Antrim Football Thread

[EOC1923]

Cavan and Fermanagh are likely to still be in the Tailteann Cup. Only 16 go into the Sam Maguire and that includes Westmeath and one of Sligo, Leitrim, London or New York. Unless Cavan or Fermanagh reach the Ulster final they'll be Tailteann Cup. If another div 3 or 4 team make a provincial final, I think Meath might drop in too.

I didn't see any of the football matches but read this thread regularly. Pre league, the attitude was staying up would be an achievement the way things were going. Now those same people are saying just staying up was a bad campaign. It's tough enough for a county like Antrim without our own ripping into the team.

You could still stay up, be happy about it but also realise it was a 'bad campaign' as you put it.

[Spike]

I see where you are coming from however, you got to be realistic. Look at the wider picture.

I am realistic and have panoramic views          Ulster Championship is forever the baseline.   By all means make the most of the Tailteann once we are there but lets not be embracing it and looking forward already being in it.    We should be dragged into it, almost embarrassed playing in it and using it as motivation to do our utmost to get back out of it.    Andy's not here for the Tailteann Cup. 

[country bumpkin]

The league campaign was just ok, There are ifs, buts and maybes in every league campaign, some positives and some negatives but the biggest positive was that we stayed up. 
It has to be said the bar has been significantly lowered for Andy. Div 3 survival only and now some appear to be satisfied with a Tailteann Cup run, already binning the Championship when it should be the other way around.  The Tailteann is like the Europa League and no one cares about it until you are in the final. I will go out on a limb and suggest a high number of those clamouring for Tailteann Cup priority have long time empty trophy cabinets in their clubs. 

Andy has been round a few corners and will only have eyes on the ulster championship.  if he didn't I would be seriously worried.   He has done enough this year to suggest he can build on this and with a full panel have a go at promotion next year.

but lets not be lowering his bar completely to a credible run in the Tailteann Cup.  Andy is here to make progress in the Championship, and being the competitive man he is I am sure that is his objective.   A run in the Tailteann will add a nice gloss and Antrim will try their best to make headway in it but it is a secondary issue.  Andy's focus is on championship where it should be, not second tier.

Can’t argue with any of that

Wise words indeed....akin to failure in the championship and turning attention to the 'O' Cahan Cup.....

'Freshen the squad''? Is that a call up to personnel who did not agree to league duty.....?

Retention of third grade status is the prize gained and an sure full attention will now be totally focused on championship and the 'Orange men'

[bannside]

Disagree Spike tbh, but sure it's only individual opinions. Andys opinion is the one that matters, and yes he will want to put on a good show against Armagh.

But - its a long time since we judged any manager on the championship, we all know Antrims priority is being competitive / successful in our own grade. Now that the GAA has put additional emphasis on the Tailteean Cup its a competition we should be embracing.

We want to be competitive against Armagh- but personally I would love to win the Tailltean,  I think that would give us a much bigger boost than you think and set us up really well for a proper crack at Div 3 next year.

To translate that thinking to club football and equate it to bring mentally weak it should be pointed out that before any club has aspirations of winning a senior championship it needs to navigate its way through junior , intermediate and the lower leagues to earn the right to dine in that company. We all know that's not where we are atm, so why not prioritise the competition of the grade we are at?

[Spike]

BS, fully entitled to your viewpoint and i get your thinking,  I just would differ from it. A Tailteann win can only be good for us, no negatives at all but I think its Plan B rather than Plan A.

[InnocentByStander]

Everyone has their own view and that but the long and the short of it is we aren't going to win the Ulster Championship.

But my question is when and will ever our championship aspirations be winning the Ulster championship.
I believe a major factor in our county under performing begins at the schools, there should be much more done to promote football in schools.
With the whole Antrim schools cup that is definitely a start, but a county the size of Antrim to not have a school constantly in the Macrory cup is a disgrace.

You can see the repercussions of this at club level as well clubs like Cargin, Creggan and Aghagllon thieving because their young players are playing schools football at the highest level, as they tend to send their players to St Mary's Magherafelt St Pats Maghera and St Ronans Lurgan who all have been prominent figures in the Ulster Colleges senior level now for a few years.

I believe if we have high profile GAA people poaching players for a certain schools, not only would the young persons' club see them improve and their club but this could help Antrim at the inter county stage as well.

If you want further examples: Pat Shivers, Sean O'neill from Cargin played Macorry football for Maghera Young Johsntone from Cargin was outstanding in winning a Macrory for St Marys Adam Loughran Luke Mulholland Played huge parts in winning not just a macrory but a Hogan aswell. All these players currently on the panel for Antrim
Look at Derry i wouldnt be surprised if everyone of their starters played Macrory football with a number of medals in there and even a few Hogan medals aswell.

[bannside]

We all would live that but to get to McRory level is a reward for grade A standard consistency  from year 8 and upwards, and usually with a few grade B trophies in the cabinet. Our schools are a fair bit off that atm, but no harm in targeting these first and build some momentum.

Best of luck to our U 20 players and management who are in championship action tonight in Ballybofey. Seen this team a couple of times this year and wouldn't be surprised if we can get a result.

[marty34]

Has any county a plan - by that I mean a 5/10 year plan or is it a case of make it up as they go?

The top level stuff is a business but I don't see it.

At inter-county level, it just seems short-sighted. A new manager in...for a year or two. Then he gets the boot and another comes in etc. etc. No planning at all, just doodling along feom year to year.

[Milltown Row2]

What would the playing population (football wise) in Antrim be? Chat on another thread was that you need over 9,000 players to reach senior finals either Ulster or All Ireland level

[NatSoSaff]

I wouldn't reckon Monaghan or Fermanagh have near those figures MR2 and both of those Counties have been punching well above their weight in Ulster finals?

[realisticsaff]

What would the playing population (football wise) in Antrim be? Chat on another thread was that you need over 9,000 players to reach senior finals either Ulster or All Ireland level

Monaghan defeats this point

[Milltown Row2]

I wouldn't reckon Monaghan or Fermanagh have near those figures MR2 and both of those Counties have been punching well above their weight in Ulster finals?

They don't hurl to a top level either so they have a concentrated footballing league which never has to worry about distractions..

Like I said, I'm just asking the question as it was brought up on another thread, wouldn't be privy to the actual playing numbers

[Milltown Row2]

I wouldn't reckon Monaghan or Fermanagh have near those figures MR2 and both of those Counties have been punching well above their weight in Ulster finals?

Just googled there

Monaghan have 5,000 men between ages 20 and 34 playing football it seems

[antrimman667]

Is there a link for the u20 match tn

[imtommygunn]

Has any county a plan - by that I mean a 5/10 year plan or is it a case of make it up as they go?

The top level stuff is a business but I don't see it.

At inter-county level, it just seems short-sighted. A new manager in...for a year or two. Then he gets the boot and another comes in etc. etc. No planning at all, just doodling along feom year to year.

The lesser counties - very much ourselves included - fall into this category. Our games are that advanced that you need about 2-3 years to get players to the right level of fitness and conditioning for county. We change manages, and squads, regularly so there is no continuity and then players never get to the required pace.

You see now that Gleeson being in a few years has got us some continuity but the football has been a disaster for changing. We need to stick with someone and if not stick with a core set of players at least.

I imagine following on twitter would be the best you would get antrimman but not sure.