Antrim Football Thread

[barnish oggie]

I think a restructure is needed. But not a 16 team div 1. There is too big of a gap between top of 2 and bottom. The initial 1a 1b looked very competative making 4 leagues

Armagh league is 1a- 8 teams, 1b 8 teams, 2a- 8 teams, 2b- 8-teams, with junior also split between a and b which makes for competitive games at all levels in the main.  Two up two down.  Previously, had the 16 team senior league 16 team intermediate league and rest in junior and quite a few mismatches in league games.   

Yes an 8 team league makes absolute sense (my club have proposed exactly this). It will be competitive, every game will mean something and it will give the league credibility. 2 up, 2 down. Its the only decent option.

If we are realistic, there are only 5 clubs who could truly be considered as Div 1 clubs.

The rest of Div 1 are teams are a level down on them.

And of those there are maybe 3 or 4 who belong at that in between level and the rest are clubs that battle to stay up, yo-yo teams for want of a better category.

They are as far off challenging the top 5 as those at the top of Div 2 currently.

So 8 and 8 should make the most sense with 2 up and 2 down, or even a play off between 2nd bottom and 2nd top if there was the desire for that extra game.

It made sense the other year when Aghagallon played Ballymena, as one was a Div 1 team as the result fairly put both teams in the division they should be playing at, despite what had gone on in the season up to that point.

[Saffron_sam20]

Was it agreed last night with the divisions or is it still not confirmed? will the 8 div 1b teams all be SFC or will they be able to play IFC if they choose?

[JimStynes]

Couldn't agree more MR2. It's just a false reading on where clubs are at by restructuring leagues etc. Every team is cyclical and  if you are lucky you can ride the bumps and keep at the higher level. This is just a nonsense restructure  and we will be back having another one to sort of out the mess that is coming this season, if not for next season-definitely  for the one after.

No one came to rescue Aghagallon when they were relegated controversially to division 3 not too long ago. This restructuring craic has went on for years when certain clubs have someone on the committee.

[Milltown Row2]

Couldn't agree more MR2. It's just a false reading on where clubs are at by restructuring leagues etc. Every team is cyclical and  if you are lucky you can ride the bumps and keep at the higher level. This is just a nonsense restructure  and we will be back having another one to sort of out the mess that is coming this season, if not for next season-definitely  for the one after.

No one came to rescue Aghagallon when they were relegated controversially to division 3 not too long ago. This restructuring craic has went on for years when certain clubs have someone on the committee.

I'm not sure why we have to go over this again....

Clubs propose changes to suit themselves, always has been the way.

But they are just proposals

It is up to the clubs to vote it through

If no one came to Aghagallon's rescue then that was down to the other clubs thinking the proposal didn't suit the majority, or they wanted just to include Antrim clubs 

If people are (at least on here) that concerned then they need to torture their club Sec and county delegates to ensure they getting what's best for their club or best for raising the standard of the leagues

9 times out of 10 it will fall on deaf ears, most delegates just follow the herd

The county can propose things too and there will also be amendments but its down to the clubs..

I've not seen a year go by that one club or another isn't trying to 'fix' it for themselves

[inabsentia]

So nothing from that meeting that happened on Monday?

Asked our secretary and they didn't go and heard nothing yet 

[Milltown Row2]

So nothing from that meeting that happened on Monday?

Asked our secretary and they didn't go and heard nothing yet 

Yeah, not surprised, but its then pointless complaining about something (not you, in general) if your club doesn't put its own position of its members

Remember something was changed years ago, it affected a team I was looking after, explained my position to the then club committee and was told that the committee is voted in by the members to take decisions for them!

[Walter Cronc]

4 Belfast schools in McLarnon 1/4 finals. Surely that's a good sign?

[johnnycool]

4 Belfast schools in McLarnon 1/4 finals. Surely that's a good sign?

Are you including Knock?

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

4 Belfast schools in McLarnon 1/4 finals. Surely that's a good sign?

Are you including Knock?

As a Belfast school? I imagine so...

[BrendanAntrim]

Knock through to the semi final now. Aquinas v Abbey (Donegal) postponed from today to Monday

[johnnycool]

4 Belfast schools in McLarnon 1/4 finals. Surely that's a good sign?

Are you including Knock?

As a Belfast school? I imagine so...

Mostly Down players by the looks of that panel, heck even one of our lads lined out and he doesn't play club football.

[DownFanatic]

Shea Pucci with 2-00?
Aquinas and Knock would be filled with Carryduff, Bredagh and St Paul's players. The former two are two of the biggest clubs in Ulster and consistently strong at underage level so it only makes sense that that should translate into these schools. Hopefully it continues and keeps progressing.

[BrendanAntrim]

Plenty of Naomh Brid players spread across those teams.

[johnnycool]

Shea Pucci with 2-00?
Aquinas and Knock would be filled with Carryduff, Bredagh and St Paul's players. The former two are two of the biggest clubs in Ulster and consistently strong at underage level so it only makes sense that that should translate into these schools. Hopefully it continues and keeps progressing.

Yeah, big lad grabbed two yesterday.
Some other fine hurlers lined out for Knock in the football yesterday, will be interesting to see how their heads are turned when it comes to adult, Liam Blayney and Luke Doran in particular. Liam went with the minor footballers last year instead of the hurlers, Luke Doran might still be county minor age this year.

Plenty of Naomh Brid players spread across those teams.

yes, and a few others affiliated to St Enda's and other West Belfast clubs but living in the south of the city.

[imtommygunn]

I've seen Bla(y)ney play hurling at minor and he is some operator.

Good to see these schools doing well.