Antrim Football Thread

[paddyjohn]

Superb second half performance. Absolutely no reason why we can't get back to the final at least.

[JimStynes]

All the McEntee critics have to admit now that he's done a brilliant job! He's clearly instilled a self belief in the team that hasn't been in Antrim teams for many years before this. Up against it in the next game but all the pressure is on Kildare.

[marty34]

Great comeback by Antrim.

Was there a breeze or what was the turning point?

Mc Entee has done a good job with Antrim.  Fermanagh will be disappointed with the collapse. Brewster Park a tricky place.  In saying that, Fermanagh would have been favourites - maybe they thought they had it won at half-time?

Free shot for Antrim now.

Most important thing now is they push on and get out of Div. 3 in 2025.   

[bannside]

Great comeback by Antrim.

Was there a breeze or what was the turning point?

Mc Entee has done a good job with Antrim.  Fermanagh will be disappointed with the collapse. Brewster Park a tricky place.  In saying that, Fermanagh would have been favourites - maybe they thought they had it won at half-time?

Free shot for Antrim now.

Most important thing now is they push on and get out of Div. 3 in 2025.   

It's the way Andy and co have gone and built practically a new team that's most impressive..and imo he's done a "great" job.

Just consider this. His first 3 choice midfielders were lost to injury (Kevin Conor Eunan Quinn).

Sigerson Cup winner Peter Healy and 3 x McRory Cup stars Adam CJ Ruairi were also out all or most of 2024 season.

Ryan Murray also a huge loss to the team, and Patrick Finnegan Stephen Beattie Eoghan McCabe would also have got loads game time but for injury. Ronan Boyle was going well until injury and Benen Kelly was going rightly too... and I'm sure I've missed one or two out!

That's the core of a whole team there...so to me the rebuild has been hugely impressive.

But you're right Marty..let's have a good old crack at (edit Laois) and what's left of 2024, and really look forward to next season with a much stronger panel.

[paddyjohn]

Kildare have to beat Laois first or have I missed that result?

[imtommygunn]

Later today but doesn't matter who it is. If Laois win then they will need to be half decent to beat Kildare. We'll be underdogs but nothing to lose.

[Sportacus]

We played really well in Croke Park last year. Are we a better team this year?

[BrendanAntrim]

We played really well in Croke Park last year. Are we a better team this year?

Good question, look back at @Bannside's post and see the significant turnover in players due to injury mainly. Sorry to have missed yesterday's game but aside from personnel the turnaround suggests a stronger more durable mentality than previously which is a factor too.

All in all I think we are in a better place than we were last year, and if that trajectory continues, hopefully better again next year. Division 2 football would be difficult to achieve but hugely beneficial if we do get there

Meanwhile we can dream about winning the Tailteann and heading into Sam Maguire group next year 😊

[bannside]

Looking like Laois here atm, 5 up with fifteen to go.

Paddyjohn must have a crystal ball lol...

[paddyjohn]

Looking like Laois here atm, 5 up with fifteen to go.

Paddyjohn must have a crystal ball lol...

Didn't even do the club lotto this week!

[imtommygunn]

They looked decent. Probably a 50 50 game. Nothing to be scared of but same for Laois. Definitely one we can win I feel though and team selection should be interesting.

[bannside]

Our first half performance against Fermanagh on Saturday night wouldn't beat much tbh, but our second half was as good as I've ever seen from any Antrim team! It was reminiscent of when Lennys team beat Louth, also coming from behind. That was another cracker.

We have it in the locker and know we can go toe to tow in this grade. Can we make it 6 games undefeated in a row on Sunday? Bring it on!

[NorthAntrim]

Our first half performance against Fermanagh on Saturday night wouldn't beat much tbh, but our second half was as good as I've ever seen from any Antrim team! It was reminiscent of when Lennys team beat Louth, also coming from behind. That was another cracker.

We have it in the locker and know we can go toe to tow in this grade. Can we make it 6 games undefeated in a row on Sunday? Bring it on!

Total transformation. Decision making and handling very poor first half. Some players looked very leggy, others couldnt hold onto the ball. Andy rang the changes along with a clear change in tactics. We tried to block the zones for the keeper kicking into runners, it didnt really work imo but at least we were trying. Got it sorted and made the keeper kick long ball and it was then we really kicked into gear. Some of the points were fantastic. Byrnes kicking is super, hynds kicked 2 crackers. Hand has a decent boot too but the biggest bonus was Peter Healy, grabbed that game by the scruff when introduced. Kicked two good points and contributed to more. Would we start him and max out his potential and take him off? Maybe get 40 mins out of him. Or go again off the bench for 20 or 30?

[antrimman667]

are all league matches going ahead this weekend due to the Tailteann cup matches?

[Hoof Hearted]

are all league matches going ahead this weekend due to the Tailteann cup matches?

been fixed for 6.00 on saturday evening since the start of the league.
someone saw croke parks master fixture list and were confident.......