Antrim Football Thread

[thebigfullforward]

Without viewing it's hard to know much but I was surprised to see Mick McCann at no8. He is a superb footballer but as the game has progressed there is a lot of pressure on teams to be able to convert defence into attack as fast as possible.
Certainly if it involves kicking the ball forward then Mick would still be able to play the modern game at the pace required but in terms of up and down at that high level intense speed I'm not sure if he would have that in him anymore for a full game without a break further up the field.
He is very important to Cargin as his ball retention and brain allow him to play at the top club level still (although many times with 14 on his back) but as I have seen in others does their play although excellent at ball retention slow the game down and keep possession when what the team needs is to move quick.
Paul scored a goal v St Brigids through the speed he broke at. Did the missing players mean Mick was forced to play more out the field?  And not to take away from him personally but as players age they are still important but sometimes by keeping possession and providing a cool head etc they take away from the speed needed in moving the game forward.

Or alternatively did Cargin come up against a team who pressed them so much Cargin had no answer to once they lost long kick outs - and maybe struggled with a plan B. Not many in Antrim would go on the front foot so much and win the battles like it seems EC did.

Keeper wasn't interested in going short at all. Not sure if it's a coaching thing but when you are going for 50/50 kickouts every time even when it's not working it's going to backfire. Cargin probably lucky it wasn't more considering the amount of easier chances missed. Are Cargin normally at that level of fitness or is it the 4 week break because they didn't look up for it at all apart from 5 minute spells in each half

[NAG1]

EC getting the game under their belts at this level is a big thing.

Cargin were pretty much sitting ducks. But it really does highlight the standard of football in the county.

[Spike]

EC looked extremely sharp and Cargin didn't.  Hard to beat game time.

[Milltown Row2]

EC looked extremely sharp and Cargin didn't.  Hard to beat game time.

So were they sitting about doing nothing? Very strange that

[country bumpkin]

Must be a lot of Gall's men as well as MR2 tossing advice to Cargin....they are indeed the only individuals qualified to give such.
Others who have not tread the Ulster tail are certainly not.

So the clubs who did test the route to the Provincial trail in the two years from the last ten when Cargin did not qualify coming did coming to grief at the first hurdle are hardly qualified as advisers.

I know more than a few, 'good intentioned posters' are urging retirements aplenty but doubt such will be taken.

[paddyjohn]

Another thing that happens Cargin in ulster is the quality off ref,and his linesmen,one that doesn't get bullied

What?

[bannside]

Not "urging" CB. They'll make up their own minds in this.

I'd be surprised (but not shocked) if all those 3 I mentioned are in Cargin colours next year.

Relax, time will tell. Wouldn't be first time I was wrong!

[Ghost+Tommy]

Another thing that happens Cargin in ulster is the quality off ref,and his linesmen,one that doesn't get bullied

What?

mean ur man Martin Mc Nally not getting bullied by cargin like the antrim refs do,bar KP and Collie

[Take the Mark]

Another thing that happens Cargin in ulster is the quality off ref,and his linesmen,one that doesn't get bullied

What?

mean ur man Martin Mc Nally not getting bullied by cargin like the antrim refs do,bar KP and Collie

   what utter nonsense. The last time I saw you G&T you were waving a yellow and black flag the size of a duvet cover 

[Ghost+Tommy]

   what utter nonsense. The last time I saw you G&T you were waving a yellow and black flag the size of a duvet cover 

[/quote]unfortunately the last time I'd the duvet out was Feb 2019 when kilcummin put us to the sword TTM in headquarters

[antrimman667]

Bottom line is and I said it last week was that Cargin are had to win now, good team in Antrim but does not compare to the great st galls teams of the past..
Has to be a conveyor belt come through now in Cargin, and from what I can see a reign of dominance is up for grabs

[paddyjohn]

Another thing that happens Cargin in ulster is the quality off ref,and his linesmen,one that doesn't get bullied

What?

mean ur man Martin Mc Nally not getting bullied by cargin like the antrim refs do,bar KP and Collie

Talk sense man for gods sake.

[Milltown Row2]

Other teams may feel they are getting closer, but from what I've seen this year Cargin's depth is still better than most.

It's going to take a serious challenge to topple that for a bit yet.

[Hectic]

Cargin still have enough to avoid falling behind in Antrim.

They are fielding 3 adult teams and they are mostly developing at A level in both juvenile leagues and college.

Portglenone gave it a good rattle this year but the team best placed might just be the ever popular St Brigids. Though a wee bit of a mentality shift maybe still needed there.

[Spike]

You would think St Brigids will get it right eventually from a numbers game alone, Large crops at every age level. Cargin have been squeezing everything they have from a small to mid-sized base, massively overachieving.  Lamh Dhearg always appear to have good numbers, Aghagallon, Creggan and now Portglenone.  Glenravel, Tir na nog, St Enda's and Ballymena have big numbers at underage which used to dwindle up the age groups but perhaps they have corrected that now which makes you think they should have a part to play in the coming years.

St Galls or St Pauls coming?  i had thought St Galls were sliding but theyve corrected that now.  Not sure where the ceiling is for St Pauls but perhaps tradition will elevate them higher