Ulster Colleges

[ranch]

I'm not sure what your lifetime is but in mine, Leitrim won a provincial championship. Fermanagh didn't.

Fantastic sample mind you.

And do you think Leitrim would have won an Ulster?
On the other hand, there's a fair chance Fermanagh would've won a Connacht championship.

[Armagh18]

I think I agree with your general point.

However, St Michael's don't seem to improve Fermanagh's fortunes all that well. And St. Michael's is all of Fermanagh. And beyond.

As for the "Antrim" amalgamation. I, perhaps, misnamed it previously. It is Antrim & Down.

Anyway, until the clubs in Antrim are sending enough players of the required quality, with the necessary commitment levels and if the clubs/county can purposefully include schools' GAA into the bigger picture* then the post primary schools in Antrim haven't a chance.

* They fall over themselves to say they do. And the schools aren't doing enough. Yet, there are players being pulled from school teams left, right & centre as they are in club minor championships etc.

The schools aren't failing the clubs/kids. It is entirely the opposite.

There is also a caveat that the Antrim schools are trying (in vain) to navigate football & hurling which seems to be becoming increasingly more difficult in the world of "train like fcuk".

Surely there can be a work around there, the school can take a back seat until minor championship is over no?

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Duine Inteachy Eile, it's of course much easier to explain than it is to action.

But should a school in the Belfast area demonstratively put in place a 10 year plan to win a MacRory Cup. Talk about it. Get the coaches to live it. Get the players to live it. Own it at every step. They won't have to go recruiting after 5 years. Parents of primary age kids from GAA backgrounds will know if things are happening in tandem with the plan. And their sons will then travel the extra half mile to get involved.

Then it will happen.

The numbers are there.

Where has this word salad been all my life? If you don't mind, I'll forward it on to the Antrim Operations Manager as it could also be the key to unlocking an All Ireland for Antrim. Get people to live it. Own it.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I think I agree with your general point.

However, St Michael's don't seem to improve Fermanagh's fortunes all that well. And St. Michael's is all of Fermanagh. And beyond.

As for the "Antrim" amalgamation. I, perhaps, misnamed it previously. It is Antrim & Down.

Anyway, until the clubs in Antrim are sending enough players of the required quality, with the necessary commitment levels and if the clubs/county can purposefully include schools' GAA into the bigger picture* then the post primary schools in Antrim haven't a chance.

* They fall over themselves to say they do. And the schools aren't doing enough. Yet, there are players being pulled from school teams left, right & centre as they are in club minor championships etc.

The schools aren't failing the clubs/kids. It is entirely the opposite.

There is also a caveat that the Antrim schools are trying (in vain) to navigate football & hurling which seems to be becoming increasingly more difficult in the world of "train like fcuk".

Surely there can be a work around there, the school can take a back seat until minor championship is over no?

That is what happens and schools can find themselves playing 2 out of their 3 group games minus a rake of players.
The work around could alternatively be that the county championships are finished earlier.

[gallsman]

Duine Inteachy Eile, it's of course much easier to explain than it is to action.

But should a school in the Belfast area demonstratively put in place a 10 year plan to win a MacRory Cup. Talk about it. Get the coaches to live it. Get the players to live it. Own it at every step. They won't have to go recruiting after 5 years. Parents of primary age kids from GAA backgrounds will know if things are happening in tandem with the plan. And their sons will then travel the extra half mile to get involved.

Then it will happen.

The numbers are there.

This isn't true and everyone raving about Belfast schools failing to get their houses in order is ignoring the simple demographics. An 11 year in Belfast has a massively wider choice of schools than their rural counterparts. The concentration of talent in single schools simply doesn't happen.

Parents who choose a school for their kids because in five years time little Jimmy might get on the MacRory panel need a boot in the hole.

[FermGael]

I been up at St Michaels doing work. Boys only school with more no's per year group than say Maghera or Mfelt!

St Michaels have taken a hit in quality over the past decade.
They used to have the pick of the entire county and West Tyrone football wise but St Kevin's in Lisnaskea have put a stop to that.   Most of that side of the county will go to St Kevins.
They play in the E grade of Ulster colleges, there is no emphasis on sport but their academic results are fantastic.
The Trillick lads go to Omagh CBS now. Have been for about a decade or more.

How are Antrim meant to improve?

It's simple enough:

By giving a f**k all the time, no matter what you have, and when a few stars align, then make hay.

