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No idea what went on behind the scenes, but the right outcome.  If the Ulster Council realised the error and flipped it then fair play, no one never made a decision which with hindsight they could've done differently. Reality is the Armagh season ticket holders will have plenty of other days to look forward to. 

Culture:
Armagh and Antrim to use an example, both had their moments in the 50's.  Armagh came back again in the 70's, reaching the All Ireland in '77, and they more or less stuck around during the 80's and 90's, and took off again in the noughties.  All those teams for Armagh bred the next generation of success. Each team gave their supporters big days out and created an aspiration for young people to play for their county.  Along the way they benefited to an extent from colleges.

By comparison, during the same period Antrim completely lost its way.  The U21 team in the early 70's was the last chance, but we all know what happened sadly, and we lost our way in Antrim more than any other county. The 70's run into the 80's, which run into the 90's, with nothing of note bar the run to the Ulster Final under Baker a while back.  The hurlers had their high point in the late 80's/ early 90's and for plenty in the county not much care could they give about the big ball. The city in particular is very diverse (no bad thing) when it comes to choice of sports or other past times, whereas GAA in South Armagh for instance remained solidly the main if not only show in town, and it was football not hurling. 

The problem now is we've lost the know how, the belief, the willingness.  It would take a monumental collective effort to get Antrim football back in the big time.  We might get lucky with a few generational players and I hoped for a while that might be about to happen - perhaps.  You've seen Duignan come in in Offaly and try to do something like this, although their previous high points weren't as far back.

Our footballing pool has actually become quite small in my opinion.  Most wouldn't know Dermot McAleese if he was standing in front of them (with all due respect).  Casement is just kicking a man when he's down, and is partly self inflicted and reflects the fact that we've had all sorts of administrations running us over the decades and to be honest it's been self-aggrandising or dodgy too often. 

So back to culture, Armagh, Derry and Tyrone have all hung in, had big days, made their own heroes and as they say success breeds success.  Antrim haven't (and Down are in a precarious enough state).  No easy road out of this.  We're scraping around saying maybe it's this, maybe it's that, but I can only think it needs rebuilt from the very bottom up.

Div 4 for 2026

Abysmal

I've backed Andy all through, but if we're relegated then it's probably the end of the road.
And then we'll appoint a new manager and the cycle will probably repeat because we're rubbish at underage and have maybe only half a dozen clubs putting in the necessary effort.
If we're throwing money at outside senior managers from whatever source, I'd much rather it was spent on the U14's, but I'm old fashioned.

Manager saying they've five U20's but their championship is mid-week so they're not playing tomorrow.   
I'll applaud any manager who lets players prioritise their own age group. I don't know the rest of the ins and outs.

The attitude went all wrong on 65 minutes.  All smiles and tributes to the retirees. Awful from a professional team.

That's all the big English and Scottish soccer sides through to the last 8 in their competitions, bar Celtic and they were extremely unlucky v Bayern. Goes to show the amount of money in that part of the world.

Liverpool out as well.

Antrim have officially contested the Ulster Council's decision to stage their provincial SFC quarter-final against Armagh in Páirc Esler next month.

It is understood the county lodged the objection to Ulster GAA's decision to Croke Park this past weekend and awaiting word on when a hearing will take place. Antrim footballers have maintained they will not play the game anywhere other than Corrigan Park.


That's the summary...

I wouldn't even have bothered. We've made our position clear, it's up to the Ulster Council to get down off their silly high horse.

I'm guessing still an official route to go to cover certain bases?

Well yes, explore all avenues etc, but honestly, I just think we should sit it out, Antrim have done no wrong.

Antrim have officially contested the Ulster Council's decision to stage their provincial SFC quarter-final against Armagh in Páirc Esler next month.

It is understood the county lodged the objection to Ulster GAA's decision to Croke Park this past weekend and awaiting word on when a hearing will take place. Antrim footballers have maintained they will not play the game anywhere other than Corrigan Park.


That's the summary...

I wouldn't even have bothered. We've made our position clear, it's up to the Ulster Council to get down off their silly high horse.

Well lads, first of, fully support you in playing Armagh in Corrigan, hopefully you get home advantage and hopefully can get the win.

