Antrim Football Thread

[Milltown Row2]

When it comes to the Ulster Club its a minefield.. History will say Dunloy haven't a chance and the odds would reflect that, though Dunloy have upset the odds all year, they were not favorites in their knockout games, so no change going into Saturday's game.

Newbridge have played one game in the Ulster championship but the Derry clubs have, at senior level, a decent history in this competition.

If Dunloy are fully fit, I see this as a 50/50 game, they have proved to be very good defensively against one of the higher scoring teams in Antrim these past 10 years.. If Newbridge don't have a plan for the Dunloy attack then Dunloy could rack up a score early doors, weather won't be a factor and Owenbeg has a good surface so the playing conditions will be grand for both..

Dunloy's biggest problem will be the depth of their squad, and that's not a reflection of the subs that come on, its just that they won't add  extra to the team when introduced, some clubs have an embarrassment of riches that can change the game when they come on..

Only seen Newbridge a couple of times so can't really comment on their game.. I'm sure some of the Derry/Antrim border clubs will have an idea..

Dunloy nothing to prove, they have huge big game players and the occasion will not faze them, having recently played a club final at Croke. Hoping for a Dunloy win and Moneyglass to throw the kitchen sink at the Glenullin and see what happens!     

[Cnoc Bán]

Under 21 championship.

Was at St John's and St Galls game. Was really disappointed with St John's. Weather was atrocious for football but St John's didn't look like they had any ideas at all. St Galls looked astute and had purpose to their play.

Is Portglenone too young or is that a really disappointing result for them? That Aghagallon team good?

St Brigid's game conceded. They'd be my favourites but Cargin racked up a good score too.

Who conceeded to Biddies?

Moneyglass. Likely saving players for their game against Glenullin.

[inabsentia]

Under 21 championship.

Was at St John's and St Galls game. Was really disappointed with St John's. Weather was atrocious for football but St John's didn't look like they had any ideas at all. St Galls looked astute and had purpose to their play.

Is Portglenone too young or is that a really disappointing result for them? That Aghagallon team good?

St Brigid's game conceded. They'd be my favourites but Cargin racked up a good score too.

Who conceeded to Biddies?

MG

[YoungSaff]

Under 21 championship.

Was at St John's and St Galls game. Was really disappointed with St John's. Weather was atrocious for football but St John's didn't look like they had any ideas at all. St Galls looked astute and had purpose to their play.

Is Portglenone too young or is that a really disappointing result for them? That Aghagallon team good?

St Brigid's game conceded. They'd be my favourites but Cargin racked up a good score too.

Who conceeded to Biddies?

Moneyglass. Likely saving players for their game against Glenullin.

I see , seem to have a young enough senior squad so that probably makes sense

[BigGreenField]

St John's v Gort in minor B final tomorrow. In Creggan of all places with a Belfast referee.

That's embarrassing for the county that not one pitch in Belfast could have hosted this game.

Unfortunately it will reduce the amount of people willing to go along and watch the game especially the young lads in the city.

How many grass pitches in the city have lights?

[Hoof Hearted]

St John's v Gort in minor B final tomorrow. In Creggan of all places with a Belfast referee.

That's embarrassing for the county that not one pitch in Belfast could have hosted this game.

Unfortunately it will reduce the amount of people willing to go along and watch the game especially the young lads in the city.

why does it have to be at night ? if theyve waited this long whats wrong with this saturday or sunday ?

[BigGreenField]

Yes that's my point. Nothing suitable in the city with lights. is this not embarrassing for our county?

Getting planning permission for lights is very difficult in the city, not sure that is any of the clubs fault, a few have tried a bunch of times to get them.

[podge]

Planning permission isn't really an issue within the city for lights that just a crude assumption.

Often we see that its restrictions in terms of time which negate the issue of light pollution

Milton would fail to get lights due to the potential bio issues
St John's don't have the space
Nor gort/st Paul's the likes
Paddies and Enda's would as would Musgrave
St Ts would be wouldn't be on their agenda and ofcourse LD


But the biggest issue is cost for proper functional match lights! Upwards of £150k

County won't look to support any club outside of St John's on this type of development

There is ofcourse
Falls park
QUB
UU
Woodlands
SallyGardens
Criky

All with lights but I'm assuming these were well booked in advance.

