Antrim Football Thread

[Hectic]

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.

Are you suggesting there is some sort of inverse relationship between the academic level of a school and the sporting focus of its pupils?

Because as far as I can see St Mary's CBS, St Mal's and St Louis along with CPC Ballycastle are the prominent names in Antrim Cup finals in both football and hurling since the idea was hatched a few years ago.  CPC of course being central to the hurling stronghold of North Antrim.

[paddyjohn]

It's went to the dogs since Gerry Junior left

[ck]

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.

Whilst I agree with you, I don't think anyone has had a pop at players on this forum. I was at the game and I think the set up did the players a massive disservice. Players were hung out to dry.
I just hope they can be better set up against a poor Fermanagh team for tomorrow so as to salvage something. Good luck to everyone tomorrow.

[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.

Are you suggesting there is some sort of inverse relationship between the academic level of a school and the sporting focus of its pupils?

Because as far as I can see St Mary's CBS, St Mal's and St Louis along with CPC Ballycastle are the prominent names in Antrim Cup finals in both football and hurling since the idea was hatched a few years ago.  CPC of course being central to the hurling stronghold of North Antrim.

No, and that's an odd take.

I'm saying that the most significant barrier to Antrim schools competing well in Ulster Colleges football is the take it or leave it attitude of the pupils despite the best efforts of the school staff to motivate them to do better.

It's often said that schools aren't prioritising sport. That may be the case at times but are the players themselves prioritising sport? Do they really care enough or do they treat it as a fcuk about to get out of class?

[SaffronSports]

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.

It wouldn't matter if you had Jim Gavin in high Micky Harte assisting him. You need the raw materials through the door to start with.

St Louis will suffer a bit as you probably need a Band 1 in the transfer test to get in.

St Mary's seem to be at least trying, early morning sessions for training as well as after school. They have several teachers who are heavily involved. I know from talking to someone who teaches in a sporting competitor it wouldn't happen in his school as the teachers wouldn't do the early morning sessions.

St Louis ran a GAA Camp at midterm for P5 and P6 pupils. I'd be surprised if that wasn't to get a look at kids who might be an asset to their sporting programmes in a couple of years time.

[Round or stuffed]

Whats the u20s chances tomorrow, fermanagh suffered a bad beating Wednesday too, did they beat antrim last year?

[Gaels1789]

Whats the u20s chances tomorrow, fermanagh suffered a bad beating Wednesday too, did they beat antrim last year?


Not to sure about on there game last year, but they both took heavy tanking so hopefully both come out with something to prove and maybe the 20s can get over the line

Any players from Wednesday injured?

Is hynds suspended😳?

[Delgany 2nds]

Whats the u20s chances tomorrow, fermanagh suffered a bad beating Wednesday too, did they beat antrim last year?


Not to sure about on there game last year, but they both took heavy tanking so hopefully both come out with something to prove and maybe the 20s can get over the line

Any players from Wednesday injured?

Is hynds suspended😳?

He got two yellows !

[imtommygunn]

A draw.

[Sportacus]

A draw.

Good for them.

[Round or stuffed]

a credible result, the two lads who came into the forwards done very well, Phillips and Enright. both teams quite wasteful but Antrim can probably feel like they could have won, gave away possession easily a few times to let fermanagh back in, great great conversion under pressure to salvage a draw, is the keeper suspended for the next day?

[BigGreenField]

a credible result, the two lads who came into the forwards done very well, Phillips and Enright. both teams quite wasteful but Antrim can probably feel like they could have won, gave away possession easily a few times to let fermanagh back in, great great conversion under pressure to salvage a draw, is the keeper suspended for the next day?

Thought the team quite good in the second half in a tricky wind and greasy ball, forwards had some nice shooting at times (quite a few of them right in front of goal for Fermanagh discipline) and was heading for a good win until strong Fermanagh pressure in last 5 on the Antrim kick out. Team will probably have been disappointed  not to win.

Antrim really only moved the ball quickly in attack a couple of times (otherwise quite methodical) and when they did thought they looked quite sharp, perhaps a bit too conservative as the root here.

Was I reading it wrong or did the team sheet bear only partial resemblance to the jerseys the players wore?

[Belfast GAA man]

Is Gaelfast finished?
Did Croke give the money they promised?
It was or big hope at one time

[NatSoSaff]

A credible result and show of character after a tough mid week for u20's. Well done players AND management

[thegladiator]

A credible result and show of character after a tough mid week for u20's. Well done players AND management

We should have won with a few to sapre but a good show of mental fortitude to get the equaliser at the end. A serious pressure  kick. The lack of wins at this level in recent years just told when the finish line was in sight, but it will stand to this group in their development.