Huge winner takes all game on Sunday. How are ye fixed for it? Not sure ye would be in this position had ye not got men sent off against Offaly and Laois? Are they suspended or all back? I think we are starting to improve but away from home is always tougher and we have been inconsistent this year. No lead is safe for us. I'm sure Antrim management were at the game yesterday to give us a watch.

I'm very surprised you've been struggling.  Was very impressed with a lot of your players in Croke Park last year.  Thought Sligo would be table toppers to be honest.

[in pursuit of some abstract concept of home advantage]

The attitude of some Armagh supporters on this issue is appalling, as Armagh fan of 40+ years I would love to see the match but somethings are bigger than attending a game. Antrim grassroots GAA and players have been screwed over by the Ulster council and Croke Park for over 10 years on Casement. Nationalists have been screwed over by various British Governments and Stormont on this, so Casement been built is more than somewhere to play matches. It is a principled point that the countries second city with a majority nationalist population must have a stadium of Stature, and every Gael regardless of where you call home should be on board with this.

If you have been following Armagh for 40+ years then you will recall that Armagh played games in Clones for years. Armagh GAA benefitted more from allowing their supporters see the game than from shoehorning the game into some smaller place in pursuit of some abstract concept of home advantage in a championship where all the other games are played at neutral venues.

Of course Casement must be built, but that has little to do with the present issue, When Casement is built are teams going to refuse to play semi-finals against Antrim there because it is Antrim's home ground? Will Antrim refuse to play Monaghan in Clones?

Nobody from Armagh, apart from the guy saying fine Antrim, wants to crush them.

Nobody wants to "crush Antrim"; some of us want the game to be played where people, including Antrim people, can readily get in to see it as the ability to attend games is an important advantage for the GAA.

Makes you wonder why Armagh bothered redeveloping the Athletic Grounds at all.

Could you tell me this, why did the Ulster Council (presumably the same Committee), put Antrim in the hat in the first place?

To be honest, at this point, based on Antrim's statements:

Ulster Council have no option but to eject Antrim from the Ulster Championship.

And Central Council have no option but to back Ulster up and double down, by ejecting them from the Tailteann.

Otherwise there's no point in having competition rules and competition organisers.

Or a draw with first team out with home advantage... Money is front, middle and centre here, as is the way of the world

It's not just about money.

But at same time, if the Antrim footballers are happy to receive 25% of their mileage, and 25% of their meals, and 25% of their insurance coverage for the season. Well then they'd have a stronger argument.

Greed is a two way street.

Not even sure what you're on about, but fairly sure it's the worst take I've seen in a long time.

This should also serve as a catalyst for Antrim GAA (everyone involved) to start demanding that Ulster GAA get Casement built with the £120 million they have instead of rolling over and having their bellies tickled like they have for the last 15 years.

Definitely - time for the Ulster Council to start building what they can afford with what money they have or hand over the deeds and get out.

They'd rather chase their pipe dream at Antrim's expense. The latest one was blaming Gordon Lyons. I've said it before, round up whatever money is on the table, build a stadium to match, and never let the British Government darken the door.
I really hope the Antrim players and management stand their ground. 

With the leagues changing all the time and players away with the county the league has come across as a glorified set of challenge games leading up to championship, as long as a team is not in a battle to stay up they will treat it indifferently..

Plenty of reasons around that but that's been the case for many many years.

The question is how do you make the league worth winning or even top 4, what are the incentives?

Why do the Tyrone lads go hell for leather in the league? Does that county just have a different mind set to their competitions?

Either way something has to be worked out between the clubs, all of the clubs, in all divisions, as it effects them too.

I do remember a simpler time when watching our seniors as a kid, we travelled all over to see them, we didn't win too many leagues from what I recall but it was well attended

Mind you the Tyrone league final was played in Christmas week.  Nowhere is perfect!

Trump invites a supposed ally to the whitehouse just to berate him, odd times we live in. Zelensky done right leaving but a pity the future of US intelligence and support is looking all but over

Just watched back on that shit show in the  Oval Office.  Zelenskyy stayed longer than he should.  If in any doubt Trump and JD showed themselves up as utter idiots.

Lads, that's VERY high stakes from Zelensky. It's not an argument in a pub we're talking about here. He can't do it without the Americans. Tomorrow is another day in Trump World and this will calm down hopefully, but Zelensky shouldn't have took the bait from that clown Vance. And yes he was totally disrespected, sickening.