Antrim Football Thread

[erinsboy]

A small 21 point victory 

No one will get near cargin this year.

In fairness and all due respect to Ahoghill who are a brilliant club, but they aren't a senior footballing team.
The fact that they ended up in the last 8 just highlights the problem with having 16 teams playing senior championship in Antrim.
It would be hard to get 8 proper senior teams but we've ended up with 16!
Ahoghill in over their heads tonight with Cargin in 2nd gear.
The rest of this weekends game will be more even but it's wallpapering over cracks ,I think anyway.

[Gael-in-exile]

16 senior teams does probably stretch the quality across the board and as I'm unsure on if the groups were seeded or not I can't say much. However the complete restructuring of leagues and that result tonight would suggest it needs a review.

[imtommygunn]

Even if the championship was a 12 ahoghill would be in it. We couldn't really do eight teams - too small. (Yes hurling does but too small). Cargin being very far ahead a big enough factor here too.

[erinsboy]

Even if the championship was a 12 ahoghill would be in it. We couldn't really do eight teams - too small. (Yes hurling does but too small). Cargin being very far ahead a big enough factor here too.

Not sure if it would be to small to have 8 team championship.
2 groups of 4 ,top 2 go into semis,
Bottom 2 play off for league relegation.Lossing team could play bottom of league in a league play off for relegation (or 2nd bottom if it's the same team) 1 up 1 down each year.
No group game would be meaningless with this format.league would also be more competitive, home and away 14 games.Maybe allow second half of league to be played after county is finished so all players available.

This would be a proper championship also meaning we send our 9th placed team into Ulster not our 17th placed team.

There is also an argument to allow the reserve teams to play in the leagues making their games more competitive and meaningful possibly even in championship too.

Radical or constructive?

[imtommygunn]

Definitely some very interesting ideas there. Dunno tbh what the objective should be - more teams get senior championship or more competitive senior championship. Tbf I would imagine the rest of the quarters will be much closer.

I still think eight too small and maybe twelve better but I see what you mean. Sixteen probably a bit much. A smaller one would lead to a better intermediate too. It does look like ballymena and maybe sarsfields ahead of the rest. I do think the junior we have isn't strong at all but if you line the whole lot up it gets much stronger.

[Beirbua2024]

Even if the championship was a 12 ahoghill would be in it. We couldn't really do eight teams - too small. (Yes hurling does but too small). Cargin being very far ahead a big enough factor here too.

Not sure if it would be to small to have 8 team championship.
2 groups of 4 ,top 2 go into semis,
Bottom 2 play off for league relegation.Lossing team could play bottom of league in a league play off for relegation (or 2nd bottom if it's the same team) 1 up 1 down each year.
No group game would be meaningless with this format.league would also be more competitive, home and away 14 games.Maybe allow second half of league to be played after county is finished so all players available.

This would be a proper championship also meaning we send our 9th placed team into Ulster not our 17th placed team.

There is also an argument to allow the reserve teams to play in the leagues making their games more competitive and meaningful possibly even in championship too.

Radical or constructive?

Can deffo see the thinking behind what you're saying, strengthen senior by making intermediate and junior stronger while the best of the best play for the big prize, it'll not be an overnight fix but it would surely make the competition closer.

I personally just miss knockout championship the league phase to me seems like a lot of posturing and not the same feel.

[imtommygunn]

It's everywhere now bar Tyrone. Definitely interesting ideas there.

Really this weekend it starts and hurling bar one game in senior yet to start.

[Beirbua2024]

Glenavy vs Ballymena tight at HT with Ballymena a point up.

30 mins then one of their seasons over that's the championship football I enjoy

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Portglenone fall over the line.
Johnnies very unlucky not to have a 1st half penalty but also very wasteful going forward.

[AntrimRealist]

Portglenone fall over the line.
Johnnies very unlucky not to have a 1st half penalty but also very wasteful going forward.

100%. You won't see a worse refereeing decision the rest of the championship

https://x.com/AontroimGAA/status/1834975076380184806

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Unfair. The angle he had wouldn't have made it as clear as the TV camera or that camera angle. Still, Johnnies unlucky there.

[EOC1923]

It was a definite penalty but even without it St John's could easily of drawn the game with a bit more composure in last couple mins. Much to improve on for Portglenone, have they got it in them to improve? Time will tell

[AntrimRealist]

Unfair. The angle he had wouldn't have made it as clear as the TV camera or that camera angle. Still, Johnnies unlucky there.

He must have been the only person in the ground who didn't see it.
Enda Lynn was the difference, super player

[jdyok]

Unfair. The angle he had wouldn't have made it as clear as the TV camera or that camera angle. Still, Johnnies unlucky there.

I wonder did either umpire see it

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Unfair. The angle he had wouldn't have made it as clear as the TV camera or that camera angle. Still, Johnnies unlucky there.

I wonder did either umpire see it

Probably. They don't have the power to do anything about it though.