Antrim Football Thread

[Take the Mark]

I think it could be any of 4 or 5 teams to go down. Dunloy could be in that mix. I wouldn't be ruling out seeing Lamh Dhearg down round the bottom. Their season ended pitifully in last years semi final, not sure what they will have to add to that side - they might lose men from it if anything.

Ahoghill are a side who keep pulling it out of the bag to beat the drop too - that might change some time soon with low numbers and aging players. Glenravel will certainly struggle for wins without their county men too.

Pencil Naomh Eoin in for the fight for relegation after last nights result. Thats a trimming. More contenders for relegation than there is for top 2.

[YoungSaff]

I see folk talking about relegation playoffs. Was it not said that there would be no playoffs?

Turns out I was talking shite. Top 4 and bottom 4 into playoffs to win the league and to be relegated.

Not talking shite lol , I thought i had heard the same somewhere but it kind of takes away from the league completely you can play shite the whole league and just win 1 game at the end and your safe , makes the whole thing a bit pointless , understand teams are missing players etc but still.

Depends how you look at it.

There are a number of teams with county players not available.  This is not just senior county football but also senior county hurling as well as U20 commitments across the codes depending on the club.

Could argue leagues already devalued if a lot of teams are playing without marquee players.

At least with the current model county commitments are generally cleared up by the time playoffs happen meaning clubs are not in effect being punished for providing county players.

That said there is definitely a question on timing of playoffs as I believe most teams involved in last years winner and relegation playoffs had a number of lads on holiday. But I don't know when a better time is.

As well the current model nearly forces teams to blood a lot more players into senior football than if they were going all out to win a league or avoid relegation.  Maybe through time the levels will rise across squads as a result.

And that's not coming from a place where I am championing the current structure.  Because for competitive leagues I prefer 8, 8, 10 and 8+ (depending if any clubs have genuine resource to put their reserves in the league structures). 

But I don't think the current structure is as bad as some make out.

agreed hard to keep everyone happy and have it to suit everyone , you make valid points about bleeding players and hence maybe boosting overall quality. It gives an incentive too I suppose for teams without county men to go for it early days and get points on the board.

hard to suit everyone but i suppose majority counties are the same

[Gaels1789]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

[Gaels1789]

Cargin gave Moneyglass a good hammering in O'Cahan cup semi final to set up a repeat of last years county final should be a good game


 yea I seen that Cargin nearly full out missing 2/3, I seen that moneyglass team must be missing 6/7 starters maybe more hopefully Its just for that game or it could be a tough year for them,

Although I did hear Cargin were very slick as to be expected by the current county champs

[YoungSaff]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

I had heard a rumour from one of the lads involved with the set up that there was recently a clash of heads with a lot of players some of whom were injured and McEntee was pressuring them to play but not sure if they walked or not ? who was the player shared the info Gaels if you don't mind sharing ?

[Milltown Row2]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

[YoungSaff]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

i agree MR2 we cannot keep pointing the finger and a manager can only play the cards he is dealt with player availability , commitment etc. However I do not agree with disregarding player welfare in order to have certain guys playing , if boys are hurt their health and welfare is a lot more important than playing for Antrim , they should be catering for injured guys who are still attending and helping get them fit rather than playing them against their will or pressuring them to.

[imtommygunn]

I think it is possible the wheels are coming off. Sligo would be favourites on Sunday but hopefully I can be proven wrong. Worst is barring Offaly game I think we have been close enough in most games and they could have went either way though you could say that for a few years.

[Milltown Row2]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

i agree MR2 we cannot keep pointing the finger and a manager can only play the cards he is dealt with player availability , commitment etc. However I do not agree with disregarding player welfare in order to have certain guys playing , if boys are hurt their health and welfare is a lot more important than playing for Antrim , they should be catering for injured guys who are still attending and helping get them fit rather than playing them against their will or pressuring them to.

Again this is hearsay but I suppose if you want to believe what someone has put on the internet behind a screen knock yourself out..

Players also carrying chat from the squad is a red flag for me also

I (from a personal perspective) struggle with a lot of these new 'injuries' lol hamstrings weren't invented in my day, and if you had a major game coming up the last person you told that you were carrying a knock was the manager 

[Hectic]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

Personally I think we should have enough in the county to be aiming to see Division 2 football.  Even if we might be fighting hard to get a foothold in it.  I don't think that's unrealistic in terms of ambition.

We seem to weigh in a bit more in hurling yet we are as far away from the Limericks, Tipperarys etc in hurling as we are from the Kerrys and Armaghs in football.

[YoungSaff]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

i agree MR2 we cannot keep pointing the finger and a manager can only play the cards he is dealt with player availability , commitment etc. However I do not agree with disregarding player welfare in order to have certain guys playing , if boys are hurt their health and welfare is a lot more important than playing for Antrim , they should be catering for injured guys who are still attending and helping get them fit rather than playing them against their will or pressuring them to.

Again this is hearsay but I suppose if you want to believe what someone has put on the internet behind a screen knock yourself out..

