Antrim Football Thread

[Antrim]

Disagree with that one. Nothing embarrassing about a club having to amalgamate at underage. It's obviously not ideal and I'm sure it's not St Galls preference, but given the choice between that and potentially not being able to field a team, the choice is pretty clear.

In the meantime, I'm sure St Galls are doing all they can to address the low playing numbers.

They got to the U16 county final last year. That's this current team plus their last year minors.

In the final they had 14 subs. Try to square that circle

[belfastsaff]

Another good win for Antrim Masters. BS at the Wheel!

[Caesar]

Disagree with that one. Nothing embarrassing about a club having to amalgamate at underage. It's obviously not ideal and I'm sure it's not St Galls preference, but given the choice between that and potentially not being able to field a team, the choice is pretty clear.

In the meantime, I'm sure St Galls are doing all they can to address the low playing numbers.

They got to the U16 county final last year. That's this current team plus their last year minors.

In the final they had 14 subs. Try to square that circle

So they've plenty of numbers and aren't playing at a higher level? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me

[Milltown Row2]

There are many reasons, some flakey for sure.. If, let's take us as a starter, we fielded with just our own we'd struggle to consistently get teams out hurling, this 'arrangement' benefits the clubs involved and allows lads to play at a higher level..

It's not what we'd like but if you look up and down the country there are hundreds of 'new' clubs born out of falling numbers..

Personally I just want Belfast hurling (mainly for me) to be better.

The age thing for me is a hindrance at juvenile, it didn't do us any harm to play levels well above our age but certainly provides problems now to field

I dont understand how you keep saying youre lads get to play at a higher level as part of Ard na ri when they are playing in Div 2 and minor B champ. Thats the lowest level we have. Gort and LD are the same. Its not fair on the single clubs doing it by themselves. They should be forced to be play Div 1 and A championship.

If a club has to amalgamate then its a bit embarasing if you ask me

There are 2 ages to that team at all county, one is in div 1 and the other div 2 which we have played 2 games..

and if you are going to use embarrassing spell it correctly as its embarrassing 

[paddyjohn]

Yeah, I've 6 nephews while all left before 16 and a niece who stopped at 13.

How do we stop this happening?

Lwt them have fun and don't make it as serious.

Parents have a lot to answer for.   

Without doubt. Some parents are a disgrace.

[Antrim]

There are many reasons, some flakey for sure.. If, let's take us as a starter, we fielded with just our own we'd struggle to consistently get teams out hurling, this 'arrangement' benefits the clubs involved and allows lads to play at a higher level..

It's not what we'd like but if you look up and down the country there are hundreds of 'new' clubs born out of falling numbers..

Personally I just want Belfast hurling (mainly for me) to be better.

The age thing for me is a hindrance at juvenile, it didn't do us any harm to play levels well above our age but certainly provides problems now to field

I dont understand how you keep saying youre lads get to play at a higher level as part of Ard na ri when they are playing in Div 2 and minor B champ. Thats the lowest level we have. Gort and LD are the same. Its not fair on the single clubs doing it by themselves. They should be forced to be play Div 1 and A championship.

If a club has to amalgamate then its a bit embarasing if you ask me

There are 2 ages to that team at all county, one is in div 1 and the other div 2 which we have played 2 games..

and if you are going to use embarrassing spell it correctly as its embarrassing 

Sorry if my spelling isnt as good as yours. 

The problem with what your saying is that it isnt true.

They have one team at that age and they are playing in div 2. They dont have a team in div 1. Now if your going to come on and say something about your club you at least should be correct with your facts. Especially when everyone here knows how to look at the div 1 minor leagues and see that there is no st Galls or Ard na ri there. Now that is embarrassing.

[Spike]

whether it be parents, coaches or club admins gambling their kid's sporting career on the medals they pick up a lot of people have a lot to answer for.

