Messages

Manballandall,

A brief history lesson about your club men, and their assistance to the County . Having been promoted from Div 4 with limited help from your Club, your colleagues were engaged in their All-Ireland Year. Antrim won the first 5 of the Div 3 games, again without their assistance. Antrim were beaten in the Midlands (was there but can't recall the game). Your lads (after a break) returned to the County fold. We luckily won against a very understrength Louth (with the Gall's men) and were 'tanked' in Wexford (with the Gall's men), being the last two games.  Antrim were destroyed by Sligo in Croke Park, despite the fact that the 'other' Antrim team had beaten them during the league. Not surprisingly, a number of the 'team' that had got us promotion from Div 4, and had won the first 5 matches in Div 3, but had been 'dumped' in favour of the Gall's men, 'walked'! Not a great builder of team spirit! The Gall's 'Antrim team' played in Div 2, winning only one game (I believe) and gradually, as the season went on, and the defeats mounted, they suffered a lot of' injuries', 'holidays' and then 'retirements'. The remaining Gall's men (and indeed others) had a lot of holiday commitments last year, so weren't able to play all the league games, and had a few problems with getting to C'ship games. Baker learned that Gall's are a great club side, but they don't have the mental attitude to be Inter-County Footballers. Unfortunately he discovered it too late, and that legacy remains. The Gall's men remaining in the team this year are 'sound' and like the other players deserve a manager who knows about football. They don't deserve suggestions of this nature.

It is a story of continuous decline. A point against Fermanagh was not deserved. Antrim were lucky against Wicklow. These points will probably keep us in Div 3 for this year but have simply disguised how far Antrim has fallen. Whilst we have lost a number of key players, those remaining show no signs of a 'game-plan', or any understanding of what they are supposed to be doing. Again, Conor Murray doing a passable impression of 'Kev' is of no assistance to the remainder of the team. At least, Dawson pulled him off this time!

Whether we are 'secure' or not in Div3, we need to seek the services of a new manager, now. Baker (who did a great 3-year job) should have been replaced a year earlier than he was, and we can't slip into the same mistake. We have two Universities in the County, with a number of young, 'expert' coaches, from a new generation, who have trained with McGuckin, O'Rourke, etc. Give them a chance and they may stay with us for a couple of years. At least a 'professional' approach to coaching would assist. No harm to Dawson, he is simply an 'old man', with 'old' ideas. I have no axe to grind with the man. His 'qualities' were there to be seen when he was appointed.

As for the players, a number of these men are 'pulling on the shirt', and doing their best! We must continue to support them. We cannot afford any more 'departures' (and I hope McVeigh doesn't walk!)!

Bannside, a helping of reality.
James Loughrey has transferred to Cork, and will not return.
Mark Sweeny has transferred to Dublin, and will not come back, for the foreseeable future.
The Gall's men you identified have no interest, and comments of this nature undermine the lads that do train, and wish to play.
The point against Fermanagh will probably mean we will not be relegated this year. The performance was appalling. Fermanagh were a 'team', which had been coached. Antrim was a group of individuals who appear not to have a game-plan. At least Baker had a 'plan', whatever the quality.
Canavan proves that young, 'modern' managers can form a team 'which is greater in capability than the sum of the parts'!
Conor Murray may be a capable club footballer, and as such deserves a place on this team, but, like others, he needs to understand that a player 'carrying the ball' is from a past era. He was responsible for the Fermanagh final score, when he 'dived', having carried the ball in to a group of 4 defenders. A bit of training in passing the ball quickly, and not 'seeking contact' would help.
We need to understand that we do not have enough quality players, and the potential which existed in 2009/2010 has been wasted. Get a new, young, manager, and look to the future.

Cynical s the word. St Gall's "experience" showed through when LD had them all square. Niggling fouls on the LD defenders, carrying bal out, were not punished by the ref. As was intended, LD lost 'focus' for 10 minutes during the second half, and that was enough to give St G's the advantage. 'Repetitive' fouling is the amongst the worst aspects of 'modern' football, but it is the failure of refs to enforce existing laws against teams with this 'skill' in their locker, that is the problem. (CJ chased the LD no.6 for 30 yards before his lack of fitness surfaced, and he then pulled a perfect rugby dive, to try and 'clip' the heels of the no.6. He missed. He should have been carded by the ref who was standing beside the incident.). Kevin McG came on to play the pantomime 'villain', and pretend he wanted to fight with someone - simply 'time-wasting' tactics.
I'm no fan of either team, but it was disappointing to see bad refereeing (incompetent as opposed to biaised) spoil a game.
The problem is that this type of refereeing is spoiling the whole game, to the detriment of the entire county. The impact on the County team of these 'bad' club games is evident.
St G's will probably not get so far as Cross this time, and even if they do, Cross will administer the usual 'slapping'.
LD will return, and will hopefully improve their game, another notch, and they will beat St. G's in the C'ship.