Players also carrying chat from the squad is a red flag for me also

I (from a personal perspective) struggle with a lot of these new 'injuries' lol hamstrings weren't invented in my day, and if you had a major game coming up the last person you told that you were carrying a knock was the manager 

i would disagree with you here , football is a completely different game compared to how it used to be played the athletic demands on players are significantly higher than me and your day which is evident in the modern game. It is just a sake of hoofing it up nowadays and the statistics show that. I believe player welfare is always at the 1 , as you say it is heresay which could be very true but I was just saying my thoughts on the matter. Agreed players carrying chat is a red flag but if the word is true it would not be something I would stand for as a player , why would you put your health ahead of playing football?

[Milltown Row2]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

Personally I think we should have enough in the county to be aiming to see Division 2 football.  Even if we might be fighting hard to get a foothold in it.  I don't think that's unrealistic in terms of ambition.

We seem to weigh in a bit more in hurling yet we are as far away from the Limericks, Tipperarys etc in hurling as we are from the Kerrys and Armaghs in football.

When were we last a div 2 team?

[Milltown Row2]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

i agree MR2 we cannot keep pointing the finger and a manager can only play the cards he is dealt with player availability , commitment etc. However I do not agree with disregarding player welfare in order to have certain guys playing , if boys are hurt their health and welfare is a lot more important than playing for Antrim , they should be catering for injured guys who are still attending and helping get them fit rather than playing them against their will or pressuring them to.

Again this is hearsay but I suppose if you want to believe what someone has put on the internet behind a screen knock yourself out..

Players also carrying chat from the squad is a red flag for me also

I (from a personal perspective) struggle with a lot of these new 'injuries' lol hamstrings weren't invented in my day, and if you had a major game coming up the last person you told that you were carrying a knock was the manager 

i would disagree with you here , football is a completely different game compared to how it used to be played the athletic demands on players are significantly higher than me and your day which is evident in the modern game. It is just a sake of hoofing it up nowadays and the statistics show that. I believe player welfare is always at the 1 , as you say it is heresay which could be very true but I was just saying my thoughts on the matter. Agreed players carrying chat is a red flag but if the word is true it would not be something I would stand for as a player , why would you put your health ahead of playing football?

As I said this is a personal view and a little bit of tongue in cheek...

Things are different for sure in terms of strength and mobility and so on I'm not disputing that but if you are playing high intensity sports with physical contact involved there will be implications, if your health is more important then maybe tiddledywinks would be a better sport to get into  

[Hectic]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

Personally I think we should have enough in the county to be aiming to see Division 2 football.  Even if we might be fighting hard to get a foothold in it.  I don't think that's unrealistic in terms of ambition.

We seem to weigh in a bit more in hurling yet we are as far away from the Limericks, Tipperarys etc in hurling as we are from the Kerrys and Armaghs in football.

When were we last a div 2 team?

2011 as far as I am aware.

And I said a realistic ambition to be in it.

We were last 2 and last 4 of Tailteann Cup the last 2 yrs and that is effectively the top end of the bottom two divisions in championship mode.

And we could probably squeeze more out of the personnel in the county.

So I don't think Division 2 is an unrealistic ambition but we do need to get closer to maxing our potential.

[inabsentia]

Any truth about a few players losing the faith in mcantee and packing the bags?

Can't say I blame them same shit different year what has he brought to Antrim football???

If true they are missing them biggest game of the year so far Antrim could be down very handy

Hopefully I'm wrong but came from a player

Not sure what age you are but I'm not too sure what manager other than Baker and Gomrley (Tommy cup) in so many years have brought to Antrim, it's been rinse repeat for many years, but we will continually blame the manger? It's not cotton to a lot of people that we are crap (and I mean that in the nicest of terms) at football? if you are in your late 80's you may remember the good times, but I'm glad I witnessed an Ulster Final, once 

i agree MR2 we cannot keep pointing the finger and a manager can only play the cards he is dealt with player availability , commitment etc. However I do not agree with disregarding player welfare in order to have certain guys playing , if boys are hurt their health and welfare is a lot more important than playing for Antrim , they should be catering for injured guys who are still attending and helping get them fit rather than playing them against their will or pressuring them to.

Again this is hearsay but I suppose if you want to believe what someone has put on the internet behind a screen knock yourself out..

Players also carrying chat from the squad is a red flag for me also

I (from a personal perspective) struggle with a lot of these new 'injuries' lol hamstrings weren't invented in my day, and if you had a major game coming up the last person you told that you were carrying a knock was the manager 

i would disagree with you here , football is a completely different game compared to how it used to be played the athletic demands on players are significantly higher than me and your day which is evident in the modern game. It is just a sake of hoofing it up nowadays and the statistics show that. I believe player welfare is always at the 1 , as you say it is heresay which could be very true but I was just saying my thoughts on the matter. Agreed players carrying chat is a red flag but if the word is true it would not be something I would stand for as a player , why would you put your health ahead of playing football?

As I said this is a personal view and a little bit of tongue in cheek...

Things are different for sure in terms of strength and mobility and so on I'm not disputing that but if you are playing high intensity sports with physical contact involved there will be implications, if your health is more important then maybe tiddledywinks would be a better sport to get into  

Give over MR2.

Knocks and soft tissue injuries completely different. What's the point of not telling the manager and getting started only having to sub out after 5 minutes?