Antrim Football Thread

[Hoof Hearted]

Looking forward to a good club season this year.

County season already been disappointing. I don't think we have the players to compete for the Tailteann Cup.

Build for next year and hopefully Doran can focus on Clann Eireann next year and we have an Antrim man in place.

It'll be interesting to see if Dunloy can replicate their magic. They're well capable of it obviously.

Cargin were definitely found out in that final with their slow and defensive style. The new rules have changed and saved the sport.

Who'd be your favourites for Intermediate?

St Enda's bound to be right up there.

[NatSoSaff]

Point_taken straight in with the baited rod 

Favourites for intermediate would be Ahoghill. It wont be the gigantic drop off people have been predicting for years now they've been relegated. They will take a bit of stopping.

In senior, Cargin aren't a busted flush either. They'll be up there, as will Creggan, St Brigid's and PG1. But for me yes, Dunloy are the still the team to be stopped come the business end of things. Excellent footballers married with pace, athleticism and a great understanding of the modern game.

Interesting to see how the like of Aghgallon and TNN will fair out this year having gone big on management teams. Talented players in both ranks no doubt about that. So they both could be back up there at the forefront of the chasing pack. Most likely to challenge that 'big 5' for me though will be St. Galls. I can see Ballymena regressing this year unfortunately for them.

[Spike]

Would be surprised if creggan and st brigids arent in the mix. Both have their issues but very capable.  Unknown if the Downey relocations are a morale boost or a crusher for the biddys.   dont know where PG1 are at as they looked stale all last season and dont know if they have it in them to find that extra few percent.  St Galls dangerous and upcoming though may be a year of more development rather than a title challenge.  Think the worst thing happened Cargin last year was beating Dunloy with a bit to spare in the earlier rounds of the championship.  Underestimated them in the final and their tactical set up showed that. Dunloy will be dangerous again and with the added confidence of championship win.  Could be a repeat of last years final. 

[bannside]

Dunloy should be favourites...they won the matches that mattered with a bit to spare, and they are not going away any time soon. Their performance against Newbridge was very credible, in it for most of the way.

St Galls should have beaten PG1 last year too, very unlucky to lose Mickey Pollock who was on fire early but pulled up with a pulled hamstring. Plus our keeper stopped two certain goals. I think they are definitely the dark horse.

Portglenone were stale, never took league seriously but didnt kick on when it mattered. I expect Mattie McGleenan to find a good few % and return PG1 to be a top contender if not their best ever version.

Theres easily 6 clubs quietly fancying themselves for a big year ahead...isnt that what we want.

[BigGreenField]

Dunloy, won it and now know they can win it so should be favourites - injuries will be deciding factor for them and how heavy the inter county hurling campaign is. Look forward to seeing if they can continue to play off the cuff as they did.

Brigids - second favourites, too conservative against Dunloy until it was too late. Need a marquee forward . Experienced management with a reputation for attacking with Ardee might let them loose.

St galls - 2 u20 finals in a row speaks to potential. Still reliant on old stagers last year in some key positions. Probay another 2 years development needed. I'd question if the overly physical approach they appear to be adopting is the right one.

Cargin - they have 3 or 4 very talented u20 who need a solid run in the league They've managed change before , feels like a bigger transition this time though with the spine of the team needing refreshed. Sheer aerial ability keeps them as a potential winner on any given Sunday. Will be interesting to see do they field as strong in the league as they did last year or allow development time for youth.

Creggan and Portglenone - both need fresh legs and fresh ideas. Portglenone talent is coming from juvenile but will be a while.

Aghagallon - dark horses with proper management could bring any side down. The need to fix fitness and a lot of other things but the talent hasn't gone away.

No easy games there for anyone!

[Sportacus]

Dunloy played with freedom and just went at it.  Football's a simple game.  Most of the top teams are over-coached, to their detriment, St Brigid's a classic example. If any of them just cheer up and enjoy playing fast attacking football they'll do well.

[belfastsaff]

Hard to suggest St Galls are a team in the up! They are probably where they should be

Kevin Niblock will hardly play next year given he's coaching in Monaghan. They relied on him for 2s at times.

Michael Pollock has been finished these past few years so he'll prob step away. Gallagher back again at what? 40?

You can't simply ignore Cargin and think Dunloy are a done deal. Anything happens to Seaan Elliot and they are not the same team. Creggan aren't really bringing anyone through. StJohns will do better in league with McBride. Rossa hardly a statement of intent with their coaches in. STPauls get a second year bounce or will the struggle?
Paddies be lucky to get a few points. Who did they appoint?


I wouldn't be putting the eggs in one basket with St Enda's, we've still a lot of progress to make. Inter isn't too hard to predict, it's always the team who've come down with the greatest chance

Who is nibs in with ?

[YoungSaff]

League Winners - St Bridgits
Championship Winners - Dunloy
Relegated League - Sarsfields
Relegated Championship - St Pauls
Intermediate League winners - Aldergrove
Intermediate Championship Winners - Naomh Eanna (close)
Relegated League - Gort na Mona
Relegated Championship - Aggies

No idea regarding Junior if anyone has any predictions

[belfastsaff]

i can see st bridgits struggling if all the lavey contingent has left...

