Antrim Football Thread

[SaffronSports]

I see folk talking about relegation playoffs. Was it not said that there would be no playoffs?

[YoungSaff]

I see folk talking about relegation playoffs. Was it not said that there would be no playoffs?

maybe i missed that i assumed it was the same as last year with the play offs in the league

[Take the Mark]

Moneyglass will be fine in Division 2, a much younger team than they've had previously but plenty of talent to trouble other teams in that league. Having watched the IFC final last year I think St Teresa's could struggle - they got a real beating in that final.

[Round or stuffed]

Any predictions for the league i will list mine below hopefully this catches on will be interesting to see !

Div 1 Winners - St Bridgits
Div 1- Relegated (from League) - Aldergrove

Div 2 Winners - St Endas
Div 2 Relegated - Gort Na Mona

Div 3 Winners - St Agnes

I predict different championship results however I can see the league panning out this way .

likewise in division 2 I think any of 5 teams at the top could win it and say of the 5 at the bottom could be relegated when it comes to the split, would love to hear the argument why Gort are favourite for the chop, is it purely down to last years results, I think we've seen when it comes to intermediate past performance definetely ins't an indicator for future results

For Gort i just had heard chat they had lost a few men from last year , and also basing off last year , however if they can get together i think they could be safe , you just wonder is the hunger there for them compared to the likes of newly promoted teams

as far as I'm aware they have anyone who played last year out again this year, maybe even an addition or two, really young team last year apart from the few old heads that have been around forever. the only departure I've heard was a fella mcdonagh to st galls who might have played one game last year, if anyone could enlighten us how he's getting on, what I gather is he didn't train at all for Gort.

two county u20's this year, which would be a first for a long time, is there also a wee lad who is captain of the county minors from there? didn't they beat glenavy in a championship group game, that must have been their first championship victory in an age. don't get me wrong, they could certainly go down, or they could compete rightly, like most intermediate or indeed west Belfast teams, thrive or implode is the order of the day.

agree that Lisburn could be a dark horse, but from what I've seen and heard, davitts, teresa's and sarsfields have issues, maybe they always do. and Rasharkin were no great shakes last year. its far from a done deal

[SaffronSports]

I see folk talking about relegation playoffs. Was it not said that there would be no playoffs?

maybe i missed that i assumed it was the same as last year with the play offs in the league

I definitely read on here that they were looking to drop the playoffs as they wanted to avoid teams tanking in the league knowing that if they won one match they'd stay up anyway. No idea if it officially came in or not though

[Hectic]

There are some teams in Div 1 that will need to make hay while the sun shines.

That will be the teams who are among the weakest when at full strength. 

And they won't want to get caught in relegation playoffs with the like of Dunloy or others who will be welcoming back players at that stage - county contingent (hurling and football) and even soccer to an extent.

As for winners - Div 1 hard to call as come winner playoffs it could be any sort of lineup as we saw last year.

Endas should have enough for a Division 2 that is half way to being a Division 3 these days.

Will go Ardoyne for Division 3 without knowing a great deal about them beyond knowing they are generally good at that level.  But a few clubs there that if they get tuned in could be a shout - O'Ds an example.

[Hectic]

I see folk talking about relegation playoffs. Was it not said that there would be no playoffs?

maybe i missed that i assumed it was the same as last year with the play offs in the league

I definitely read on here that they were looking to drop the playoffs as they wanted to avoid teams tanking in the league knowing that if they won one match they'd stay up anyway. No idea if it officially came in or not though

Though I am pretty sure the point in the playoffs is to help teams give up players to county full time and not suffer relegation as a result.  Which suggests they are here to stay at the moment.

I'd be more inclined to drop the playoffs at the top  than the bottom given how they panned out last year with TNN not fielding and Cargin fielding their reserves.  Ballymena also pretty weakened from memory and not even sure what St Brigids brought to them.

[Milltown Row2]

I see folk talking about relegation playoffs. Was it not said that there would be no playoffs?

maybe i missed that i assumed it was the same as last year with the play offs in the league

I definitely read on here that they were looking to drop the playoffs as they wanted to avoid teams tanking in the league knowing that if they won one match they'd stay up anyway. No idea if it officially came in or not though

Though I am pretty sure the point in the playoffs is to help teams give up players to county full time and not suffer relegation as a result.  Which suggests they are here to stay at the moment.

