Antrim Football Thread

[onefaircounty]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

The Peter's only started playing with 3 or 4 games to go in the league.

That's nonsense. They didn't hold back, they just started getting some positive momentum at the right time. Their main ambition this year was to stay senior, which they failed to achieve due to poor league results.

[JimStynes]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

The Peter's only started playing with 3 or 4 games to go in the league.

That's nonsense. They didn't hold back, they just started getting some positive momentum at the right time. Their main ambition this year was to stay senior, which they failed to achieve due to poor league results.

They actually got a new coach in that time period that coincided with them playing better! An Antrim coach too who they all rate very highly.  They've a few good young lads coming through so I'd be hopeful for St. Peter's but as you say that Div 1b is very competitive.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

A far better model than Antrim and one we could adopt. I actually have no issue with the 2nds teams. If they are good enough then why not? Only issue is if they play within the same league. But this would be rare.

Rumours of Antrim changing the 2nds in Hurling as a few clubs in div 3 are seconds.

Not sure if that would be right. there's only 2 second teams in Div3 next year which is Dunloy & Cushendall. All the rest are first team. St Brigit's will be up to Div 2 next season

Theres 14 teams in D2 of the hurling which is more than enough. Sarsfields are due to come down to D3 next year.

Again they could do some sort of change and reduce the teams down but overall its a competitive league

[Saffrongael]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

A far better model than Antrim and one we could adopt. I actually have no issue with the 2nds teams. If they are good enough then why not? Only issue is if they play within the same league. But this would be rare.

Rumours of Antrim changing the 2nds in Hurling as a few clubs in div 3 are seconds.

Not sure if that would be right. there's only 2 second teams in Div3 next year which is Dunloy & Cushendall. All the rest are first team. St Brigit's will be up to Div 2 next season

Theres 14 teams in D2 of the hurling which is more than enough. Sarsfields are due to come down to D3 next year.

Again they could do some sort of change and reduce the teams down but overall its a competitive league

St Brigids Div 3 surely ? They won Div 4

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

apologies, a typo there.

[NorthAntrimSaff]

They should put Dunloy and Ballycastle up to a 2b. And create a 2a. 8 teams each. 8 in 3 and 9 in 4

[Round or stuffed]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

[thegladiator]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

[NorthAntrimSaff]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

Would either want to go up? Gorts will want Div 2 status

[BigGreenField]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

The right thing for Aggies is to go to a new Div 3 (of 4) with clubs wishing to enter reserves (starting in div 4) allowing 4 divisions. One of the challenges of only 3 divisions is the step to the next division is too high, 4 makes much more sense and would let teams consolidate and progress.

Reserves should though stick to their own championship as to do other wise would kill junior and a lot of intermediate clubs.

I've always thought key to making the league competitive is to have it act as seeding for championship, would put some pressure on with county lads being missing but not a total end of the world with a low ranking.

Ultimately though this is putting lipstick on the Christmas dinner, until the quality of coaching in clubs (on a broad based basis) goes up and retention rates go up then it's pissing in the wind.

[Three leaf clover]

See in today's Irish News Kavan Keenan has pled guilty to his various offences, will he see a custodial sentence ?

I hope so. Horrendous what he did and makes even more hard to take that he was poster boy for the county.

Absolutely spot on.

Yep disgusting that Antrim GAA continued to use his face for team sheets on social media after what he had done. No remorse shown throughout the whole time since it happened too

[SoloAndGo]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

The right thing for Aggies is to go to a new Div 3 (of 4) with clubs wishing to enter reserves (starting in div 4) allowing 4 divisions. One of the challenges of only 3 divisions is the step to the next division is too high, 4 makes much more sense and would let teams consolidate and progress.

Reserves should though stick to their own championship as to do other wise would kill junior and a lot of intermediate clubs.

I've always thought key to making the league competitive is to have it act as seeding for championship, would put some pressure on with county lads being missing but not a total end of the world with a low ranking.

Ultimately though this is putting lipstick on the Christmas dinner, until the quality of coaching in clubs (on a broad based basis) goes up and retention rates go up then it's pissing in the wind.

1a - 8 teams
1b - 8 teams
2a - 8 teams
2b - 10 teams

Keep reserve the way it is

[ck]

See in today's Irish News Kavan Keenan has pled guilty to his various offences, will he see a custodial sentence ?

I hope so. Horrendous what he did and makes even more hard to take that he was poster boy for the county.

Absolutely spot on.

Yep disgusting that Antrim GAA continued to use his face for team sheets on social media after what he had done. No remorse shown throughout the whole time since it happened too

Horrific thing to do by Keenan. I take it he will do time?

[SoloAndGo]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

Would either want to go up? Gorts will want Div 2 status

This is probably likely to happen. Both Pearses and Laochra wouldn't stand a change in Div 2 unfortunately.

[EOC1923]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

The right thing for Aggies is to go to a new Div 3 (of 4) with clubs wishing to enter reserves (starting in div 4) allowing 4 divisions. One of the challenges of only 3 divisions is the step to the next division is too high, 4 makes much more sense and would let teams consolidate and progress.

Reserves should though stick to their own championship as to do other wise would kill junior and a lot of intermediate clubs.

I've always thought key to making the league competitive is to have it act as seeding for championship, would put some pressure on with county lads being missing but not a total end of the world with a low ranking.

Ultimately though this is putting lipstick on the Christmas dinner, until the quality of coaching in clubs (on a broad based basis) goes up and retention rates go up then it's pissing in the wind.

but happy to kill groups of reserve players from stronger clubs by keeping it the same. Not just Cargin but 2-3 others in same situation. Players deserve a meaningful season, reserve leagues are beyond a joke and Antrim County boards promise to improve them hasn't came off its remained just as bad and getting worse. Likes of Cargin, St Brigids or Porglenone reserves joining Div 3 will only improve the division.