Antrim Football Thread

[Would ye whist]

McEntee may have had boys physical but you also have to have brains as to when and how to use physicality, look at Saturday with that head case from Ballymena running past a man and punching him when there was no needle or anything, there is a difference between physical and hard but honest and a thug

Sure if you read back in the hurling thread it was also said we weren't as good as top counties because referees weren't letting things go too.

I do think physicality wise we are a long way off most county sides. McEntee was the first manager had us in any way physical though with the number of sendings off this year obviously discipline didn't match so well.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Do they only happen in Antrim?

Antrim club football is scrap because our players and teams, from top to bottom, aren't as good as those in other counties.

Not because of rucks ffs.

And I didn't see St Galls reaching for these excuses when they were swatting aside the scrap in Antrim but still being competitive beyond.

Can't see anyone blaming the Antrim refereeing for performances at ulster ffs wise up.

Well, it was you who suggested this is what Biggreenfield was getting at...

''The senior club championship has been a wrestling match for 10 years, no wonder no progress in Ulster or at County.''

A wrestling match in what way?

As in a chunk of matches have teams knocking the pan outta each other under the veil that is "championship football" and they are permitted to do so, there is no stretch of skills. The most physical team (which may also be the most skilful) comes through.

So its poor refereeing you are referring to I assume since they are 'permitted' to knock the pan out of other? Not sure I agree with that tbh.

I can think of a couple of games that involved rugby style skirmishes for the ball in the last couple of years right enough. Brutal looking yes, poor officiating yes, but I don't think 'the most physical team comes through' rings true, it takes a bit more than physicality to win a championship.

[Spike]

Our club sides arent far away in ulster, just unlikely to win. Our county side is in difficulties though and unless we transfer in a load of blow ins from around ulster that is unlikely to change in the near future.
Its the only formula that has workedn in Antrim as past 20 years .


We're Div 4 in football and B grade comp

Div 3 in lgfa and C grade comp

Div 1b (may as well say 2nd div) in hurling and B grade comp

Camogs are in the B Grade championship.

Arguable our club sides are performing at a much higher level than the county as a whole.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Lol.

That's some spin on losing every f**king match.

[Spike]

every? 

Weren't they beat by the all ireland finalists in last 3 years? You can say theyre scrap but they are competing in an A competition against high quality opposition.

Same in the other codes,.club sides performing

Our county sides can't say the same.

Either we get our affairs in order at county level as a whole

Or

Follow the tried and trusted transfer system if we can't produce our own. It worked for St Galls, it worked for St Paul's in the 90s, and is working for St Brigids and to a lesser extent PG1 at the moment.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

It's an entirely futile argument but to compare like for like our county team met the actual All Ireland champions in the 1st round of Ulster this year and made a better fist of it than Cargin's effort against Errigal if you ask me.

Put it this way, our club teams are thought of as scrap across Ulster and being the perennial whipping boys, there's little evidence to the contrary.

Both club and county football (and hurling) needs serious improvement. Though I don't see it coming any time soon.

[Spike]

Agreed serious improvement needed.

Club sides are always taken seriously by opposition but certainly are never favourites.

Thats still outperforming the county sides which at every level has issues.

Starting with underage.

Last years county side was physically big but low quality.  The question is how quickly we can get our better quality players in the county set up physically competitive. Big year ahead

[Milltown Row2]

every? 

Weren't they beat by the all ireland finalists in last 3 years? You can say theyre scrap but they are competing in an A competition against high quality opposition.

Same in the other codes,.club sides performing

Our county sides can't say the same.

Either we get our affairs in order at county level as a whole

Or

Follow the tried and trusted transfer system if we can't produce our own. It worked for St Galls, it worked for St Paul's in the 90s, and is working for St Brigids and to a lesser extent PG1 at the moment.

Never embarrassed to bring this up 

Cargin have never had players (or managers) from other clubs in their existence? When you refute that I'll take your posts seriously. Until then... 

[Spike]

St Brigid's rise has correlated with St Galls demise.  Discuss

[Milltown Row2]

St Brigid's rise has correlated with St Galls demise.  Discuss

When they win something then we will discuss

[Christmas Lights]

Dont believe physicality is the problem in ulster, i would say its when to use that physicality and
 taking the right option under severe pressure which needs work.  That can only come with a general increase in the quality of internal championship. 

The league doesn't provide it and is a mess (imo) so it has to come from the championship itself.

Does everyone believe the current Anrrim championship format gives that or is there room for adjustment? 

Would you prefer the knockout set up that Tyrone has and what we had for many years?

Yes that's better

[Walter Cronc]

When it comes to ulster schools perhaps a start might be getting your best players to Antrim schools? Cargin, Creggan, Moneyglass, Portglenone lads go in big numbers to Magherafelt and Maghera. If Ballymena was set up better they could attract these players. It happened in Tyrone where Trillick/Dromore lads went to Enniskillen. That doesnt seem to happen as much with most now attending Omagh or Ballygawley. Likewise Loughshore boys are now attending Holy Trinity over St Pius. Perhaps just a coincidence or a concerted effort by Tyrone GAA!

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Dont believe physicality is the problem in ulster, i would say its when to use that physicality and
 taking the right option under severe pressure which needs work.  That can only come with a general increase in the quality of internal championship. 

The league doesn't provide it and is a mess (imo) so it has to come from the championship itself.

Does everyone believe the current Anrrim championship format gives that or is there room for adjustment? 

Would you prefer the knockout set up that Tyrone has and what we had for many years?

Yes that's better

To be honest, Antrim has knockout football from QF stage which is only one less round of knockout than Tyrone. I dislike the groups as much as the next man but I'm not sure it would make a huge difference.

[Sportacus]

Our club sides arent far away in ulster, just unlikely to win. Our county side is in difficulties though and unless we transfer in a load of blow ins from around ulster that is unlikely to change in the near future.
Its the only formula that has workedn in Antrim as past 20 years .


We're Div 4 in football and B grade comp

Div 3 in lgfa and C grade comp

Div 1b (may as well say 2nd div) in hurling and B grade comp

Camogs are in the B Grade championship.

Arguable our club sides are performing at a much higher level than the county as a whole.

Cargin against Errigal was a huge reality check. They were literally brushed aside.
Last nights league final, albeit it was a league game, but the pace of the game was woeful.
I think our club sides are miles off it.
And yes, Tyrone Championship model for me, no interest unless it's knockout football.

[Would ye whist]

Creggan looked like they enjoyed that victory last night, to be honest I expected them to take the cup and slip back to the changing rooms without reems of photos, perhaps it shows their realistic ambition for the season