Antrim Football Thread

[Walter Cronc]

hear what you are saying Bannside...........but..............democracy is a serious weapon, and in response I would hear the CB say 'put your name forward and let the people decide'.
As for vitriol in those comments on our present management sure i have yet to see any of those involved kicking a single ball thus far (perhaps we would be better served if they had).
Face the facts Bannside we just do not have the talent and I see you do not make comment as to which individuals you feel would bring improvement.
A couple of clubs are way ahead of the pack in our county and it is a fact that the top division is miles ahead of the rest.............which team in division two would even give St Galls, Cargin, or L Dhearg a game?

Would any Div 2 teams in Derry give Ballinderry a game??

[imtommygunn]

hear what you are saying Bannside...........but..............democracy is a serious weapon, and in response I would hear the CB say 'put your name forward and let the people decide'.
As for vitriol in those comments on our present management sure i have yet to see any of those involved kicking a single ball thus far (perhaps we would be better served if they had).
Face the facts Bannside we just do not have the talent and I see you do not make comment as to which individuals you feel would bring improvement.
A couple of clubs are way ahead of the pack in our county and it is a fact that the top division is miles ahead of the rest.............which team in division two would even give St Galls, Cargin, or L Dhearg a game?

Do you not mean which team in division 1??

Division 2 is the same in a lot of counties bar places like Tyrone(maybe Monaghan) where the standard is very close without anyone stand-out.

[bannside]

A couple of points on that CB.

Firstly I am not anti -Baker, Paddy, Fitzy or Honda. They will be seriously disappointed with the way things are turning out themselves, and I have no intention of adding to their misery. Once they got the gig I decided to fully support them and this rant has nothing to do with them. Its about US, and how WE cant ever seem to get our act together. So this is not the place to start saying this one and that one would have done better.

But what I do know is that four recent county captains were canvassed about a wish list of managers, and came up with four names. None of them was Baker. Seeing that you asked the question!

What I am against is the lack of football nous (or ambition) or both, by those tasked with making football decisions. That includes structures and systems that are by amongst the least progressive in the country.

The top item on their agenda is to stifle the budget where and when possible. Its already operating at just 50% of the hurling budget, and this is the reason why several interesting candidates (John Rafferty, Seamus Mc Eneaney etc) were overlooked.

Secondly, the comment that we lack the talent is not true. Bakers first comment was that this years panel was stronger than in 09. I spoke to Paddy a month ago and he believes our players are every bit as good as those in Derry. Thats a fact, and knowing the majority of those Derry players myself (I managed in Division one in Derry for 5 years) I would not dispute that.

What Derry have and we do not -  is organisation. John Bosco (Specialist Joinery) puts a fortune in there each year - but in doing, as a successful businessman he insists on BEST PRACTICE and VALUE FOR MONEY. Doe you see many businessmen queueing up in Antrim CB. No. I wonder why not.

Gerard O Kane says what they are experiencing this year is a mile better than anything he has seen in 10 years playing county football. Brian Mc Ivor and Paddy Tally deliver every time. Derry have slipped quietly into second place in Division One.

Finally, to answer your first question. Putting my name forward has nothing to do with anything. I could never sit there like a yes man and listen to so much drivel. I wouldnt last a week.

But if we are to do admit we are the new laughing stock of the country, and are prepared to have an emergency meeting, with no holds barred and everything on the table, in a genuine attempt to do what Cavan done - then I will be the first person there.

Is that likely to happen CB?

[stibhan]

hear what you are saying Bannside...........but..............democracy is a serious weapon, and in response I would hear the CB say 'put your name forward and let the people decide'.
As for vitriol in those comments on our present management sure i have yet to see any of those involved kicking a single ball thus far (perhaps we would be better served if they had).
Face the facts Bannside we just do not have the talent and I see you do not make comment as to which individuals you feel would bring improvement.
A couple of clubs are way ahead of the pack in our county and it is a fact that the top division is miles ahead of the rest.............which team in division two would even give St Galls, Cargin, or L Dhearg a game?

I quoted you above where you said Baker would 'only have to have his squad dawdling on the ground' and now you're saying that we don't have the talent. I'm not sure what the f**k is going on.

[bannside]

Interested to see how Antrim minors get on tomorrow against Donegal. We have won two out of three, but Donegal beat Tyrone and that is some scalp at this level, as Tyrone looked a bit special when they played us a month ago.

