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I get what you are saying but, if I'm training for something I'll get myself to a level that I want to compete at, you set goals and try and achieve them.

I pay 30 odd quid a month for gym membership if I wanted to physically get to a standard I'd have to put the effort in and work out. Some people go to the gym and fart about the ones that don't are on show yesterday, unfortunately being a gifted footballer won't cut the mustard if you are easily beat in a a tackle or unable to win the race to a ball.

Having a fitness coach or dietician telling you what you already know you need to do is a cop out IMO of course

You know whats so funny about your last sentence is that your that ignorant or stupid you don't know your one or the other.

We were much improved on the shambles in Newry last year so management and players deserve some credit for that.  I can't get my head around the two tier system - I'd fear we would disappear off the map altogether.  Still think playing like we did yesterday we would give quite a few teams across the country a game, it's not that long ago the same Tyrone team hammered Armagh in an All Ireland Quarterfinal. 

You do realise Tyrone took off their three main scoring men 5 minutes into the second half which meant we didn't get bt by 30 pts. There are about 4 teams at best we would beat. Our league performance is evidence if that this year and the last 5 ffs

Most of Cargin's would be 30+ too.

What a load of balls. The team I saw play Creggan a fews ago had about 3. Mick Mc Cann, Tony Scullion for sure, after that Croizer maybe, is he 30 yet

Where is the corner forward Liam Quinn? I thought he was one of their better players last year but doesn't look to be about this year.

(I suspect with winning the league last year they may be more worried about peaking for c'ship too.)

What, they didn't peak for the championship last year? They are not St Galls or Cargin who know what it takes. No, make no mistake this is a slump, and certainly not by design. Loosing three league games in a row to your main contenders is not preparation for anything. Cargin won the championship last year and came third in the league and as far I am know played most of the league with many injuries. There will be concern in Creggan at this dip.

Didn't make any games yesterday evening, but for me the notable result was three defeats in a row for Creggan.

Some interesting results in division 1. St Brigid st galls draw, st endas beat by gorts and Cargin beating Creggan well. (The rest probably as expected).

St Endas getting bt is a surprise, looks like they aren't going to push on this season, four games in they should be improving instead of regressing, getting into the top 6 is crucial to their development. Casements doing well to date, but they lost the only game they played against one of the top teams, jurys out? Grt result for St Brigids. They won't be dropping down. Went to Creggans game, out classed and in truth could have lost by a lot more. They were short four good players but Cargin were short three starters I counted as well. I think they play St Galls next, its a big game for them I feel.

Have gotten to two league games. Portglenone and Creggans in the opening round. Creggan got off to a flyer and took a good lead, in total control playing good football, but Portglenone gradually got back into the game, couldn't decide whether it was a case of Creggan taking the foot off the gas or Portglenone digging in. Creggan put the game to rest in the final five anyway, and deservedly so. Not surprised to see Portglenone win convincingly in Gort Na Mona last night following their performance against Creggan. Same with Creggans result as well last night. Went to Cargins game last night. Average enough game, with spells of good football. Cargin like last year not busting a gut in the early stages with fitness etc. Lamh Dhearg after their first roundover the Johnnies looked poor to. Cargin won by 3/4 but could have won by 7/8 due to their sloppiness. Also the ref gave Lamh Dhearg 2/3 ridiculously easy frees in the second half which kept them in the game,  Ryan Murray was flying. Lets just say both teams have a bit of work to do. See St Galls up and flying early the year, same as last.

The football league is almost upon us once again and this year I foresee the most open division one league in memory. The race to the top six will be interesting with most teams quietly fancying their chances of achieving that. No one looks unbeatable at this stage and it wouldn't surprise me if four or five points separated the top half dozen positions.

Cargin, Creggan and St Galls still ahead of the rest in league & championship. More wishful thinking Bannside without any logic applied

[Maybe the more expensive option would make it more attractive to play for the county.]

Maybe the more expensive option would make it more attractive to play for the county.

