Antrim Football Thread

[ck]

Congrats to Antrim on getting this over the line so quickly. It was vital to do so. It'll give McEntee every chance.

[Saffsof82]

Heard that Stevie quin and kell been approached about joining mgt. Don't think it will suit either tbh with timing , a pity as 2 good men

[marty34]

Yes something like that Marty. After the process where the clubs got an opportunity to nominate (that response was underwhelming) a sub committee was formed to look after the project and begin to proactively have conversations with those who ticked the main boxes on essential and preferred criteria.

Andy Mc Entee ticks practically every box on that list - as Barnish says it's time for every supporter club and player to get behind him from the start.

Ok. Thanks for that.

Must have sold it well to Andy - quick off the mark there.

Split season must help a bit in that regard nowadays.

[Belfast GAA man]

Lot of stuff on here about the boys going to south Derry schools getting well trained Etc. For a long time belfast secondary schools woeful at promoting GAA. If money can be found for senior management surely some can be found for a secondary schools promotion officer ? Better spend for long term surely?

[Milltown Row2]

History will show you that success from all these South Derry schools hasn't transferred at senior club level if you look at the numbers of Championship winners..

[country bumpkin]

History will show you that success from all these South Derry schools hasn't transferred at senior club level if you look at the numbers of Championship winners..

But recent history would suggest the tide has turned....six out of the last senior titles went to the South West and indeed the last three minor titles went on the same route....

Tide turned....

[HealthySaff]

A great capture in Andy for Antrim GAA. Bannside who is his backroom team, you are  in the know?

[Milltown Row2]

History will show you that success from all these South Derry schools hasn't transferred at senior club level if you look at the numbers of Championship winners..

But recent history would suggest the tide has turned....six out of the last senior titles went to the South West and indeed the last three minor titles went on the same route....

Tide turned....

Will be 7 again this year from what's on show

[Belfast GAA man]

So schools don't matter? Serious ?

[EOC1923]

History will show you that success from all these South Derry schools hasn't transferred at senior club level if you look at the numbers of Championship winners..

Doesn't make sense

[Belfast GAA man]

Clubs help schools and schools should help clubs surely.
U dong want a lad getting to 16/17 and have only had 1 coach moving up with the lad every year no matter how good the club coach is

[Milltown Row2]

History will show you that success from all these South Derry schools hasn't transferred at senior club level if you look at the numbers of Championship winners..

Doesn't make sense

I know!! Because with so much success you'd expect a huge amount of SW teams winning championships but the reality is Cargin and Creggan last year are the only SW winners in the past god knows how long years..

But yeah it can only be encouraged and the fruits of a successful school system will benefit Antrim ( should they still play after school)

How many Sigerson winners have come from that set up in the SW, must be a brave few

[Milltown Row2]

Don't bring Sigerson into it. It's hardly relevant at all.
This is about MacRory ye know.

Anyway, that St.Gall's All Ireland team that we all admire - I'd say many more played (& some won) Sigerson Cup than played MacRory.

I was trying to draw this out a bit!!!

[bannside]

Clubs have the ultimate responsibility for player development pathway. They need to ensure every juvenile has the optimum environment possible to develop and thrive. That's always going to be plan A.

However, it cannot be contested that when this promising juvenile at age 12 enters secondary education, he/she/it will benefit largely if they are in the panel of a hard working and ambitious school team, and maintain this for between 5 and 7 years up until leaving age.

Some of the really ambitious schools could be contributing 10 hours a week into each player.....x 30 weeks a year....by up to 7 years. That's a lot of touches of the ball, a lot of S&C, a lot of flexibility stretching yoga or whatever else.

That has to be an advantage to that player versus the development pathway for an equally promising 12 year old who goes to a school that dosent bother it's ass promoting anything relevant GAA wise.

It's about getting the balance.

There's no doubt that we need to up the ante in board supported coaching activity and games promotion in post primary schools. It's not about winning Mc Rory, it's about ensuring a proper pathway is in place for every potential Antrim footballer of the future, and a talent identification pipeline is established to make sure less and less potentially elite players slip through the net.

[Milltown Row2]

Clubs have the ultimate responsibility for player development pathway. They need to ensure every juvenile has the optimum environment possible to develop and thrive. That's always going to be plan A.

However, it cannot be contested that when this promising juvenile at age 12 enters secondary education, he/she/it will benefit largely if they are in the panel of a hard working and ambitious school team, and maintain this for between 5 and 7 years up until leaving age.

Some of the really ambitious schools could be contributing 10 hours a week into each player.....x 30 weeks a year....by up to 7 years. That's a lot of touches of the ball, a lot of S&C, a lot of flexibility stretching yoga or whatever else.

That has to be an advantage to that player versus the development pathway for an equally promising 12 year old who goes to a school that dosent bother it's ass promoting anything relevant GAA wise.

It's about getting the balance.

There's no doubt that we need to up the ante in board supported coaching activity and games promotion in post primary schools. It's not about winning Mc Rory, it's about ensuring a proper pathway is in place for every potential Antrim footballer of the future, and a talent identification pipeline is established to make sure less and less potentially elite players slip through the net.

Nobody is not saying extra time playing GAA at school isn't a bad thing, its just not going to win you a championship at club senior level, I'm sorry to burst that theory, if this was the case then as said already we'd have a disproportionately amount of clubs in the SW winning the Antrim senior football championships..

I'd say looking back at school, and we didn't play any other sports but GAA, in my year there wouldn't have been many that played on (after leaving school) to reach their senior teams.. no distractions then other than the usual women and drink!