Antrim Football Thread

[bannside]

Probably the biggest obstacle qe have in Antrim especially Belfast is the lure of organised soccer. I recently talked to a schoolteacher in St Marys who named a dozen class acts at gaelic football who were going to be good county standard who fell through the net to soccer. Winning the battle for hearts and minds of GAA over soccer in nationalist areas is the first big test. Im happy to kerp the faith with Paul Donnelly and his troops that this can be achieved.

[paddyjohn]

Eamon Fyfe confirmed now also. Somebody check on Peter John

[bannside]

Lol PJ. Good to see a Glenravel man on the panel after a few years. Alec Mc Quillan and Martin Mulholland were two of the best Saffrons ever in my time watching. Eamon has the world of ability too....hope he can kick on into a big player for us now!

[bannside]

The breaking news that Creagh Concrete are to step up their financial association with the county by sponsoring all 8 development squads is another fantastic boost for Antrim Gaa. The Mc Keague family firm has stood tall with Antrim through some dark days, a period of one negative story after another and of course  tough times of their own during a long and nasty recession.

They are a company on a big upward curve now and see the many positive changes happening throughout the county and look set to take their involvement with Antrim Gaa to the next level. It may take a decade to "make Antrim great" but developments like this one can really make it happen.

[Jeepers Creepers]

The breaking news that Creagh Concrete are to step up their financial association with the county by sponsoring all 8 development squads is another fantastic boost for Antrim Gaa. The Mc Keague family firm has stood tall with Antrim through some dark days, a period of one negative story after another and of course  tough times of their own during a long and nasty recession.

They are a company on a big upward curve now and see the many positive changes happening throughout the county and look set to take their involvement with Antrim Gaa to the next level. It may take a decade to "make Antrim great" but developments like this one can really make it happen.

Who are the new senior sponsors BS?

[paddyjohn]

Lol PJ. Good to see a Glenravel man on the panel after a few years. Alec Mc Quillan and Martin Mulholland were two of the best Saffrons ever in my time watching. Eamon has the world of ability too....hope he can kick on into a big player for us now!

Alec has to be in the Top3 best Antrim players of all time I'd say.

[ned]

Lol PJ. Good to see a Glenravel man on the panel after a few years. Alec Mc Quillan and Martin Mulholland were two of the best Saffrons ever in my time watching. Eamon has the world of ability too....hope he can kick on into a big player for us now!

Alec has to be in the Top3 best Antrim players of all time I'd say.

Really? Superlative free taker, longevity too but that's some claim. I'm not disputing your statement right enough. Trained with him regularly at club and can safely say he was Glenravel's greatest.

[bannside]

I'm with PaddyJohn on this. Havent seen many better than Alec for consistency over a period from around 1980 until early nineties. Best of his generation imo. Could have played anywhere, never wasted a ball.

[paddyjohn]

Lol PJ. Good to see a Glenravel man on the panel after a few years. Alec Mc Quillan and Martin Mulholland were two of the best Saffrons ever in my time watching. Eamon has the world of ability too....hope he can kick on into a big player for us now!

Alec has to be in the Top3 best Antrim players of all time I'd say.

Really? Superlative free taker, longevity too but that's some claim. I'm not disputing your statement right enough. Trained with him regularly at club and can safely say he was Glenravel's greatest.

I'd be quite confident that 7/10 people would agree with me.

[Belfast GAA man]

talking about best ever players is near impossible when comparing era's
Best stab would by decade - for starters

90s - Ciaran O'Neill, Aidan Donnelly, Terry McCrudden, John Rafferty
00s - Kevin Brady, Kevin McGourty,Sean Kelly,
10's - Michael McCann, CJ McGourty,Paddy Cunningam

[bannside]

All about opinions I suppose, no one can really claim to have the definitive answer. Thing about Alec is...he put everything into playing for the county, for about twelve years or more. In fairness Kevin Brady did too, and he is most worthy of a place in this discussion. They both gave club and county everything and never missed a year.

[Milltown Row2]

Joe Quinn, Kevin Madden, Loughrey, Niblock, Kobo all must be in with a shout.

Not going to argue with that, along with McCann, I can go back as far as Mickey Darragh and that auld team, Flash, and very young Jimmy Wilson

[bannside]

All class acts too no doubt.

[bannside]

Take the 09 team that went toe to toe for most of the game in Tullamore against a Kerry team that went on to win that year. Would a fit and available Sean Kelly Kevin & Kieran Mc Gourty not gave given us an extra 5% or 10%?? And could that have won the game for us?

No one really saw that team coming....the quality of players were in our midst the whole time! Dont forget St Galls won the All Ireland club title too that year.

[BrendanAntrim]

neither CJ nor Kevin stayed for long enough periods to make this list - by the way, a very interesting diversion on a discussion board! - James Loughrey one of the best and wouldn't it be great to have seen him playing even longer too. Tony Scullion is in that space where quality meets longevity, Mick McCann definitely on the shortlist. He was at the top of his game in successive promotions in 09 and 2010. Kevin O'B...Justin Crozier, Kevin Niblock, Paddy Cunningham, Tomas as well and those last two back on board.

Looking further back, Lenny was one of our best flair players, Donal Armstrong when we won the B championship, Aidan Donnelly, Mackers, Whitey with his overhead point!

This really is a talking point for an evening over a few pints.....