Antrim Football Thread

[HTownlad]

The answer and it's the unpopular answer to solve most of the issues within West Belfast is to reduce the number of clubs

5 West Belfast teams would be enough

One serving the whiterock down

One between mid falls and Kennedy way

Kennedy way to Shaws

Shaws to Suffolk

Suffolk to Lisburn

You'd have huge numbers under age, better quality coaching, greater use of limited facilities,  better resource management/development etc etc
There's little to no logic to having as many clubs beyond what can only be considered historical ties/ego

West Belfast will be lucky to see another senior hurling championship for a generation  and the days of football being a city dominated game is well and truly gone never to return to West Belfast again. Might win the odd one here and there, that's all

If Belfast Gael's wanted to develop and make the city a GAA hot bed.... They need to change

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Creating 5 super clubs in west Belfast should bring county championships to the city. If that is what you see as important in the GAA.

Losing a vast amount of players to other sports because they couldn't get a game of football or hurling is not my idea of success however.

You don't grow a sport by greatly reducing the number of available playing opportunities. There are a lot of players in west Belfast who are getting enjoyment from playing our games, be it Junior football, reserve, South Antrim. In my view, that's what our association was founded to do.

And if the 5 super clubs aren't cutting the mustard anymore, I imagine the great plan would be to reduce the number of clubs towards 1?

Why stop at Belfast? Outside of Cargin, we have had only 1 SW championship winner in over 50 years. Do we combine all of those SW teams down to 5 as well?

[AllStar15]

Same thing happening with Div 2 minor football. Gort too good for that league. All you get out of them is that they dont have any full U18 players. We are in the same league have been doing well but couldn't get near them. They are far too good for the league.

In saying that I don't like that you can play Div 1 and enter B Championship. St John's and Aldergrove both doing that. Should be a rule there to stop that.

It's being re-drawn this weekend due to the county accidentally missing some clubs, I assume these two are the clubs that were missed.

[Antrim]

Creating 5 super clubs in west Belfast should bring county championships to the city. If that is what you see as important in the GAA.

Losing a vast amount of players to other sports because they couldn't get a game of football or hurling is not my idea of success however.

You don't grow a sport by greatly reducing the number of available playing opportunities. There are a lot of players in west Belfast who are getting enjoyment from playing our games, be it Junior football, reserve, South Antrim. In my view, that's what our association was founded to do.

And if the 5 super clubs aren't cutting the mustard anymore, I imagine the great plan would be to reduce the number of clubs towards 1?

Why stop at Belfast? Outside of Cargin, we have had only 1 SW championship winner in over 50 years. Do we combine all of those SW teams down to 5 as well?

+1

[HTownlad]

Creating 5 super clubs in west Belfast should bring county championships to the city. If that is what you see as important in the GAA.

Losing a vast amount of players to other sports because they couldn't get a game of football or hurling is not my idea of success however.

You don't grow a sport by greatly reducing the number of available playing opportunities. There are a lot of players in west Belfast who are getting enjoyment from playing our games, be it Junior football, reserve, South Antrim. In my view, that's what our association was founded to do.

And if the 5 super clubs aren't cutting the mustard anymore, I imagine the great plan would be to reduce the number of clubs towards 1?

Why stop at Belfast? Outside of Cargin, we have had only 1 SW championship winner in over 50 years. Do we combine all of those SW teams down to 5 as well?

- Dublin (city) have 27 clubs for 600k population
-They have huge numbers of teams across each age group so you wouldn't be reducing access or cutting numbers. It would likely have the opposite impact on participation. There would be bigger numbers taking part. They have super membership numbers meaning fund raising isn't diluted and outgoing resources are reduced (ie hiring school halls etc)
-You can also field intermediate and junior teams the same that happens in many counties. This even happens on other counties already and if you want to be specific in terms, you could have development/reserve teams , senior teams, junior  also.
There really wouldn't be a limit on the number of teams or their reason for taking part (be it for winning championships or having fun)


This model drives participation and engagement underage
Promotes and develops better use of limited resources
Caters for all levels and abilities
Drives high performance (for those who want it) at elite level
It would also most likely increase the county success

It's always failed me as to why Antrim don't look to Dublin as the model of success for all things GAA. That's including Gaelfast as a strategy. Why did we reinvent the wheel?

Regardless of the funds put into Dublin, their model works for urban GAA success and this is clear to see on both hurling a football fronts in Club and County


If you look at the development and plans within SW clubs, the numbers they have underage per team. you'll see that it's more future proofing that's all

You can pick out the small details and find the ifs buts and maybes but it's hard to argue against the concept in its totality

[Antrim]

The answer and it's the unpopular answer to solve most of the issues within West Belfast is to reduce the number of clubs

5 West Belfast teams would be enough

One serving the whiterock down

One between mid falls and Kennedy way

Kennedy way to Shaws

Shaws to Suffolk

Suffolk to Lisburn

You'd have huge numbers under age, better quality coaching, greater use of limited facilities,  better resource management/development etc etc
There's little to no logic to having as many clubs beyond what can only be considered historical ties/ego

West Belfast will be lucky to see another senior hurling championship for a generation  and the days of football being a city dominated game is well and truly gone never to return to West Belfast again. Might win the odd one here and there, that's all

If Belfast Gael's wanted to develop and make the city a GAA hot bed.... They need to change

Would you actually listen to yourself? That's an advantage that you might have in Glengormley and maybe it's how you see the GAA. It isnt about eliteism. Its about community and promoting our culture through sport and all the other brilliant things our association does.