I was in Tipperary,and watched as management decisions 'threw away' a game which Antrim should have won.
In simple terms, Tipp were a bigger, physical team, with limited footballing capability, assisted by a Laois (might as well be home-town referee).
In the first half we played into a 'reasonably strong' wind (similar to C'ment v Galway), conceded scores because the Tipp no. 11, was allowed 'free-rein' over the pitch We don't have a centre-half' as such in Baker's teams, so the no. 11 who is normally the 'creative' player for the opposition can run amok. He did. We kicked 9/10 easily scored wides. We scored after 18 mins, and were heading to HT 5-1 down. Locky gets his first opportunities, runs through their defence, and scores twice, and we go in 6-2 down. Game on and very winnable - now playing with the wind, and only 2 points down. Big Ricky injured before HT. Baker brings his bro back, replaces Ricky with young Armstrong (marked by a guy who was 3-4 inches taller, and 2 stone heavier), and brings Locky back to join Sweeny as the SECOND SWEEPER! We now have isolated Brady (who was having a good game and was going to win the game for us) and Niblock, who is eventually subbed.
No point is saying any more. The remaining substitutions are as bad as the first one.
The truth is our management team threw away a win v Monaghan, with bad substitutions. Bad preparation, almost cost the game in Ruislip. The team got themselves home against G'way, and Baker and his henchmen 'threw' the Tipp game! Can you imagine training from last year 3/4 times a week, and decisions by a bad management team finishes the season.
How many of the current panel will waste another year with the current management team? He / GA should have been sacked after Monaghan, and, like Armagh we could have had a manager in place who could have watched all the County C'ship games before picking his team / panel.
Odds-on we are in Division 4, after next season, unless we ship this management team out.
Bradley was fine three years ago to create discipline, and order, but he's limited in his capabilities. GA brings nothing to the table.
I thought that Gallagher's absence would not be critical, but it was, and his contribution might have helped us get over the line. I understand he's enjoying a nice holiday - the statement had be be "prepared", in order to protect the team, and that was fine.
I hope every true Saffron asks if he enjoyed his holiday when he turns up with Galls. Totally disappeared in my estimation as a man, but maybe it shows that the McGourty DNA is more embedded in that club, than could have been believed.
By the way, Saffrons outnumbered the Tipp supporters, and it was great to see. Fair play to those who travelled.
Congrats, and thank you to a great bunch of players (with the  obvious exception)!who did their best, played some great football, when they were allowed, and gave us some great days in the sun!

We'll be remembered as the team beaten by London in the 2012 qualifiers. There may not be too many applicants for the job, when that is the memory! See you at the Div 4 matches! Another long drive to Kilkenny!

Baker's last game in charge will be in Ruislip. Can you imagine what the flight home will be like. Such a terrible end to what started so brightly. Gearoid should see us into Div 4, next year - without any assistance!

By the way of assisting those who talk about Antrim games, as opposed to watching them, and who want to see the St Gall's contingent return.

Colin Brady has retired - his choice
Mc Clean - don't know what injury he has at the minute?
Kelly retired - realised he was out of his depth, and while he may have  been a good club player, he doesn't have the build to play inter-county, and he's past 30 (What about his display at Croke last year when Costelloe scored 8 points off him - memorable).
Niblock is studying in England, and might return for the C'ship
CJ - talented he may be, but we are better with "men" that want to wear the shirt, rather than talk about it. A totaly 'bad' influence, and a 'bad' example to the younger generation. How's his current 'injury'?
Kevin - Kevin who? He'd get a game for the Rock - maybe.

Lets do the sums on the contribution of St. G's players during the past 2 years.
St Gal's men returned after winning Club C'ship. Assisted in winning one game in Div 3 (Louth at Casement). Lost the remaining. For those who recall - Wexford, Sligo, etc. Had a lot of 'injuries' in Div 2, and assisted in winning one match in Div 2. Then mostly retired or were 'injured'.
(St. G's have a lot of 'injuries' because they play so much football. Not like Croise, who are back training with their County within 2-3 weeks of their annual visit to Croke.)
Can we stop the chat about St. G's and leave it to their players to do the talking - if they want to.

We should have beaten R'common and / or Wexford. Fact. Maybe we are not ready to go back up - yet.
The U-21's were a credit to the County on Sunday, and it was great to see a first class team effort!
I'm not so sure about adopting the "Donegal" system, but it did release Loughrey, and Thomas Mc Cann, who did a lot of damage!
The second Gallagher is a handful, and Armstrong is 'brave', and skilfull.
I'm looking forward to seeing challenge games before the C'ship, and it was good that our team finished 'on a high' - 4 wins out of 7!

