Any new blood next year? Paul Crooks from Aghagallon had a sensational debut season, scoring 5-67 from CHF, could cause serious problems in div 2 nxt year. 1 to look out for. ahoy!

Antrim23 (Antrim) - Posts: 57 - 05/11/2015 16:43:03    1804727

Its a big step up from div 3 to 2, wait and see how dominant this guy is next season.

Niall McCann has been very impressive in glenavy's run to the ulster semis, could be in with a shout.

johnanthony (Antrim) - Posts: 169 - 06/11/2015 12:22:40    1804927

the big question moving forward is can we get a fully committed squad just for one season to see what we could do?

I can't remember the last time we had a season with a squad that stuck to the task until we exited the championship. Players have fallen out with management, left to go to the States for the summer, chose club commitment over county and some even went and booked themselves holidays in July at a time when even a team with our aspirations would hope to still be involved in the championship.

I have no problem with lads wanting to go to America etc but I just wish at the start of the year more players were honest with themselves and their team about the year ahead. Its such a waste for a manager to pick a player for 6 months and that player taking off for whatever reason at the business end of the GAA calender and the manager then having to draft in replacements who have a fortnight to get themselves up to championship standard!

I could probably name you the majority of Dublin or Mayo's starting 15 for 2016 already. As for us I wouldn't be confident in putting even one name on the team sheet for 2016. Players come and go so often that a match programme is essential at an Antrim game. Its hard to create team spirit when you can't keep a team!

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 07/11/2015 21:23:15    1805243

Great win today. Wexford scraped home against Leitrim. Massive stakes game in corrigan next week

spy_in_the_sky (Antrim) - Posts: 273 - 31/01/2016 16:25:19    1820876

I wonder if the Leitrim boss will be next in line to complain about Antrim being rough. I watched the first 2 matches and saw very little (from either teams).

Saffrons_in_Dub (Antrim) - Posts: 9 - 28/02/2016 18:55:38    1828970

Looking good for promotion now. Beat Wicklow away in two weeks time and we're in Div 3. If we lose that we have a second chance to go up by avoiding defeat at home to Louth in the last game. No goals conceded in 5 games so far, an excellent record for Chris Kerr.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 463 - 13/03/2016 16:49:56    1834142

Good win we are very good In defence and the forwards at times were devastating. Waterford weren't up to much and we took the foot off the gas on occasion. Won well without getting out of second gear which is always a bonus. Still more to come from this team the future is bright

spy_in_the_sky (Antrim) - Posts: 273 - 13/03/2016 17:24:22    1834190

great stuff again. The clean sheet record is a very pleasing stat given our reputation in previous campaigns for giving away soft goals. Hopefully it helps to maintain confidence ahead of the championship were we are definitely capable of causing an upset in Fermanagh. We're in good company with Dublin and Tyrone as the only teams with 100% win records, so hopefully we can get over the line with a bit to spare. Great to see this momentum!

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 13/03/2016 18:45:26    1834257

Was a bit nervy when Wicklow nearly scored an equalising goal near the end but we crawled over the line. Antrim are promoted to Div 3 with a game to spare. An excellent achievement, well done to the squad and management. Two games coming up against Louth, hopefully we can win the Div 4 title.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 463 - 27/03/2016 16:46:29    1838133

What is it about Leinster managers having a dig at our footballers this year. I'm sorry Colin Kelly but we are ahead of Louth in the league because we DID get over the line against Leitrim and your team didn't. Hopefully we can maintain the composure we have shown up until this stage when we get to Croker as we'll have to face his team next year as well and it would be nice to lay down a marker. Best of luck to the players who fully deserve a day at Croke Park for their efforts.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 07/04/2016 15:01:30    1843069

Makes a big difference for Antrim when the best players are available. Michael and Tomas McCann, Niblock, Kevin O Boyle

Would CJ McGourty be back in the fold next year for Division 3?

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 08/04/2016 20:22:43    1843645

Fools Gold CJ i a bit like the footballers version of Liam Watson. Definitely a talent but always suits himself and has walked off the panel about as many times as LW. I actually believe the team performs better when he's not involved anyway. He wasn't there for the Ulster final run in 09, the qualifier run in 2011, the victory over Galway in 2012, the Fermanagh win in 2014. Last year he chose to play for his club in a hurling match on the eve of the Laois game and effectively eliminated himself from that game which was a memorable victory for us against the odds. This year we have been in great form without him again so I really don't think we need to cross that bridge thankfully.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 10/04/2016 16:08:33    1843923

You're probably right. He walked off the panel a few times.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 10/04/2016 20:25:13    1844055

very quiet here lads regarding saturdays match, will many of the saffrons travel to croke park?

joej (Louth) - Posts: 1599 - 21/04/2016 14:13:01    1847972

well that's the 5th time I've watched Antrim this year and that's the 5th time they've decided to go through a 20-30 minute spell of being non existent in a game. For the time they do decide to play they actually do all right. But seriously, wtf is going through their heads during that rest period they seem to give themselves? The game is 70 minutes for a reason and you'll get no lay down teams in Ulster.

To be fair the midfield battle was probably lost the minute McKeever was ruled out but why not McVeigh in from the start? someone that could actually make it difficult in the middle of the park for Fermanagh, as it happened he came on when it was too late. As usual the forwards were fed scraps, so its hard to point the finger apart from that very poor effort McCann put wide. More sloppiness in defence cost us big time when you have someone as good as Tomas Corrigan hitting frees (and by the way, what a sideline kick from him!).

Its hard to be optimistic after that display but hopefully 4 weeks is long enough to get them up to at least a 60 minute performance because it'll be lights out if they can't,

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 15/05/2016 21:07:37    1855136

Are the current management too negative - should we be looking elsewhere for a more expansive approach - hearing great things about Carl McCabe who is with the minors should we try to snap him up before someone else does?

wondering (Antrim) - Posts: 96 - 16/05/2016 13:26:16    1855282

Anyone could manage that St Galls panel and win a county title. Genuinely think somebody like Pete McGrath would do wonderful things with a county like Antrim.

Rules_man (Armagh) - Posts: 152 - 18/05/2016 14:01:19    1856016

They had their chance to get McGrath and missed out to fermanagh

spy_in_the_sky (Antrim) - Posts: 273 - 18/05/2016 17:45:54    1856134

BOTTLERS that's all they are.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 18/06/2017 01:36:25    2000925

Pete McGrath has quit Fermanagh. The Antrim Board should be moving mountains to get him to take charge, assuming he still wants to manage at intercounty level.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 463 - 15/07/2017 13:30:33    2016885