Antrim Football Thread

[YoungSaff]

Surly folks we can see that the coaching roles are extremely limited in their impact.

Honestly, what's been done that past 10 years? It's always falls to clubs

Gaelfast was a failure.

The fact we have amalgamated teams who should in their own right be wanting to compete at A Grade is nothing to applaud.

Leitrim have a 3rd of the population of west belfast hence why they need to amalgamate.

Schools like Donegal and Sligo are low population schools who've come together to compete! There's no way St Mary's, Rathmore, St Mals need to combine to play A football

I'd understand maybe La Salle who've fell away over the years, All Saints combining but really those teams who are forming that amalgamated team should have their own ambitions to compete.

You can't tell me kids in Knock or the likes are completely off kilter from what we'd get in Rathmore?

Ps it's not the coaching officers fault, it's the role it's self....Paddy Kelly has tried his best

It would be nice to see the job description from for the role. It should have one and a very specific one at that

Outside of one year in A, Knock play B football. I don't remember them ever winning a B.

Though I probably agree with your wider point. Having schools capable of competing in the MacRory is a sign that the feeder clubs are producing players and is an indication of progress. The "exposure to this level" is massively overstated IMO, especially when it has been manufactured. The important bit is still missing. I mean, we've had "exposure to that level" at county minor every year since time began and it has yet to kick us on an inch.

However, I don't see it doing any harm either.

I'd agree

With regards to the coaching posts
If we had a JD for the post we could probably see what the remit is, the responsibilities, the chain of command, the actual influence and the expectation.

I hate for this to sound like it's a dig at Paddy, it genuinely isn't.

I personally haven't seen connection or progress. Minors chinned regularly, u21 did perform well in previous years but this year was a mess (albeit it was a new management team in and their first go at that level)

These posts should be posted online (via Antrim website) and maybe we might get more interest rather than go through committees!

Stick them up and let someone who's not on the email thread go through their club and say "stick my name in for it"

This may sound crazy, but maybe we just ain't good enough and with even the best coaches in place wouldn't make any difference.

We live in a club bubble, due mainly to poor county success, so seeking success is best achieved through the club..

Lads are not prepared (in my view) to do what's necessary.. live breathe eat sleep GAA.. we will develop cracking footballers but not great teams..

The mindset isn't there, is that a two way street? Hard to tell but the effort required to raise the standards is a collective commitment

It's handy though to have an anonymous swipe at people's efforts on the internet...

Was there a timetable/program of development team that was going around a while back that showed sessions S/C and so on

I think you have hit the nail on the head here

Until football is the be all and end all to the young lads like Derry and Tyrone they will never bridge the gap

[bannside]

Casements have appointed Mattie McGleenan as incoming manager for 2026.

[Belfast GAA man]

Casements have appointed Mattie McGleenan as incoming manager for 2026.

south west cheque book out agai

[paddyjohn]

Casements have appointed Mattie McGleenan as incoming manager for 2026.

south west cheque book out agai

He's only getting fuel & a feed in the duck.

[HTownlad]

Casements have appointed Mattie McGleenan as incoming manager for 2026.

Any other confirmed exists or appointments across the divisions?