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Still young yes and should be kept on in some form. S&C wise for sure. Testing etc

Will there be a panel cut? Weve around 25 of a panel fit and add in probably 15 named players either returning from a break or injury we could have 40

If we ever had a football sub committee  their first job should be to reduce division 1 to 8 teams. There are so many sub standard teams in there, at least 4 of them would be in Division 3/4 in any other county and it's doing no one any favours, them or other teams that strive for better.

If this was later in the year after county was finished i could understand your case. In march though, not so much. Some of the newly promoted teams are countributing more county men than some of "these top 8 teams" and competing. Took 2 points off a team and ran a "top 3 team" to 2 points.

Jackman is obviously well placed to comment on the state of underage football in Antrim, and maybe his points deserve an airing at some stage. But the timing of that article was appalling.

Seemed a lot more competative than expect. Maybe he provoked a reaction

Here are the simple requirements of an intercounty player

Strength and conditioning
Nutrition
Endurance
Pace
Commitment
Attitude
Skill

There are more requirements and I deliberately put skill at the end cause you could have all the skill in the world but if lacking any of the above you won't cut it at intercounty level, at any grade.

We have all got those ballers who are the worst trainers. But give me 15 players with the 6 requirements above skill and I'll work with that over a lazy skillful players.

This is not a dig at any county  or player or management, these are the things a player has to bring to the table first before a manager can decide if he can use him.

The first 6 requirements are an individual thing, its called bluffing if you are not bringing that to the table.

At club level lads will, for their team, bring most of that, and that's why some teams punch above what their county as a hole are doing.

The buy in is a collective and I get that, that's from the set up all the way down to the kit man

The rowing can only be in one direction, someone rowing the other way doesn't work.

The standard needs set by player, by club, by school by parents and so on

For whatever reason, and I'm sure we could chat for another 50 years about it, Antrim does not have it in their locker  like the other Ulster teams 

I think the commitment and the attitude are the two most important. If you dont have them from an early age you're in bother

Were the u20s playing last night? If so how did they get on?

There was a good article in the irish news interviewing Niall Jackman. Pretty much covered what was covered here.

The game is tonight, they took a fair beating by Tyrone (who are on of the best) but by recent Antrim standards that u20 team has some real good players in it.
Most worrying aspect of the article was the reality that whats coming behind these current u20s is of a much lower standard

Worrying thought.

Maybe its time for Antrim to take the lead in alternative development rather than following in the slipstream of other counties. What is working for them isn't working for us. We don't appear to be any closer to catching up with the rest of ulster despite Dunsilly and the development squads. The only good thing about being at the bottom is the only way is up.

To quote Jackaman "I make no apologies for saying it, culturally there's not the same emphasis put on it by players themselves"

There lies the problem with Antrim GAA as a whole

If we snuck over the line by 1 point and progressed. Derry wouldve played B Competition. They beat Roscommon by 6 points in the final last year (in croke park) and have a good wack of that panel available this year? Why do we think we are too good for this??

Are we disrespecting Derry here?

Anyone at the game? Were Derry the better team on the day?

Not sure on the arrogance or the background on the reasons why, I'm sure those reasons were aired before entering and not entering and rubbered stamped.

Never heard any issues about that before the loss, but on cue people are looking answers like they have a vested interest in it.

We probaby are disrespecting Derry as they are pushing at that level. They scored more than us, we can have no complaints. On the day winner takes all.

Ive heard from various sources saying the set up was good and the training. Challenge games down south etc. Didnt perfrom. Full stop

Withdrawing from the B/C Competition id have a problem with. Play the games! Ask the players who wants to play on. Im sure theres lads not on the panel who would love to pull the antrim jersey on if other boys walked away

I don't understand the hatred for Portglenone. A decent club who have served the county well with players and officials.

That statement doesnt apply to me, i have friends and family from Casements, but id tell them the same, I think proactively recruiting players from neighboring clubs is wrong

JMK hasnt sent a Greenlough player a text asking him to transfer. EL played in London having reportedly fell out with his home club. If back living in the area and playing no football at all, is a text message saying you fancy playing a bit as a big an issue as youre making out? Answer to that is no

[Antrim really shouldn't be getting caught out like this at U20 level]

Ive heard good reports about the preperation etc. But to withdraw is a bit disappointing. They had a panel of 33 players, Let the lads go and join the senior panel who were asked and stay with them. Could number 16 to 33 not get gametime v the Roscommons etc? Are we hurling snobs? As JC jokingly said, its our level. Derry played in it last year and climbed the steps of croke park

With the resources player wise Antrim really shouldn't be getting caught out like this at U20 level, but I do agree with  what you are doing at U17 level by playing your U17's in Leinster and the U16's in Ulster, makes total sense.

Im wondering if the Antrim management took Derry for granted here.

One thing that should never be done is to underestimate your opponent, especially any hurling team coming out of Derry.

I heard that Joe McLaughlin was subjected to a lot of slabbering from the Derry players.

Joe needs to get used to this part of the game as the dark arts will be used against him going forward. His clubmate even announced him as the next big thing on the sunday game past. Hes still at school. Think he needs a little more protection

Naomh Eanna less county players though alot away. Aghgallon in a similar position.

Regarding St.Briids, they are the exact same IMO. though would hold Casements in a higher regard than them.

Only point i was trying to make on the overall topic, was inheriting players from other clubs isnt a simple equation which results in success. My club will never win nothing outside of Intermediates once a decade if we are lucky and we are content at that. Only thing we can do is try and better our coaching and increase our turnover of players. Id take that any day of the week over what Casements and Brigids have

If a girl in your club married and lived in your area and her husband could play a bit id very much doubt hed be sitting on the bench for your reserves

Ive heard good reports about the preperation etc. But to withdraw is a bit disappointing. They had a panel of 33 players, Let the lads go and join the senior panel who were asked and stay with them. Could number 16 to 33 not get gametime v the Roscommons etc? Are we hurling snobs? As JC jokingly said, its our level. Derry played in it last year and climbed the steps of croke park

The St Brigids lads are loving the fact 'Níl a fhios agam' has created an account to have a go at Portglenone/JMK. Who's turn will it be next year???

My post was regarding Portglenone as it was topic of recent discussion that other contributors posted about. I didnt quash anything, if Cargin proactively went and sought players as Portglenone have done then thats wrong, no matter when it happened Why on this discussion board does everything come back round to the Toome men. Theres more to Antrim county than the people from the Lough.

If these players have fell out with their south derry clubs as has been rumoured and have approached Portglenone to transfer then whats the problem? Do Portglenone say no thanks we'd like to try and do it with players born this side of the Bann. I would very much doubt that Portglenone secretary was phoning EL on transfer deadline day Harry Redknapp style

100%, every club has, by default inherited people integrating into the community by way of marriage, work related transfers etc... Cargin have had joy with the transfers of 1 or 2 almost a decade ago now, as had Creggan with the exodus of TNN men a while back, and thats their business. As for Casements, i know theyve had joy going back to their last county final in aquiring the service of a few bellaghy men and have been informed they now have currently 3 men on their senior team who have played for South Derry Clubs in the last 3 years. My own club however focus more on trying to retain what we have, and thats to the detriment of success.

so you've squashed the cargin factor as it was 10+ years ago but mentioned portglenones last county senior final which was how long ago?