St Michael's Enniskillen are the perfect embodiment of what schools football should be.

That's all any school Antrim should aspire to be.

And if they can do that, they'll always have a numerical advantage on St Michael's.

But sure why put in the hard yards when you can make it easy with amalgamations?

 

St Michaels has been the base of Fermanagh gaa for decades but with the retirements of Dom and before him Peter McGinnity, the production line hasn't been great.
So much so that Fermanagh gaa, along with St Michaels, appointed a coach into the school this year to coach there full time.
They have not been competitive in McRory really since they won the Hogan.

[Tony Baloney]

Duine Inteachy Eile, it's of course much easier to explain than it is to action.

But should a school in the Belfast area demonstratively put in place a 10 year plan to win a MacRory Cup. Talk about it. Get the coaches to live it. Get the players to live it. Own it at every step. They won't have to go recruiting after 5 years. Parents of primary age kids from GAA backgrounds will know if things are happening in tandem with the plan. And their sons will then travel the extra half mile to get involved.

Then it will happen.

The numbers are there.

This isn't true and everyone raving about Belfast schools failing to get their houses in order is ignoring the simple demographics. An 11 year in Belfast has a massively wider choice of schools than their rural counterparts. The concentration of talent in single schools simply doesn't happen.

Parents who choose a school for their kids because in five years time little Jimmy might get on the MacRory panel need a boot in the hole.

You would have thought it was obvious. Catholic grammars I can think of in the area (and there may be more)... Rathmore, St Mary's, St Malachy's, OLSPC, Aquinas

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

It's important to remember that the vast majority of nationalist Belfast wouldn't have the foggiest idea what the MacRory Cup is. Nor care.

[LC]

Duine Inteachy Eile, it's of course much easier to explain than it is to action.

But should a school in the Belfast area demonstratively put in place a 10 year plan to win a MacRory Cup. Talk about it. Get the coaches to live it. Get the players to live it. Own it at every step. They won't have to go recruiting after 5 years. Parents of primary age kids from GAA backgrounds will know if things are happening in tandem with the plan. And their sons will then travel the extra half mile to get involved.

Then it will happen.

The numbers are there.

This isn't true and everyone raving about Belfast schools failing to get their houses in order is ignoring the simple demographics. An 11 year in Belfast has a massively wider choice of schools than their rural counterparts. The concentration of talent in single schools simply doesn't happen.

Parents who choose a school for their kids because in five years time little Jimmy might get on the MacRory panel need a boot in the hole.

You would have thought it was obvious. Catholic grammars I can think of in the area (and there may be more)... Rathmore, St Mary's, St Malachy's, OLSPC, Aquinas

Worked with a guy a few years ago, for his kids it was all about getting the oldest into Rathmore which would make it easier for the rest of his siblings coming behind him.  I mentioned St. Mary's to him and he said no way.

[delgany]

Duine Inteachy Eile, it's of course much easier to explain than it is to action.

But should a school in the Belfast area demonstratively put in place a 10 year plan to win a MacRory Cup. Talk about it. Get the coaches to live it. Get the players to live it. Own it at every step. They won't have to go recruiting after 5 years. Parents of primary age kids from GAA backgrounds will know if things are happening in tandem with the plan. And their sons will then travel the extra half mile to get involved.

Then it will happen.

The numbers are there.

This isn't true and everyone raving about Belfast schools failing to get their houses in order is ignoring the simple demographics. An 11 year in Belfast has a massively wider choice of schools than their rural counterparts. The concentration of talent in single schools simply doesn't happen.

Parents who choose a school for their kids because in five years time little Jimmy might get on the MacRory panel need a boot in the hole.

You would have thought it was obvious. Catholic grammars I can think of in the area (and there may be more)... Rathmore, St Mary's, St Malachy's, OLSPC, Aquinas

Worked with a guy a few years ago, for his kids it was all about getting the oldest into Rathmore which would make it easier for the rest of his siblings coming behind him.  I mentioned St. Mary's to him and he said no way.

Pure snobbery!

[lurganblue]

It's important to remember that the vast majority of nationalist Belfast wouldn't have the foggiest idea what the MacRory Cup is. Nor care.

GAA people in Belfast dont know what the MacRory cup is? or are you saying that the vast majority of nationalist Belfast have no interest in Gaelic Games?

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Neither.

The vast majority of nationalist Belfast wouldn't have the foggiest idea what the MacRory Cup is.