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I've banged on this drum for years and clubs won't give up their own identity so they will cling on and put out mediocre teams and expect to be better without doing the work

Too many teams in Belfast for the actual numbers that play, and too many other things to get on with, I could name 4 or 5 soccer teams in West Belfast when I was young and it was mostly made up of lads that all played GAA first and turned up at soccer as their second choice, been big changes since those days.

Losing kids to other sports is a GAA problem and that'd down to those formative years when making an impression on them is key. We've lost a right few (at my club) to soccer clubs in England as apprentices, they may make and may not, but fair play if they do.

I'd be happy if clubs keep their identity, but, they either need to amalgamate at juvenile level or at senior level, either way a club can keep its identity/history but if we want quality coaching across the board then we can't be relying on Paddy who's kid plays corner back at under 14 taking the teams cause no one else could be bothered..

Anyone here actually take any teams in their club will know its not easy at any level, the commitment is needed for both games and training sessions but if the numbers are low and spread thin as they are then, kids/parents/coaches all lose interest and Paddy is looking to get his kid into another club..

This is a talking shop with all teh right things at times being said, but too few are actually putting their shoulder to the wheel

And to help matters, we get 3 line whips from Croke Park about non-competitive games until under 14. Losing kids to other sports was an issue before that came in but it certainly won't help turns things around.

You'd think it would be a good idea to inform the referees of these rules changes before the first match.  Some are still in the dark

 

Be regular updates to be fair with links to the current changes from CP, queries covered when questions asked. But be interesting to see how it works when it matters, I'm not out this weekend (but have two challenge games!) so will take in a game and see what happens when the heat is on

Do you think you'll find yourself edging more toward refereeing more  hurling matches?

Not really, I did think about taking a back seat in football as its hard enough without the changes but I've done 4 games already and one more challenge game tonight and providing things are good it won't be as bad as my initial thoughts were..

Hopefully at the nitty gritty stages of the league and start of Championship all the refs will be a lot more confident going forward, and that goes for players/managers/supporters 

You'll know better but I'd imagine league games are going to be the issue with one official. At least with championship you've a chance with linesmen and umpires to assist.  Just waiting for the first borderline 2 pointer that wins a game somewhere

Quite the opposite. I don't want it moved out of Corrigan. You do!
If we do that, it may as well be Newry as Ballycastle.

If the Ulster Council say we can't play in Corrigan then Ballycastle is the next best Venue within our county.

I'm all for Corrigan and hope we stand our ground.

McEntee is from Meath, probably as stubborn as they come. I can't see the players and management backing down.  And good on em. 

Unless not being allowed to play the Tailteann Cup comes into play...

Do you think Davy Fitz would accept this if Antrim Hurlers were drawn at home in a qualifier to a big name county? Dwell on that for a minute. I sincerely doubt it.

Hands up I don't have access to all the info? Did the Antrim officials who gave consent put it to club delegates at County Committee? That's an important question or has a couple of people gone on a solo run?

Was Antrim Football team management even consulted. If it was hurling do you think Davy Fitz would have been consulted?

Did they secure anything in return, a donation from the enlarged Gareth receipts, or something that might make the concession more palatable??

Shooting in the dark on this, but first impressions are we have rolled over far too easily on this and if it dosent sit easily with a supporter then how might players and management feel!

I read that Antrim have managed to squeeze the Ulster Council to allow them to pick any alternative venue.  That's a real coup for them  

EC a level above on today's showing. Cargin never really got going. One or two retirements for them perhaps?

Missed frees cost Portglenone over the 80 minutes, 4 or 5 scoreable ones that weren't converted. V costly in a low scoring game

If Lavey had shown the same aggression in the first 20 minutes that they did after the final whistle, they might have got somewhere

What are the odds on a reshuffle at the end of the year?

Betting suspended

Unfair. The angle he had wouldn't have made it as clear as the TV camera or that camera angle. Still, Johnnies unlucky there.

He must have been the only person in the ground who didn't see it.
Enda Lynn was the difference, super player

Portglenone fall over the line.
Johnnies very unlucky not to have a 1st half penalty but also very wasteful going forward.

100%. You won't see a worse refereeing decision the rest of the championship

https://x.com/AontroimGAA/status/1834975076380184806

The four bottom teams go into a relegation play off, 2 semis and a 'final' - losing team drops to intermediate for next year.

So Moneyglass aren't down yet, all 4th place get two chances to avoid relegation

If Dunloy reach the semi-finals, then both "finalists" in the championship relegation playoff are relegated.

How does that work?

County board should have bit the bullet and fully aligned the leagues and champs when they had the chance.

Dunloy look like they'll stay out of the champ relegation quagmire, meaning that next year they'll be div 2 and senior.

Meanwhile Ballymena seem like they might be up to the task of intermediate, so would they stay in div 1 and intermediate?

The regulations say the following:

"In the event that a team playing in Div 2 reaches the semi-final of the SFC and is seeded for the following year's SFC, then both teams in the SFC relegation final shall be relegated to Div 2 and IFC, unless that club opts to play in Div 2 and IFC."

Clear as mud

The four bottom teams go into a relegation play off, 2 semis and a 'final' - losing team drops to intermediate for next year.

So Moneyglass aren't down yet, all 4th place get two chances to avoid relegation

If Dunloy reach the semi-finals, then both "finalists" in the championship relegation playoff are relegated.

Relegation playoffs on 13th July...this split season is working out wonderfully

What happens where the same team wins Div 2 / Intermediate or the same team ends up relegated through both league and championship...

No foul. Great tackle

MR2 would agree with you except he has to back whatever decision the referee gave