Antrim Football Thread

[EOC1923]

Derry, Tyrone etc playing young lads at 20 and 21 who have talent - Antrim bringing men back In who weren't good enough 10 years ago (Dowling)

[Belfast GAA man]

where are all the Cargin men? won champiosnhip 4 out of last 5 years surprised to see so few of them in the program today

[Lár na páirce 1]

Dominic McEnhill shipped off at half time and I think that was a mistake. We created many opportunities in that second half, but we needed to get scoring forwards on the end of some good moves.

I can't help but feel today was one that got away. Adam Loughran was in the extended panel (not in 26 for the programme) and I think he might add something extra to us and his proven link up play with Aghagallons RMC could reap dividends. Maybe he is hurt because on natural ability he should be starting all day every day.

Best two on pitch for us were Peter Healy followed by Dermot McAleese...imo. Both put in a massive shift to be fair. Big Pat and Ryan Murray both won some good ball but a couple of shots were narrowly off target, just one of those days when it all went wrong.

Sean O Neill and Eoghan Mc Cabe are two players I expect to see more of as the year goes on. A few of the Cargin contingent could yet reappear, and does anyone know where's Ricky?

Seen Ricky and Marty in stands both should be there, totally agree Dermy was good today apart from his first half shot 😊Dowling a waste of a jersey he must show up well in training but I can only judge on what I've seen.

[ck]

Would it be fair to suggest that there are players in the panel and starting on the team and only McEntee knows how they are being selected? I know some people say to give McEntee time, and that's fair enough, but anyone can see that they are no-where near good enough for this level. Where are all the Creggan, Cargin and PG1 players?

[Milltown Row2]

Selected? You can only really play with what's available surely? If people don't make themselves available due to whatever reasons they have, he can only play with what's available to commit?

[Saffsof82]

Gaping whole in the centre of our defence today, same as the 2 McKenna cup games. Finegan is never centre back. Caught out of position time and time again. Healy was excellent today. Dommo not fully recovered from that injury he picked up for uu, big mccan made a huge difference when he came on. Sean Oneill to chb would be my move. His reading of the game is superb , like to see Oisin get another go at midfield , thought he was decent against Cavan. Big Stewart disappointing today, expected more from him. Bizarre having mick hit the frees. Think Andy should have learned a lot about some of his players today, I hope he did . Down on high at mo, we will do well to be within 8 of them.

[Sportacus]

Some people need to cut out the personal insults.  Probably didn't grace too many county teams themselves back in the day.

[Rodger Mona]

Cut our loss with that senior team for the next few years and start getting the underage to a different level. Year on year its the same shite. The period Baker had Antrim, that squad was primed off the back of St. Galls success, men with schools football success and the likes of Murrray, Crozier etc..'s teams who got to an Ulster Final and an AI Minor Quarter.

What has McEntee inherited...

[bannside]

And yet if we had been a bit more composed in front of goal yesterday we would have taken something out of the game. Anyone who was there will know that. Disallowed points, narrow misses inches wide of posts (twice Big Pat twice Ryan Murray) and three excellent goal opportunities,  all in a great final quarter, meant it was just not our day.

Would it be a disaster if we did drop down, regrouped and came back up again with a fresher renewed squad? I mean Leitrim are Division 4 and toyed with us at will only a few months ago in the Tailteean Cup. We are in some kind of transition, few can doubt that.

[Milltown Row2]

And yet if we had been a bit more composed in front of goal yesterday we would have taken something out of the game. Anyone who was there will know that. Disallowed points, narrow misses inches wide of posts (twice Big Pat twice Ryan Murray) and three excellent goal opportunities,  all in a great final quarter, meant it was just not our day.

Would it be a disaster if we did drop down, regrouped and came back up again with a fresher renewed squad? I mean Leitrim are Division 4 and toyed with us at will only a few months ago in the Tailteean Cup. We are in some kind of transition, few can doubt that.

Stop talking sense ffs!! Lets get the pitch forks at the ready and hang these wasters out to dry! No?

[EOC1923]

And yet if we had been a bit more composed in front of goal yesterday we would have taken something out of the game. Anyone who was there will know that. Disallowed points, narrow misses inches wide of posts (twice Big Pat twice Ryan Murray) and three excellent goal opportunities,  all in a great final quarter, meant it was just not our day.

Would it be a disaster if we did drop down, regrouped and came back up again with a fresher renewed squad? I mean Leitrim are Division 4 and toyed with us at will only a few months ago in the Tailteean Cup. We are in some kind of transition, few can doubt that.

It doesn't seem like we have begun a transition, Antrim U20 team beat Derry 3 years ago before losing narrowly to Tyrone, only 3 players from that team playing yesterday. Last year again Antrim had a decent U20 team, no players form the team featured yesterday.

[Saffsof82]

One thing that was apparent yesterday was how much fitter the team looked. Very strong second half as Offaly wilted.

[bannside]

From the team that beat Derry at the Dub isn't Pat on the squad, also Luke Mulholland, Adam Loughran, Dominic Mc Enhill,Jamie Gribben and Cormac Mc Gettigan are all up on extended panel.

From last years team Cahir Donnelly Conall McGinn Eunan Quinn are all involved with under 20s atm and can probably expect senior recognition when that's over. Of that team Sean O Neill Ronan Boyle and Cathal Hynds are already on the senior squad.

Apologies if I've left someone out,  just going from memory.

That's not bad representation EOC, just give it a whilecto settle down. The cream will rise to the top.

[paddyjohn]

Stick a knife in the footballs and send Andy back down the road.

Jeez whizz lads calm down.

[Spike]

And yet if we had been a bit more composed in front of goal yesterday we would have taken something out of the game. Anyone who was there will know that. Disallowed points, narrow misses inches wide of posts (twice Big Pat twice Ryan Murray) and three excellent goal opportunities,  all in a great final quarter, meant it was just not our day.

Would it be a disaster if we did drop down, regrouped and came back up again with a fresher renewed squad? I mean Leitrim are Division 4 and toyed with us at will only a few months ago in the Tailteean Cup. We are in some kind of transition, few can doubt that.

Come on BS, after the diatribe launched last Summer for failure to get promoted to Div 2?  Some consistency please.  If we were in some form of transition then it would be more obvious unless as Antrim supporters we are doomed to eternal transition.     I will follow the same logic as CK says: Where are all the Creggan, Cargin and PG1 players?   At the moment we are hanging our hats on some positives in the last quarter of a match ignoring the dire nature of considerable periods of it.  Contrary to some hysterical believers, we are not and never were ready for Div 2 and I would have accepted Div 3 status this year as a launching point for a 2024 promotion push. 

The manager needs to cull and perhaps with the introductions of Kevin Small and Ruari he is getting there, that is my positive from it.  He still has some culling to go.

More than happy to give McEntee time but relegation should not be a consideration.