Antrim Football Thread

[Sportacus]

Played well at times but fell away towards the end of both halves.  Laois deserved their win but it's a regret as they were average in my opinion.
McEntee has lifted the set up and expectations, and it's actually comical to see the moaners rushing to dust off their keyboards and criticise.
Unfortunately when McAleer scored the goal and we were in a strong position, we did what every Antrim  team has done for the last 50 years and went into our shells, afraid to push on and win when it mattered. A lack of leaders, but that's a symptom of years of nothingness.  If they stick together, and get a bit of luck with injuries, they'll be back next year and maybe three's a charm.
A 40% drop in attendance this year by the way. 

[Milltown Row2]

Played well at times but fell away towards the end of both halves.  Laois deserved their win but it's a regret as they were average in my opinion.
McEntee has lifted the set up and expectations, and it's actually comical to see the moaners rushing to dust off their keyboards and criticise.
Unfortunately when McAleer scored the goal and we were in a strong position, we did what every Antrim  team has done for the last 50 years and went into our shells, afraid to push on and win when it mattered. A lack of leaders, but that's a symptom of years of nothingness.  If they stick together, and get a bit of luck with injuries, they'll be back next year and maybe three's a charm.
A 40% drop in attendance this year by the way.

Is that attendance reflective across all teams at div3?

[Sportacus]

Played well at times but fell away towards the end of both halves.  Laois deserved their win but it's a regret as they were average in my opinion.
McEntee has lifted the set up and expectations, and it's actually comical to see the moaners rushing to dust off their keyboards and criticise.
Unfortunately when McAleer scored the goal and we were in a strong position, we did what every Antrim  team has done for the last 50 years and went into our shells, afraid to push on and win when it mattered. A lack of leaders, but that's a symptom of years of nothingness.  If they stick together, and get a bit of luck with injuries, they'll be back next year and maybe three's a charm.
A 40% drop in attendance this year by the way.

Is that attendance reflective across all teams at div3?

I don't know.  I'd read somewhere there were 17k there last year, and 10k there today. Is it the general state of football, or the format, or the cost, or the counties involved?  I've no idea. None of the counties today had a big support out.

[Milltown Row2]

Prices for families are through the roof

But I know plenty didn't go, I'd a previous thing on so couldn't make it.

[BrendanAntrim]

Hard to be exact but I think the Antrim support there today was comparable to last year. Didn't seem to be as many Down ones around. Maybe Meath brought more last year than Sligo did this year, but not 7,000 more.

[Spike]

It's a 2nd rate competition with 2nd rate football on offer.  Attendances reflect that.

[Christmas Lights]

It's a 2nd rate competition with 2nd rate football on offer.  Attendances reflect that.

What's the alternative?

[Milltown Row2]

It's a 2nd rate competition with 2nd rate football on offer.  Attendances reflect that.

What's the alternative?

Players being back with their clubs earlier

Club is king. County is a hindrance

[bannside]

It's not a hindrance in the successful counties though..that's one of the things that needs to change.

While we did look ragged in the last quarter, I seriously doubt that management instructed the players to change the style and start kicking aimless balls into the Laois square, at least five of these happened and it completely killed off any momentum we had built up.

Maybe after the exploits last week fatigue kicked in or something, but at 55 minutes in we were going really well and looking good. The lads gave it their all and that's as much as you can ask for!

[InnocentByStander]

Played well at times but fell away towards the end of both halves.  Laois deserved their win but it's a regret as they were average in my opinion.
McEntee has lifted the set up and expectations, and it's actually comical to see the moaners rushing to dust off their keyboards and criticise.
Unfortunately when McAleer scored the goal and we were in a strong position, we did what every Antrim  team has done for the last 50 years and went into our shells, afraid to push on and win when it mattered. A lack of leaders, but that's a symptom of years of nothingness.  If they stick together, and get a bit of luck with injuries, they'll be back next year and maybe three's a charm.
A 40% drop in attendance this year by the way.

Maybe the problem is the team is full of players who don't know how to win big games...

[Milltown Row2]

Played well at times but fell away towards the end of both halves.  Laois deserved their win but it's a regret as they were average in my opinion.
McEntee has lifted the set up and expectations, and it's actually comical to see the moaners rushing to dust off their keyboards and criticise.
Unfortunately when McAleer scored the goal and we were in a strong position, we did what every Antrim  team has done for the last 50 years and went into our shells, afraid to push on and win when it mattered. A lack of leaders, but that's a symptom of years of nothingness.  If they stick together, and get a bit of luck with injuries, they'll be back next year and maybe three's a charm.
A 40% drop in attendance this year by the way.

Maybe the problem is the team is full of players who don't know how to win big games...

Are you going to tell me winning the Antrim club championship is a bigger game than playing for the county at Croke Park? No, please tell me you are not saying that

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Someone wins the Antrim county championship every year.

How many big games have Antrim won in the last 50 years?

[InnocentByStander]

Played well at times but fell away towards the end of both halves.  Laois deserved their win but it's a regret as they were average in my opinion.
McEntee has lifted the set up and expectations, and it's actually comical to see the moaners rushing to dust off their keyboards and criticise.
Unfortunately when McAleer scored the goal and we were in a strong position, we did what every Antrim  team has done for the last 50 years and went into our shells, afraid to push on and win when it mattered. A lack of leaders, but that's a symptom of years of nothingness.  If they stick together, and get a bit of luck with injuries, they'll be back next year and maybe three's a charm.
A 40% drop in attendance this year by the way.

Maybe the problem is the team is full of players who don't know how to win big games...

Are you going to tell me winning the Antrim club championship is a bigger game than playing for the county at Croke Park? No, please tell me you are not saying that

Are you going to tell me that that team is full of winners? McEntee's idelogy of football will only take Antrim so far. That squad is good enough to win the TT cup if the right players are played.

[NorthAntrim]

Who wasn't played?

[imtommygunn]

As in the squad of players that McEntee picked and that were listed yesterday? Or are you talking about players that aren't there?