Probably the most ridiculous post ive ever read on here. telling clubs to wrap up their history and heritage but it not applying to your own club is the height of snobbery.

Sure one club should do North belfast. You should join up with Ardoyne pearses and wolf Tones and just play out of the crickey. Sell up everything in St Endas and forget everything and everyone from your past including all your deceased members. 

Wanting to improve clubs approaches and expectations is one thing but closing them down and creating super clubs is the most ridiculous thing ive ever read on this.

[InnocentByStander]

Creating 5 super clubs in west Belfast should bring county championships to the city. If that is what you see as important in the GAA.

Losing a vast amount of players to other sports because they couldn't get a game of football or hurling is not my idea of success however.

You don't grow a sport by greatly reducing the number of available playing opportunities. There are a lot of players in west Belfast who are getting enjoyment from playing our games, be it Junior football, reserve, South Antrim. In my view, that's what our association was founded to do.

And if the 5 super clubs aren't cutting the mustard anymore, I imagine the great plan would be to reduce the number of clubs towards 1?

Why stop at Belfast? Outside of Cargin, we have had only 1 SW championship winner in over 50 years. Do we combine all of those SW teams down to 5 as well?

- Dublin (city) have 27 clubs for 600k population
-The have mass numbers of teams across each age group so you wouldn't be reducing access or cutting numbers. It would likely have the opposite impact on participation. There would be bigger numbers taking part
-You can also field intermediate and junior teams the same that happens in many counties


This model drives participation and engagement underage
Promotes and develops better use of limited resources
Caters for all levels and abilities
Drives high performance (for those who want it) at elite level
It would also most likely increase the county success

It's always failed me as to why Antrim don't look to Dublin as the model of success for all things GAA. That's including Gaelfast as a strategy. Why did we reinvent the wheel?

Regardless of the funds put into Dublin, their model works for urban GAA success and this is clear to see on both hurling a football fronts in Club and County


If you look at the development and plans within SW clubs, the numbers they have underage per team. you'll see that it's more future proofing that's all

You can pick out the small details and find the ifs buts and maybes but it's hard to argue against the concept in its totality

Can't do it in Antrim for some strange reason Cargin res got 5 games last year, better this year with 9 but seems to be Bride's have played all their games with 11 played. But nearly every team in the Div 1 Res league have nearly played a different amount of games. Don't see why clubs who can field every week in reserves are not allowed to enter teams into senior leagues.

Its allowed in Hurling within the county, but why not football?

[BigGreenField]

The answer and it's the unpopular answer to solve most of the issues within West Belfast is to reduce the number of clubs

5 West Belfast teams would be enough

One serving the whiterock down

One between mid falls and Kennedy way

Kennedy way to Shaws

Shaws to Suffolk

Suffolk to Lisburn

You'd have huge numbers under age, better quality coaching, greater use of limited facilities,  better resource management/development etc etc
There's little to no logic to having as many clubs beyond what can only be considered historical ties/ego

West Belfast will be lucky to see another senior hurling championship for a generation  and the days of football being a city dominated game is well and truly gone never to return to West Belfast again. Might win the odd one here and there, that's all

If Belfast Gael's wanted to develop and make the city a GAA hot bed.... They need to change

The Dublin super club model has happened organically and largely as a result
Of the price of land and has its own problems.

The counter to it is tha Ballyboden Wanderers continue to exist in the shadow of Boden Endas, Naomh Olaf's crack on next door to Kilmacud and Ballymun seem happy enough despite being only a 10th of the size of na Fianna etc.

Clubs have heritage and that should be cherished, success comes from quality coaching, culture and environment (letting reserves play in the main leagues!).

[HTownlad]

The answer and it's the unpopular answer to solve most of the issues within West Belfast is to reduce the number of clubs

5 West Belfast teams would be enough

One serving the whiterock down

One between mid falls and Kennedy way

Kennedy way to Shaws

Shaws to Suffolk

Suffolk to Lisburn

You'd have huge numbers under age, better quality coaching, greater use of limited facilities,  better resource management/development etc etc
There's little to no logic to having as many clubs beyond what can only be considered historical ties/ego

West Belfast will be lucky to see another senior hurling championship for a generation  and the days of football being a city dominated game is well and truly gone never to return to West Belfast again. Might win the odd one here and there, that's all

If Belfast Gael's wanted to develop and make the city a GAA hot bed.... They need to change

Would you actually listen to yourself? That's an advantage that you might have in Glengormley and maybe it's how you see the GAA. It isnt about eliteism. Its about community and promoting our culture through sport and all the other brilliant things our association does.