By the way of assisting those who talk about Antrim games, as opposed to watching them, and who want to see the St Gall's contingent return.

Colin Brady has retired - his choice
Mc Clean - don't know what injury he has at the minute?
Kelly retired - realised he was out of his depth, and while he may have  been a good club player, he doesn't have the build to play inter-county, and he's past 30 (What about his display at Croke last year when Costelloe scored 8 points off him - memorable).
Niblock is studying in England, and might return for the C'ship
CJ - talented he may be, but we are better with "men" that want to wear the shirt, rather than talk about it. A totaly 'bad' influence, and a 'bad' example to the younger generation. How's his current 'injury'?
Kevin - Kevin who? He'd get a game for the Rock - maybe.

Lets do the sums on the contribution of St. G's players during the past 2 years.
St Gal's men returned after winning Club C'ship. Assisted in winning one game in Div 3 (Louth at Casement). Lost the remaining. For those who recall - Wexford, Sligo, etc. Had a lot of 'injuries' in Div 2, and assisted in winning one match in Div 2. Then mostly retired or were 'injured'.
(St. G's have a lot of 'injuries' because they play so much football. Not like Croise, who are back training with their County within 2-3 weeks of their annual visit to Croke.)
Can we stop the chat about St. G's and leave it to their players to do the talking - if they want to.

We should have beaten R'common and / or Wexford. Fact. Maybe we are not ready to go back up - yet.
The U-21's were a credit to the County on Sunday, and it was great to see a first class team effort!
I'm not so sure about adopting the "Donegal" system, but it did release Loughrey, and Thomas Mc Cann, who did a lot of damage!
The second Gallagher is a handful, and Armstrong is 'brave', and skilfull.
I'm looking forward to seeing challenge games before the C'ship, and it was good that our team finished 'on a high' - 4 wins out of 7!

[team]

The key message is that this is a return to a team performance. The 'star' players in the team, and there are some 'stars', play within the team, and clearly this group enjoys playing football together.

The fiasco that was the promotion from Division 3, last time, ensured that Antrim could not survive in Division 2. Hopefully, Baker has learned the lesson, and the 'panel' is the team itself!

Thanks due to the players who suffered most from the fiasco, but stuck with the County.

Great combination of 'young' players who earned the hard promotions from Dv 2, and 3, with an even younger bunch of top players! Think that the main group of 'senior' players are around 25/26 years!

The next two weekends will be a real test! Supporters required in Roscommon, and particularly Longford.

Without the st galls players(if it comes to it) we may struggle in division 2 mind. (In fact come to think of it we may struggle with them!)

[/i]

Certainly, the presence of the St. Gall's players last year, made a big difference.

Before their return - won 4 out of 5
After their return - won 1 out of 5

Top performances!

Another outstanding "team performance"!

Stats for the year,

Pre the "return" of the Club "champs" - 4 wins out of 5
Post the "return" of the Club "champs" - 1 win, 3 lost, 1 draw.

How many of the Club "champs" made it to the "last" match?

As the Yanks say, "Do the math"!

One year in Division 2, and then start again, from Div 3, or Div 4?

Anyone who has seen St. John's play this season will testify to the fact that they are simply "thugs", surviving due to poor refereeing. Their behaviour, on the pitch,  is a disgrace to the Association. Little difference from last year, and the previous year. The only change is they rotate the "dirty" play, to ensure they don't have men sent off. Presumably their mentors spent the Winter  coaching this aspect of their game? In truth there's not a game of decent football in them, and their best "scoring" is the number of yellow cards.

Probably best that we keep to the dancing.
Yesterday's performance was a disgrace to this County, and an insult to the supporters who travelled to Wexford.
No need to worry about ball players on the half forward line - we had no players there - I did see a couple of guys standing about in Antrim shirts but I presumed they were supporters?
In the supposed defence, the great tactical innovation (first seen against Louth) of five half backs, two of whom think they are playing centre half, while two others think are playing 'sweeper", and none of them know what they are doing, confounded Wexford - for a while! The Wexford forwards thought that their opponents might tackle them, but (with the exception of Crozier) the other four half backs, quickly let them know that Antrim doesn't do tackling -  any more! K O'Boyle was outstanding, and with Herron, and Mc Cann these three stopped Wexford winning by the 9-10 points, necessary to keep us in Div 3. Don't believe the match reports - we were awful! .
A quick stats check is worthwhile - 3 out of a total of 5 goals scored against Antrim, have been scored in the last 2 matches (Baker's mantra - no goals).We won 8 out of a possible 10 points, conceding 2 goals, to start the League, and managed 2 out of 4 points, conceding 3 goals to finish the League. What changed?
This is a different team to that which started the League campaign - Sligo to win by 6-12 points. God help us next year.