Antrim Football Thread

[marty34]

Have the country teams raised the standard or have the city teams just got worse. A bit of both?

I ask this because it seems to me that our county underage teams are no better than they ever were and are possibly worse.

And if I expand this out to senior club football, trying to tread carefully as I know they can be sensitive on here. Cargin posters - I'm not having a pop at your club!!

Cargin are undoubtedly and deservedly the standard bearers in Antrim football currently. Do you think that Cargin's current team are of a higher standard than their team that wasn't winning many championships 10-15 years ago?

I think Cargins current team full out are better than 10-15 years ago, though not at that level of St Galls All Ireland winners. That was an exceptional team.
We have kept a consistent standard throughout while others have dropped off. Only my opinion

St. Galls were better alright. Won an All-Ireland etc.

Cargin have won a few Antrim titles but, as of yet, have done very little in Ulster.

As I said previously, they need to look beyond Antrim instead of their supporters on here talking up winning another Antrim title.

In our whole history we've on only played in Ulster 9 different seasons and won games in two of those. Maybe this could be our year to go further if we win this easy Antrim championship you are talking about.

I never said it was easy.

Just a serious amount of childish stuff on here regarding other clubs and Cargin and who is favourites etc. Bit childish.

Cargin have been in Ulster club a few years now but not much progress.

You're right, this could be the year IF they get out of Antrim.

You just said they should be looking at Ulster not Antrim, now you're saying "if" they get out of Antrim. Make your mind up

Don't want Cargin to get ahead of themselves.  That's why I put the IF.

If I din't put it in, you'd be complaining.

You're always constantly having a go at Portglenone and other teams - like baldy men fighting over a comb.

[SaffronSports]

I'd make Cargin favourites for Antrim and Glen favourites for Derry so they'll have it all to do to get past the first round tbh. Think Glen will go close again.

[Saffrongael]

Schools is a total red herring if clubs aren't producing the players

[Would ye whist]

On a lighter note I see the SV boys and McTaggart are having a falling out in Twitter, always wondered how much sense McTaggart had but now I know

[Saffrongael]

On a lighter note I see the SV boys and McTaggart are having a falling out in Twitter, always wondered how much sense McTaggart had but now I know

Not a lot

[paddyjohn]

On a lighter note I see the SV boys and McTaggart are having a falling out in Twitter, always wondered how much sense McTaggart had but now I know

McTaggart is a complete gentleman. Wouldn't write a bad word about anybody or slate anybody.

[imtommygunn]

Does great work too and deserves nothing but credit. Gets a bit excited about Dunloy mind you

[Milltown Row2]

Does great work too and deserves nothing but credit. Gets a bit excited about Dunloy mind you

Nothing wrong with getting excited about your club, and great to see passion. Seems its not everyone's cup on tea

[imtommygunn]

Yeah I was joking. Them ones deserve no attention. Mctaggart and the saffron gael do great work.

On the note of schools we do have quite a few players who do benefit from playing at McRory level. I think that's definitely helpful.

[InnocentByStander]

Have you any thoughts on why the city teams in particular seem to be struggling at underage? What has changed in the city that doesn't apply to the country boys?

Said this on here a few times, don't think too many agree but i believe schools have a massive part to play, Antrim the only county in Ulster not represented at macrory level. Look at the clubs performing well over recent years ourselves creggan and aghagllon all tend to send their children to schools outside of Antrim and competing at high level in schools football.

So the teams that did well that didn't send their kids to schools outside of Antrim did ok?

Not saying its the be all and end all i know there's plenty other factors outside that but just pointing out its a big factor.
And of course there have been a few teams that have done well with their kids going to school in Belfast.

And i know it is easy for me to point fingers at the city clubs, but truth is us in the country don't have the same problems, as in many areas of the country football is everything, in Belfast there are many many more distractions outside of football

[imtommygunn]

I would agree tbh.

I think most of our best players would have played to a high level with third level education which also helps. There wouldn't have been too many of that st galls team who wouldn't have played sigerson.

[Milltown Row2]

Have you any thoughts on why the city teams in particular seem to be struggling at underage? What has changed in the city that doesn't apply to the country boys?

Said this on here a few times, don't think too many agree but i believe schools have a massive part to play, Antrim the only county in Ulster not represented at macrory level. Look at the clubs performing well over recent years ourselves creggan and aghagllon all tend to send their children to schools outside of Antrim and competing at high level in schools football.

So the teams that did well that didn't send their kids to schools outside of Antrim did ok?

Not saying its the be all and end all i know there's plenty other factors outside that but just pointing out its a big factor.
And of course there have been a few teams that have done well with their kids going to school in Belfast.

And i know it is easy for me to point fingers at the city clubs, but truth is us in the country don't have the same problems, as in many areas of the country football is everything, in Belfast there are many many more distractions outside of football

I've seen that level of football at schools, and been lucky enough to cover the games over the years, the conditioning is something well above what I went through at school, not sure whether ist costs or whatever that from under 16 up that clubs can't be putting all their kids through that level of conditioning also... 2 or 3 players from a club playing at that level doesn't always raise the the standard at the club, otherwise SW clubs would have dominated the Antrim championships since the schools cup started.