Probably the most ridiculous post ive ever read on here. telling clubs to wrap up their history and heritage but it not applying to your own club is the height of snobbery.

Sure one club should do North belfast. You should join up with Ardoyne pearses and wolf Tones and just play out of the crickey. Sell up everything in St Endas and forget everything and everyone from your past including all your deceased members. 

Wanting to improve clubs approaches and expectations is one thing but closing them down and creating super clubs is the most ridiculous thing ive ever read on this.

That's why it could never fly. Gaels would rather bite of the noise to spite their face than entertain a logical discussion. Remember it was a recent chairman of Antrim, a driving force behind the establishment of the main funding arm for Antrim now, who said that this was Belfast's biggest issue. Too many clubs in West Belfast

It's a sensible, interesting and logical point of conversation. Yet you choose to react in a completely blind manner

Ok you might not agree with it but your only point of defence is history and association to a club, which ofcourse is emotive and respected

But really is there any other defence against it?

[HTownlad]

The answer and it's the unpopular answer to solve most of the issues within West Belfast is to reduce the number of clubs

5 West Belfast teams would be enough

One serving the whiterock down

One between mid falls and Kennedy way

Kennedy way to Shaws

Shaws to Suffolk

Suffolk to Lisburn

You'd have huge numbers under age, better quality coaching, greater use of limited facilities,  better resource management/development etc etc
There's little to no logic to having as many clubs beyond what can only be considered historical ties/ego

West Belfast will be lucky to see another senior hurling championship for a generation  and the days of football being a city dominated game is well and truly gone never to return to West Belfast again. Might win the odd one here and there, that's all

If Belfast Gael's wanted to develop and make the city a GAA hot bed.... They need to change

The Dublin super club model has happened organically and largely as a result
Of the price of land and has its own problems.

The counter to it is tha Ballyboden Wanderers continue to exist in the shadow of Boden Endas, Naomh Olaf's crack on next door to Kilmacud and Ballymun seem happy enough despite being only a 10th of the size of na Fianna etc.

Clubs have heritage and that should be cherished, success comes from quality coaching, culture and environment (letting reserves play in the main leagues!).

I'd agree with all of those points to a large extent particularly around natural evolution

[Spike]

Is it the premise to forming Superclubs that a club is only worth existing if it is winning senior championships?

there are loads of clubs in Belfast that have come and gone.  If winning is the only currency then we have all joined the wrong sport.
 

[Take the Mark]

Is it the premise to forming Superclubs that a club is only worth existing if it is winning senior championships?

there are loads of clubs in Belfast that have come and gone.  If winning is the only currency then we have all joined the wrong sport.
 

Certainly should not be the case at all, winning is merely a bonus to any club surely. A successful club is much more than winning the odd championship.

For years to me, Ahoghill were a very successful club (still are) at a time when everything conspired against them. From sectarian attacks to the breakdown of Sean Stinsons and a severe lack in numbers they managed to keep their club thriving and that is felt any time you go there and see the clubmen and women pulling together. They even had success on the pitch to add to that in camogie, hurling and football over the years which is a bonus.

[imtommygunn]

Yep exactly - Lisburn and Larne as well are a big success story with the demographic etc there. They face things a lot of us probably haven't encountered and getting teams out and keeping a ground going and not getting burnt down or wrecked is almost an achievement.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Is it the premise to forming Superclubs that a club is only worth existing if it is winning senior championships?

there are loads of clubs in Belfast that have come and gone.  If winning is the only currency then we have all joined the wrong sport.
 

Couldn't agree more.

Belfast mopped up the senior championships for decades. SW clubs battled on and continued in earnest to better their lot.
Now Belfast clubs are struggling to get near a title. Do you know what they're going to have to do? Strap on a pair and try harder.
Ditching clubs to make super clubs is completely ridiculous. Not only does it lack understanding of GAA clubs in west Belfast, it lacks understanding of the very ethos and vision of our association.

[paddyjohn]

Is it the premise to forming Superclubs that a club is only worth existing if it is winning senior championships?

there are loads of clubs in Belfast that have come and gone.  If winning is the only currency then we have all joined the wrong sport.
 

Couldn't agree more.

Belfast mopped up the senior championships for decades. SW clubs battled on and continued in earnest to better their lot.
Now Belfast clubs are struggling to get near a title. Do you know what they're going to have to do? Strap on a pair and try harder.
Ditching clubs to make super clubs is completely ridiculous. Not only does it lack understanding of GAA clubs in west Belfast, it lacks understanding of the very ethos and vision of our association.

But it's ok to do that! Let's leave out wee Junior clubs behind and join a superclub