Hopefully we will be competitive and get a result in this final league round match. In Ballymena at 12 midday.

[AQMP]

Interested to see how Antrim minors get on tomorrow against Donegal. We have won two out of three, but Donegal beat Tyrone and that is some scalp at this level, as Tyrone looked a bit special when they played us a month ago.

Hopefully we will be competitive and get a result in this final league round match. In Ballymena at 12 midday.

Yes, I saw in the local papers here that Tyrone gave Fermanagh an almighty hiding a couple of weeks ago.

[bannside]

True, but then Donegal came out and beat Tyrone the following week! Having said that when Tyrone played Antrim they were keeping a panel of what looked close to 40 players. I left our match with them thinking I had seen the AI champs, but then they go and lose to Donegal.

Shows ya what I know lol.

[Man Marker]

Interested to see how Antrim minors get on tomorrow against Donegal. We have won two out of three, but Donegal beat Tyrone and that is some scalp at this level, as Tyrone looked a bit special when they played us a month ago.

Hopefully we will be competitive and get a result in this final league round match. In Ballymena at 12 midday.

Tyrone put out a weaker team against Donegal to give young players a chance.

[bannside]

Donegal too strong for Antrim minors today. They too also have a serious team this year. Height, power and pace all over the field, and quite frankly we had no answer to them. It will take a super team to beat them.

We had beaten Derry and Fermanagh previously and did well at times against Tyrone, but at times today Donegal looked at different level altogether. They were awesome especially the way they were all buying into a running style of play that is very effective.

Our lads have been putting in good work under a very dedicated and good calibre management team, but today we saw the difference between some very committed (and capable) men doing their very best to remain competitive, and a county who have set out their stall in pursuit of winning All - Ireland titles.

I heard at first hand the level of support the Donegal management team receive to make things possible. As one example, when the match was over a Mc Loones Catering Van pulled into the car park  to feed the Donegal lads. It had travelled all the way from Donegal.

Once again, just like after the Tyrone match, our lads watched them as they got fed. Beaten on the pitch - Hammered off it!

I went to the match fairly optimistic about a showing, and came away with a reality check about the gap that is opening up between the counties who are passionate about success, and those who pretend to care. Not on a level playing field is the term that comes to mind.

[Saffrongael]

According to today's Sunday Life Kevin McGourty up in court in couple of weeks on historic charges of "indecent behaviour & assaulting three women".

[glens abu]

According to today's Sunday Life Kevin McGourty up in court in couple of weeks on historic charges of "indecent behaviour & assaulting three women".

You are one sad bastard.

[bogball88]

What's this about CJ McGourty being axed from the Baker's plans?

"Antrim forward CJ McGourty has been axed from the panel in advance of the Ulster championship quarter-final against Fermanagh on June 1.

It is understood that manager Liam Bradley regards the prodigiously-talented McGourty as surplus to requirements as the Saffrons bid to regain a measure of credibility following a disappointing campaign in Division Four of the Allianz League.

And McGourty may not be the only familiar face missing.

Midfield strongman Sean McVeigh incurred a red card while playing for his club All Saints Ballymena against Cargin in the quarter-final of the O'Cahan Cup and depending on the contents of referee Paul Hanna's report, he could miss early championship action.

It is believed that McVeigh, who played for London before returning to assist Antrim, collided with Hanna during the game.

Like McGourty, he brings experience to a side whose morale has been damaged during a league campaign at the outset of which hopes were high.

McGourty's exclusion would come as a surprise because even though he had an indifferent outing in Antrim's last game against Clare, he appeared to have recaptured his scoring form.

But he has been overshadowed with the ball-winning skills and creative talents of Michael Pollock and the red-hot form being displayed by Brian 'Bam' Neeson, who scored 1-7 against London and 2-6 against Carlow.

However, with former skipper Paddy Cunningham still recovering from injury, Bradley's options up front could be more limited.

On the plus side, Tomas McCann bounced back from injury to score 2-3 in the win over London, while Under 21 goalkeeper Ronan Hanna has been impressive in two starts at senior level."

[theskull1]

When you live in a county full of fly by nights, you can't compete against counties who really give a fcuk

[glens abu]

Yeah heard CJ axed alright and the young Baker fighting with the Da.Two clowns to put in charge of any team never mind our county.Did anyone on CB never think why Derry wouldn't have the Baker but he is OK for us.

[wherefromreferee?]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/27047108?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook