Antrim Football Thread

[BigGreenField]

Nat, for what's its worth I'm told out current under 14s and under 15s are easily the best some of our development squad coaches have seen. They compete well amongst their peers across Ulster and are getting everything they need at development squad level, S&C, nutritional advice, light psychology in places (hunger, desire, ambition, sacrifices all that stuff) and no shortage of commitment in terms of hours devoted or commitment level.

Maybe we could appreciate the good work that is going on. Every so often I'd bump into our head of coaching and development, and tbh, I've nothing but admiration for his efforts and quality of his totally voluntary commitment in the face of so much negativity and more than a few punishing results during his tenure.

I'd agree with this with the added plus that it is coming from a spread of clubs across the county suggesting some of the juvenile coaching improvements have begun to take root (but a lot more to do). A Quick Look at clubs social media also see's a steady stream of clubs regularly  taking their juveniles outside the county for games all year long and the perspective that brings,  this is also now widespread - all hard yards being done by lots (a lot more to do on the quality and coaching focus).

I do think the missing gap is the schools willingness to take teams into top tier competitions and to do the work during the winter that is needed to achieve this on a multi-year basis.

All 4 (county, club, school, individual) need to be spinning in the same direction to really take off.

[bannside]

You can definitely see plenty of green shoots, just using PG1 as an example, a complete re boot of juvenile structure about 7 or 8 years ago just starting to pay dividends.

Cumann Na Bunschoil all county primary school champions five times years out of last 8 years. Many other clubs on a progressive juvenile curve too, great to see.

Clubs is where main change for the betterment of Antrim football can happen. Once schools see the quality of intake rising there's a good chance they will grasp the nettle too....

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

What should a school be doing?

[Milltown Row2]

I don't think there is an appetite within Antrim schools to push to those heights with top grade football, that's between kids, parents, teachers and coaches.

Been lucky enough to be involved in officiating some of the higher grade games, the difference is is easy to see.

this isn't a reflection on those that at the coalface of course, you can only work with what you've got. Clubs ultimately have a big part to play. But at underage we are miles off the pace

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I don't think there is an appetite within Antrim schools to push to those heights with top grade football, that's between kids, parents, teachers and coaches.

I don't think that's true of teachers & coaches. Why wouldn't they want to?

You get the odd Antrim school in A competitions when they have a decent year group so it's not as if they don't push them.
A decent year group is few & far between in our schools. In the same way as it is for our county underage teams.
Schools drawing largely from the same group of players for both codes hampers the amount of time they can invest too.
Clubs are doing the heavy lifting in every county. Being able to compete at the top end of school football is a product of this.

[Milltown Row2]

From a teacher's perspective I struggle to see how they have the time to be proper committed to what's needed and actually do their day time job.

Getting help from outside is definitely needed, paying for it and sourcing it is the first problems.

The grade a competitions for Antrim based schools have been very few, hurling is the main school sport.

As I said this isn't a reflection on teachers/coaches, kids and parents need to buy in also

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

https://x.com/ulsterschools/status/1862142929130725379?s=46

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

[Milltown Row2]

https://x.com/ulsterschools/status/1862142929130725379?s=46

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

Well done Gaelfast

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I don't think there is an appetite within Antrim schools to push to those heights with top grade football

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

Well done Gaelfast

You've your mind made up about the schools' efforts anyway.

[Saffrongael]

I don't think there is an appetite within Antrim schools to push to those heights with top grade football

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

Well done Gaelfast

You've your mind made up about the schools' efforts anyway.

https://x.com/ulsterschools/status/1862142929130725379?s=46

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

Well done Gaelfast

What position was Gaelfast playing ?

[Milltown Row2]

I don't think there is an appetite within Antrim schools to push to those heights with top grade football

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

Well done Gaelfast

You've your mind made up about the schools' efforts anyway.

The schools don't have the same level of dedication that the Derry, Tyrone and Armagh Down and other schools from these counties.

That's down to a few reasons, hurling being the main school sport, we don't have the numbers playing football.

Committing to both is some drain on school numbers. St Pats in Derry probably the only school that competes at both.

I'm not sure you've seen a lot of Antrims level of football from under 12 up, ain't great in comparison

The fact that this team has won a game at this level for so long indicates the efforts that have been put into football at Antrim school level.

That's not down to coaches in schools, they do great work, but it's a juggling game, picking the best option that'll provide the best results.. I can't remember st Mary's in my day putting any effort into football as hurling was top dog

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I thought they won a Macrory Cup in your day but maybe I'm aging you unfairly.

[Milltown Row2]

I thought they won a Macrory Cup in your day but maybe I'm aging you unfairly.

I'd be a few years younger than that crowd, not much mind you but I remember it well, Heatly (Johnnies man) being the main player I think. But that's over 40 years. La Salle did well about 15 years ago in a younger competition.

Look the point is we don't commit to it and whether that's a resource thing, money, time, effort or lack of quality players. It would take a major restructuring between schools.

 I've mentioned before that there may be a decent team between a few teams, and having a Belfast school team (an amalgamation) might be an approach to look at, how that would look I don't know, but individually since that last St Marys win we have been poor enough.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

It's mainly lack of quality players. The evidence is that when schools do get that few and far between team that have the ability to compete, they are entering the A competitions and give them a rattle. St Malachy's, St Mary's & Knock have done this in recent years. Generally though, they just don't have players capable of competing at that level and would get absolutely blitzed in A football. I'm not sure that does anyone any good.

[GTP]

https://x.com/ulsterschools/status/1862142929130725379?s=46

Corn na nOg (3rd year A football)
St Mary's Belfast 6-09
St Mary's Magherafelt 2-08


There's no context but it must be the best result an Antrim school has had in Colleges football in a long time.

I believe this is the shield competition semi final.