Antrim Football Thread

[JimStynes]

There are a few here seem to be really against Andy McEntee. What's the deal here? If you are what were your expectations this year?

I like McEntee being our manager and expect more progress next season, just pointed out imo it was a poor enough league campaign when you look at the final table. We avoided relegation (not by much). I was at the Offaly and Cavan games but at none of the rest. Its all opinions and that's mine.

I thought staying in the divison at the start of the year was a main goal. Did people really expect Antrim to do any better than they did? A lot of inexperienced players are playing this year too.

[Kidder81]

There are a few here seem to be really against Andy McEntee. What's the deal here? If you are what were your expectations this year?

I like McEntee being our manager and expect more progress next season, just pointed out imo it was a poor enough league campaign when you look at the final table. We avoided relegation (not by much). I was at the Offaly and Cavan games but at none of the rest. Its all opinions and that's mine.

I thought staying in the divison at the start of the year was a main goal. Did people really expect Antrim to do any better than they did? A lot of inexperienced players are playing this year too.

It's Div 3, I don't think it would take a big pile to get out of it. Fermanagh got promoted, would anyone say they are light years ahead of us ?

[Kidder81]

Are we going to be saying the goal is to stay in Div 3 next year too? And the year after that ?

[imtommygunn]

On that day no but they beat westmeath and look what they did to us 

I don't think it's unfair to think the league campaign was just ok - it's just there did seem to be some opinions which were vehemently against him which did seem a bit harsh...

The Tailteann cup will be the big test. With the armagh game who knows what is success there. If we win it certainly would be success obviously but that is a massive ask as there is a big difference between the two teams.

[EOC1923]

With Fermanagh and Cavan going up are they not in the Tailteann Cup now ? We would appear to have as good a chance as any in that competition.

[Saffsof82]

With Fermanagh and Cavan going up are they not in the Tailteann Cup now ? We would appear to have as good a chance as any in that competition.

Was wondering that too EOC. Think Clare and Limerick having been regelated are now in Tailteann cup

[bannside]

The Tailltean Cup is our grade along with 15 other counties, and we would definitely like to be competitive in it. At the minute that's a bigger priority than throwing the whole barrel at Armagh. Andy now has time to freshen up the squad, get injured players back on the pitch and hopefully finish the year strongly. Imo...

[EOC1923]

With Fermanagh and Cavan going up are they not in the Tailteann Cup now ? We would appear to have as good a chance as any in that competition.

Was wondering that too EOC. Think Clare and Limerick having been regelated are now in Tailteann cup

Westmeath are in Sam Maguire also as last years Tailteann winners

[Kidder81]

With Fermanagh and Cavan going up are they not in the Tailteann Cup now ? We would appear to have as good a chance as any in that competition.

I didn't think promotion from Div 3 could get you into All Ireland series, you would have to get to provincial final

16 teams in all Ireland series, Westmeath already there after winning Tailteean last year. 8 provincial finalists, the other 7 from league positions

[Spike]

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.   

[Kidder81]

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

[imtommygunn]

A good bit of that I don't disagree with however... if we don't beat Armagh do you have him down as a failure?

[Spike]

A good bit of that I don't disagree with however... if we don't beat Armagh do you have him down as a failure?

No, he wont be a failure if we don't beat Armagh.  All we can expect or hope for from any manager is progress. In some ways playing a Div 2 team in the Championship is in our favour as it is doubtful Armagh will be treating the Antrim game as do or die and there lies our opportunity. The pressure is off Andy somewhat as Antrim will be massive underdogs.  Drawing Fermanagh in the championship would have came with more expectations.   

A hungry Armagh would be a much larger obstacle. 

[SaffronSports]

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.

[InnocentByStander]

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.

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