Antrim Senior Hurling Championship

KayJay86

Never mind your Galways and Waterfords, Antrim is where the action's at.

As expected, Cushendall beat Clooney Gaels at the weekend in the Preliminary Round setting up the four Quarter Finals for the Lammas Fair weekend - 26th/27th August.

Saturday 26th Double Header (5pm & 7pm) in Dunloy
Loughgiel Shamrocks v Creggan Kickhams
Ballycastle v Rossa

Sunday 27th Double Header (1:30pm & 3:30pm) in Loughgiel
Cloughmills v Cushendall
Dunloy v St John's

Interesting this year in that the two pre-draw favourites, Cusdendall and Loughgiel, are both on the same side and would meet in the Semis if they win their respective Quarter Finals.

As such Dunloy will certainly fancy their chances with their recent successes at minor and U21 starting to come through to the Senior panel. A spirited defeat last Wednesday to Loughgiel in the League (which is a different animal to the Championship anyway) will do plenty to boost their confidence (despite Loughgiel winning by 3 points most would say there wasn't much between the sides). Dunloy remain top of the League, but have played all their League matches and are only 1 point ahead of Cushendall and Loughgiel who play Cloughmills and Rossa respectively this Wednesday (16th).

Another match worth catching is where Rossa will fancy their chances against a Ballycastle team who, with on-and-off the pitch issues this year, were relegated from Division 1 hurling for next year after a three point defeat last week to relegation rivals... Rossa.

Whoever wins the Championship will need to be on top of their game, not only due to the competitive Antrim League this year. Two of the past 3 Ulster Championships have been won by non-Antrim clubs. This despite that only one Ulster Championship was won by a non-Antrim club in the rest of the 21st Century.

Hurling in the north is looking as exciting as always.

paul0103

Out of interest, what way does the hurling championship run in Antrim? Is it straight knock out? And is there any link between league and championship?

KayJay86

paul0103 wrote: »

Out of interest, what way does the hurling championship run in Antrim? Is it straight knock out? And is there any link between league and championship?

Straight knock out - no link between the two; relegated clubs can still opt to join the Senior Championship rather than the Intermediate (e.g. St John's are currently in Division 2 but have entered the Senior Championship). Hopefully Ballycastle decide to remain in the Senior Championship in 2018 as it becomes a bit of a farce having a team that strong in the Intermediate scene.

danganabu

KayJay86 wrote: »

Straight knock out - no link between the two

That seems mad to be fair, a team could train for 6 months plus and be gone after one game, surely in the interest of fair play to club players and in the interest of developing hurling in Antrim it should at the very least be run on a group basis?

Two groups, one of 5 and one of four, top teams into semi finals on either side of the draw, 2nd and third into two quarter finals and the bottom two teams playoff for relegation??

KayJay86

That would prolong the Championship too much when you already have the League through the year.

Championship is better done and dusted in a few weeks, then move onto the Ulster.

Does it not work like that in other Counties? I know Derry and Down are the same.

danganabu

KayJay86 wrote: »

That would prolong the Championship too much when you already have the League through the year.

Championship is better done and dusted in a few weeks, then move onto the Ulster.

Does it not work like that in other Counties? I know Derry and Down are the same.

Well in Tipp, the club championship in a way mirrors what we have at inter-county level, the league is very much a secondary comp and a prep for championship, championship is what its all about and the aim being to provide all clubs with as many championship games as possible, currently every team is guaranteed at least 4 championship matches.

Stationmaster

KayJay86 wrote: »

That would prolong the Championship too much when you already have the League through the year.

Championship is better done and dusted in a few weeks, then move onto the Ulster.

Does it not work like that in other Counties? I know Derry and Down are the same.

Very few counties operate a straight knockout system now. I know all the arguments against it and, in fairness, most of them make sense, but jaysus, you can't beat the pressure and savageness of knockout championship hurling!

Realt Dearg Sec

In Kilkenny the league is used to decide the opening championship rounds, so that they're effectively one competition. Means the league actually matters and had to be treated as such, and the championship proper remains straight knockout once it gets going.