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You are right - I think I remember now who was managing that team.....and we were unlucky to lose the semi final to Tyrone. That was a good crop.

2008?

I was interested to read Bannside's comments, as an astutute reader of the game and someone who is honest in giving an assessment. 'Disgusted' with Saturday is probably a fair summary, I haven't been able to get the performance and result out of my head since. It genuinely was the worst performance since we failed to beat Waterford at home in 08 when promotion from Div 4 was on the cards.

I hope that in the fullness of the season overall Saturday comes to be regarded as a 'blip' in Antrim's year. I dont think the outcomes reflects the work rate of the players in training, or their ability. Guys who don't normally miss 20 metre passes were missing them. Guys who normally don't miss challenges were missing them. The unwillingness to take on a player or take on a shot suggested a lack of confidence which should not be present. Our kickouts to Roscommon players were suicidal.

Fellas should have taken enough heart of the comeback v Sligo and battle v Fermanagh to have confidence. Ryan Murray scored points against Fermanagh that were sublime, yet looked a pale shadow of that player on Saturday. Sean McVeigh was hastily withdrawn in what looked like an act of frustration from Dawson, he is a better player than he showed. Just two examples to make the point.

I am almost afraid to go on Sunday - if we get a similiar performance then it will be a defeat, relegation and depression. But I will go because I want to be there when it is a markedly different performance, a win, salvation and hope. Right?

Lads - for the record, the game v Meath is 2pm Sunday, not Saturday.

We need a full match report from Bannside.

Mick mc cann has taken a back seat - yes, and will be back

magill has been axed? surely hes one of our best forwards? - MM's own doing, not the managers.

i am led to believe that ciaran close has also been axed. FD decided that.

Add on top of that mark sweeny, (moved to Dublin for work) loughrey (moved to Cork for work)
gallagher (left late lastyear)  the johnston twins (made their own decision for personal reasons)

all missing from last years panel, then the boys who have 'retired' from st galls. Can anyone shed any light on this and why players dont want to play for their county?

Guys who want to play, and adhere to the regime, are playing. We will see the benefit of this approach in the long term.

As Bannside earlier, we can hardly complain too much about results so far can we?

There is no mystery about Mick McCann's stepping back - it is exactly as reported. The fella has a hell of a lot going on at the moment and felt his football was suffering. His proposed remedy is to take a few week's hiatus from the game and FD is happy to accomodate.

Mick will be back soon enough and I think the team will see the benefit of it.

Niall had a strong game I thought, is progressing steadily since Cavan game.

I think we should head into Wicklow game in good heart. They salvaged a draw last week against a Roscommon team that seems to have regressed since last year. The draw will give Wicklow a lift but really I reckon they are something like a Div 4 team. Hopefully our lads go at them early on and put some scores on the board early in the game.

Wasn't Kelly carrying an injury into the league? Maybe he isn't right yet. Against Cavan he came on when C Murray ran out of gas. Interesting the other night that Conor, while not as effective as against Cavan, was still running very strongly at the end of the game, and bagging scores.

surprised anyone would suggest we werent the best team today - I thought we were by far. In every area of the field we dominated - they got in for one sloppy goal and then bought a penalty.

We missed some chances and were too loose in passing at times, but...we cleaned them out at midfield, reduced their keeper(s) to hitting it out over the sideline, we had way more possession, we tackled strongly. The scoreline didn't reflect our superiority.

The 'spat' was merely Kenny losing the head because I suggested, via the Antrim twitter feed (@clubaontroma) that he may not have seen too many matches as he only selected his version of the All Stars from 3 out of 9 counties. He didn't take kindly to that and wrote an outrageous piece in the paper calling me a 'clown' a 'troll' and a 'carper'. It was an overreaction by any standards, in my view anyway.

Aside from hoping for leitrim or Limerick, a big name at home is a good draw. Travelling to Galway would probably have been a task too far at this stage, but at home, it could be something special. We have a real chance in this one.

why don't you crawl under a rock Northern Light? and stay there.

Last time we beat Derry was in McKenna Cup 2010, but fair point, not in ages in any meaningful league or championship game.

McErlean played for 11 seasons. hardly a short career.

Mulvenna? no way. Looked the part, contributed little.

Down 2.11, Antrim1.9 - Antrim hit what seemed like about 10 wides. Tough result on the team.

Re suppotrers turnout its an unfair thing to say but the only thing that will bring crowds out is success. When the team was moderately successful ('09) look at the crowds that travelled to Clones (twice) and Tullamore. The follwing season we swanned through Div 3 and while the crowds were small they were still bigger than they have been since.

Success brings supporters to games.