Antrim Football Thread

[Upandover]

Our hurlers are saying not enough exposure to the better sides, our footballers are saying too much exposure to the better sides.

[SaffronSports]

What sort of level do the schools in Antrim play at in the football?

I'm sure St Louis would be the strongest in my locality with a decent catchment area of some of those south-west clubs. Some good footballers on the teaching staff too but what tier is that?

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I dont think they play county at all until u14 so tough to tell before that.

Well able to compete at club level in the any of the juvenile competitions and blitzes that are held around the country at these younger age groups in all codes as far as I have seen.

this would be my thoughts as well.  so something changes around 14, 15 or 16?

Comparing club/school/county is futile.

It's long before 14.

To suggest that St Louis Ballymena would have an intake in Year 8 that would be anywhere close to the same quality as St Pats Maghera is for the birds.

[BigGreenField]

I dont think they play county at all until u14 so tough to tell before that.

Well able to compete at club level in the any of the juvenile competitions and blitzes that are held around the country at these younger age groups in all codes as far as I have seen.

this would be my thoughts as well.  so something changes around 14, 15 or 16?

Comparing club/school/county is futile.

It's long before 14.

To suggest that St Louis Ballymena would have an intake in Year 8 that would be anywhere close to the same quality as St Pats Maghera is for the birds.

No doubt, presume though the cream of the footballing crop from a chunk of Antrim are heading to Magherafelt, Maghera even Cookstown so an apples and pears argument.

To my mind the gap begins to open at 14-16, when culture (amount of individual
Practice, consistent and quality of training, quality of schools competitions, level of s and c) all kicks in.

No quick fixes but good to see St Mary's cbgs making a start with an appointment. 

Antrin schools do need to enter higher standard competitions starting in 1st year .

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

When was the last time an Antrim school won a B competition? I imagine they moved to A the year after.

Though, just to mention St Pius Magherafelt, who were called out earlier for not doing enough by Dunsilly King. They won 3 Rafferty Cups (5th year B) on the trot and didn't move up nor were they made to move up.

Entering above your level is counterproductive.

And with the greatest respect to them, I've yet to look at an Antrim team and seen a divide between those who played A colleges vs B colleges or lower.

For every Michael McCann (A) there's a Kevin Niblock (C).

I mean, it's easy to point to a (somewhat??) successful club like Cargin and suggest that the exposure to A colleges football is a significant factor. Yet, ignore that our only (actual) successful club St Galls were mainly B colleges footballers. They, along with other B footballers from Antrim (M Herron, P Cunningham) played significant roles in successful Sigerson teams too.

Should getting Antrim schools up to A standard be a target? Yes. In the same way that getting Antrim up to Division 1 should be a target. There's a mountain of work to be done across the board to get either of those done.

[Spike]

Yet again the topic is way over your head. If moneyglass could handpick the best B footballers from around the South West like St Galls did in belfast and ulster, they too could have won things.  Ridiculous comparison.

Whether by stubbornness or ignorance, the understanding of the importance of a strong schools system is wilfully disregarded but fixing the school system takes work and application, something baulked at by some clubs.

In simple terms we have the weakest schools system in ulster and are the weakest county in ulster despite having a large population.   

It's an excellent initiative by St Mary's announced there.  Hopefully we will see it bear fruit in the near future.  Fixing the school system isn't the only problem to solve but it's a good start.

[Milltown Row2]

Spike and the the southwest didn't have blown ins !! Mate you are getting beyond a joke! Name a club that hasn't and I'll stop making you look stupid

[Spike]

Not to worry MR2, when St Brigids eventually win something it will mean as little to their blow ins as it meant to yours. 

When I'm relying on you to make me look stupid then I will surely have hit rock bottom.  Thank you for keeping me unreliably informed.

[bannside]

Two full time GAA coaches, St Mary's CBS and St Louis, Ballymena.

Fantastic initiative headed up by our coaching and development officer Paddy Kelly with a good sub committee behind him.

This is exactly what we need, two a great start, and if we could roll out to three or four in the near future that would be proper progress.

Both HUBs have got fantastic facilities in place now as well. Congratulations to all involved in driving this initiative.

[Plugin]

I'd say Aghagallon people hoping Pete Mc Graths story in Irish News today happens ASAP (And he takes all the rest of the mercenaries with him)
' Never say never'

[Take the Mark]

'Aghagallon people'

Your last 7 posts have been about Pete McGrath, are you not good enough to get a game for Aghagallon or whats the story?

 

[paddyjohn]

'Aghagallon people'

Your last 7 posts have been about Pete McGrath, are you not good enough to get a game for Aghagallon or whats the story?

 

Sounds that way! Pete McGrath is a complete gent. Maybe the Armagh people are jealous of him.

[Milltown Row2]

Not to worry MR2, when St Brigids eventually win something it will mean as little to their blow ins as it meant to yours. 

When I'm relying on you to make me look stupid then I will surely have hit rock bottom.  Thank you for keeping me unreliably informed.

Each time you talk about blow ins look to your own.. well publicised many times but you continue to look stupid when mentioning others.

Sticks in your throat a bit, maybe we'd blow ins during 82 and 83 

[Around the glens]

Dunloy winning the football feile to add to the hurling a few weeks ago.

[SaffronSports]

Dunloy winning the football feile to add to the hurling a few weeks ago.

Some achievement. I always think they probably have the best facilities in Antrim and theyre clearly not wasting them either.