Antrim Football Thread

[Round or stuffed]

Under21 A final off today.. due to pitch conditions, going on next week same venue..

Weather great today but weather during the week won't make the same pitch better!

there was a game went ahead today, but of no consequence it seems

Good win for Gorts.. high scoreline too.. all good, this is just a bunch of old farts talking gaa, those that are interested will have been there

is that not the problem, very little actual Gaelic football ever talked about here

[Milltown Row2]

Under21 A final off today.. due to pitch conditions, going on next week same venue..

Weather great today but weather during the week won't make the same pitch better!

there was a game went ahead today, but of no consequence it seems

Good win for Gorts.. high scoreline too.. all good, this is just a bunch of old farts talking gaa, those that are interested will have been there

is that not the problem, very little actual Gaelic football ever talked about here

I've said many times, people come on here for a aul moan, complaining about x y and z, probably very little experience or knowledge on topic.

That barfly, in every club

[Sportacus]

The ladies are certainly flying the flag.  Double Ulster Champions in football and camogie.  Fair play.

[paddyjohn]

Under21 A final off today.. due to pitch conditions, going on next week same venue..

Weather great today but weather during the week won't make the same pitch better!

there was a game went ahead today, but of no consequence it seems

Good win for Gorts.. high scoreline too.. all good, this is just a bunch of old farts talking gaa, those that are interested will have been there

is that not the problem, very little actual Gaelic football ever talked about here

I've said many times, people come on here for a aul moan, complaining about x y and z, probably very little experience or knowledge on topic.

That barfly, in every club

In every walk of life.

If you can't find the positive sure what's the point?

[Round or stuffed]

what's the point being positive when Antrim GAA regularly fall below the standards that should be and are acceptable in any other county in the country, league structures are a joke, championship is a sham, club and county teams don't compete on a provincial level.

Teams conceding senior league games left right and centre bcos they know the structures will be torn up anyway

the big problem with Antrim GAA at the minute is everyone knows its shite, but no-one is willing to do a thing about it, just accept the shite. rinse and repeat every year, and nothing ever improves

[Milltown Row2]

what's the point being positive when Antrim GAA regularly fall below the standards that should be and are acceptable in any other county in the country, league structures are a joke, championship is a sham, club and county teams don't compete on a provincial level.

Teams conceding senior league games left right and centre bcos they know the structures will be torn up anyway

the big problem with Antrim GAA at the minute is everyone knows its shite, but no-one is willing to do a thing about it, just accept the shite. rinse and repeat every year, and nothing ever improves

Said this many times, clubs dictate things in the main, all the league structuring goes through to a vote, ultimately if enough of them are in agreement then the motion is passed, the county facilitate these motions at convention.. Yes all counties will have an agenda and a view on what they believe will better things.

Those in at county level are voted in and out, in my memory there isn't a room full of people putting their names forward, so you are left with those that are keen to get stuck in, not those that sit at the bar and give off, no they'd rather have a go at something that they probably not have the first notion on what goes on..

I'm not looking at you of course, I'm giving my own view, as to be fair, I wouldn't have the first notion or inkling of what really goes on.

In my time I've seen every type of championship and every type of league, been a merry go round, there will be many who are happy with things and many who are not.

If there is a will among the majority then, dropping it to 8 teams leagues and straight knockout will be, as it has to be, accepted and passed..

I'd say if there are enough passionate club committee men/women with that then it should go through

As for county level, we are were we are, we don't have good enough players, period. Not everyone commits, and we are a dual county so things are halved, I'd say, and I'm not 100 percent, developing leagues with hurling and football on equal par is difficult, different if say Armagh, that some clubs play hurling in other counties or in an Ulster league, championship is done quicker also..

A coach, be it school or club can only do so much, it is down to the individual to raise his standards, the 3 or 4 days a week that the lad is not being coached he should be doing his own, as that is happening elsewhere

[Spike]

Are the best people working to improve their own clubs instead of going up to Antrim?

Divisional boards appear to have less and less say or organisation.  Is the natural progression from club committee to divisional committee to county committee dysfunctional?

