Antrim Football Thread

[bannside]

Good point SS...the weak spot would definitely be a team that lost first two or three games and had nothing to play for in the last match, unless of course there was play off match between last place teams to drop into intermediate and be replace by the previous years intermediate champs.

So in effect clubs would be doing their best to avoid finishing last in their group...keeping game 4 honest.

4 x league games plus two semis and a final is 7 weekends. If we drop the semi over 2 legs its 6...same as now.

[NatSoSaff]

Back door format is the only way to go in my humble opinion. 2 chances max and your gone. Let league placing directly impact championship seedings, home venue etc. And let county players play for their club AND their county, how about that for a mad idea.

[SaffronSports]

Good point SS...the weak spot would definitely be a team that lost first two or three games and had nothing to play for in the last match, unless of course there was play off match between last place teams to drop into intermediate and be replace by the previous years intermediate champs.

So in effect clubs would be doing their best to avoid finishing last in their group...keeping game 4 honest.

4 x league games plus two semis and a final is 7 weekends. If we drop the semi over 2 legs its 6...same as now.

4 group matches but with 5 teams that's four weekends with a match and one with a bye so groups would take up five weekends.

[Sportacus]

Back door format is the only way to go in my humble opinion. 2 chances max and your gone. Let league placing directly impact championship seedings, home venue etc. And let county players play for their club AND their county, how about that for a mad idea.

Knockout championship for me.  On your county footballer proposal, completely agree.  We've held them back from their clubs for 30 years and have achieved almost zero.  Let them play at their clubs and it'll keep the County set-up mentally fresh.

[NatSoSaff]

We won't hold our breath.

Anyone know what game/games if any, are being streamed this weekend?

[BigGreenField]

We won't hold our breath.

Anyone know what game/games if any, are being streamed this weekend?

Tee'd up for Marys/Casements game on the Saturday and Cargin/Galls on the Sunday

[BigGreenField]

This year is probably the most wide open championship I recall.

A bit fanciful maybe....but imagine this for a scenario in a few years...

Top 10 clubs
Two leagues of five - Four matches each...there would be no room for error. Every game cship edge to it.

Matches Friday Sat and Sunday so crowds would be large. A lot of 50/50 games...

No QFs.

Top two only in each group go into semi finals, A v D and B v C

Semi final matches played over 2 legs, home and away.

Final.

7 matches to win it. (6 atm)


Better quality.
Better crowds.

League formats are killing crowds - not enough jeopardy meaning not enough intensity.

The Double elimination format with 12 teams means 4-6 matches to become champion, around 20 matches in total (versus 23 in a league), teams need to hit top gear early.

Importantly the double elimination allows a higher number of teams to enter SFC knocks out lower quality teams quicker - bypasses the inevitable push back from clubs who want to be a SFC club.

Even if it's 16 teams it works (16 probably works better as no byes)

Ultimately it counts for nothing if clubs won't vote for it!

[bannside]

I thought Casements v Aghagallon match was on Saturday in Cargin. Not seeing it on the fixtures for some reason.

[Hoof Hearted]

I thought Casements v Aghagallon match was on Saturday in Cargin. Not seeing it on the fixtures for some reason.

Noticed that myself but it has to be surely, cause the other game is fixed and both group games need to be played simultaneously

[Hoof Hearted]

Very sad to hear about Eamonn Downey
A former neighbour growing up but a big dunloy man most of his life.
Was an ever present on county finals day, leading the teams in the parade with his bagpipes.

[paddyjohn]

He was a gentleman HH. One of the real good guys.

May he RIP.

[Gaels1789]

We won't hold our breath.

Anyone know what game/games if any, are being streamed this weekend?

Tee'd up for Marys/Casements game on the Saturday and Cargin/Galls on the Sunday


Surely someone better to do streaming than that Quinn man his commentary would put u to sleep doesn't even know the rules

[Gaels1789]

So we compromise the quality of our senior championship by putting dross like moneyglass and sarsfields into each group to make up numbers

And then we say scores and points against them dont really count?

What a joke. 

Our flagship event reduced to Go Games


Both stayed in div 1 avoided relegation, (thus far,
Both team in the hardest groups  no mention of St Paul's on worse score difference than moneyglass in a much easier group,

Or Glenravel and tnn struggling in the easiest group of the lot.

Very easy to pick on the newly promoted teams

[Swsaffs]

This year is probably the most wide open championship I recall.

A bit fanciful maybe....but imagine this for a scenario in a few years...

Top 10 clubs
Two leagues of five - Four matches each...there would be no room for error. Every game cship edge to it.

Matches Friday Sat and Sunday so crowds would be large. A lot of 50/50 games...

No QFs.

Top two only in each group go into semi finals, A v D and B v C

Semi final matches played over 2 legs, home and away.

Final.

7 matches to win it. (6 atm)


Better quality.
Better crowds.

league format??

1a top 8 teams in league this year

1b bottom 8 teams this year



Everyone plays eo once then goes to a split.

1a and top 4 in 1b go to senior championship

Bottom 4 to go intermediate.


Bottom goes straight down 2nd bottom plays second in div below


Just a thought

[YoungSaff]

I don't think the championship has been that bad this year !

You will always have your top teams and bottom teams every year. The format is actually fine however a few double headers etc would be good to boost attendances and create an atmosphere. Any game I've attended this year tend to have a bit of bite to it with the loosing team tending to stay in the game until the final 10/15 where experience and a bit of squad depth helped pull them away.

 After the groups it will heat up obviously as it is do or die then and I think there might be a few surprises on the horizon!