Antrim Football Thread

[country bumpkin]

Five under-15 league games played since August 10th....6 if counting Cargin v St Mary's....

Five were played on 10th August, one was played after.

Dead rubber u15 game played tonight....at Hannahstown v Aghagallon....

[country bumpkin]

Every game played after the deadline is a dead rubber.

Points were awarded.......

[BelSaft]

Cargin by 2
Rossa by 1
LD by 6
PG1 by 8
Aghagallon by 8
Creggan by 5

Cargin by 7
Rossa by 2
St Endas by 5
Pg1/Ahoghill draw
MG/ Aghagallon  draw
Dunloy by 2

[GAAhead2013]

So at u-15 is it one match per fortnight?

How long does the season last?

I've only a daughter that plays now and there's just different days for her to be playing across football and Camogie.

U-12 Camogie is a Sunday, football is a Friday night.

U-14 Camogie is a Saturday, u-16 football is a Thursday.

U-16 Camogie is a monday, u-16 football is a Tuesday.

She's at two different clubs due to where we live and sometimes training clashes but we just manage how we operate it.

Surely something like that could be organised where there's a set day and you aim to get a match per week. If it's too much for them, they'll probably pick one code eventually but the more matches the better imo as long as training is managed well.

The problem here is that if the kids are good enough to play the age grade above, then she plays games 4 nights of the week. This might also mean they're capable of playing county level where a specific training programme might be in place for them. Add to that school teams of their own age and age above and add to that any additional sports the child plays.
At what stage do they get the chance to actually train? Whilst games are great for kids, we need them training also to refine their skills. There is an argument for games based coaching, but that's in a controlled environment where the coach can dictate appropriate development through coaching progressions. If they're playing so many games per week, at what stage do they actually get the chance to develop their bodies for sport away from the field? From 15+ do we not want to be educating our youngsters on injury prevention and a healthy lifestyle in the gym too?

Re the dual question, almost sure Dublin do a hurling week and a football week. Instead of playing the same teams over and over why not use the week off (as a non dual club) to go get a challenge game
Every 2nd 4th week in nearby counties etc? A chance to freshen up the schedule and expose your team to other styles of players & football/hurling?
Def think the games programme could be adapted differently too. Have the 15 a side comps at certain times of the year and 7-9 a side comps at other times of the year. We have breaks for exams and breaks for holidays and even teams failing to field at these times of the year. Why not try a weekly small sided competition where teams can enter 1 team or 4 teams depending on numbers? Have the competition at certain times of the year (eg exams, hols) so the kids can have a consistent games programme instead of other teams failing to field as they were never going to get 13-15 kids together anyway.

[Dreen]

A lot of good points there but the challenge game doesn't work if the neighbouring counties are playing games every week and we are the only county in Ulster who run dual to the level we do.

[GAAhead2013]

A lot of good points there but the challenge game doesn't work if the neighbouring counties are playing games every week and we are the only county in Ulster who run dual to the level we do.

I don't know the other county fixtures to look at that. But what's the solution? If we run it all together in the same week, we end up with the league over a lot quicker and many lads/ladies being run into the ground.
A non-dual league every second week? Just means you potentially play the same team 4 times that year but allows for more game opps and the dual lads don't get hammered? Only thing is, I don't fancy putting my hand up for fixtures in CB this year     Which is probably what it all comes down to.
If it's a serious issue get it raised through club officials and recommend a fixtures 'task force' to review and resolve.

[Milltown Row2]

What's your end goal here? More league games? Or kids just having fun?

Typically kids play for club and school all year round, training with the school and club and games with both. If the lad/girl plays both they are getting plenty of games and having fun.

Parents/coaches/clubs sometimes need to remember what the association was set up for

Our sport isn't just about producing all Ireland champions, unfortunately there will be counties or clubs will never be in that position.

Kids should be playing both codes through to senior and pick one at senior level and play for the reserves at the other.

[Dreen]

We shouldn't be starting juvenile leagues early March for a start and also in my opinion not running minor games on a Sunday which is puts pressure on referee numbers also.
Gaahead, it's been raised for years and task forces and meetings and it has be tried this way and that but it's needs changed again and I think it will.  I'm talking about underage hurling and boys football.
The camogie and ladies football is a different story

Your point is fair MR2 about playing both codes to senior but what do you do with the clubs that only play one code?

Are we saying that our games are just fun at underage? Kids want games, that's what you train for.

U12 down will be go games and above that has to be developmental yes but competitive.

[EOC1923]

All pretty much went to script tonight, McBride was decent for St John's and one or two others but huge difference in fitness and conditioning between the two teams I thought.
Tougher tests ahead, Moneyglass v Aghagallon could be an interesting game by all accounts.

[Hoof Hearted]

All pretty much went to script tonight, McBride was decent for St John's and one or two others but huge difference in fitness and conditioning between the two teams I thought.
Tougher tests ahead, Moneyglass v Aghagallon could be an interesting game by all accounts.

Never saw as big a full forward line on any team
Shivers Kelly Quinn
Throw in mcshane, stork, conor Johnston
There's a lot of physique there to go with their football

[country bumpkin]

Struggle to see a realistic challenger rsise their head to offer challenge to Cargin....

Biased I know.....but feel free with opinion.....

[stiffler]

Struggle to see a realistic challenger rsise their head to offer challenge to Cargin....

Biased I know.....but feel free with opinion.....

I still think portglenone will come good once they have their key men back.

[bannside]

Hold that horse, we need to beat Ahoghill today or its curtains for us.

CB you are entitled to that view, you are already contemplating your provincial campaign, and how on paper and injury wise Cargin are far better positioned than last year. That sets the bar very high for the chasing pack.

[stiffler]

Hold that horse, we need to beat Ahoghill today or its curtains for us.

CB you are entitled to that view, you are already contemplating your provincial campaign, and how on paper and injury wise Cargin are far better positioned than last year. That sets the bar very high for the chasing pack.

Does a draw not get you through ?

[bannside]

Yes, but only if St Endas don't win at Hannahstown. I can't see that happening tbh. Portglenone need a performance to get their championship started, hopefully that's today. Still missing a few (injuries and suspension) but you've got to live with that!