The grading system that we have in our leagues was introduced to make sure so called weaker teams or clubs who had a dip in numbers or a less athletic group had somewhere to play competitive sport at the correct level.  The option to play 13 a side and to a lesser degree concede a league game points but fulfil the fixture anyway with 11 or 12 has been taken many a time.  This depends a lot of the ego of the those people mentioned previously.

entering teams into lower leagues to pick up a handy medal or needlessly amalgamating just so you can feel better about the standard your kid is playing at is completely anti-gaa. this is soccer territory.  should david and paudie clifford's parents upped sticks and took them to Dr Crokes for underage medals? No

chat about an amalgamated team fielding 2 or 3 teams is crazy and defeating the purpose of such teams forming in the first place.

Again its short-termism and a quick fix option.  Ahoghill aside and their experimental symbiotic relationship with Ballymena and Moneyglass, what are the true amalgamations required?

St Galls is a great and sizeable club, amalgamating with another large club in St Brigids just to play higher grade hurling doesnt sound right.

If you can field 15 kids most weeks you shouldn't be in an amalgamation.  You're teaching kids that if their local team isn't good then just amalgamate / transfer to be part of a decent team. 

[Take the Mark]

St Galls amalgamating with St Brigids? That would be right, the original poaching club in Antrim joining up with the new one 

[Milltown Row2]

There are many reasons, some flakey for sure.. If, let's take us as a starter, we fielded with just our own we'd struggle to consistently get teams out hurling, this 'arrangement' benefits the clubs involved and allows lads to play at a higher level..

It's not what we'd like but if you look up and down the country there are hundreds of 'new' clubs born out of falling numbers..

Personally I just want Belfast hurling (mainly for me) to be better.

The age thing for me is a hindrance at juvenile, it didn't do us any harm to play levels well above our age but certainly provides problems now to field

I dont understand how you keep saying youre lads get to play at a higher level as part of Ard na ri when they are playing in Div 2 and minor B champ. Thats the lowest level we have. Gort and LD are the same. Its not fair on the single clubs doing it by themselves. They should be forced to be play Div 1 and A championship.

If a club has to amalgamate then its a bit embarasing if you ask me

There are 2 ages to that team at all county, one is in div 1 and the other div 2 which we have played 2 games..

and if you are going to use embarrassing spell it correctly as its embarrassing 

Sorry if my spelling isnt as good as yours. 

The problem with what your saying is that it isnt true.

They have one team at that age and they are playing in div 2. They dont have a team in div 1. Now if your going to come on and say something about your club you at least should be correct with your facts. Especially when everyone here knows how to look at the div 1 minor leagues and see that there is no st Galls or Ard na ri there. Now that is embarrassing.

At under 16 hurling div 1 we have 3 amalgamations, Naomh Padraig, Ar Na Ri and Glenariffe/Glenravel.

At Minor we have Ar Na Ri in div2, so I've probably incorrectly stated that, but we have younger teams at under 14 that played at A Feile last month ... So we have teams that play at A grade, just not at minor, so you are half right

[Caesar]

In fairness that's a lot better than an amalgamation being able to field two teams

[Milltown Row2]

St Galls amalgamating with St Brigids? That would be right, the original poaching club in Antrim joining up with the new one 

Its easy being a single code club

[Take the Mark]

100% HTL, St Brigids themselves formed basically due to class. No need for them whatsoever. No need for Laochra Loch Lao either imho.

[NAG1]

100% HTL, St Brigids themselves formed basically due to class. No need for them whatsoever. No need for Laochra Loch Lao either imho.

Jesus there's been some sh*t talked on here over the years, but I think that statement is close to taking the biscuit completely.

[Milltown Row2]

100% HTL, St Brigids themselves formed basically due to class. No need for them whatsoever. No need for Laochra Loch Lao either imho.

Jesus there's been some sh*t talked on here over the years, but I think that statement is close to taking the biscuit completely.

Would that be a Hobnob biscuit or a Rich tea

I'll get my sheepskin coat

[Take the Mark]

100% HTL, St Brigids themselves formed basically due to class. No need for them whatsoever. No need for Laochra Loch Lao either imho.

Jesus there's been some sh*t talked on here over the years, but I think that statement is close to taking the biscuit completely.

Would that be a Hobnob biscuit or a Rich tea

I'll get my sheepskin coat

very good