[Round or stuffed]

your missing the point, the Antrim GAA and Antrim football, is in the position its in, because everyone accepts poor standards, nobody wants to challenge them, or can't be bothered with the hassle of doing something about it. the apathy towards every single facet of Gaelic games in Antrim and especially in the city, is a symptom of a wider issue as to why Antrim is lagging behind other counties, casement park, games descending into field fights, the respect league football is given, the lack of respect given to a number of clubs in the county, facilities, poor coaching, gaelfast being the bust it is, its all the same at the root of it.

we had a situation last week were an u21 final, essentially an adult football competition, was played on a artificial pitch, in a ground without a scoreboard, and 2 sets of goalpost that were crooked, and people were expected to pay to watch it, in a council facility!! other counties, and other clubs wouldn't put up with it, but because we are all used to this rubbish its just the way it is, nothing to see here, move along

[Milltown Row2]

It's in the position it's been in since the early 60's.. are you blaming all the county boards since the 50's on the poor standards?

We had Casement and were still poor, we had St Mary's winning Hogan cup, still poor..

Club facilities mean nothing, we've probably the worst facilities and have won the lot, so stop with that, be great to have better facilities but it's not a reason.

As I said, there is a lack of commitment from players to get up to a standard, what players are doing from other counties from 14 upwards is down to them. Best coaches in the world can only work with what they have available.. what's the plan then?

The game at Woodlands probably played there as no other club had pitches available, unless you can tell me different.

Playing it out of Belfast would have brought complaints..

There are avenues available to you to pursue this, and I mean that in the best way, frustration is real.

success at county level is not there, that's why kids throw their lot into the club! Better chance of success, mindset at county level is missing. Btw, they get the same as players in most counties too, so it's not a lack of amenities/gyms/nutrition/games

I've no answer nor am I committed to create a better experience, so knocking one's that do put their hand up isn't for me

[Gold]

It's in the position it's been in since the early 60's.. are you blaming all the county boards since the 50's on the poor standards?

We had Casement and were still poor, we had St Mary's winning Hogan cup, still poor..

Club facilities mean nothing, we've probably the worst facilities and have won the lot, so stop with that, be great to have better facilities but it's not a reason.

As I said, there is a lack of commitment from players to get up to a standard, what players are doing from other counties from 14 upwards is down to them. Best coaches in the world can only work with what they have available.. what's the plan then?

The game at Woodlands probably played there as no other club had pitches available, unless you can tell me different.

Playing it out of Belfast would have brought complaints..

There are avenues available to you to pursue this, and I mean that in the best way, frustration is real.

success at county level is not there, that's why kids throw their lot into the club! Better chance of success, mindset at county level is missing. Btw, they get the same as players in most counties too, so it's not a lack of amenities/gyms/nutrition/games

I've no answer nor am I committed to create a better experience, so knocking one's that do put their hand up isn't for me

Totally agree. But that Galls team was a freak group,,,,breeding and talent all coming together at the 1 time. Hammered out the gate in an U16 final to winning it by a point the year after.....kicking on then to about 6 u21 titles in a row, Seniors and 7s. Players who were well brought through by great men but players who themselves were obsessed with and naturally good at football, no one drank really or went to the States or Oz.

There's zero talk about football here, all just blabbering and shite talk about who's gonna win the battle of the blind and then get beat in Ulster. There's f all improvement, is anyone excited about 1 young player coming through? Is there 1 name we're all excited about the past 10 years?

I do absolutely f all about it, so not for me to chirp I suppose. I just know through family and in-laws that other Counties care so much about their place and their team....it's LITERALLY their identity. They won't hear a bad word said about a squeaky gate in their County, never mind their football team

We simply don't have that mindset and are unlikely to unless a freak Antrim County team comes out of nowhere and causes all kids to start supporting and wanting to play when they grow up

[Spike]

Identity is a good point.  Isn't simply doesnt matter enough bar a few clubs in the country and that's not enough of a playing population to generate good county teams

We need a strong belfast if we are to do anything at county level.  Thats the honest answer and at the moment it is just a series of quick fixes and sticky plasters.

Our best club side of the last 50 years took the quick fix of importing players which covered up all the problems of proper coaching and effort.  Ironically st galls are now perhaps up there with the best coached underage set ups in the city

Facilities in belfast are poor unless the county steps in

The SW clubs dont passionately support the county.  That needs redressed

But until we get young lads in belfast to follow football completely and increase playing numbers we are just going to continue spinning wheels

We need a strong belfast in order to do anything at county level

[imtommygunn]

It's in the position it's been in since the early 60's.. are you blaming all the county boards since the 50's on the poor standards?

We had Casement and were still poor, we had St Mary's winning Hogan cup, still poor..

Club facilities mean nothing, we've probably the worst facilities and have won the lot, so stop with that, be great to have better facilities but it's not a reason.

