Antrim Football Thread

[BelSaft]

How many of them will say we don't get the credit for being good footballers? we are just crafty! Fair point also

[EOC1923]

Someone let St Galls know they'd a big rivalry with Portglenone in the noughties, I dont think the Milltown men realise it.
The best one, Kevin Madden telling JohnMckeever- "don't be setting up not to get beat in the final" -how ironic from him

[Hectic]

Much as I would like to see Portglenone win, mainly for the many good friends and relations I have there, I don't see it.

Teams can set up to keep games close but that is different to trying to win a game and generally ends in defeat.  So it will be very interesting to see how Portglenone approach it.

But either way it is going to take getting tactics spot on and about a dozen lads having excellent performances coupled with Cargin not being fully at it.

I took Cargin at 2/1 before the championship started as I thought that was a steal then and expect to collect come Monday.

[imtommygunn]

Yeah I would feel the same. I would expect a 4 or 5 point victory. It definitely feels like a more interesting final than we've had in a few years - though maybe that's because it's a novel pairing.

For Portglenone to win they will need most of their team to have the games of their lives and Cargin to maybe not be 100% at it. Could happen - who knows.

[Round or stuffed]

Does anyone have any faith that the structures in place will actually be adhered to when the time comes, or will there be a slew of appeals from relegated clubs?

[Take the Mark]

Yeah I would feel the same. I would expect a 4 or 5 point victory. It definitely feels like a more interesting final than we've had in a few years - though maybe that's because it's a novel pairing.

For Portglenone to win they will need most of their team to have the games of their lives and Cargin to maybe not be 100% at it. Could happen - who knows.

It would go some to be as interesting as the Aghagallon final a couple of years ago when they went 8 or 9 up and lost.

If JMK listens to his former clubmate Madden it could be his best bet. Especially since they have the younger fitter, more skilful team.

Quite amusing though to read him give advice all the same.

[Hectic]

I think there will be some debate given regulations don't cover all bases.

Particularly if Dunloy opt down to Intermediate as nothing in place to say who replaces them.  But is there even any truth that Dunloy would want to go intermediate having come out of their group again this year?

I think the restructuring was a nonsense to begin with this year.  I really don't understand why they wanted to increase the number of teams in Division 1 when, if anything, should have been looking to reduce.

Same goes for Championship.  Our Intermediate winners are now further down the rankings than in years gone by.  Ok at Antrim level but hurts us when going provincial. As is also the case for Junior winners.

[imtommygunn]

What are the average ages of the teams? Any statsmen on here...

Yeah I don't think the restructuring has been a big success. Only counter point I would have is that assuming Ballymena win then the intermediate winners won't be any further down that years gone by but if that happens then from next year on they will be.

Antrim have always seemed to be about the strongest team in junior but again I would expect that to drop in future years maybe more than this year.

[Take the Mark]

What stats do you want? Portglenone put some out in an interview earlier this week -


Cargin - old, slow, crafty

Portglenone - younger, faster, more skilful

[SaffronOak]

Yeah I would feel the same. I would expect a 4 or 5 point victory. It definitely feels like a more interesting final than we've had in a few years - though maybe that's because it's a novel pairing.

For Portglenone to win they will need most of their team to have the games of their lives and Cargin to maybe not be 100% at it. Could happen - who knows.

Novel pairing?  Off the top of my head...

2023 Cargin v Dunloy
2022 Cargin v Aghagallon
2021 Creggan v Aghagallon
2020 Cargin v Creggan
2019 Cargin v Lamh Dhearg
2018 Cargin v Creggan
2017 Lamh Dhearg v St Johns

Since 2017 there's only be the same pairing twice.  The additional buzz around this final is coming from Portglenone's first appearance in a while.  It's not a novel pairing any more than Dunloy last year, Aghagallon a couple of years before that and Cargin v Creggan before that again.

Cargin's game management can't be underestimated.  They've been brilliant at it for so long now and know how to win games against different opposition.  I always get the feeling they can go through the gears if they want to.  They'll win on Sunday, 4-6 points.

[SaffronOak]

I think there will be some debate given regulations don't cover all bases.

Particularly if Dunloy opt down to Intermediate as nothing in place to say who replaces them.  But is there even any truth that Dunloy would want to go intermediate having come out of their group again this year?

I think the restructuring was a nonsense to begin with this year.  I really don't understand why they wanted to increase the number of teams in Division 1 when, if anything, should have been looking to reduce.

Same goes for Championship.  Our Intermediate winners are now further down the rankings than in years gone by.  Ok at Antrim level but hurts us when going provincial. As is also the case for Junior winners.

I dont see Dunloy opting to go down to Intermediate.  They want to stay in senior.

[Around the glens]

Talking to people from Dunloy and some players they most certainly want to be staying in senior football. Quite a few good minors coming through to add to the panel aswell. Be interesting to see how it all pans out.

I think there will be some debate given regulations don't cover all bases.

Particularly if Dunloy opt down to Intermediate as nothing in place to say who replaces them.  But is there even any truth that Dunloy would want to go intermediate having come out of their group again this year?

I think the restructuring was a nonsense to begin with this year.  I really don't understand why they wanted to increase the number of teams in Division 1 when, if anything, should have been looking to reduce.

Same goes for Championship.  Our Intermediate winners are now further down the rankings than in years gone by.  Ok at Antrim level but hurts us when going provincial. As is also the case for Junior winners.

[Armagh4sam2024]

Lisburn too.

St Pat's Lisburn GAA has been around longer than most Belfast clubs. Comparing them to a team established 2 decades ago, without a field in its own parish and who are only punching above their weight due to an influx of players after a fall-out in Derry, is a bit of a disservice to Lisburn tbf

[paddyjohn]

Lisburn too.

St Pat's Lisburn GAA has been around longer than most Belfast clubs. Comparing them to a team established 2 decades ago, without a field in its own parish and who are only punching above their weight due to an influx of players after a fall-out in Derry, is a bit of a disservice to Lisburn tbf

Mic drop.

[bannside]

Watched that podcast, thanks G&T. A couple of participants looked very easy in that role, well done.

Whilst on YouTube I watched full game of div 4 final Antrim v Louth in Croke Park 2017. Well worth another look.

We had some team out that day too, but somehow managed to lose despite several outstanding individual performances.