Buttom line is, it's another "we need casement" argument.

The counter argument might be that we don't need casement to the scale and capacity and cost that is being talked about. IMO some of the money that's being talked about for casement would be much better directed at 4 or 5 good indoor or outdoor floodlit hurling/ football facilities dotted around the county.

[bannside]

Amongst the doom and the gloom of seeing Project Casement (as it stand) fade deeper into fantasy land, I wonder what the scenarios start to look like?

Best Case - It gets built.

Medium Case - see what finance is still ringfenced and available and touch up all other possible funders/build something smaller within new budget that would at least deliver something modern and north of Casement Park as it used to be.

What does worst case look like? Can all parties (including Ulster councils committment to Antrim board)  just walk away...

Or put it another way...how much is still ringfenced for the project and if necessary can it be transferred to smaller/amended project(s)?

[NAG1]

Amongst the doom and the gloom of seeing Project Casement (as it stand) fade deeper into fantasy land, I wonder what the scenarios start to look like?

Best Case - It gets built.

Medium Case - see what finance is still ringfenced and available and touch up all other possible funders/build something smaller within new budget that would at least deliver something modern and north of Casement Park as it used to be.

What does worst case look like? Can all parties (including Ulster councils committment to Antrim board)  just walk away...

Or put it another way...how much is still ringfenced for the project and if necessary can it be transferred to smaller/amended project(s)?

Or put it another way...how much is still ringfenced for the project and if necessary can it be transferred to smaller/amended project(s)?

No it is ring fenced for that specific project

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I'd question that. I think that's one of the many spoofs we've been told from the start.

How were soccer given the autonomy to divide their allocated £62.5m government funding as they saw fit (Windsor upgrade + Sub-Regional Stadia development), yet Ulster GAA's allocated £62.5m government funding must be used solely on the Casement Park project?

Latta Ballix.

[NAG1]

I'd question that. I think that's one of the many spoofs we've been told from the start.

How were soccer given the autonomy to divide their allocated £62.5m government funding as they saw fit (Windsor upgrade + Sub-Regional Stadia development), yet Ulster GAA's allocated £62.5m government funding must be used solely on the Casement Park project?

Latta Ballix.

They were able to do so because that's the way the Business Case was developed at the outset.

Ulster Council should be ashamed of themselves the way this has been mishandled right from the word go.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

I imagine we still have the autonomy to use our allocated funding as we see fit. Even if it means putting forward a new business case.
I also reckon the narrative of it being funding for a one stadium project was put out there by Ulster GAA to stop people calling out the white elephant and demanding that the funding is put to better use.

[NAG1]

I imagine we still have the autonomy to use our allocated funding as we see fit. Even if it means putting forward a new business case.
I also reckon the narrative of it being funding for a one stadium project was put out there by Ulster GAA to stop people calling out the white elephant and demanding that the funding is put to better use.

Going back and doing a new Business Case takes the whole process back to the beginning and ring fenced monies are no longer ring fenced. Therefore you need to then attempt secure that funding which in the current climate is never happening.

For those not from Antrim this is a mild annoyance because 'we' havent got what themmuns got. For Antrim Gaels this is a lot deeper, we've lost our home, we lost our focal point and a place to play our clubs finals and our County games.
It needs resolved for Antrim people and Gaels as first priority.

[Na Glinntí Glasa]

Planning permission for flood lighting is very hard to get sorted and approved. I've done it a few times over the years as part of my job and getting it through for pitches is difficult in built up rural areas.

I've done the applications at schools and sports grounds and you will always get a load of objectors in the local area who will come to you with a multitude of reasons as to why it shouldn't be permitted. They make the process both long and difficult.

Light pollution is the biggest factor and the spread of the excess light onto properties. Also noise is an issue especially at the time of the year when no games are expected to be played late in the evenings.

Anti social gathering is also one thing that gets brought up via local objections