Antrim Football Thread

[johnnycool]

We need the people more than investment.  We do not have enough good football men in the county to make anything happen at the minute. 
When it comes to time and volunteering, who will make the sacrifices to do the hard yards when it doesn't involve their own child or club.
The best counties have these people, currently we don't.

Get Ulster GAA to pay their wages! There cannot be any stone left unturned and yes I include 11+ grades in that. Omagh CBS and St Pats Armagh/Downpatrick became non selective. Ballymena could follow.

There are quite a few paid coaches/GDO's in Antrim already, so what are they doing if you need more of them?

[bannside]

What we do not have is a County Games & Development Officer in place since Paddy Kellys 5 year tenure ran out a few months ago.

So who then is pulling these vital strands together in football and hurling? That's what I'd like to know.

[Sportacus]

After falling into Div 4 in 2020 Louth GAA implemented a strategic overhaul involving elite coaching, administrative reform and major infrastructure investment. One of the items focused on was strategic planning, with a review to streamline player pathways, improve retention in Urban clubs and enhance commercial self sufficiency through initiatives like An Lu.
Instead of all the money spent on big name managers like Davy Fitz (im sure Doran quite expensive also) could we not focus on the above?

As Sambo said, a big fancy roof on top of a house with no foundations.

[Scallionpicker09]

I don't know boys, can't see many parents sitting down and deciding their child's future based on churning out a good schools cup run in 5-7 years. The culture simply isn't there in Antrim sadly.

The year st.endas went on their intermediate all-ireland tear the spine of the team were all in the within 1-2 years in St Malachys group, again coached by a st. Endas coach. Healy, McAuley, Eastwood etc.   I haven't seen this replicated since but in trying to be optimistic it does show with effort it's doable.

[marty34]

Personally I thought we were a shoe in for promotion, so the -21 point score average after just three games is nothing short of alarming.

I never thought I would see the day we were rock bottom of the pile. Its just not acceptable under any circumstances.

People are turning from disappoinment after Carlow, frustration after Tipp...to downright angry after yesterday.

And make no mistake, the double jobbing of the manager hasnt made him any friends.

Im giving it till Leitrim in my own head, if we dont come back up the road with two good points, its bye bye blackbird.

No ifs or buts!

With all due respect BS, I mentioned a few weeks ago on here that Antrim people (football and hurling) think they should be doing better and I was basically told to f"^k off.

Not that statement aboves proves a lot of what I said to be correct. Why should Antrim be a shoe in for promotion? Poor club scene, poor underage scene and poor school scene when compared to the rest.

People need to be less arrogant and be honest. Not thinking we're better than X, W or Z. 

[Walter Cronc]

We need the people more than investment.  We do not have enough good football men in the county to make anything happen at the minute. 
When it comes to time and volunteering, who will make the sacrifices to do the hard yards when it doesn't involve their own child or club.
The best counties have these people, currently we don't.

Get Ulster GAA to pay their wages! There cannot be any stone left unturned and yes I include 11+ grades in that. Omagh CBS and St Pats Armagh/Downpatrick became non selective. Ballymena could follow.

Whatever about the debate over academic selection, "so we can hopefully get better at football" absolutely shouldn't be a part of it.

Spoken like a true product of the 11+ system

[gallsman]

So I thought you were being a bit hyperbolic (I gather you don't have your 11+ so feel free to Google it) but you're actually serious?

Never mind education reform, accessibility, rising tides lifting all boats etc, you genuinely think a school board should be looking at "how can we have a better football team?" when considering this?!

[ck]

Was at game in PG1 yesterday, it was pretty dismal. Really feel for the players as they are much better than they are showing. Something is very badly broken behind the scenes and based on what I saw yesterday they're just not playing for the manager. Lets hope he can give the players some control so they can turn things around.

[Walter Cronc]

So I thought you were being a bit hyperbolic (I gather you don't have your 11+ so feel free to Google it) but you're actually serious?

Never mind education reform, accessibility, rising tides lifting all boats etc, you genuinely think a school board should be looking at "how can we have a better football team?" when considering this?!

lol I enjoy you Gallsman

[outsiderlookingin]

Are the players there? Management poor when takin club team in Derry.. who makes these appointments

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

The schools system has never been there.

Its a long time since i was at school but in my time in Ballymena we played hurling and it was seen as a waste of time to the school, or well to some of the teachers.

St Pats was full of non GAA teachers and pupils so hurling, football & esp. camogie was seen as something that was not essential to take part in. I remember you had to ask permission out from classes to play for the school and very often the teachers said no to you missing their lesson so you ended up not playing.

St Pats used to get a lot of Dunloy & Loughgiel but those numbers are dwindling down to nothing. Its mostly Ballymena, Glenravel.

It was never seen as a school that was in any way having a strong GAA culture. If anything that boat has sailed a long time ago.

St Louis has done a lot of good work themselves but are fighting a battle against Cross and Passion in terms of the draw for hurling.

CPC are very popular for kids wanting to play hurling & camogie. They take in Ballycastle, Carey, Loughgiel, Dunloy, Cloughmills, Naomh Padraig etc. so have a strong base. What they do really well is engage with the local clubs in terms of using clubs to train during the year and getting support from them on socials. 

St Killian's have again done well in terms of the hurling & camogie and draw in Glenariffe, Carnlough, Cushendall, Glenarm, Cushendun. Again they do well on their socials and get the support of the clubs as well.

I dont know what any of the Belfast schools do as i don't see any of their socials but is there any connection with the local clubs they draw from?

The truth is that Gaelfast was a complete waste of time and money, nothing was gained from it whatsoever. I hold no hope of any meaningful programme being done in terms of schools if we couldnt get it right for our clubs.

I know that our local primary school has had a long standing and very strong connection to the club. It goes hand in hand with the club and maintaining this is vital for the long term future of the club. We have 56 kids in Primary one so the numbers game is vital and getting them into the club for the future is key.

 

[cynic]

Trillick is right on the Fermanagh border, and much socialising / shopping happens naturally in Enniskillen. St. Micks is a bit closer, but the switch to my old school Omagh CBS happened because the pupils were following the football. In previous decades, St. Micks (Enniskillen) and Omagh CBS were closely matched in football terms; but Omagh has stolen a march in more recent years.  It's a mix of Trillick youngsters being brought up to want to win all the time, and they now perceive that there's a better chance of doing so at the CBS; that, and the fact that one of the Trillick youth coaches is on the football coaching staff at the CBS.  He's very well respected in the club, so him being a known quantity does no harm.  But it's primarily about winning.  If St. Micks was to start winning titles, the fashion could swing back to St Micks again.  But def no county board involvement, just lads of their own volition wanting to go where they'll get the best chance of winning. 

[Spike]

How close are St Louis to getting out of the MacLarnon Cup and into the MacRory?

[imtommygunn]

Well they were close in the late 90s. I wouldn't follow that closely but I think the furthest I can recall seeing them get to was the quarter final of the mclarnon since then. So in summary which is probably the point of your question not close at all...

The academic thing vs the schools that do football thing... This is a massive reason in counties like Derry and Tyrone. It's never factored in Antrim because sports wise the schools are all much of a muchness though I do think CPC look to be a school with a lot of emphasis on sport allbeit not football...

No Belfast school has stood out over any other from what I can see sports wise either although I guess Aquianas will change that a little now but it's more Down than Antrim.

[NatSoSaff]

Are the players there? Management poor when takin club team in Derry.. who makes these appointments

Who/what are you talking about here?