[InnocentByStander]

Have you any thoughts on why the city teams in particular seem to be struggling at underage? What has changed in the city that doesn't apply to the country boys?

Said this on here a few times, don't think too many agree but i believe schools have a massive part to play, Antrim the only county in Ulster not represented at macrory level. Look at the clubs performing well over recent years ourselves creggan and aghagllon all tend to send their children to schools outside of Antrim and competing at high level in schools football.

So the teams that did well that didn't send their kids to schools outside of Antrim did ok?

Not saying its the be all and end all i know there's plenty other factors outside that but just pointing out its a big factor.
And of course there have been a few teams that have done well with their kids going to school in Belfast.

And i know it is easy for me to point fingers at the city clubs, but truth is us in the country don't have the same problems, as in many areas of the country football is everything, in Belfast there are many many more distractions outside of football

I've seen that level of football at schools, and been lucky enough to cover the games over the years, the conditioning is something well above what I went through at school, not sure whether ist costs or whatever that from under 16 up that clubs can't be putting all their kids through that level of conditioning also... 2 or 3 players from a club playing at that level doesn't always raise the the standard at the club, otherwise SW clubs would have dominated the Antrim championships since the schools cup started.

It would make a brave difference like i said in a previous post as long as you have the conveyor belt of 2/3 players to come through to seniors its enough.
Having a few Antrim schools competing at the highest level would be a great help having our younger players playing against the best players in ulster at their age all year around. Many Clubs have and schools even have top quality gyms to gain that conditioning.

Your statement highlighted in bold in simply not true as at one point Belfast has had schools competing at the highest levels.

Would you not agree having a few Belfast school competing at the highest schools level would bring a few clubs forward?

[InnocentByStander]

Yeah I was joking. Them ones deserve no attention. Mctaggart and the saffron gael do great work.

On the note of schools we do have quite a few players who do benefit from playing at McRory level. I think that's definitely helpful.

Yet many of our best footballers of the last 20 years played B and even C football at school.

This might be interesting. Here's two statements which are probably both true to some degree;

A. Tyrone & Derry football is strong because Tyrone & Derry schools are strong.

B. Tyrone & Derry schools are strong because Tyrone & Derry football is strong.

Which holds more weight? It's definitely B for me btw.

I agree with you. Both statements true

Playing at the highest level in school does definitely help players become better.

[Milltown Row2]

Have you any thoughts on why the city teams in particular seem to be struggling at underage? What has changed in the city that doesn't apply to the country boys?

Said this on here a few times, don't think too many agree but i believe schools have a massive part to play, Antrim the only county in Ulster not represented at macrory level. Look at the clubs performing well over recent years ourselves creggan and aghagllon all tend to send their children to schools outside of Antrim and competing at high level in schools football.

So the teams that did well that didn't send their kids to schools outside of Antrim did ok?

Not saying its the be all and end all i know there's plenty other factors outside that but just pointing out its a big factor.
And of course there have been a few teams that have done well with their kids going to school in Belfast.

And i know it is easy for me to point fingers at the city clubs, but truth is us in the country don't have the same problems, as in many areas of the country football is everything, in Belfast there are many many more distractions outside of football

I've seen that level of football at schools, and been lucky enough to cover the games over the years, the conditioning is something well above what I went through at school, not sure whether ist costs or whatever that from under 16 up that clubs can't be putting all their kids through that level of conditioning also... 2 or 3 players from a club playing at that level doesn't always raise the the standard at the club, otherwise SW clubs would have dominated the Antrim championships since the schools cup started.

It would make a brave difference like i said in a previous post as long as you have the conveyor belt of 2/3 players to come through to seniors its enough.
Having a few Antrim schools competing at the highest level would be a great help having our younger players playing against the best players in ulster at their age all year around. Many Clubs have and schools even have top quality gyms to gain that conditioning.

Your statement highlighted in bold in simply not true as at one point Belfast has had schools competing at the highest levels.

Would you not agree having a few Belfast school competing at the highest schools level would bring a few clubs forward?

As highlighted before when St Marys won the Hogan cup Antrim hadn't won a game in Ulster never mind competing for over 13 years, a lot of our better players came from schools that played in levels well below the McCrory cup, in fact a lot left school at 16.

I've said that it will certainly be better for all involved to have all lads at that age level to be exposed to better training intense games and better conditioning, not one or two lads from various clubs, but the fall from teams in the city isn't due to not playing that level of football, otherwise the city teams wouldn't have amount of titles they have.

I believe the country teams are better is down to how they make the club the hub of the community, a place to belong to and facilities wise second to none, which brings a sense of pride back. I don't have to think back too far to remember getting the car stuck in fields and changing in the car and up and down pitches, now its a different planet