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Agree with that. And we d have a good crop right now I feel. Our minors have won first round Ulster matches fairly regularly recently but lost out in later stages. I missed last years Sunday night game v Donegal at Corrigan but by all reports we matched them. The development squads have had good results too.

A sidenote - isn't the Dub a brilliant venue for football? Only two years ago we drew in Armagh at U21 and the UC specifically ruled out the Dub as a venue for the replay, and our reward for the draw was a home game played at Newry. Something has changed in the meantime. So how about our Nat League matches at the Dub? I think our players would love that and the comfortable surroundings would help draw decent crowds.

All said with respect to Naomh Eoin who pull out all the stops for hosting games, but it is not a pleasant fan experience in the cold and wind.

Apologies - I dont know the players to see and don't programme. Our #2 was very good,made a couple of great breakouts from defence. Ruairi Scott was strong, I know he is already in the senior squad and yes, Seamus McGarry was class.

Disappointing. A game that was definitely there to be won. Lost our way totally midway through the second half, couldn't work out what do with our own kickouts, lost possession on the majority of them and some poor decision making when on the ball. Our boys scored some lovely points and were well in the game until last few minutes. That was helped by some very poor Monaghan shooting.

Clady beat Aquinas Grammar in the Doherty semi final, after a replay.

Yesterdays Irish News ICYMI

Allianz Football League Division Three: Antrim 0-11 Sligo 1-7

ANTRIM claimed their first win of the Allianz Football League with a gutsy one-point victory over Sligo in Corrigan Park yesterday.

CJ McGourty scored what proved to be the winning point with two minutes left when he fired over a stunning free from 45 yards out.

There was still time for further drama as Antrim were reduced to 14 men when Ryan Murray picked up his second yellow card for a cynical foul on Sligo's Eoin McHugh, while the outstanding Paddy McBride was shown black card in injury-time.

Mark Brehony had a chance to salvage a point for the visitors but his effort tailed wide as Antrim hung on to, much to the relief of joint manager Gearoid Adams

"There was a bit of pride in our play today," said Adams.

"We started off slow in the first half, maybe we showed a lack of self belief.

"I thought, in the second half, that performance was as good as anything. It was down to the wire and we held on. The last point from CJ was
an absolute cracker to win the game and we deserved it too."

McGourty's second free of the afternoon gave Antrim a 0-3 to 0-2 lead on 16 minutes,  but it was short-lived as Sligo struck for the game's only goal moments later.

A dangerous ball into the Antrim full-back line looked to be dealt with by Patrick Gallagher but the ball slipped through his hands and
fell kindly for Sligo
corner-forward Niall Murphy, who beat Chris Kerr with a well-taken shot into the bottom corner.

Further points from Murphy and Adrian Marren saw the Yeatsmen gain the upper hand.

Conor Murray broke Sligo's momentum with a much-needed score for the Saffrons but Niall Carew's men should have plundered their second goal when Kyle Cawley was played through by Neil Ewing but his blasted his shot over the crossbar with just Kerr to beat.

Stephen Beatty forced a fine save from Aidan Devaney at the other end of the pitch and two further frees from McGourty left Antrim trailing by two at the break.

McBride made light of the windy conditions when he scored an outrageous point from the sideline before Brehony hit back instantly for Sligo.

McGourty's fifth free cut the gap to a point before McBride's fine pass found the St Gall's ace unmarked on 45 minutes to clip over the equalising point.

The same pair linked up once more a minute later as McGourty punch the ball towards goal only to see Devaney push the ball over the crossbar.

Still, Antrim had the lead once more and Sligo appeared rattled. However, the Saffrons couldn't push on and a series of missed chances kept Sligo in the game. 

Substitute Charlie Harrison won a fairly dubious free which Marren converted to tie the game with five minutes remaining.

A foul on the industrious Conor Murray afforded McGourty the opportunity to restore Antrim's slender lead and he made no mistake on 68 minutes.

Antrim's tackling in the closing minutes left a lot to be desired with Ryan Murray and McBride being dismissed but the two points was all that mattered for the home side as Brehony's last-gasp effort missed the target.

Antrim: C Kerr; C Hamill, P Gallagher, P McAleer; P McBride 0-1, R McCann, P Healy; J Dowling, S Beatty; C Murray (0-1), R Murray (0-1), D Lynch; CJ McGourty (0-8, 0-6 frees), C Small, M Fitzpatrick.

Subs: S Donnelly for McCann (30), S McGarry for Small (64).

Black card: McBride (71) replaced by B Bradley

Yellow cards: Dowling (30), R Murray (63, 70), C Murray (73).

Red card: R Murray (70).

CJ scored 0.8, 6 frees, including the winner.

So, is the trip to Corrigan Park one taken in hope, confidence, or dread?? Interested to see the team for first time this year, would love to see them on the front foot, attacking Sligo, rather than sitting back with 12 or 13 men behind the ball.

No team yet?

Well when we provide U16s footballers with an 8 game league - 8 games - that's just not good enough Soccer by contrast is able to provide 20 games in a row, without fail, every Saturday am.

If we can't get more than 5 teams to enter Div 1 U16 football in south Antrim, then its time to move to all county.

Thought the crowd was pretty poor, maybe a couple of hundred people. Agree though about the hosting of the event, very good job by St Johns, stewards, car parking etc.

Poor result today for footballer, and scoreline suggests it was not a good performance. Home games vital to hopes of staying up. louth look to be flying, and we drew with them in league last year and looked to have their measure in Croke Park until second half collapse. Looks like we are already heading in different directions now unfortunately.

I'll come back to you when I'm thawed out ❄️❄️❄️

Listened to the commentary today, interested to hear from anyone who was at it. It sounded like we did well overall, certainly better than most of us would have thought. Ryan Murray's black card sounded like an injustice and he was clearly having a big impact. Staying up in this Division is the first aim, and today's was perhaps one of the toughest fixtures. Even a point would have been very welcome but the performance will offer grounds for optimism.

it was the championship performances that switched me off CB, I was delighted to be in Wicklow when we gained promotion, and hopes were high heading into the summer....

Not for me. After travelling to most games last year I finished up by concluding that what was on offer wasn't worth going to. I hope that changes this year.

I don't believe he is.

Don't believe he is is back in the set up, or don't believe that he is a great lad?