[Round or stuffed]

League Winners - St Bridgits
Championship Winners - Dunloy
Relegated League - Sarsfields
Relegated Championship - St Pauls
Intermediate League winners - Aldergrove
Intermediate Championship Winners - Naomh Eanna (close)
Relegated League - Gort na Mona
Relegated Championship - Aggies

No idea regarding Junior if anyone has any predictions

your relegations predications way off the mark, St Pauls will improve, Sarsfields have probably been the best team in intermediate for a few seasons and will hold their own in the league, Gort na mona were comfortably mid table in division 2 last year, and the Aggies are as good a team to ever come from junior.

I think Rossa and randalstown could be in danger in division 1 and Davits are the obvious pick in division 2

[YoungSaff]

i can see st bridgits struggling if all the lavey contingent has left...

Matthew and Conor only two away , both rarely featured for them so don't see why they would struggle

[marty34]

i can see st bridgits struggling if all the lavey contingent has left...

Matthew and Conor only two away , both rarely featured for them so don't see why they would struggle

Why did they not play? Injured all the time?

[YoungSaff]

League Winners - St Bridgits
Championship Winners - Dunloy
Relegated League - Sarsfields
Relegated Championship - St Pauls
Intermediate League winners - Aldergrove
Intermediate Championship Winners - Naomh Eanna (close)
Relegated League - Gort na Mona
Relegated Championship - Aggies

No idea regarding Junior if anyone has any predictions

your relegations predications way off the mark, St Pauls will improve, Sarsfields have probably been the best team in intermediate for a few seasons and will hold their own in the league, Gort na mona were comfortably mid table in division 2 last year, and the Aggies are as good a team to ever come from junior.

I think Rossa and randalstown could be in danger in division 1 and Davits are the obvious pick in division 2

Randalstown were top 4 in the split 2 years ago if I remember correctly ? New management also in who done a good job with Lisburn , Rossa I don't know an awful lot about but think they would be too strong for Sarsfields , St Pauls , Moneyglass and potentially others in league

Presuming Sarsfields will loose their best player and attacking threat in Healy as he is with cliftonville now , also the big armagh man i hear is back to his home club so I do think they will struggle , I don't think they were the best team last year nor the year previous but albeit in around the top.

Gort na mona weren't hot anytime I saw them last year but granted Davitts probably wiser choice.

Aggies maybe will stay but I'd imagine will be scraping by if do manage to stay up , think the jump between junior and intermediate is quite large and will be around the bottom end of table.

Who knows how it will pan out , will be interesting to see these were just my takes.

[YoungSaff]

i can see st bridgits struggling if all the lavey contingent has left...

Matthew and Conor only two away , both rarely featured for them so don't see why they would struggle

Yes injuries , I think Conor featured more so than Matthew in some league games etc , but Matthew probably only played a handful of games usually off the bench for them as he was with derry also during year

Why did they not play? Injured all the time?

[Round or stuffed]

League Winners - St Bridgits
Championship Winners - Dunloy
Relegated League - Sarsfields
Relegated Championship - St Pauls
Intermediate League winners - Aldergrove
Intermediate Championship Winners - Naomh Eanna (close)
Relegated League - Gort na Mona
Relegated Championship - Aggies

No idea regarding Junior if anyone has any predictions

your relegations predications way off the mark, St Pauls will improve, Sarsfields have probably been the best team in intermediate for a few seasons and will hold their own in the league, Gort na mona were comfortably mid table in division 2 last year, and the Aggies are as good a team to ever come from junior.

I think Rossa and randalstown could be in danger in division 1 and Davits are the obvious pick in division 2

Randalstown were top 4 in the split 2 years ago if I remember correctly ? New management also in who done a good job with Lisburn , Rossa I don't know an awful lot about but think they would be too strong for Sarsfields , St Pauls , Moneyglass and potentially others in league

Presuming Sarsfields will loose their best player and attacking threat in Healy as he is with cliftonville now , also the big armagh man i hear is back to his home club so I do think they will struggle , I don't think they were the best team last year nor the year previous but albeit in around the top.

Gort na mona weren't hot anytime I saw them last year but granted Davitts probably wiser choice.

Aggies maybe will stay but I'd imagine will be scraping by if do manage to stay up , think the jump between junior and intermediate is quite large and will be around the bottom end of table.

Who knows how it will pan out , will be interesting to see these were just my takes.

Gort also won a Minor Grade 2 and U21 Grade 2 championship last year and have a very promising young side coming through, hopefully will see the dividend of the hard work and tough decisions that have been made in the last few years

I think you could be right about Moneyglass, tbh on the other side it will be interesting to see how aghohill do, will they have enough to compete or is it downhill from here, I take your point about randalstown, but look at what's left in Lisburn, I heard a few of their players have jumped ship to eire og derriaghy.

Division 3 will be Laochra, paearses or odonnells to challenge raskarkin but by all accounts rasharkin were looking a repreive to play intermediate this year so must fancy they are up to it