Antrim Football Thread

[Hectic]

McEntee needs to stop being so possessive of players.

It will maybe give him a better chance of fielding as strong as possible while also ensuring lads are not stagnating if they are on the fringes of the team.

I don't understand how it is of any benefit to him, the players or the clubs when lads are getting limited game time in a year because they are part of his squad.

[BigGreenField]

McEntee needs to stop being so possessive of players.

It will maybe give him a better chance of fielding as strong as possible while also ensuring lads are not stagnating if they are on the fringes of the team.

I don't understand how it is of any benefit to him, the players or the clubs when lads are getting limited game time in a year because they are part of his squad.

This is spot on, great to see a bigger squad making the committment but no good if half the squad have no match sharpness when they are called upon.

[BigGreenField]

Theres no doubt a player like Pollock helped solidify St Galls at the top. A player like him would make a huge difference to any other team in the county. If he was added to the LD line-up in the final rather than the Galls it may have made the score closer--but no doubt St Galls have plenty of others to call on like CJ who didnt start, his brother Kevin, Ciaran Gallagher etc etc.

Galls are top class, freak group of talent who came together/were born at the same time--such a group that your opinion on who is their best player might change after every game if they played 365 days in a year.

Others who played for them during the last decade from other clubs/counties were Ciaran McCrossan (winning goal in Ulster final 2005), Gary McGirr, Damien McDonnell (all Tyrone), Eunan Ferguson (Ferm), John Kane (Down) etc. The reality with those aforementioned players is they all went to university in and settled in Belfast and didnt want/couldnt travel home to play for their 'birth' clubs. They now have a new home in Belfast and played for a team there--coming along through a friend, due to Galls reputation or whatever

The same has happened and will continue to happen in all clubs in Belfast and cities were people migrate to work. Reality is that Galls have more than a core of Gallsmen, there since birth (or just after!) playing senior football who are top class--the addition of 1 or 2 players from hasnt made them class but may have added somewhat.

Name me a club in Belfast who doesnt have someone from 'outside' who's moved into an area and played for a club, joining from another club.

Clubs aren't gonna turn people away who go and train with them and ask to play/transfer. How could a club say "no i dont care that you live here now but your originally from Fermanagh 80 to 100 miles away, if you wanna play football drive home after work 2 hours to drive 2 hours back to train with your 'old home' club" ?? Ridiculous.

The only thing thats hard to understand is how Rory Gallagher continues to play for Galls whilst living in Killybegs. He won an all ireland its mad to think of the travelling he does for a club game. Club must have made some impression on him. You'd think he'd be a candidate to give something back to his old home club in Beleek now he's living not too far away

On the subject of blow in's , Very few new discussion topics under the Sun!

(although Brigids would need to win something of note)

[Take the Mark]

Winning division 1 was 'something of note' last year for certain quarters I'll have you know 

Beating Cargins 2nd string in the final after finishing below them does take the gloss off it mind you.

[Spike]

St Brigids just got a bit carried away thinking a Division 1 title meant a Championship win was automatic. Maybe Portglenone got carried away last year as well.  If we have learned anything over the past few seasons is that our Division 1 league has become completely devalued.

Portglenone were 7th in Division 1 this season and in their last appearance in a county final they were beaten by 20 points.   

If nothing else Sunday will confirm if the league needs a serious overhaul to mean something again, or better still does it look odd that the 7th and 11th placed league teams (PG1 & LD) made a semi final against one another?

[AllStar15]

St Brigids just got a bit carried away thinking a Division 1 title meant a Championship win was automatic. Maybe Portglenone got carried away last year as well.  If we have learned anything over the past few seasons is that our Division 1 league has become completely devalued.

Portglenone were 7th in Division 1 this season and in their last appearance in a county final they were beaten by 20 points. 

If nothing else Sunday will confirm if the league needs a serious overhaul to mean something again, or better still does it look odd that the 7th and 11th placed league teams (PG1 & LD) made a semi final against one another?

That's a romantic notion, the league has never meant anything. Championship is king. 

[imtommygunn]

It's a building block - that's all. It will mean nothing to the likes of Cargin because they've won it plenty I'm sure. If Cargin had won the league this year then they'd still have beat St Brigid's in the championship. It is something for "smaller" clubs to win something and is something to build on. I doubt Portglenone winning the league last year had any bearing on their championship outcome either.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

The league has never been of the same importance as championship to anyone but to say it means nothing to Cargin isn't true either.

[bannside]

Looked up You Tube there just to prove you were wrong...but you were right...lol!  It was 2016, Div 4 final. Big Fitzy gave it his all tbf.

[bannside]

Even Cargin were glad of an oul league trophy and medals to hand out at their dinner dance in the not too distant past. All part of building some internal belief when the big one was out of reach.

But there's no doubt this years league was much more laid back than usual.

Yet in Tyrone its highly valued, suppose that's because there isn't one dominant force.

[Take the Mark]

It's a building block - that's all. It will mean nothing to the likes of Cargin because they've won it plenty I'm sure. If Cargin had won the league this year then they'd still have beat St Brigid's in the championship. It is something for "smaller" clubs to win something and is something to build on. I doubt Portglenone winning the league last year had any bearing on their championship outcome either.

Well probably not, but every team plays without pressure in the league. Come championship time the pressure mounts as the rounds go by - some teams can handle it and some cant (check recent defeats in semis) but it can be overcome.

Are the shackles off? A relaxing attitude going into the final?

[Silver Eel]

Cargin had to watch Galls win 13 championships in 14 years. What a precedent that was, unlikely to ever happen again. Cargin know the pain of defeat over that spell and certainly aren't taking any individual championship for granted

[Spike]

I'd agree.  I don't think Cargin will underestimate Portglenone but they wont fear them either.  If Portglenone were that confident they wouldn't have got the semi final draws switched.

I think they'll tell themselves the story they are confident and hype up the players but really they're hoping Cargin are flat on the day or relying on lady luck to intervene.

[Take the Mark]

I think everyone knows the craic with Cargin at this stage, been there and done it quite a few times. All eyes will be on the Ports men, especially their 'big' names. They will be expected to put in a mighty show. No reason why they shouldnt either.

[Ghost+Tommy]

I'd agree.  I don't think Cargin will underestimate Portglenone but they wont fear them either.  If Portglenone were that confident they wouldn't have got the semi final draws switched.

Did you ever think the Johnny's didn't want to play cargin and fancied playing creggan or dunloy,we wanted to get 2 byes in the relegation playoffs but that didnt work lol,one thing I do know,KP won't let Mic,thomas or Jimmy lav to ref the game,