Antrim Football Thread

[Christmas Lights]

We're all guilty of Antrim's current malaise.

Supporters, coaches, clubs - we have done nowhere near enough. Wrong culture, wrong coaching, wrong  structures.

Players as well shouldn't be absolved. Any player that gets to u20s level and hasn't worked on their physique  for  5 years, despite all the information out there, has questions to answer


Time for the county as a collective to accept our roles in this and change the foundations for the better 

Anyone think Casement Park has had a big impact on things? Last good Antrim teams that reached Ulster finals and decent minor teams where pre closure of Casement.  A generation of players came through there with no identity of their county,  nowhere to call home. It's something that really needs sorted out ASAP so another generation isn't lost. Intermediate and junior finals played in random grounds around the country just doesn't cut it either.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Zero impact.

We've been nowhere near it for over 50 years.

[paddyjohn]

We're all guilty of Antrim's current malaise.

Supporters, coaches, clubs - we have done nowhere near enough. Wrong culture, wrong coaching, wrong  structures.

Players as well shouldn't be absolved. Any player that gets to u20s level and hasn't worked on their physique  for  5 years, despite all the information out there, has questions to answer


Time for the county as a collective to accept our roles in this and change the foundations for the better 

Anyone think Casement Park has had a big impact on things? Last good Antrim teams that reached Ulster finals and decent minor teams where pre closure of Casement.  A generation of players came through there with no identity of their county,  nowhere to call home. It's something that really needs sorted out ASAP so another generation isn't lost. Intermediate and junior finals played in random grounds around the country just doesn't cut it either.

Casement has been used as an excuse for our failings. We hit it lucky in 2009, St Galls at their peak and Cargin strong also, people won't like me saying it but those 2 sides have been the best in the last 20 years. When they were strong so were the county. Too many clubs in the City and a few on their knees in the south west.

[NatSoSaff]

We're all guilty of Antrim's current malaise.

Supporters, coaches, clubs - we have done nowhere near enough. Wrong culture, wrong coaching, wrong  structures.

Players as well shouldn't be absolved. Any player that gets to u20s level and hasn't worked on their physique  for  5 years, despite all the information out there, has questions to answer


Time for the county as a collective to accept our roles in this and change the foundations for the better 

Probably the truest post I've read on here. Bring your boots to the accountability fountain and fill them, because I agree there is plenty to go around for us all.

[BigGreenField]

In the short term I suspect our u20's would welcome any support on Saturday. They aren't where they want to be and while wrapping a saffron flag around something doesn't make it better perhaps a start to acknowledge we are in the crapper together by giving them a bit of support.

After that I presume there will be a slew of motions at club and at county agm on coaching structures and standards.

[whatwillbwillb]

Zero impact.

We've been nowhere near it for over 50 years.

Perfectly summed up, your spot on!

[bannside]

We're all guilty of Antrim's current malaise.

Supporters, coaches, clubs - we have done nowhere near enough. Wrong culture, wrong coaching, wrong  structures.

Players as well shouldn't be absolved. Any player that gets to u20s level and hasn't worked on their physique  for  5 years, despite all the information out there, has questions to answer


Time for the county as a collective to accept our roles in this and change the foundations for the better 

Probably the truest post I've read on here. Bring your boots to the accountability fountain and fill them, because I agree there is plenty to go around for us all.

Totally agree. There's no hiding place, no excuse for this continual level of mediocrity. We are all culpable.

Also, nothing to be gained by taking pot shots at management or players.

Look in the mirror and see what you can do, influence or sponsor. And for the vast majority that will be around juvenile development in your own club.

[bannside]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41602156.html

And on it goes.

[Milltown Row2]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41602156.html

And on it goes.

The longer they wait the more expensive it becomes...

[YoungSaff]

Yes, Casement bar still open

Afh doint. I know.  Thie wiife couminh to get mei noew

Hopefully this fella got home in one piece  , Many of good nights had in the casement social club , it would be good for the people on the board to get together some ni9ght and chat all things antrim if the interest was there? Maybe be too many clashes of heads lol

[Saffrongael]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41602156.html

And on it goes.

