Antrim Football Thread

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

That also rings true for our club teams at present though. Our top team is mediocre at best by the standards of other counties.

[Spike]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

[YoungSaff]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

Could you name the best starting 15 in the county atm I am curious to see this as you think they would beat the county team?

[Spike]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

Could you name the best starting 15 in the county atm I am curious to see this as you think they would beat the county team?

are you seriously telling me you couldn't name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick?   Do you watch Senior football?

[ck]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

Could you name the best starting 15 in the county atm I am curious to see this as you think they would beat the county team?

are you seriously telling me you couldn't name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick?   Do you watch Senior football?

Go on. Put your money where your mouth is. Name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick.

[YoungSaff]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

Could you name the best starting 15 in the county atm I am curious to see this as you think they would beat the county team?

are you seriously telling me you couldn't name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick?  Do you watch Senior football?

I agree with you in the sense that there are better players not in the squad in the county but in every position ? Factor in injuries etc and its hard. Definitely improvements in a few positions but do not think there is a better 15 really

[YoungSaff]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

Could you name the best starting 15 in the county atm I am curious to see this as you think they would beat the county team?

are you seriously telling me you couldn't name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick?   Do you watch Senior football?

Go on. Put your money where your mouth is. Name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick.

Agree CK , I am genuinely just interested to see your POV not in a cheeky way. There are some good talents outside county squad but I don't think we could have a much better 15

[BigGreenField]

While the current make up of the county senior team ais an interesting diversion and helps Cargin supporters circle the wagons ahead of Championsjp it's not really the main issue, neither is the structure of the leagues (although it is wrong)

Standards of coaching (both quantity and quality) have to go up. In patches they are and this is reflected in the range of which clubs are beginning to make progress  at juvenile level. How to force this is a challenge, it's a volunteer gig. Personally, I'd give clubs a "rating" of coaching quality of some description , if that comes with restrictions/teeth if not at a min level is a tougher one.

Schools need to enter higher standard competition , accept they won't win them but exposing players even at group stages to higher standards has long term benefits. It's no surprise that the county border clubs are the strongest in recent years as their players have had repeat high level schools exposure in Derry or Armagh.

From a county dev perspective I think they need to be tougher on athletes who are
Multi sport and missing out on key development because of  another sport, sign up to a min number of sessions or make way for a player who will - build the culture of minimum standards here.

S&C - in patches this is improving, teams are more athletic. Not convinced enough are doing the required amount of foundation building from 16 on that needs done. Other counties run the model of regional S & C with a large number taking part in 3 or 4 hubs, again if players sign up then county takes them in for S &C regardless of if they are on the playing panel (clubs or paid for private facilities are the gyms, county provides the expertise)

Gaelfast role is to raise awareness of games and increase participation, i think they are doing that with bigger all resources.  Clubs are increasingly sending volunteers into Local primary schools to help with PE and after schools sessions with volunteers taking time off to do this. Huge effort and getting more consistent ball in hand
time for kids.

[Take the Mark]

I don't want to come across as a snob    so I won't mention any names from Cargin but there are certainly players in the county better than a lot of those starting for Antrim. Smyth from Dunloy, along with Seán Elliott. Ruari McCann another, McAleer another, Healy another...

[YoungSaff]

I don't want to come across as a snob    so I won't mention any names from Cargin but there are certainly players in the county better than a lot of those starting for Antrim. Smyth from Dunloy, along with Seán Elliott. Ruari McCann another, McAleer another, Healy another...

Agreed them lads are all great players , however Seaan elliot opted for the hurlers , Healy refused the county squad as he is in Dublin as far as I am aware? You sort of have to play the cards you are dealt , from Cargin I would say Jamie Gribbin and big Pat Shivers the only two who would be touching near the seniors team excluding the others who aren't already there

[Gaels1789]

I don't want to come across as a snob    so I won't mention any names from Cargin but there are certainly players in the county better than a lot of those starting for Antrim. Smyth from Dunloy, along with Seán Elliott. Ruari McCann another, McAleer another, Healy another...

Agreed them lads are all great players , however Seaan elliot opted for the hurlers , Healy refused the county squad as he is in Dublin as far as I am aware? You sort of have to play the cards you are dealt , from Cargin I would say Jamie Gribbin and big Pat Shivers the only two who would be touching near the seniors team excluding the others who aren't already there



The 2 smalls from Creggan, Eamon fyfe
And james o'Connell


4 forwards that could 100% play at the county level,

And are easily better than a few on that panel.

[Take the Mark]

agree there Gaels especially O'Connell. Bags of talent and craft. At least 1 of the Smalls yes. Tiernan McCormick of MG as well a certain starter.

Young Saff - whether they are available or not is irrelevant to the question asked

[YoungSaff]

I don't want to come across as a snob    so I won't mention any names from Cargin but there are certainly players in the county better than a lot of those starting for Antrim. Smyth from Dunloy, along with Seán Elliott. Ruari McCann another, McAleer another, Healy another...

Agreed them lads are all great players , however Seaan elliot opted for the hurlers , Healy refused the county squad as he is in Dublin as far as I am aware? You sort of have to play the cards you are dealt , from Cargin I would say Jamie Gribbin and big Pat Shivers the only two who would be touching near the seniors team excluding the others who aren't already there



The 2 smalls from Creggan, Eamon fyfe
And james o'Connell


4 forwards that could 100% play at the county level,

And are easily better than a few on that panel.

Just had to sneak one of your own clubmen in there , I seen James playing against cargin in the championship..

Fyfe is just about allowed to play for Glenravel with soccer commitments never mind the county

the two Smalls have been with the county before , Kevin had been out with a long term injury and Conor was not to county standard when I last saw him.

I agree 100% there are great players outside this squad but is there circumstances holding them from playing or is there no want to play?

[YoungSaff]

agree there Gaels especially O'Connell. Bags of talent and craft. At least 1 of the Smalls yes. Tiernan McCormick of MG as well a certain starter.

Young Saff - whether they are available or not is irrelevant to the question asked

Correct is Irrelevant to the question , still do not think there is a full better 15 majority listed have been forwards

[Spike]

though its still much better than our county side. Go figure.

Could you name the best starting 15 in the county atm I am curious to see this as you think they would beat the county team?

are you seriously telling me you couldn't name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick?   Do you watch Senior football?

Go on. Put your money where your mouth is. Name a better starting 15 in the county outside of the 15 that started against Limerick.

Lads our county captain last year got rinsed by an Antrim Masters player.  Finding 15 better starters is easy, perhaps more of a stretch to get to a 25 man panel.   

i'll give you some hints of players off the top of my head. Without restrictions on call ups, age, travelling and such like,   8 Cargin, 5 Creggan, 2 Lamh Dearg, 3 Portglenone, 3 Dunloy.   I could add for a fuller squad an Aghagallon man, 2 more Dunloy, 1 St Endas, 1 St Galls, none of whom started on that pitch against Limerick.
 
I'm not even counting Matty Fitzpatrick in the above.

Thats where we are as a county.  the county of Short cuts.

The really tragic thing is this wasn't even difficult.  If i had more than 5 minutes and the time that list would grow.