Antrim Football Thread

[ExiledGael]

What's keeping young McGourty out?

[ExiledGael]

What's keeping young McGourty out?

Good question....

Jesus what Fermanagh wouldn't give for a few great high scoring forwards like that (him and Cunningham), yet look where Antrim are. All in the head, something's badly wrong somewhere.

[ONeill]

Heard hardly enough to make a team turned up for training last night.

[slow corner back]

Why does that not surprise any1

[Glensman]

Was there not a full round of games last night?

[NAG]

yeah think most clubs had a game last night

[KIDDO 4]

For the second time in three years, Waterford senior footballers have foiled an Ulster side from gaining promotion to Division 3 of the Allianz National League and in the process record a first ever win north of the border.

Two years ago almost to the very day it was Cavan who underestimated the growing strength of Decies football at Breffni Park, when unheralded Waterford recorded a dramatic two points victory and delayed the home county's widely anticipated elevation to Division 3 by twelve months.

Waterford inflicted a similar fate on Antrim in their own back yard last weekend by 1-8 to 0-8. Of course it was another case of what might have been, for if only the Portláirge men hadn't gifted an invaluable two points at home seven days earlier to Tipperary.

The net outcome of this Casement Park success means that Tipp, having beaten Wicklow the same afternoon, now join Offaly in the higher League echelons next season.

While the only goal of a hard fought encounter decided this Belfast showdown, the eventual victory was no more than John Kiely's men. Obliged to line out without the services of John Phelan, who was obliged to cry off due to a close family bereavement, and their team captain Gary Hurney who was not available for the trip to the North, this was quite an accomplishment by John Kiely's men, and there wasn't even one minute element of fluke about the result.

Indeed, on the run of play and possession, Waterford would not have been flattered had they won by a half-dozen points or more - an opinion well endorsed by the disappointed Antrim team officials afterwards.

Here again was proof aplenty of the growing improvement in Waterford football - winning five out of their eight group matches represents the best ever recorded by a Decies team and offers a bright augury for the future, and especially for next month's first round championship showdown with Clare at Cusack Park.


Level three times


The absences of Phelan and Hurney, meant that the Waterford selectors had to make eleventh hour alterations to their original starting fifteen, with Eamonn Walsh coming into the defence, and Dermot Casey taking over in the middle of the field where he proceeded to play a proverbial blinder and emerged as the winners' 'man of the match'.

It was point for point during an excellent opening half, with Patrick Cunningham edging the home side in front at the break by a margin of 0-7 to 0-4, with Connie Power's accuracy from frees in particular keeping the visitors very much in the reckoning throughout the opening 35 minutes.

However, the Decies took over completely on the restart and a chain of superlative points from Tony Grey, Eddie Rockett and Patrick Hurney emphatically put John Kiely's side very much in the ascendancy, and it was a muted large home crowd that watched a goal to win any match from Waterford's Maurice O'Gorman in the 51st minute as he sallied out of defence, leaving a number of Ulster men in his wake, before dispatching an unstoppable shot to the back of the Antrim net.

The homesters' second half performance is best illustrated by the fact that they only managed to add a solitary point to their half time total, and it coming very late in the game.

So all in all a terrific Waterford performance in which all eighteen players involved played their full part in fashioning a historic victory - none more prominently perhaps than Maurice and Thomas O'Gorman, Shane Briggs, Justin Walsh, Mick Ahearne, Patrick Hurney, Liam Lawlor and Dermot Casey.


Scorers


Waterford: Maurice O'Gorman (1-0), Connie Power 0-3, Patrick Hurney 0-2, Tony Grey , Liam Lawlor, and Eddie Rockett 0-1 each. Antrim: Paddy Cunningham 0-4, Sean Kelly 0-2, E.O'Neill and C.Close 0-1 each.


Teams


Waterford: Tom Wall (Bonmahon), Maurice O'Gorman (Nire), Jason Seward (Clashmore), Justin Walsh (Nire), Eddie Rockett (Portlaw), Shane Briggs (Captain, Ballinacourty), Eamonn Walsh (Ballinameela), Dermot Casey (Bonmahon), Mick Ahearne (Kill), Tony Grey (Stradbally), Andy Hubbard (Newtown), Patrick Hurney (Ballinacourty), Thomas O'Gorman (Nire), Liam Lawlor (Nire), Connie Power (Nire). Subs: Brian Wall for M.Ahearne (inj.), Mark Ferncombe (Ballinacourty) for C.Power, Stephen Cunningham (Stradbally) for T.Grey.

Antrim: S. McGreevy, J. Loughrey, A. McLean, P. Doherty, T. Scullion, S. Kelly, J. Crozier, J. Quinn, A. Gallagher, K. Niblock, T. O'Neill, T. McCann, M. McCann, M. Magill, P. Cunningham. Subs: E. O'Neill for K. Niblock, S. Burke for J. Quinn, C. Close for T. McCann, K. Boyle for P. Doherty, B. Hasson for S. Kelly.

Referee: C. McReynolds (Down).

[Gold]

any reports from the  today's club games??

[PlayWithTheWind]

footballs very quiet these days 

[PlayWithTheWind]

todays results so far..

Antrim Football Div 1 - 2008

Lamh Dhearg  3-11 1-4 St. Johns     
Rasharkin  0-7 2-11 Cargin   
St. Brigids  1-8 2-9 Portglenone   
St. Pauls  2-8 0-9 Gort Na Mona     


Antrim Football Div 2 - 2008

Glenavy  2-9 1-14 Aghagallon 
All Saints  0-7 3-10 Moneyglass 
Sarsfields  0-11 1-10 Rossa 
Dunloy  2-10 1-8 St. Endas 
Davitts  2-9 0-7 Glenravel 

Antrim Football Div 3 - 2008
 
Gort Na Mona 2 3-7 0-3 St. Galls 2
Aldergrove  2-13 0-7 Mc Dermotts     
Cargin 2 3-10 2-13 Ahoghill 

Antrim Football Div 4 - 2008

Eire Og  0-9 2-16 St. Agnes 
Rasharkin 2 3-13 0-1 St. Malachys 
St. Pauls 2 2-13 1-6 St. Endas 2

[Gold]

did antrim football die with that Deise Defeat?

[PlayWithTheWind]

how many will we lose to the states this year?

[playwiththewind1st]

how many will we lose to the states this year?

None, particularly after a defeat by Cavan pmsl.

[saffron sam2]

Heard hardly enough to make a team turned up for training last night.

Yes down to 14 I believe. And with 4 sitting the session out, a fine (and useful) game of five aside ensued.

One particular missing punter absented himself from training for the 23rd time, allegedly for a ninth time without giving a reason.

Not looking good for the Cavan game.

But then it's all my fault.

[Maximus Marillius]

Heard hardly enough to make a team turned up for training last night.

Yes down to 14 I believe. And with 4 sitting the session out, a fine (and useful) game of five aside ensued.

One particular missing punter absented himself from training for the 23rd time, allegedly for a ninth time without giving a reason.

Not looking good for the Cavan game.

But then it's all my fault.

if this is accurate...its makes you wonder how Gromley was not able to faciliate Mr Mc Gourty. Lots of questions...as usual for Antrim football.