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Derry now in their groove. Could the win Ulster? League promotion always expected but C'ship success would not.

Antrim have the players to be getting out of Div.4 but have either malfunctioned or underestimated the opposition?
The stepping away of key players was a shock and concern as is double jobbing manager. These remain valid concerns.

I have heard that players have come together to get things sorted. They have turned it around and should now finish on 8pts. It's unlikely to be enough for promotion but teams are all beating eachother so you'd never know. Well done to the players again as they've shown leadership during a tough time. Fair play!

Good win. Spoke to a parent who was one of the very few supporters at the game. He said we were vey fortunate with the wind. It blew a gale in first half and was worth a 10pt lead. Completely died at HT with the rain. Some days you just get that luck.
He also said Joe Finnegans red card on the stroke of FT was never a red, not even a yellow. Harsh now that he will be suspended.

When is his case being heard? I just googled it and it says 6 Feb. I assume it's delayed?

Whilst Antrim senior football is at a low ebb I still maintain that the players are much better than what we are seeing on the pitch. This time last year Antrim was pushing for promotion to Div.2, now sitting in 32nd place. It doesnt add up.

Big questions remain.
1. Why was Doran appointed without a backroom team?
2. Why was he allowed to apply for Clann Eireann job after being appointed to Antrim, in most counties this would be unacceptable and tells me he is only partially committed to Antrim. The performances further back this up.
3. Why have players walked away mid season?

Agree Marty. You can look at red herrings like schools and academies and blame county boards until you are blue in the face but it's all about what happens in the club. The coaching, the right people, the culture, the standards that are set and stuck to, that's what produces good players. Schools and counties are just the beneficiaries and too much is made of them.

Antrim are where they are because of mediocrity in a lot of clubs. There are 2 or 3 leading the way by getting good people around kids teams, going into primary schools. organising leagues and blitzes, driving standards, engaging parents and being the centre of their communities. Doing the basics really really well by brilliantly committed people.

I was at the game. Longford are no great shakes. You got Antrim at the right time as they're a shambles tactically and are not playing for the manager. Longford took full advantage and rightly so. Congrats and hope you can finish the year strongly now. Spoke to a few Longford heads at half time, lovely people and good craic. Wish you well.

Was at game in PG1 yesterday, it was pretty dismal. Really feel for the players as they are much better than they are showing. Something is very badly broken behind the scenes and based on what I saw yesterday they're just not playing for the manager. Lets hope he can give the players some control so they can turn things around.

Almost 2 days out from national league home fixture v Longford, and no venue secured.

Will it be played at all or will a venue outside the county need to host it?

Game confirmed for PG1. Longford are poor so this would have been seen as a banker but the way things are it's far from a certainty. Expect a win nonetheless.

I hear some of the Downey clan has departed the Ulster select and will be returning to Lavey , good enough for them never should have been there in first place. As far as I'm aware Matthew and Connor Downey are leaving

That's Henrys 2 lads. Matthew currently playing for Derry so Lavey will be glad to have him back and he'll be a great addition. Seamus has been the problem in all of this, his boys should grow a set and return too.
Lavey would be C'ship contenders if they do.

Officially it's down as Cargin but I assume the weather could mean it moved to PG1?

I'll call a spade a spade here. When you have Managers who come in and whos sole motivation is money then you will always hit problems. It's evident both in hurling and football at the moment. They treat players as commodities and not as players. Players have walked from football set up. Likely in hurling too from what I am hearing.

NatSoSaff Mc Quillan eats the ball anytime he gets it,not a team player and as for Cathal Hynds he's not good enough for county level,must've gave away 4/5 frees within 10 mins off coming on against Donegal,as for P Mc Bride throwing out the baby with the bath water,no big loss,not a team player either

No big loss? You are on a wind up

Paddy is a committed Antrim player so to leave in this way is not normal. Conor Small has walked also. I think it's fair that people are asking why?

The questions that remain unanswered are why was Doran appointed before he got a backroom team? Then he couldn't recruit anyone so took in 3 brothers from the same club. Highly irregular. That's all before he is reported to have chased Clann Eireann for a club job. 2 bad loses in Div.4 and now Antrim players are leaving. It doesnt stack up well.

Paddy stepping away from the county is huge loss.

Wonder what the reason was?

That's a shocker. Anyone know why he left?