The longer they wait the more expensive it becomes...

What Ulster Gaa want from the UK government isn't coming, they can't really have been much clearer - so time to cut the cloth accordingly. £125m committed and if you got another 25m from UK government a £150m stadium could build you something decent. Will the egos in the GAA go for that though ?

[The_Saffron_serpent69]

Home safe all. although, If anyone is in the area can they keep an eye out for my dignity I think I left it in casements bar last night

[Cnoc Bán]

Full time coaches in our main secondary schools would be a good start. By main I mean central catchment areas for a lot of our clubs and big school populations.  Thinking St Mal's, St Mary's, St Louis Ballymena and possibly others.

What are the obstacles there?

Finance I assume is one?

And if finance the major stumbling block then would we be better forgoing development squads and aiming to put full time coaches in most schools?

Same coaches and same players getting coached, plus a lot more.  And they will be playing competitively in competitions from year 8 right through.

While schools hurling in Ulster is Tier 2, football has Tier 1 meaning our schools can aim to play at the very top end.  Plus Ulster schools dominate at All Ireland level in Tier 1 meaning if you can get in there you are competing against the very best. Maybe that is the point SS was trying to make.

Appreciate there may be an element where the schools don't put sporting achievement high among their priorities.  If that's the case can they be convinced?

St Louis currently have Emmett Bradley, Paddy McAleer and Sean Cassidy teaching there.

While they aren't full time coaches, surely you'd think between them they could get a tune out of their teams.

I mentioned before on here, county/Gaelfast should providing that extra assistance to them to take things up a level.

Even looking into an idea of having a combined schools team, like they do in Donegal, to push for entry in the MacRory Cup.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Full time coaches in our main secondary schools would be a good start. By main I mean central catchment areas for a lot of our clubs and big school populations.  Thinking St Mal's, St Mary's, St Louis Ballymena and possibly others.

What are the obstacles there?

Finance I assume is one?

And if finance the major stumbling block then would we be better forgoing development squads and aiming to put full time coaches in most schools?

Same coaches and same players getting coached, plus a lot more.  And they will be playing competitively in competitions from year 8 right through.

While schools hurling in Ulster is Tier 2, football has Tier 1 meaning our schools can aim to play at the very top end.  Plus Ulster schools dominate at All Ireland level in Tier 1 meaning if you can get in there you are competing against the very best. Maybe that is the point SS was trying to make.

Appreciate there may be an element where the schools don't put sporting achievement high among their priorities.  If that's the case can they be convinced?

St Louis currently have Emmett Bradley, Paddy McAleer and Sean Cassidy teaching there.

While they aren't full time coaches, surely you'd think between them they could get a tune out of their teams.

I mentioned before on here, county/Gaelfast should providing that extra assistance to them to take things up a level.

Even looking into an idea of having a combined schools team, like they do in Donegal, to push for entry in the MacRory Cup.

Why?
If it was that simple, you'd think there'd be a lot more tunes out of our county than we've had in the last 50 years.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Full time coaches in our main secondary schools would be a good start. By main I mean central catchment areas for a lot of our clubs and big school populations.  Thinking St Mal's, St Mary's, St Louis Ballymena and possibly others.

What are the obstacles there?

Finance I assume is one?

And if finance the major stumbling block then would we be better forgoing development squads and aiming to put full time coaches in most schools?

Same coaches and same players getting coached, plus a lot more.  And they will be playing competitively in competitions from year 8 right through.

While schools hurling in Ulster is Tier 2, football has Tier 1 meaning our schools can aim to play at the very top end.  Plus Ulster schools dominate at All Ireland level in Tier 1 meaning if you can get in there you are competing against the very best. Maybe that is the point SS was trying to make.

Appreciate there may be an element where the schools don't put sporting achievement high among their priorities.  If that's the case can they be convinced?

I imagine you will find that the most significant element is that the pupils of these schools don't put sporting achievement high among their priorities and trying to motivate them to do so is like pulling teeth.