Antrim Football Thread

[Saffsof82]

Aquinas and St. Louis through to 1/4 of McLarnon. The Belfast lads are very strong and could go the whole way. St Malachy won the mcdevitt cup yesterday and will play in A ulster next year, a few positives in the youth of the city.

[bannside]

Maybe Duine but let's grab the positives here with two hands. St Malachys into Grade A competition for first time in many years is one. If an Antrim college claim Mc Larnon that would also be the first in quite a while.

There's obviously renewed impetus, probably fuelled by Gaelfast initiative, and any green shoots are most welcome.

[Saffrongael]

Maybe Duine but let's grab the positives here with two hands. St Malachys into Grade A competition for first time in many years is one. If an Antrim college claim Mc Larnon that would also be the first in quite a while.

There's obviously renewed impetus, probably fuelled by Gaelfast initiative, and any green shoots are most welcome.

Yeah nothing to do with the clubs producing players

[Milltown Row2]

Maybe Duine but let's grab the positives here with two hands. St Malachys into Grade A competition for first time in many years is one. If an Antrim college claim Mc Larnon that would also be the first in quite a while.

There's obviously renewed impetus, probably fuelled by Gaelfast initiative, and any green shoots are most welcome.

Yeah nothing to do with the clubs producing players

These clubs have producing the same players without any real success at school level

[BrendanAntrim]

Aquinas v Rathmore in McClarnon QF this coming week. Not sure about Gaelfast but in both cases the school teams are backboned by club players who have been well coached in their clubs from P1. Plenty of Antrim clubs represented in both school teams, and Down too.

[Saffrongael]

Aquinas v Rathmore in McClarnon QF this coming week. Not sure about Gaelfast but in both cases the school teams are backboned by club players who have been well coached in their clubs from P1. Plenty of Antrim clubs represented in both school teams, and Down too.

Yep, it's totally clutching at straws to try and credit Gaelfast

[Gold]

They've a lot of Bredagh players every year. But depends how many soccer heads are in a school year.  GAA isn't not number 1in many of these schools and not the reason lads go there like a Omagh CBS or Maghera so yes, every year will be different, some will have more fruit than the last

[BrendanAntrim]

The staff involved are putting in a huge effort, like many other schools I am sure. Suppose every year is different, given the crop of players available at any one time.

[bannside]

Of course it's not all down to Gaelfast, but some of their initiatives,  including year 8 and year 10 inter schools competitions have pushed the GAA agenda in schools a bit higher up the list than in previous years. I don't think anyone can doubt that.

But clubs is where the vast majority of juvenile development should be taking place over a ten or fifteen year period. School activity is a bonus.

[BrendanAntrim]

Yes - agree with that 100%

[Saffsof82]

St Mal's year 10 team played the convent Mfelt the week after winning the Antrim cup, they lost by 1 point, only a challenge game , but showed they can compete at the top level when the work is done in house by coaches,

[Southwestsaffs]

Who's everyone's early picks for 2023 championship?
Here's mine
Senior: Aghagallon - I think they're sick of heart breaking defeats and this season will be now or never for them if they want to keep players motivated.
Intermediate: All Saints - win or DIE for the Ballymena men. If a trophy doesn't come back to Slemish park this year I'm convinced Baker will leave. And the saints will be back to the drawing board
Junior: who gives a rats a*se

[Would ye whist]

I think it will depend on the draw as to whether Aghagallon even get to the final, if they avoid the big two on the way they can and anything can happen in the final. For me it is hard to look past the big 2, PG1 and Cargin for senior

Intermediate- Is Baker staying another year with All Saints, I thought they would go for a younger man with a fresher out look on the game. For me I can see Glenravel getting over the line this year

Junior- who knows, depends who the Belfast teams get out for me


quote author=Southwestsaffs link=topic=21.msg2173635#msg2173635 date=1673968750]
Who's everyone's early picks for 2023 championship?
Here's mine
Senior: Aghagallon - I think they're sick of heart breaking defeats and this season will be now or never for them if they want to keep players motivated.
Intermediate: All Saints - win or DIE for the Ballymena men. If a trophy doesn't come back to Slemish park this year I'm convinced Baker will leave. And the saints will be back to the drawing board
Junior: who gives a rats a*se
[/quote]

[Southwestsaffs]

I'd say you're right about aghagallon now that I think about it, draw is important for them.
Would like to see PG1 finally win a championship but at the same time it's clear Cargin are nowhere near done.

Baker is taking pre season trainings with all saints so I can only guess he's there to stay another year and I believe all saints really underperformed last season so the chip on their shoulder could drive them on

[SW Ultras]

Don't know what Southwest Saffs has processed what has happened in the last year. It's a two way horse race in senior between the two Loughshore teams and that's a fact. Intermediate is always close in any county. Ballymena, Glenravel, Sarsfields all out on their own perhaps. Junior it's a lottery anyways.