Antrim Football Thread

[Plugin]

You could half that and there would still be too many teams in Division 1. Realistically, you have Cargin who are on a level of their own. Then you have Portglenone, St Brigid's, Creggan maybe? The fact there are so few decent club sides absolutely impacts the county team but it's one of many, many issues. 

Doesn't seem too long ago Aghagallon would have been worth a mention...what's gone wrong there ?

[BigGreenField]

Soccer is the biggest team sport in Ireland

In terms of participation, association football (soccer) is the most popular team pursuit for males at 8.8% with Gaelic football attracting 3.4%. Personal exercise (at 13.4%) and running (8.9%) are the most popular.

I do believe one of the reasons for the mismatch is soccer schedules 80%+ of their juvenile matches Fri/Sat/Sun whereas Gaa requires you to get to a 6 or 6:30 throw in on a weeknight, kids in from school and out the door straight away, adults leaving work early etc. Lack of pitches and referees prevents Gaa doing the same.

[Saffron_sam20]

Soccer is the biggest team sport in Ireland

In terms of participation, association football (soccer) is the most popular team pursuit for males at 8.8% with Gaelic football attracting 3.4%. Personal exercise (at 13.4%) and running (8.9%) are the most popular.

I do believe one of the reasons for the mismatch is soccer schedules 80%+ of their juvenile matches Fri/Sat/Sun whereas Gaa requires you to get to a 6 or 6:30 throw in on a weeknight, kids in from school and out the door straight away, adults leaving work early etc. Lack of pitches and referees prevents Gaa doing the same.

to an extent yeah, big problem also is the Go Games. soccer keeps score from u7 or so where as the gas doesn't. kids arent stupid, they know if they are winning or not. I see kids losing interest in GAA to soccer at a younger age and id be pretty sure some of them are due to the nature of games. I mean how can soccer start to implement offside at u9 7 a side but we cant even have a proper tournament for u11. soccer is much better run and its not down to coaches its down to the set up.

[Take the Mark]

Antrim are shite because of scheduling of underage tournaments coupled with Sam not being able to get frothing at the mouth at his sons under 10 tournament due to there being no all ireland at that level.

There really is some balls talked on here, which would probably point more to the problem than the ridiculous points raised.

[BigGreenField]

Antrim are shite because of scheduling of underage tournaments coupled with Sam not being able to get frothing at the mouth at his sons under 10 tournament due to there being no all ireland at that level.

There really is some balls talked on here, which would probably point more to the problem than the ridiculous points raised.

You're absolutely right, let's not change anything.

Personally I think it's right to get rid of underage tournaments , mostly adults shouting at each other.

Without a culture of Gaa (which Antrim doesn't have in depth) then making games easy to access for non believers is something to think about.

[Saffron_sam20]

Antrim are shite because of scheduling of underage tournaments coupled with Sam not being able to get frothing at the mouth at his sons under 10 tournament due to there being no all ireland at that level.

There really is some balls talked on here, which would probably point more to the problem than the ridiculous points raised.

not really my point, but ok. im saying lads lose interest because our set up is lazy compared to soccer. look at soccer, clubs will have different teams to allow players to develop at their own level if its 5 a side theyll usually have 3/4 teams so players all are at a similar level, I dont see the issue in GAA doing it, if its 7 a side do it something similar. I actually dont have any kids at that age but do have nieces and nephews so have watched both girls and boys soccer and Gaelic with no dog in the fight and I just see a big difference.

I was replying to the OP about why soccer has better participation, I think that is a reason. at no stage did I mention about Antrim seniors being shite, just more how I think we lose numbers to soccer.

[Caesar]

You could half that and there would still be too many teams in Division 1. Realistically, you have Cargin who are on a level of their own. Then you have Portglenone, St Brigid's, Creggan maybe? The fact there are so few decent club sides absolutely impacts the county team but it's one of many, many issues. 

Doesn't seem too long ago Aghagallon would have been worth a mention...what's gone wrong there ?

Cargin undeniably the best team (as has been the case for a long time) but the other teams named here are right on their coat tails at present. I'm also curious what's going on at Aghagallon. They have plenty of decent players if they can get their act together again.

On a different note, what's gone wrong at St Enda's?  Massive underage hype but they have completely failed to deliver at senior level.

[Lár na páirce 1]

Armaghs open training session in corrigan Saturday April 12th at 12.30

[Take the Mark]

That time will free up a good few tickets due to all the Belfasties away at soccer 

[statto]

Armaghs open training session in corrigan Saturday April 12th at 12.30

Has this been confirmed? Very early for a game on a Saturday.

[Take the Mark]

Armagh in ladies final later that day hence the early throw in

Edit - A real Armagh fan would have known that.

[saffman]

You could half that and there would still be too many teams in Division 1. Realistically, you have Cargin who are on a level of their own. Then you have Portglenone, St Brigid's, Creggan maybe? The fact there are so few decent club sides absolutely impacts the county team but it's one of many, many issues. 

Doesn't seem too long ago Aghagallon would have been worth a mention...what's gone wrong there ?

Cargin undeniably the best team (as has been the case for a long time) but the other teams named here are right on their coat tails at present. I'm also curious what's going on at Aghagallon. They have plenty of decent players if they can get their act together again.

On a different note, what's gone wrong at St Enda's?  Massive underage hype but they have completely failed to deliver at senior level.

Emigration has hit them hard!

Was speaking to a few of their members last year and was told that their intermediate AI final team is essentially gone.

Rebuild job but even I'm surprised by just how far they've dropped

[SaffronSports]

Should really be further into their recovery than they are. One of the main offenders in staying up via board rooms. Sometimes you need a step or two back before you can move forward.

[Hectic]

Armagh in ladies final later that day hence the early throw in

Edit - A real Armagh fan would have known that.

😂😂😂

[ck]

You could half that and there would still be too many teams in Division 1. Realistically, you have Cargin who are on a level of their own. Then you have Portglenone, St Brigid's, Creggan maybe? The fact there are so few decent club sides absolutely impacts the county team but it's one of many, many issues. 

Doesn't seem too long ago Aghagallon would have been worth a mention...what's gone wrong there ?

Cargin undeniably the best team (as has been the case for a long time) but the other teams named here are right on their coat tails at present. I'm also curious what's going on at Aghagallon. They have plenty of decent players if they can get their act together again.

On a different note, what's gone wrong at St Enda's?  Massive underage hype but they have completely failed to deliver at senior level.

If Brigids can't win this year they never will. Best panel of players in the county by a mile, over half of them from Derry and Tyrone I understand. Of course that will be a shame for their homegrown players.
Creggan had a disaster in 2024, you'd expect a bounce back. PG1 there or thereabouts again. Cargin to end their dominance this year, would be my prediction. Aghagallon, Jonnies and Rossa are done. St.Galls are the great pretenders but not at the races. Anyone else who could rise from the pack?