Antrim Football Thread

[statto]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

I agree towards the end of the league there is more a push but that is the same in Antrim. But ask the majority of the teams in Division 1 Armagh if they're going balls to wall to win a Division 1 title they'd disagree. The CE seniors won the league a couple times with 1/4 of a team. Their goal keeper had to play outfield for most of the league. Tbf they are very fortunate that they had 3 excellent keepers to chose from. But I have watched them many times this year with 2 subs. The Peter's only started playing with 3 or 4 games to go in the league. Cross don't care about the league. Clans downed tools and got relegated. Maghery had half a team until the county men came back. The other divisions are very competitive with not much room for error. One loss early on in the league and it seems to come back to haunt teams at the end of the league so they're all must win games outside of Div 1A. I'd be interested to see what would happen if we had 2nds teams in our league. I remember playing against a very strong Cargin 2nds team for years in Division 2.

Derry league seems to be as crap as ours. Tyrone seems to be very competitive.

Clan Na Gael had two players away with county all year and a number of lads in America for the summer I don't believe that they downed tools and would have been aware that for the long term development of the team playing 1a would be beneficial. By coming in the bottom 4 of the league they also got drawn in the "group of death" and then subsequently didn't get out of the group. 

St Peters won their last three games of league and where competitive throughout and had a good championship run and will be favourites to win intermediate next year. It would have been no big shock that they were relegated from 1b as it was a very competitive division. 

[onefaircounty]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

The Peter's only started playing with 3 or 4 games to go in the league.

That's nonsense. They didn't hold back, they just started getting some positive momentum at the right time. Their main ambition this year was to stay senior, which they failed to achieve due to poor league results.

[JimStynes]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

The Peter's only started playing with 3 or 4 games to go in the league.

That's nonsense. They didn't hold back, they just started getting some positive momentum at the right time. Their main ambition this year was to stay senior, which they failed to achieve due to poor league results.

They actually got a new coach in that time period that coincided with them playing better! An Antrim coach too who they all rate very highly.  They've a few good young lads coming through so I'd be hopeful for St. Peter's but as you say that Div 1b is very competitive.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

A far better model than Antrim and one we could adopt. I actually have no issue with the 2nds teams. If they are good enough then why not? Only issue is if they play within the same league. But this would be rare.

Rumours of Antrim changing the 2nds in Hurling as a few clubs in div 3 are seconds.

Not sure if that would be right. there's only 2 second teams in Div3 next year which is Dunloy & Cushendall. All the rest are first team. St Brigit's will be up to Div 2 next season

Theres 14 teams in D2 of the hurling which is more than enough. Sarsfields are due to come down to D3 next year.

Again they could do some sort of change and reduce the teams down but overall its a competitive league

[Saffrongael]

Why do you think Armagh 1a is meaningless? I would disagree. The team that finished 3rd won their championship. They do have a greater amount of teams who are competitive. And another reason why our leagues should be split. The amount of meaningless games in Div 1 and Div 2 in Antrim is mad. Sarsfields won Div 2 and the only difficult games they had were both against MG.

Armagh 1A isn't meaningless at all, it's perfect environment for clubs pushing for a SFC, no meaningless games. Clubs seeded for the championship. Teams still had something to play for in the last few rounds, including the two teams that were relegated.

Although the clubs in their infinite wisdom voted last week to remove all 2nds teams from the all county league/championship competitions so that might impact the league structure as well as dilute the standard with 9 teams given the boot.

A far better model than Antrim and one we could adopt. I actually have no issue with the 2nds teams. If they are good enough then why not? Only issue is if they play within the same league. But this would be rare.

Rumours of Antrim changing the 2nds in Hurling as a few clubs in div 3 are seconds.

Not sure if that would be right. there's only 2 second teams in Div3 next year which is Dunloy & Cushendall. All the rest are first team. St Brigit's will be up to Div 2 next season

Theres 14 teams in D2 of the hurling which is more than enough. Sarsfields are due to come down to D3 next year.

Again they could do some sort of change and reduce the teams down but overall its a competitive league

St Brigids Div 3 surely ? They won Div 4

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

apologies, a typo there.

[NorthAntrimSaff]

They should put Dunloy and Ballycastle up to a 2b. And create a 2a. 8 teams each. 8 in 3 and 9 in 4

[Round or stuffed]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

[thegladiator]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

[NorthAntrimSaff]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

Would either want to go up? Gorts will want Div 2 status

[BigGreenField]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

The right thing for Aggies is to go to a new Div 3 (of 4) with clubs wishing to enter reserves (starting in div 4) allowing 4 divisions. One of the challenges of only 3 divisions is the step to the next division is too high, 4 makes much more sense and would let teams consolidate and progress.

Reserves should though stick to their own championship as to do other wise would kill junior and a lot of intermediate clubs.

I've always thought key to making the league competitive is to have it act as seeding for championship, would put some pressure on with county lads being missing but not a total end of the world with a low ranking.

Ultimately though this is putting lipstick on the Christmas dinner, until the quality of coaching in clubs (on a broad based basis) goes up and retention rates go up then it's pissing in the wind.

[Three leaf clover]

See in today's Irish News Kavan Keenan has pled guilty to his various offences, will he see a custodial sentence ?

I hope so. Horrendous what he did and makes even more hard to take that he was poster boy for the county.

Absolutely spot on.

Yep disgusting that Antrim GAA continued to use his face for team sheets on social media after what he had done. No remorse shown throughout the whole time since it happened too

[SoloAndGo]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

I would reckon gorts will get another reprieve with their friends in high places working it out for them.

The right thing for Aggies is to go to a new Div 3 (of 4) with clubs wishing to enter reserves (starting in div 4) allowing 4 divisions. One of the challenges of only 3 divisions is the step to the next division is too high, 4 makes much more sense and would let teams consolidate and progress.

Reserves should though stick to their own championship as to do other wise would kill junior and a lot of intermediate clubs.

I've always thought key to making the league competitive is to have it act as seeding for championship, would put some pressure on with county lads being missing but not a total end of the world with a low ranking.

Ultimately though this is putting lipstick on the Christmas dinner, until the quality of coaching in clubs (on a broad based basis) goes up and retention rates go up then it's pissing in the wind.

1a - 8 teams
1b - 8 teams
2a - 8 teams
2b - 10 teams

Keep reserve the way it is

[ck]

See in today's Irish News Kavan Keenan has pled guilty to his various offences, will he see a custodial sentence ?

I hope so. Horrendous what he did and makes even more hard to take that he was poster boy for the county.

Absolutely spot on.

Yep disgusting that Antrim GAA continued to use his face for team sheets on social media after what he had done. No remorse shown throughout the whole time since it happened too

Horrific thing to do by Keenan. I take it he will do time?

[SoloAndGo]

none of this answers the question originally ask, who gets promoted from junior alongside the Aggies, will Laochra and Pearses be made play a playoff at this stage?

Would either want to go up? Gorts will want Div 2 status

This is probably likely to happen. Both Pearses and Laochra wouldn't stand a change in Div 2 unfortunately.