Antrim Football Thread

Started by theskull1, November 09, 2006, 11:48:40 PM

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Round or stuffed

Quote from: The_Saffron_serpent69 on March 26, 2025, 11:14:27 AMAmong the discussion of underage and grass roots football, how do we think the u20s will fair tonight against donegal, young lad from my neck of the woods Darach Bradley in and amongst the Panel, and ive heard they have a few other formidable players out such as young Johnston. Hopefully be a in thrilling game none the less :P

Another stark reflection of where Antrim football is incoming. compounded by the fact these lads were barred from turning out for their clubs over the weekend and potentially for the next round of fixtures too

NatSoSaff

Early days but it seems the landscape for a few club sides certainly look alot brighter this year. Creggan had a poor season in 2024 by their recent standards, largely due to absentees and injury. That will be rectified for this years assault on league and championship and Joe will have a better grip on things coming into his second year.

St Brigids have retained their 'Ulster select' and some of their own talented home grown production line are a further year down the line in their development. They will be a big threat.

Portglenone will of course be full of belief in their panel and management to get the job done this year. They also have retained a very good panel and maybe 1 or 2 youths emerging this year as well.

I dont see the kings being crowned outside of Cargin and the teams above, though Aghagallon certainly have the playing potential. I'm not at all sure why that group haven't kicked on.

The issue for all of the chasing pack is that Cargin also have the potential to be stronger this year. To my knowledge they have lost no-one from last year. Johnston and Quinn will have surely benefited from another season of County football.

I would still expect LD, St Johns, Dunloy and even Ballymena at full tilt, to fancy beating anyone on their day in a championship Knock out.

Unfortunately however, we'll have to endure 15 rounds of dross before the real stuff starts.

NatSoSaff

Quote from: Round or stuffed on March 26, 2025, 11:18:45 AM
Quote from: The_Saffron_serpent69 on March 26, 2025, 11:14:27 AMAmong the discussion of underage and grass roots football, how do we think the u20s will fair tonight against donegal, young lad from my neck of the woods Darach Bradley in and amongst the Panel, and ive heard they have a few other formidable players out such as young Johnston. Hopefully be a in thrilling game none the less :P

Another stark reflection of where Antrim football is incoming. compounded by the fact these lads were barred from turning out for their clubs over the weekend and potentially for the next round of fixtures too

Stark reflection of Antrim football? Does that stuff not happen in Tyrone, Derry, Armagh and virtually every other County in Ireland as well? If everything is to be believed the club league is completely pointless anyway.

Good luck to the lads tonight, a bit of positivity would be most welcome and much needed at the moment.

Hectic

I don't see any of Dunloy, St John's, Ballymena or LD making at scratch come championship.

Hectic

And re league being pointless and lads playing county.

My understanding is that the league structure is to allow for teams to operate without county players?

Some clubs will suffer more than others but at the same time can blood more lads that wouldn't otherwise get as much of an opportunity.

Time will tell if this strengthens clubs panels overall or if it just becomes a cycle of teams welcoming back county players to survive via playoffs only to follow with the next years league campaign being the same struggle.

Though wouldn't rule out more changes to the structure before we get to see if anything good comes off the current one.

NatSoSaff

Quote from: Hectic on March 26, 2025, 11:45:04 AMAnd re league being pointless and lads playing county.

My understanding is that the league structure is to allow for teams to operate without county players?

Some clubs will suffer more than others but at the same time can blood more lads that wouldn't otherwise get as much of an opportunity.

Time will tell if this strengthens clubs panels overall or if it just becomes a cycle of teams welcoming back county players to survive via playoffs only to follow with the next years league campaign being the same struggle.

Though wouldn't rule out more changes to the structure before we get to see if anything good comes off the current one.

I think you've just made my point.

Hectic

Yeah possibly - I'm just trying to keep an open mind and see how things shape now in the second year of it while being well aware of the possibilities.

NatSoSaff

There is no doubt the lack of real consequence or reward for league performance over the course of 15 games has some advantages. But outside young players getting game time and maybe lads being able to take holidays here and there without much fuss made, I don't see how the lack of competitiveness is a good thing.

Hectic

#36998
Going round in circles but what do we place as priority - our county team or our club teams? Or is there a solution that serves both?

Is a more competitive league structure without county players a benefit to the county?

And if so how?

Or would it just create a more competitive league to be played out among the teams less hindered by county sacrifice.

And is there such a thing as clubs more likely to have a number of their best players in the County squad? If so and we don't have them developing younger players in division 1 are we hindering their next batch of potential county players?

Don't know.

More questions than answers.

SlemishSoldier31

Antrim u20's as big as 9/1 tonight with the bookmakers at home to a Donegal side who wouldn't even be fancied to win Ulster at this age group.

From what I've gathered this is a decent u20 side with some real talent and under great management of Colin Toal who I see as the future senior county manager.

I believe this is disrespectful from the bookies and a great chance for punters to clip them and rinse the crookmakers tonight.

Regards,
SS

InnocentByStander

Quote from: SlemishSoldier31 on March 26, 2025, 02:59:53 PMAntrim u20's as big as 9/1 tonight with the bookmakers at home to a Donegal side who wouldn't even be fancied to win Ulster at this age group.

From what I've gathered this is a decent u20 side with some real talent and under great management of Colin Toal who I see as the future senior county manager.

I believe this is disrespectful from the bookies and a great chance for punters to clip them and rinse the crookmakers tonight.

Regards,
SS


seems that this board has been infiltrated by the Schutzstaffel

Stillwater2

Quote from: SlemishSoldier31 on March 26, 2025, 02:59:53 PMAntrim u20's as big as 9/1 tonight with the bookmakers at home to a Donegal side who wouldn't even be fancied to win Ulster at this age group.

From what I've gathered this is a decent u20 side with some real talent and under great management of Colin Toal who I see as the future senior county manager.

I believe this is disrespectful from the bookies and a great chance for punters to clip them and rinse the crookmakers tonight.

Regards,
SS
Welcome Colin.

BigGreenField

Those are good odds until you check that the opposition are 14/1 on.

paddyjohn

Great odds until you look at twitter.

Milltown Row2

None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought.