Antrim Football Thread

[JimStynes]

I don't think Antrim have the players or panel to make these huge strides people are hoping for.

[Cnoc Bán]

I don't think Antrim have the players or panel to make these huge strides people are hoping for.

Unfortunately i have to agree with you.

We are getting there but are still 2 or 3 top quality players away from being able to compete at the top level, especially up front.

We don't have close to the likes of a McCurry, Rian O'Neill, McBrearty etc, that one star forward who is a match winner consistently and unfortunately I think that will always be our downfall.

[Caesar]

IMO the best forward we have in Antrim is Matty Fitz who isn't even part of the panel

[Cnoc Bán]

IMO the best forward we have in Antrim is Matty Fitz who isn't even part of the panel

And hopefully get Adam Loughran back on the panel too when his studies are finished.

[bannside]

Fitzy a class act - we might have borrowed him from that other code from May to July in the old calendar and got some value from a great talent. But not going to happen, his soccer committments don't end until 29th April.

I wouldn't close the door on Eamon Fyfe or Dominic Mc Enhill. Two good talents still young enough.

Adam a certain starter for me, and then add the creativity of Jamie G pulling strings, surrounded by busy Liam Quinn and recognised scoring forward Conor Small. Michael Hagan shaping up really well for us too. These guys all early twenties.

No we are not blessed with marquee forwards but we should be doing better with what we have if a few injuries can clear up for next year.

[Cnoc Bán]

Fitzy a class act - we might have borrowed him from that other code from May to July in the old calendar and got some value from a great talent. But not going to happen, his soccer committments don't end until 29th April.

I wouldn't close the door on Eamon Fyfe or Dominic Mc Enhill. Two good talents still young enough.

Adam a certain starter for me, and then add the creativity of Jamie G pulling strings, surrounded by busy Liam Quinn and recognised scoring forward Conor Small. Michael Hagan shaping up really well for us too. These guys all early twenties.

No we are not blessed with marquee forwards but we should be doing better with what we have if a few injuries can clear up for next year.

Good point BS on those injured players, I had never considered them hopefully coming back into the fold as well.

Maybe another year in Div 3 and being able to bring some of those lads in won't be a bad thing to develop them as a team and then maybe the likes of Fitzy will see what is coming together and make a return as well.

[EOC1923]

Fitzy a class act - we might have borrowed him from that other code from May to July in the old calendar and got some value from a great talent. But not going to happen, his soccer committments don't end until 29th April.

I wouldn't close the door on Eamon Fyfe or Dominic Mc Enhill. Two good talents still young enough.

Adam a certain starter for me, and then add the creativity of Jamie G pulling strings, surrounded by busy Liam Quinn and recognised scoring forward Conor Small. Michael Hagan shaping up really well for us too. These guys all early twenties.

No we are not blessed with marquee forwards but we should be doing better with what we have if a few injuries can clear up for next year.

Have you seen Liam Quinn starring BS, even at club level or what brings you to the above conclusion?

[imtommygunn]

Quinn and Small have spent significant periods of time out injured.

[bannside]

Yes EOC, I've seen Liam quite a few times and have always been impressed as I know have club and county underage coaches who have worked with him. Isn't he a McRory cup medal winner too, in fact one of the stars of the convent team. Definitely prone to injuries but still young enough to feature if the right breaks go his way. IMO.

[EOC1923]

He is definitely a good prospect, but I think would need to show a bit more a club senior level before we rely on him for the county senior team. Horrible injuries he has had. Maybe this will be his year

[bannside]

A year can make a big difference and there's going to be a few pop up from below the radar during club championships.

I thought Aghagallons Ruairi Mc Cann got a bit of a raw deal, he would be higher up my ratings than a few who were retained by county management. Is he another Mc Rory Cup winner for St Ronan's... honesty not sure, but he is dangerous when in the mood!

[EOC1923]

A year can make a big difference and there's going to be a few pop up from below the radar during club championships.

I thought Aghagallons Ruairi Mc Cann got a bit of a raw deal, he would be higher up my ratings than a few who were retained by county management. Is he another Mc Rory Cup winner for St Ronan's... honesty not sure, but he is dangerous when in the mood!

You're a good man for taking in games BS, did you watch the county final last year? Would you of gave Adam Loughran or Ruairi McCann any more than 3 or 4 out of 10? They're undoubted good players but are they ready to lead the line in intercounty senior football?

[bannside]

There's no doubt those two were very quiet in the final, can't argue with that. There have been plenty of days when they haven't been though. Those two in particular did most of the damage against Portglenone in the elongated semi final. Their mountain had been climbed I think.

[EOC1923]

There's no doubt those two were very quiet in the final, can't argue with that. There have been plenty of days when they haven't been though. Those two in particular did most of the damage against Portglenone in the elongated semi final. Their mountain had been climbed I think.

Loughran in particular a great player hopefully he pushes on and comes back in in 2023.

[Spike]

I don't think Antrim have the players or panel to make these huge strides people are hoping for.

Just hit the nail on the head.

We're made good progress lads but need to build a foundation so that we can compete comfortably in Div 3 never mid Div 2. We need to stop the up and down from Div 3 to Div 4 and back again scenarios.  Get a good solid footing an d kick on again.

Think your optimism BS has got the better of you comparing us to Louth who are on a totally different trajectory to us.  We may have caught them cold last year but it is as obvious as the nose on your face they are operating at a higher level than us currently with more marquee forwards and obstinate defenders.  Physically we have catching up to do but we have made strides in that dept as well.

One of the problems we have in Antrim is looking for a quick fix or the easy route.  There is none. We have went too far down that road for a quick solution to work.        We tried a different approach with the management team and it has brought progress.  Time to address our longstanding underage issues, correct them and continue to advance in the long term, building a foundation for success and players equipped to deal with the higher divisions.    The crash and burn from our last exploits in Div 2 has taken a decade to recover from. New players will be blooded again next season and hungry for promotion but they need to believe in the project.