Offside_Rule county board probably decided it was not worthwhile getting it dirty in Saturdays game.

I heard from a reliable source last night that after the fermanagh game almost half of those jersies were swapped with fermanagh players so they had to use an older rig on saturday.

I think a lot of people are being harsh on the St Galls players. They were placed in an awkward position by the county board (some things never change there) and the opposing club who it seems refused to reschedule. So given the importance of their hurling match which incidentally they won for anyone interested i would have done the same thing myself!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 22/06/2015 10:58:02    1740723

Well done to Antrim on a superb win against Laois on Saturday but if report of CJ McCourty's interview on main page is factually correct then the Co.Board should hang their heads in shame. Not meaning to take the gloss off Saturday's win but the draw this morning is a bit of a joke surely Antrim and Fermanagh should have been kept apart after playing each other in Ulster QF.

Greenwood (Meath) - Posts: 210 - 22/06/2015 12:00:04    1740786

I would have taken it Greenwood if we got a chance against them at home but to have to travel again despite being drawn out first because some genius made a rule that if you beat a team in provincial you get home advantage in qualifiers makes a nonsense of the whole thing. Maybe had they beaten us in Antrim or a neutral venue last day out then you could see the logic in giving them a home tie this time but to give them home advantage because they used home advantage to good effect the last day is complete horse.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 22/06/2015 13:22:43    1740875

bumpernut I think maybe a bit of the harshness towards the St Galls boys comes from the previous of a lot of players from this club regarding County commitment - certainly in my initial rant that was the case. However, in this instance it seems that there is a much bigger picture and if CJ is correct then I suppose it highlights what many of us know already about the competence of our county board - in fact down right destructive is what they are. If CJ is correct then I back the guys for playing for their club - bit of a shift in stance I know but it would seem they were put into an impossible position. It is an ill wind that does not blow some good - some will say that we have had the good in the form of victory but I hope this gets blown into the open completely now with the county board forced to explain their rationale. I am also glad St Galls won the game if CJs words are true given the other club would not budge on the fixture.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 22/06/2015 13:30:31    1740887

Great result, i honestly believe we have some of the best footballers in the country, unfortunately a lot of them aren't playing for the county. Listening on the radio on saturday and 2 of the best club players in ulster who should have been on the field were not, what does that tell you? Sean Kelly is the best club footballer i have seen and i have taken in games all over the country i would honestly love to get our best players back playing we could be a force. People might think i am getting carried away with one victory, actually I'm the opposite, i think this win will paper over some cracks and people will say we don't need such and such etc,after this season should be the time to get everything out in the open clean slate and give next year a good rattle with everyone on board.

The point about the kit is something that really annoys me too, surely a county outfit should have more than one set of jerseys made for championship knowing that jerseys will get swapped etc, the county went all out in marketing the kit and then do this? also, i am sure northern properties aren't too happy, i would say they were under the impression their logo would be on jerseys for championship, rte etc last night but no...

the_watcher (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 22/06/2015 13:32:11    1740891

Well done to the Antrim crew on the win over Laois. Great to win a game coming from behind. I see hogan stand have an article up highlighting that the subs and starters were wearing 2 different types of jerseys. Who cares? It doesn't matter 1 iota once the boys are wearing the antrim colours and they won the game

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 22/06/2015 14:55:50    1740989

pdempsey that is true regarding the match at hand and we are very grateful for the result and the lift it has given us sporting wise but the jerseys is just another symptom of a dysfunctional county board.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 22/06/2015 15:10:39    1741001

Exactly Naysayer, people from outside the county will see the jersey thing as an honest mistake and sure what the big deal but i think for Antrim Gaels we are getting to used to this type of carry on, how can we get our best players available, get dunsilly sorted etc when we can't even get our players wearing the proper kit?

the_watcher (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 22/06/2015 15:34:27    1741023

The jerseys is a joke as is putting on a st galls hurling game the night before. Honestly lads what sort of a county board have you got up there? They seem intent on destroying Antrim GAA. How could they not have got this years jerseys. Surely they could have went for a trip down the falls and picked up a few in the oneills store. Sounds like a thrown together outfit making the decisions.

Anyway lads i look forward to welcoming you back to Brewster on the 5th.The boys behind the goals were good value the last day out. Should be a better game with both sides a bit stronger. Donnelly back for Fermanagh and CJ fit to start. Will McKeever be available?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 22/06/2015 19:58:40    1741203

gotmilk maybe the Fermanagh boys that swapped Jerseys with Antrim the last day could bring them along so as we can play in this years kit :)

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 23/06/2015 08:07:11    1741299

Haha Naysayer i know a few of them. I'll let them know to bring the jerseys with them. What way are you feeling for the game in Brewster? From my own perspective i'm glad we didn't get Cavan but after Cavan i didn't want to get Antrim.
Anyway I look forward to the game. Antrim supporters are always good value on the road.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 23/06/2015 11:03:46    1741401

gotmilk I would have loved a home fixture - we have had so few over the last few years - I would not have cared who we got to play if we could have had a game here but regardless we have what we have now - obviously not ideal playing the same team twice (for either side) but we will again start as big underdogs and any element of surprise that we might have brought will be gone after last weeks result.

