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From an outsider I would say:
St Brigids and St Endas seem to be heading the right direction.
Rossa appeared to be but maybe have taken a backward step recently?
Lamh Dearg won the SFC 2 seasons ago but don't know much about their under age teams.

Open to correction on any of the above points!

Games are needed.  That's why young lads play.  Training to match ratio is wrong all over the GAA,, notjust Antrim.  Same in schools football, although this is improving.

Am I right in saying that the championships in Antrim are regionalised, with the winners playing eachother in an all county final?
Could leagues not be regionalised for a round of fixtures (all teams play each other once,), then a split in the leagues with top half and bottom half playing in respective all county leagues (again all playing the once, twice may not work?)  Less travel and more games

The importance of school football cannot be overlooked.  It keeps many lads playing and also gets some lads involved who maybe didn't previously play, or weren't club members.  It can be difficult for staff to give up their time but it is essential in my eyes to keep these lads interested.

I'm lead to believe the county footballers do go 5 sessions a week -  no wonder the old hands wont commit to that

What exactly does that mean?
2 Pitch sessions + a match (or 3rd pitch session)
+
2 Gym sessions

Be club players doing that.

Casement is a big issue imo.  It must have a knock-on effect with participation levels.  Going to see Antrim play in the county ground would be a much more inspirational experience for younger players.  The same for club championship games hosted at Casement.  It would inspire them to think I want to play here in this 'stadium', in front of these crowds, etc etc.  Secondly I feel there are too many clubs in Belfast (different argument, I understand the pride in a club's history).  But there's clubs struggling to field teams, very few at training, etc.  Then schools, some schools with big numbers that were once MacCrory and McLarnon level are playing at C now, and in some cases struggling.  Other schools have dropped to D, E and lower.  This could be a case of chicken/egg but all are contributing factors.  Is it participation, is it coaching, is it lack of inspiration, or is it something else? What do you guys think needs addressed first? Trying to be constructive rather than going over west Belfast vs country...

Kerry's title of the greatest team ever was achieved with mostly the same starting team and few subs. Dublin are evolving squad, not a team so it will be less of achievement when they win 5 in a row as expected this summer but as seen in the NFL so far the year, the likes of S Cluxton; P McMahon, C O'Sullivan are hugely important players and they won't be easily replaced in the years to come.

As for the current Kerry team, they will do well to reach the All Ireland semi final as regardless of their good league form they are still in transition and i wouldn't be surprised if they make an exit at the quarter final stage again.

Will it though?  The standard of athleticism and fitness today is far above and beyond that era. The systems at play and coaching and planning arguably also far ahead of then.  Not disagreeing just putting it out there for debate.
I get what you say about the same team members etc

Fixtures calendar (yet to be approved) has been sent to clubs

Kilcummin were the better team. However endas started the game far too open at the back and left the full backline out to dry for 10 minutes which essentially ended the match. From there on endas had to go for broke. Over time they tired and the ability of the Kerry team enabled them to exploit the spaces and tired legs of endas. Valiant effort all the same.

Kilcummin 1/2  Draw 15/2 Naomh Eanna 2/1

Well it's two div1 teams in the final at Croker, so that should persuade the begrudgers to support St Enda's 

100%. Two teams who used the system to get where they are. Couldn't care who wins the final. Both teams should never have been in it.

I can't see any team in Div 1 this year entering the Intermediate and that's the way it should be.

😴😴😴

Well technically the Kerry team didn't 'play' any system as they were not eligible to enter the Kerry SFC.  Enda's (open to criticism) did not break any rules.

There should be recognition for finishing top of Div1. I think in Rugby League (maybe?) there is a trophy for topping the league then one for winning the playoffs.  Personally I feel if you top a league you should win it, but as you say there will always be that 'showcase' final.

Always so much negativity and crap slagging on this thread.  Would melt ye!

What 'new' lads did well? Any impact off the bench? What were the positives?

Well then this year there are 2 Div1 intermediate teams up against each other in the final so not much to complain about there.

[that]

but the team that they beat in Ulster final (Mullahoran) are in truth a Div1 side (one of the most successful senior clubs in Cavan). 

In saying that the leagues should be aligned with Championship and that will remove such issues.

I've heard that argument before about them beating Mullahoran and how much pedigree they have. One. They were a Div 2 team but even if they were at senior standard, all that happened was that two senior teams played against each other and the Antrim senior team won. That proves nothing other than that St Enda's are a capable side.


Your second point is making the point that I have been making all along in that they shouldn't have been in the championship being a Div 1 team.

So to say that the criticism is harsh but agree that championships should be aligned with leagues is a bit contradictory don't you think?

Anyway I'll scuttle off now and stop being a naysayer.

I agree with aligning leagues and championship, removing such issues, and have outlined how it's done in my county.  The more counties where this is the case then the less controversy there can be. This I agree with you on.
I also see that you are stating facts and have no qualms about that either.

Having played against Burt & Donaghmoyne in 2016, Mullahoran this year and St Enda's not so long ago, I do not feel that Enda's are lightyears ahead of this current championship level.  They have performed brilliantly and gone on a great run but on another day they could have been beaten. I said that I would have had no issue with playing them in the Ulster IFC this year, Div1 or not. 

Ok I get what you are saying how this looks contradictory but I just mean that I can see reasons for having done it; the reasons I outlined which aren't in the quote:  Player development, overall club development, not having won an IFC before, Enda's have been on an upward progression and this decision seemed logical, etc. 

I just feel that championship entry should be dictated, therefore there can be no arguments.  I think we agree here yes?

Anyway I'm done with St Enda's, I'm not that big a fan haha!

In Down the senior Championship is Division 1 + top 4 of division 2/top 3 plus intermediate winner if lower than 4th in div2. 

I think the criticism of St Enda's is harsh.  I understand what's being said but the team that they beat in Ulster final (Mullahoran) are in truth a Div1 side (one of the most successful senior clubs in Cavan).  Having not won an Intermediate title and having climbed up the leagues it was probably a natural progression to help bring through the younger players and set the club up as a senior football club for the future.  If we had managed to beat Mullahoran and met St Enda's there would have been no yapping from me about them. In saying that the leagues should be aligned with Championship and that will remove such issues.

Has it been the case in Antrim this past while that a football club can just decide at the season's start what championship they want to play in for the year ahead?

Yes. St Edna's playing Intermediate is the one that has currently had a lot of people talking.
Although I know of several times where teams winning the JFC have remained in that grade the following year.