Antrim Football Thread

[NAG1]

Armoy, Shane O'Neill's, Carey, Cushendun, Glenariffe (amalgamations aside) and many more other clubs have been sustaining very well without winning things at Junior, if you are going to hang your coat on that as a reason for clubs dying off then there won't be too many about 

All of which you have mention are fixed communities geographically, so by pure location they will always continue to exist. City clubs don't have that luxury.

Don't get me wrong not something I am wanting to see by any stretch, it just seems that the struggle is being lost in the City.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

If I am correct in saying that Corrigan Park is owned by the county as opposed to St Johns, then the club should not be able to dictate in cases like this if they want to be 'stubborn'

Corrigan has been owned by the Johnnies for as long as I can remember.

Might be a bit pedantic but are all the grounds not technically owned by the GAA and that's what the Trustees of the club are for.

Bigger question is will there even be a St John's club in 20/30 years?

Div 1 football and hurling.. maybe not going full on at juvenile like in the past, but I doubt very much a club that has the most senior football titles and some senior hurling titles will be folding in the next 20/30 years?

Or have I missed something?

I just have no idea how they sustain a club with no juvenile numbers. Biggest club in Belfast, when did they last compete at any level of juvenile competition/ minor?

That for me is unsustainable in the long term.

They won the minor B championship in both hurling and football last year.
They have teams at every age group.
They'll be grand.

[Milltown Row2]

Those communities are struggling with housing as in the cost of housing and keeping the locals in the parish, they'll have their own problems going forward. But you highlighted no winning of juveniles as a point, no of the above have either is all I pointed out.

We've had no major wins at juvenile for a while, but Sat mornings the place is bunged with kids from 5 up, sustaining big numbers as children develop and look at new sports is difficult along with the other pressures of teenagers have now.

One club I'd say that won't have that problem with numbers will be the Johnnies, and that's from a Galls man lol

[johnnycool]

If I am correct in saying that Corrigan Park is owned by the county as opposed to St Johns, then the club should not be able to dictate in cases like this if they want to be 'stubborn'

Corrigan has been owned by the Johnnies for as long as I can remember.

Might be a bit pedantic but are all the grounds not technically owned by the GAA and that's what the Trustees of the club are for.

Bigger question is will there even be a St John's club in 20/30 years?

Each clubs has the county secretary and the Provincial secretary listed as two of their trustees, but a club can appoint three or more of their own.

FYI Down CB don't own Pairc Esler and I'd hazard a guess that Tyrone don't own Omagh either.


The biggest clubs in Belfast are evidently in County Down going by a recent GAA Social podcast by Oisin and yer man from Lavey.

[NAG1]

Those communities are struggling with housing as in the cost of housing and keeping the locals in the parish, they'll have their own problems going forward. But you highlighted no winning of juveniles as a point, no of the above have either is all I pointed out.

We've had no major wins at juvenile for a while, but Sat mornings the place is bunged with kids from 5 up, sustaining big numbers as children develop and look at new sports is difficult along with the other pressures of teenagers have now.

One club I'd say that won't have that problem with numbers will be the Johnnies, and that's from a Galls man lol

I didnt say winning, I said competing but take your wider point.

Are your crop of youngsters now from the successful players/ teams of the past?

On the wider point it just seems like such a missed opportunity in general for Belfast clubs - Gaelfast

[paddyjohn]

Clubs that MR2 mentioned there will struggle for numbers in the near future if they already aren't. Houses in Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun simply can't be bought by first time buyers and the lack of housing means people will be looking elsewhere. Sadly it is the way it is. Even renting is impossible due to holiday homes etc.

[Milltown Row2]

If I am correct in saying that Corrigan Park is owned by the county as opposed to St Johns, then the club should not be able to dictate in cases like this if they want to be 'stubborn'

Corrigan has been owned by the Johnnies for as long as I can remember.

Might be a bit pedantic but are all the grounds not technically owned by the GAA and that's what the Trustees of the club are for.

Bigger question is will there even be a St John's club in 20/30 years?

Each clubs has the county secretary and the Provincial secretary listed as two of their trustees, but a club can appoint three or more of their own.

FYI Down CB don't own Pairc Esler and I'd hazard a guess that Tyrone don't own Omagh either.


The biggest clubs in Belfast are evidently in County Down going by a recent GAA Social podcast by Oisin and yer man from Lavey.

Bredagh/Carryduff?