I suppose the one thing we have to cling on to is that we played a man down (rightly so) for a large chunk the last day. That said we were behind when we had 15 and these things are not always as simple as saying that with 15 we would have done better.

Sunday week is a new day and we will see what it brings but I certainly will not be travelling thinking that we are likely to progress but as ever always remain a little optimistic of an upset.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 23/06/2015 11:30:18    1741425

Never say never Naysayer. Is big McKeever back for you or is he still out? Fine footballer on his day. What about McVeigh? I assume the St Galls lads will be playing. if McVeigh and McKeever are fit it could be a great battle in the middle of the park. Donnelly and O'Callaghan both had good games on sunday. Donnelly on his day is one of the best midfielders in Ireland. Very underrated, can run all day.
I didn't see any of the Laois antrim game but to come from 7 points down to win is some achievement.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 23/06/2015 12:22:58    1741471

We're an extremely pessimistic crowd Gotmilk as im sure you and most other people now realise. I think it could largely depend on how we approach the game.
As i read somewhere yesterday we are not as cute tactically/defensively as the other Ulster Counties so im hoping we play with the gay abandon of last year and a similar result might unfold.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 23/06/2015 12:30:51    1741479

so im hoping we play with the gay abandon of last year and a similar result might unfold.

I think thats the approach we have taken in the last couple of games this year bumper as we seem to like to get ourselves in to a position where we then come from behind. It's hard to know how the game will pan out on Sunday week but one thing I believe is that Antrim will have learnt more about Fermanagh from the first game than Fermanagh have about Antrim. Think it will be a close game and I am going to shake the shackles, stick my neck out (and any other cliché going) and say we will win by a couple of points. Won't be releasing the shackles from my wallet though and sticking any money on that but I just have a strange feeling in my waters which I don't think is an infection.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 23/06/2015 12:56:48    1741502

For my sake offside i hope it is an infection! In fairness lads i would be quite happy with you to play free flowing football as i think it would suit Fermanagh down to the ground. They are very strong defensively. Against Monaghan they turned the ball over a number of times. McManus was very very poor until the last 10 minutes. I still think the goal he got should have been a free out. The one area of concern i would have is full back. If Antrim had a fit and flying Pollock at FF i genuinely think he could do damage. Hughes had a field day at FF against Fermanagh.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 23/06/2015 13:02:36    1741505

Antrim can beat Fermanagh surely. It will be much easier for Antrim to get up for this one than Fermanagh. They have the extra motivation of 'getting one over' the Erne men, and with a fantastic win over Laois under their belts, I can only imagine the buzz in the camp this week. Fermanagh look to be a fairly well coached outfit, but in terms of talent, I would say both are on level par. When Antrim played Fermanagh in the Ulster championship, they looked a side devoid of any real belief. The same won't be said when the teams lock horns again next weekend. I think this could be a cracker like last years game! It's do or die at this stage, whoever wants it more on the day will win. I would just favour Antrim to win this one, but I wouldn't put my hard earned dough on it.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 24/06/2015 10:15:18    1741937

I sincerely hope so offside, given the shenanigans both on and off the pitch this year in particular, i think we are long overdue a bit of pride being restored in our county and jersey.

If im honest i, like you and mourne, hope the confidence/self belief last weeks win injected into the players will help us sneak a result.
Id take a draw even but then again we'd probably end up back in Brewster Park again for the replay and probably sporting the Bushmills jerseys into the bargain!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 24/06/2015 10:35:19    1741957

bumpernut...

if it ended in a draw it would go to extra time! fermanagh havnt lost a game at home this year and i would expect all will be looking for a big performance against antrim, Most people ive been talking to are not that disheartened by the performance against monaghan, fermanagh put in a cracking performance up until the last quarter.

I think fermanagh are a good division three team who i fear will not cut it in division 2, but when i look at antrim its so hard to judge what there actually capable off, they have spent the last couple of years stuck in division 4, surely their better than that!

abitawit (Fermanagh) - Posts: 274 - 24/06/2015 13:32:03    1742082

Funny enough abitawit in the car on the way home from Cavan we were discussing division 2. We decided that avoiding relegation would be our objective. As we discussed we actually came to the conclusion that 10 points isn't that unrealistic of a dream.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 24/06/2015 15:23:33    1742162