geoff
County: Tyrone
Posts: 187


It seems whenever Antrim is involved in playing a final/semi/quarter on a neutral venue with a clb/county outside of Ulster its usually Parnell Park, its always been that way.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 11/02/2013 15:03:51    1332095

It is an absolutely scandalous decision to replay the Loughgiel/St Thomas match at Parnell Park next Saturday at 5.45pm. The pitch is not fit for a ploughing contest, let alone a hurling match;someone could get seriously hurt. Well seen the decision makers don't have to play on that pitch. It shows a total lack of respect to both teams and their supporters. Both sets of supporters have long distances to travel, but of course TV revenue ranks a higher priority. Why can the match not be played at 2pm with recording televised later? Disgusted!

Spillane (Antrim) - Posts: 15 - 11/02/2013 15:18:59    1332104

could someone please,please,please tell me where is the mighty THURLESBLUES?

turfcutter (Antrim) - Posts: 277 - 11/02/2013 19:37:23    1332344

Would agree with you Spillane.It was in a shocking state when you have Pairc Tailteann available for such games.

jake1 (Meath) - Posts: 268 - 11/02/2013 20:19:40    1332378

I came across this little bit of footage from BBC radio Ulster, the last minutes of the Loghgiel St Thomas' game. I think it is fair to say that the commentator Mark Sidebottom was emotionally spent after the game.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/21410113

muffin (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 11/02/2013 20:56:23    1332401

The surface of the pitch at Portlaoise looked far better than Parnell, shame that parnell park gets the replay,traffic coming away from there was terrible too.d

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 12/02/2013 09:09:17    1332451

On first glance I thought the Mark Sidebottom comment was an ironic one. Curiousity got the better of me, however. Yeah, he REALLY lost it at the end there!!!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 12/02/2013 11:34:52    1332533

Is Mark Sidebottom the only commentator who actually played the game.......

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 12/02/2013 12:12:00    1332578

I think it's an absolute disgrace to ask these two exceptional teams to replay their semi in the slurry pit which is parnell park.easey to see the'muppets' that picked this venue,probably never held a hurl in their lives,SHAME ON YOU'SE...

turfcutter (Antrim) - Posts: 277 - 12/02/2013 16:03:59    1332839

turfcutter,probably in retirement along with all the great posters (pudders,Hag_Cheese,pinkie) who gave up on this board as a result of him and his postings.Pity we lost them,wonder if they might return some day.They were great posters and it's a pity we lost them.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 12/02/2013 16:54:07    1332915

loughgiel v st thomas now in clones 2 o clock saturday.

turfcutter (Antrim) - Posts: 277 - 14/02/2013 18:44:03    1334134

Yeah common sense prevailed finally turfcutter. Wonder will that mean now that its closer to the 'border' that the level of 'sledging' will decrease?

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 15/02/2013 10:52:17    1334348

What sledgeing would you be referring to offside rule? Whats the proximity of the border got to do with it? I was at the drawn match and I didn't notice any bad blood between the sides, just a hard fought championship game.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 15/02/2013 15:12:05    1334534

Who is the ref tomorrow it can't be Barry Kelly as the same ref is never used for the replay. Hope it is not Stapleton, if it is Loughgiel should save their money and stay at home.

Brian_Coyote (Antrim) - Posts: 346 - 15/02/2013 16:06:27    1334587

Same ref IS usually used for a replay unless that's a new rule?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 15/02/2013 21:37:19    1334742

As I suggested after the replay, St Thomas's made no mistake this time around winning comfortably 15 points to 7. Loughgiel only scored 1 point from play in the game and went 25 minutes in the second half without scoring. I had stated that all St Thomas's needed to do was to cut out giving soft frees away and take their chances that would come their way and they did that today to a large extent even though they gave a couple of soft frees away before half time. Sean Skehill had a tremendous game again and has kept Liam Watson scoreless from play for the second week in a row. Bernard Burke showed his undoubted class and was MOTM with 4 tremendous points from play but this was an all round team effort. Conor Cooney was quieter this week but still scored a couple of vital points when required. Richie Murray improved when switched to wing forward in the second half. James Regan and David Burke battled well around midfield. Will be cheering on St Thomas's again in the AI final and hope to see Galway's proud record continue by winning our 11th AI Club title in 21 years.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 16/02/2013 15:42:34    1334834

Well done St. thomas' - a great story!

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 16/02/2013 16:56:48    1334860

St. Thomas V Kilcormac Killoughey in the final now. There'd have been some odds on that pairing!!! Both 1st-time winners in their own county championships.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 16/02/2013 17:32:08    1334877

Great to see St Thomas of Galway and Kilcormac/Killoughey of Offaly Qualify for the All Ireland Club Hurling Final in Croke Park.
These 2 Teams who won their own County Senior Hurling Championship for the very First Time Last year.
This is why Hurling is unique,
Great for the Game.
Great inspiration for every Club.

Wee_Buns (Donegal) - Posts: 830 - 16/02/2013 18:35:50    1334919

whilst St Thomas' were the deserving winners I do have one small gripe. The major decision in the game was when MOTM Bernard Burke having been already yellow carded made a frontal charge tackle on the Loughgiel no.12 without punishment. Fair enough but literally two minutes earlier the ref booked McCloskey for a shoulder on shoulder tackle. This was a major turning point as Loughgiel were well in the game at this point. Burke went on to score 3 points at a pivotal time in the game. Again a deserved win but a very very poor refereeing performance

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 16/02/2013 18:57:41    1334928