Antrim Football Thread

[Ethan Edwards]

Lads lets be realistic, Antrim are not gonna be a threat until they sort out the mid-field area, Joe Quinn is still there, lets be honest, he's not really good enough at that level, he is a big strong lad, but his delivery to the forwards is rubbish, he cant score, In my apinon one of the reasons Antrim have struggled in resent years was due to the lack of quality ball into the reasonably acurate forwards, and to me Joe is one of the Culprits, what about Mick McCann & Kevin "the brat" McCourty or even a fit Paddy Logan

[saffron]

what do you boys think of hugh mcgettigan?

Did/does he teach in St Marys?

[johnjoe]

Unfortunately we are not over blessed with natural mid-fielders. Big Joe can still pull out a big display, but he should not be allowed to use the foot too much. Eddie Quinn has been the best mid-fielder in the county for the last 10-12 years, but chose not to play for the county. Mick mc Cann is a decent prospect for sure, but you`d nearly need to be 6`3 or 6`4 to go in against an O`Shea, Whelan or Mc Grane.

Still, those two are definitely the best we have at the moment, and sadly, I cant think of too many in the 18-22 year old group thats going to change that any time soon. Interestingly, big Seamus Mc Cluskey might step into big Eddie`s shoes - not a bad player at all. I know he`s raw, but he can field a ball, and he`s ignorant enough for mid-field. What`s your opinion Slim?

[Ethan Edwards]

By the way slim , has there been any retirements from the Cargin Set up, ie Wiggs, Michael Johnson or Big Eddie, whats the news

[SlimShady]

Seamy McCloskey is a good prospect, so too is Gerard McCann who is a good 3 inches taller than Big Seamy! Played midfield for the County minors last year but has been dogged with injury since. Both need a year or two on our senior team before thinking about the county but they are certainly 2 for the future.

Mick McCann could mix it with anyone at midfield, he might not be 6' 4'' but he has a serious leap on him and is a top class fielder. Great score-getter too.

[johnjoe]

Ta Slim. Thats right, youse have Gerard Mc Cann too - forgot completely all about him. Thats a serious bunch of young fellas coming through there at the minute. Mick, Tomas, Gerard, KOB, Justy, big Seamy,- all look like county players for the next 10 years!

And more to the point, three of them are mid-fielders too!! Future starting to look green all right. Thats good for the county though, and its now up to other clubs to get up to the Cargin and St Galls standard.

[Ethan Edwards]

Cargin seem to have alot of young talent coming through, Kevin O'Boyle is an excellant footballer, that's a credit to the coaches and coaching structure in Cargin, what's wrong with the rest of the county, where is this talent, is that maybe the other clubs do not have the youth or is it that the fault lies with the coaches or the indeed with the clubs coaching structure, I am pretty sure its not the loughshore air thats makes the differnce in cargin

[SlimShady]

There are plenty more young lads coming through as well round our way, this years minor team has a lot of talent in it and the following year will see 4 or 5 big strong lads in it. Another McCann on the way through is Paul, played for the U21's this year and is minor next year- one to watch.

Kevin O'Boyle will be out for a while yet, needs an operation but hopefully he'll be ok. would love to see him mark Paddy Bradley in June!

[Ethan Edwards]

Slim is there any retirements from the cargin senior team

[SlimShady]

from last year? nope. none that have said so anyhow. training started on Wednesday past and everyone was there, even the odd new face 

[aontroim]

Taken from antrim website.....

Jody Gormley has named his Antrim side to face UUJ in the last group game of the Gaelic Life Dr. McKenna Cup.

1. Sean McGreevy
2. Conor McGoldrick
3. Colin Brady
4. Niall Ward
5. Chris Lynch
6. Gavin Bell
7. Sean McVeigh
8. Joe Quinn
9. Aodhan Gallagher
10. Tony Scullion
11. Kevin Brady
12. Hugh McKay
13. Ciaran Close (Capt.)
14. Michael McCann
15. Micheal Magill

Four Antrim players make their first starts of the competition – Conor McGoldrick comes in at corner back, and Tony Scullion, Hugh McKay and Michael Magill are all introduced into a re-arranged forward line.

The game against the students of UUJ takes place in Casement park on Sunday 21st January with a 2:00pm throw-in.

Big split Counry Forwards v City defenders/midfield (bar McVeigh)

[SlimShady]

Taken from antrim website.....

Jody Gormley has named his Antrim side to face UUJ in the last group game of the Gaelic Life Dr. McKenna Cup.

1. Sean McGreevy
2. Conor McGoldrick
3. Colin Brady
4. Niall Ward
5. Chris Lynch
6. Gavin Bell
7. Sean McVeigh
8. Joe Quinn
9. Aodhan Gallagher
10. Tony Scullion
11. Kevin Brady
12. Hugh McKay
13. Ciaran Close (Capt.)
14. Michael McCann
15. Micheal Magill

Four Antrim players make their first starts of the competition – Conor McGoldrick comes in at corner back, and Tony Scullion, Hugh McKay and Michael Magill are all introduced into a re-arranged forward line.

The game against the students of UUJ takes place in Casement park on Sunday 21st January with a 2:00pm throw-in.

Big split Counry Forwards v City defenders/midfield (bar McVeigh)

[aontroim]

Thought that looked a bit strange alright Slim - will he just get a free rols about the middle to scrap for ball or has he played forwards for you's before?

[SlimShady]

never played forwards for us before-ever!!

i'd say he'll play in around the middle 3rd of the field- Gormley seems to be doing this a lot in the opening games, he plays big men in the HF line and must bunch up the midfield leaving Close and the FF's plenty of room. Hence McKay on the other wing, he's a midfileder.

[culchy1]

full forward line looks good!

slim you were saying earlier about mick mccanns fielding, i mine him a couple of years ago you's played galls in portglenyin
it was a very tight match, mick was in at full forward, a high ball was put in,came down with snow on it, mick rise a good couple feet above his man,
turned and hit the back of the net, great piece of skill.

im sure there will be plenty of changing during the match on sunday.