As I said, there is a lack of commitment from players to get up to a standard, what players are doing from other counties from 14 upwards is down to them. Best coaches in the world can only work with what they have available.. what's the plan then?

The game at Woodlands probably played there as no other club had pitches available, unless you can tell me different.

Playing it out of Belfast would have brought complaints..

There are avenues available to you to pursue this, and I mean that in the best way, frustration is real.

success at county level is not there, that's why kids throw their lot into the club! Better chance of success, mindset at county level is missing. Btw, they get the same as players in most counties too, so it's not a lack of amenities/gyms/nutrition/games

I've no answer nor am I committed to create a better experience, so knocking one's that do put their hand up isn't for me

Totally agree. But that Galls team was a freak group,,,,breeding and talent all coming together at the 1 time. Hammered out the gate in an U16 final to winning it by a point the year after.....kicking on then to about 6 u21 titles in a row, Seniors and 7s. Players who were well brought through by great men but players who themselves were obsessed with and naturally good at football, no one drank really or went to the States or Oz.

There's zero talk about football here, all just blabbering and shite talk about who's gonna win the battle of the blind and then get beat in Ulster. There's f all improvement, is anyone excited about 1 young player coming through? Is there 1 name we're all excited about the past 10 years?

I do absolutely f all about it, so not for me to chirp I suppose. I just know through family and in-laws that other Counties care so much about their place and their team....it's LITERALLY their identity. They won't hear a bad word said about a squeaky gate in their County, never mind their football team

We simply don't have that mindset and are unlikely to unless a freak Antrim County team comes out of nowhere and causes all kids to start supporting and wanting to play when they grow up

Conchuir Johnston is a great talent. I would say he's the most exciting prospect we have and still very young.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Identity is a good point.  Isn't simply doesnt matter enough bar a few clubs in the country and that's not enough of a playing population to generate good county teams

We need a string belfast if we are to do anything at county level.  Thats the honest answer and at the moment it is just a series of quick fixes and sticky plasters.

Our best club side of the last 50 years took the quick fix of importing players which covered up all the roblems of proper coaching and effort.  Ironically st galls are now perhaps up there with the best coached underage set ups in the city

Facilities in belfast are poor unless the county steps in

The SW clubs dont passionately support the county.  That needs redressed

But until we get young lads in belfast to follow football completely and increase playing numbers we are just going to continue spinning wheels

We need a strong belfast in order to do anything at county level

Why are they shite too then?

[Milltown Row2]

Even when Belfast dominated, had the best players its still was poor at county level..

As parents of kids around the 15/16 age mark who play football, do they do anything out of their school training club training? During this time of the year, are they out knocking a ball about at the local pitch/park?

As a kid, between the rioting and school, I very rarely had the stick out of my hand, gable walls, waste ground or up at the local center blasting a ball, on my own or with friends. Are kids still out and about doing this?

[YoungSaff]

Cassidy has improved Creggans football and won a league with them. He done great with Glenravel also

Toal left both Paddies and Lisburn in a better place than he found them

It's pretty obvious what "done well" means
Are these two circuit men? 😂

Cassidys glenravel team that won promotion to D1 and I think they lost to the now county champions in the intermediate final, and in my opinion have probably been the best team to have played in D2 over the last 4/5 years both pre  and post league restructuring. After cassidy left, They haven't really progressed as far up D1 as they would have hoped, but they still have a lot of good young players coming through.

Knux took over a paddies team that hadnt won a game in 2 seasons. Brought us to 3 championship  semi finals, boosted our league position  and did a lot of the groundwork which lead to our league win this year. The change in lisburn over 2 years was unbelievable. From relegation certainties, to finishing in top half comfortably both seasons. Beat st Paul's twice in their promotion year and only for a shambolic referee should  have beaten Moneyglass in the championship despite playing  45 minutes down to 14 with a chunk  of that down to 13 men. Moneyglass  scoring 1-2 in injury time to win by 6 put a bit of gloss on the scoreline.

I would agree that both have "done well"

What I have highlighted in bold , did Moneyglass not beat Glenravel last year in senior championship then won intermediate this year ? Moneyglass weren't a great intermediate side IMO this year but if they beat Glenravel in senior the year previous what does that tell us?


Should have also never won games ! A friend of mine weas refereeing that evening and I thought he was quite easy on yourselves , a lot of handy frees to keep yous in the game , can't argue a red card for striking!!!

Don't disagree Knux is a bad manager think he done a great job with both clubs but don't pull the wool over your eyes