Messages

Have we all been misdirecting ourselves in this discussion to an extent.

Surely the point of responsibility lies with the senior official (and custodian of the regulations, ultimately) who appears to direct all parties in a few moments on the pitch as to what happens next. Who, in fairness, given the context - on the pitch, an expectant crowd, Jerome's camera rolling - could or would argue ad infinitum.

Now, given that the official, allegedly, has given an incorrect reading of the regulations on the day, it falls to the competition organisers to review this episode and rule.

Neither club are going to gain from this and indeed it is quite unfair that the spotlight has swung around onto them.

DR - you are clearly a thinking man with a firm grasp on the realities of running a club. Points made all valid and proportionate. County line appears to be that they will run competitions u16 and above, and it's over to the Divisional Boards to decide what to do with u14 down.

MR2 - again, sharp observation. The schedule will be cruel on dual players and their clubs, and particularly harsh on those with aspirations at senior championship level. There is added complexity where clubs are playing at different grades in each code. Using two dual senior clubs, St Galls and St John's, as an example, the schedule looks like this -

              St Johns     St Galls
Fri   31-Jul    SFC   
Sun   02-Aug    SFC              SFC
Wed 05-Aug                              SFC
Sun   09-Aug    SHC              SHC
Wed 12-Aug    SFC   
Sun   16-Aug    SHC              SHC
Wed 19-Aug    SFC              SFC
Sun   23-Aug    SHC              SHC
Wed 26-Aug                         SFC

Sat   29-Aug   SHC QF              SHC QF
Sun   30-Aug   SFC QF              SFC QF
Sat   05-Sep   SFC SF              SFC SF
Sun   06-Sep   SHC SF              SHC SF
      
Sun   13-Sep   SHC F               SHC F

Sat   19-Sep   Hurl League        Hurl League
Sun   20-Sep   SFC F               SFC F

Thanks for the updates Delgany. You've either a damn good inside line of information or our Secretary is slow in circulating information - lol.

Would you have reserve fixtures for the weekend, if possible.

DR - point well made. 15 + men (30 If you include opposition) are denied football or hurling because one or two are away with the County. Regular programme of fixtures will ultimately develop all our players and improve standards.

The schedule for 2020 leagues looks to be very stop start - bursts of football, then bursts of hurling and so on.

On fixtures, our Secretary says not discussed last night. General dates but no actual fixtures and it's still a work in progress. The schedule of fixtures originally circulated has been changed too.

In summary, Div 2 and 3 football clubs will be playing on Sunday (no word on div1 and 2 reserve).  It seems you won't know who/where, but watch this space.

It's a panel of 30 for club level though, in Rule.

A team could have 10-15 subs on any given day on top of all that.

Is the issue the number; or the behaviour?

With reference to M Fitz, we'd need a Keystone in Antrim

I'm sure you'll feel much better after a nice cup of tea and a large slice of that humble pie you'd intended for Mr O'Kane.

I'm new to this. In the past I would have asked this question you've just posted of the Antrim County Web Discussion Board. I see it has gone.

It is crazy that we have two teams in a county final and we cannot make a decision or give information to the participants as to the fixture specifics, with somewhere between 4-6 days until the game (county fixtures states "5-7 Oct"). Date in itself would be a minimum, instead of this flowery three day window. Like it or not, players in this modern era may have to arrange a day off work, organise childcare and so on.

It highlights the ramshackle operation that is the current Antrim CCC, and the poor leadership under which it appears to be operated. There can be no excuse for lack of basic planning. We could learn from the organisers of the Antrim LGFA!