I'd be more inclined to drop the playoffs at the top  than the bottom given how they panned out last year with TNN not fielding and Cargin fielding their reserves.  Ballymena also pretty weakened from memory and not even sure what St Brigids brought to them.

Not sure from the game I watched that Cargin played the reserve team, they might not have been full strength but it wasn't a full reserve team

[Hectic]

Reserve team maybe a bit of an exaggeration but point more about having a playoff to decide who are league champions when teams either can't field or are a long way off full strength.

[SLIGONIAN]

Well lads, first of, fully support you in playing Armagh in Corrigan, hopefully you get home advantage and hopefully can get the win.

Huge winner takes all game on Sunday. How are ye fixed for it? Not sure ye would be in this position had ye not got men sent off against Offaly and Laois? Are they suspended or all back? I think we are starting to improve but away from home is always tougher and we have been inconsistent this year. No lead is safe for us. I'm sure Antrim management were at the game yesterday to give us a watch.

[Sportacus]

Well lads, first of, fully support you in playing Armagh in Corrigan, hopefully you get home advantage and hopefully can get the win.

Huge winner takes all game on Sunday. How are ye fixed for it? Not sure ye would be in this position had ye not got men sent off against Offaly and Laois? Are they suspended or all back? I think we are starting to improve but away from home is always tougher and we have been inconsistent this year. No lead is safe for us. I'm sure Antrim management were at the game yesterday to give us a watch.

I'm very surprised you've been struggling.  Was very impressed with a lot of your players in Croke Park last year.  Thought Sligo would be table toppers to be honest.

[SLIGONIAN]

Well lads, first of, fully support you in playing Armagh in Corrigan, hopefully you get home advantage and hopefully can get the win.

Huge winner takes all game on Sunday. How are ye fixed for it? Not sure ye would be in this position had ye not got men sent off against Offaly and Laois? Are they suspended or all back? I think we are starting to improve but away from home is always tougher and we have been inconsistent this year. No lead is safe for us. I'm sure Antrim management were at the game yesterday to give us a watch.

I'm very surprised you've been struggling.  Was very impressed with a lot of your players in Croke Park last year.  Thought Sligo would be table toppers to be honest.

We did too with the players we have available but looks like we very poorly prepared for the start of the season. The management have finally cottoned on to a few of the weaker players in the team. Its been a pattern to start badly for a few years now so hopefully out trajectory is the same and we keep improving as the year goes on. Going down would be a disaster but it looks like its between us and yourselves. We have Mayo away in Connacht so tough draw their too.

[ck]

Well lads, first of, fully support you in playing Armagh in Corrigan, hopefully you get home advantage and hopefully can get the win.

Huge winner takes all game on Sunday. How are ye fixed for it? Not sure ye would be in this position had ye not got men sent off against Offaly and Laois? Are they suspended or all back? I think we are starting to improve but away from home is always tougher and we have been inconsistent this year. No lead is safe for us. I'm sure Antrim management were at the game yesterday to give us a watch.

I'm very surprised you've been struggling.  Was very impressed with a lot of your players in Croke Park last year.  Thought Sligo would be table toppers to be honest.

We did too with the players we have available but looks like we very poorly prepared for the start of the season. The management have finally cottoned on to a few of the weaker players in the team. Its been a pattern to start badly for a few years now so hopefully out trajectory is the same and we keep improving as the year goes on. Going down would be a disaster but it looks like its between us and yourselves. We have Mayo away in Connacht so tough draw their too.

Yeah I think its a relegation playoff in Corrigan Park for sure as Antrim will struggle in Kildare a week later and Sligo will beat Leitrim. Both teams will equally see relegation as a disaster and a major setback for their respective managers.

[Take the Mark]

Not sure of the status of the men red carded but surely they are back by now. They wouldn't be key men for me though rumour has it Antrim could be without a couple of the more prominent players, certainly for Sunday and possibly beyond.

[YoungSaff]

A fellow board member had sent me a tip for Cheltenham today if anyone fancies it !!

July flower 8/1 EW 3:20