How? What could be done that isn't being done? Really? I can think of absolutely nothing and certainly nothing that would stop a fella committing. Have you any examples of how spending more money on the team set up would attract the mythical better players?

Maybe going for the more expensive option would show the county are ambitious instead of appointing the same sort of manager that we always go for, a cheap option.

I'm not having a pop at Lenny here either. He man enough to put his name forward for the job.

Lenny is a bit of a victim of past regimes. He ticks all the boxes for the typical Antrim manager that has brought zero success down for generations.  Quite simply, after years of service, how could we expect players to turn up for more of the same guff in Div 4?  Things wont ever change until the county board out their hand in their pocket, provide for and make it attractive to play for Antrim again.  How long will it take for Fitz, McBride and the Murrays to get fed up and decide to concentrate on their family lives and club careers than with antrim county?   It must be fairly disheartening for those boys when you play local club sides with better players than your county teammates.

Its the county boards fault 
Its Lenny's fault 
Its the stay away players fault 

What in the name of fcuk is wrong with us in this county with the endless blame game.

Perhaps, as a whole, the football (and indeed players) in this county are not as good as we would like to believe. Back to basics and improve fundamental coaching at undergrad and 'build' better players. Its a long term strategy and you won't see any fruits of it for 5-10 years (at least).

If any one wants to talk about the state of the current county team they need only look back to last year's county final.

One of the worst displays of football and coaching from both sides. Both set ups being heavily invested in and yet come up with that unbelievable spectacle of a game.

Supposedly the two best teams in the county and neither could muster 5 minutes of actual football in the game. The problem runs a lot deeper than who the current county manager is.

Interesting reading folks. On last years county final, it was crap. Creggan playing 3 sweepers for an entire match, even when loosing, dictated the nature of the game. Couldn't get over them standing inside the 45 in the last 15 mins when they were loosing the game. However to pick out a game and  to suggest that represents us (Antrim) is bollix, where you at the semi final when St Galls played Cargin, one of the best games of football I have seen in a long long time. Quality football from both teams. Cargin put it up to gweedore in the Ulster club, infact there were 2 in it with 3 mins to go. Dweedore eventually won it, so prespective NAG


Antrim are better than this

Not a word about the championship draw. Creggan have avoided the big two again for the 2nd year in a row until the final. Seen St Brigids had a very competitive performance against ballinderry in the Ulster league. They are up and coming but a few years down the line.

Why would anyone tell you whats expenses he is getting, you'll only criticise any way, as its the only reason you are asking. Dillon is an excellent coach. He has coached Derry seniors and their U21s, Ballinascreen to county final ( best as they could do as Slaughtneil were unbeatable at the time in Derry) Currently coaches UUJ in sigerson. And just to burst your bubble, takes Red Hughs into the All Ireland semifinal this month. Fair play to Portglenone for having the ambition.

Listened to Radio Ulster for a few minutes this morning and there was a business man (Stephen Chestnutt ?) who rang in who supported "No Deal".  He was asked, as a businessman, why he supported a No Deal.

His answer was:
"Because the DUP are telling me to.  As our only elected representatives I trust them to tell me the truth.  They will have our best interests at heart".

I honestly couldn't believe it.  I think in excel that would be known as a "circular reference".

that is quite unbelievable, couldn't be that stupid, where has he been living rhi etc etc etc

U21 semi final the night. Correct me if im wrong but is the entrance to Coláiste Feirste on the Falls Road at the corner there?

ive never been up to it for a match so its to save me getting lost trying to find my way into it.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Coláiste+Feirste/@54.589881,-5.9706485,17.62z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48610880e382365d:0x11e10bc315b9e5b5!8m2!3d54.5914022!4d-5.9711658?hl=en

entrance just past West Belfast sports & social club on the left hand side if travelling from the whiterock road side

I'm hearing that Barry Dillon has been appointed the new Portglenone manager, ambitious appointment from them

Yes it is great to see an Antrim team in the final, but lads St Endas are a senior team playing at intermediate football. I'm delighted for them, but call it for what it is

MR2, St Marys and Queens aren't Antrim clubs. So none in Belfast 🙄