The challenges that will face everyone into the future will not be recognised and/or given any thought or attention by a UK Govt that cares nothing for the North of Ireland.

4) A comprehensive schools coaching programme is long overdue. This will take money and we look centrally for support on this.

5) Continuous review of our academy structures and resources.

6) We have relative financial stability being well supported by business and this needs to continue.

7) We need Casement Park built. 100's of Gaels have been denied the opportunity to play in their county ground. The facility can and will be used for the benefit of all.

Glensboy (Antrim) - Posts: 311 - 29/05/2024 12:03:29    2548116

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Replying To Viking66:  "There was a great atmosphere in Corrigan and Dr Cullen Parks when we visited them this year, even if the crowds weren't huge. Absolute attendance figures are irrelevant to atmosphere. There was a far bigger crowd in Thurles for Tipp v Clare, and no atmosphere at all. And If what you say is the case you may as well do away with most of the Football Championship altogether."
There are some championship games, you nearly wouldn't know pre-game that there was a championship match taking place. The McDonagh has no championship at unfortunately in terms of crowds. It is hosting McDonagh semi-finals as opposed to hosting All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals which could be utilised for promotion of the games but I suppose crumbs from the top table are required. I enjoyed Wexford's visit to Tralee despite the result. A rare taste of proper championship!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8286 - 29/05/2024 13:30:43    2548152

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There are some championship games, you nearly wouldn't know pre-game that there was a championship match taking place. The McDonagh has no championship at unfortunately in terms of crowds. It is hosting McDonagh semi-finals as opposed to hosting All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals which could be utilised for promotion of the games but I suppose crumbs from the top table are required. I enjoyed Wexford's visit to Tralee despite the result. A rare taste of proper championship!"
It was a good game, especially in the 1st half, and atmosphere, and didn't have a huge crowd.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 29/05/2024 15:00:56    2548173

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Replying To Viking66:  "To sustain a good Senior team you only need a couple of really good lads a year. If you don't have 15 that might mean you don't win much underage."
Yeah but it's a lot easier to sustain success at senior level if you have strong underage teams rather than weak enough underage teams with a couple of strong players here and there

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 354 - 29/05/2024 20:02:09    2548246

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Yeah but it's a lot easier to sustain success at senior level if you have strong underage teams rather than weak enough underage teams with a couple of strong players here and there"
Obviously. But some counties have less senior clubs, less juvenile and adult players, and therefore less really good underage players in any given year. So are pretty unlikely to get enough in the same year to compete with counties who have far more lads to pick from.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13877 - 29/05/2024 22:10:01    2548261

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