Playing membership wise? We have Ladies football at all ages, Camogie started up very recently and we have 4 teams, we have two senior teams in 2 leagues hurling and football,  juvenile teams in both hurling and football all the way down to under 10's ..

[Saffrongael]

Clubs that MR2 mentioned there will struggle for numbers in the near future if they already aren't. Houses in Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun simply can't be bought by first time buyers and the lack of housing means people will be looking elsewhere. Sadly it is the way it is. Even renting is impossible due to holiday homes etc.

Cushendall and Glenariffe amalgamated at U-12 & U-14 this year, gives you an idea of numbers at that age.

[Milltown Row2]

Those communities are struggling with housing as in the cost of housing and keeping the locals in the parish, they'll have their own problems going forward. But you highlighted no winning of juveniles as a point, no of the above have either is all I pointed out.

We've had no major wins at juvenile for a while, but Sat mornings the place is bunged with kids from 5 up, sustaining big numbers as children develop and look at new sports is difficult along with the other pressures of teenagers have now.

One club I'd say that won't have that problem with numbers will be the Johnnies, and that's from a Galls man lol

I didnt say winning, I said competing but take your wider point.

Are your crop of youngsters now from the successful players/ teams of the past?

On the wider point it just seems like such a missed opportunity in general for Belfast clubs - Gaelfast

We do have a lot of kids coming through from parents of successful teams in the past, that's 'our community' and how we generate teams going forward, my brothers have all their kids there and one brother now has his two grandchildren there with the under 8's. But I wouldn't put have them, (not my brothers btw) as parents as a recipe for winning in the future though

So even players that had minor involvement as players at the club are great at bringing their own generation of kids through, the ladies involvement these past few decades has strengthened that even further with their offspring's, the health of clubs to me seem very good.

The quality and sometimes the gap in certain juvenile teams at times will give a false view maybe, I'd be around plenty of clubs over the years as a juvenile coach and refereeing most recently and I haven't heard too many conversations on clubs closing. Clubs not winning? yes but I keep saying, these things come in cycles..

[paddyjohn]

Clubs that MR2 mentioned there will struggle for numbers in the near future if they already aren't. Houses in Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun simply can't be bought by first time buyers and the lack of housing means people will be looking elsewhere. Sadly it is the way it is. Even renting is impossible due to holiday homes etc.

Cushendall and Glenariffe amalgamated at U-12 & U-14 this year, gives you an idea of numbers at that age.

And Oisins and Glenravel Un16 & minor. Ballymena and Ahoghill also have amalgated.

[NorthAntrim]

Oisins and Glenravel at u16 and minor but have an a & b team. Can someone with more knowledge of this than me explain this

[paddyjohn]

Oisins and Glenravel at u16 and minor but have an a & b team. Can someone with more knowledge of this than me explain this

+1.

[marty34]

Clubs that MR2 mentioned there will struggle for numbers in the near future if they already aren't. Houses in Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun simply can't be bought by first time buyers and the lack of housing means people will be looking elsewhere. Sadly it is the way it is. Even renting is impossible due to holiday homes etc.

Cushendall and Glenariffe amalgamated at U-12 & U-14 this year, gives you an idea of numbers at that age.

And Oisins and Glenravel Un16 & minor. Ballymena and Ahoghill also have amalgated.

I thought Cushendall was joined with All Saints at underage?

[paddyjohn]

Clubs that MR2 mentioned there will struggle for numbers in the near future if they already aren't. Houses in Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun simply can't be bought by first time buyers and the lack of housing means people will be looking elsewhere. Sadly it is the way it is. Even renting is impossible due to holiday homes etc.

Cushendall and Glenariffe amalgamated at U-12 & U-14 this year, gives you an idea of numbers at that age.

And Oisins and Glenravel Un16 & minor. Ballymena and Ahoghill also have amalgated.

I thought Cushendall was joined with All Saints at underage?

Saw a post on the saffron Gael about a new rig out for them.

[marty34]

Clubs that MR2 mentioned there will struggle for numbers in the near future if they already aren't. Houses in Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun simply can't be bought by first time buyers and the lack of housing means people will be looking elsewhere. Sadly it is the way it is. Even renting is impossible due to holiday homes etc.

Cushendall and Glenariffe amalgamated at U-12 & U-14 this year, gives you an idea of numbers at that age.

And Oisins and Glenravel Un16 & minor. Ballymena and Ahoghill also have amalgated.

I thought Cushendall was joined with All Saints at underage?

Saw a post on the saffron Gael about a new rig out for them.

Surely they can't join with Glenariffe?