There's very few Antrim footballers who can boast to having a All-Ireland football medal but Aidan Hamill is one such individual. Not that hes one to boast though! Aidan Hamill requires no introduction to Antrim gaels. In the seventies he was a regular fixture on the Saffrons' senior hurling and football teams and is a member of a select band of Antrim footballers whose medal collection houses an All-Ireland football medal. That arrived in 1969 when Antrim upset all the odds to claim the All-Ireland U-21 FC title. Since hanging up the boots in 1981, he has remained very much involved in the games he graced. For instance, along with his brother Eamonn, he managed the O'Donovan Rossa team which reached the 1989 All-Ireland club final but, unfortunately, they lost to a Tony Doran inspired Buffers Alley. He's also had stints in charge of the county minor and U-21 hurling teams and was secretary of O'Donovan Rossa for five years, 1992-'97. So how are the Antrim hurlers going to fare this coming year? "In fairness I think the hurlers are at a transition period," opined Aidan whose son Christopher is a current member of the Antrim hurling panel. Incidentally, another son, John, whose living in Dublin now has also represented the county. He continued: "There is a large number of young players involved and it would be wrong to have too high expectations of them. "Building for the future should be the main priority at this stage. I would be more inclined to look two to three years ahead rather than to this coming championship." In contrast, the Saffrons' footballers are looking forward to their championship campaign with an anticipation which most feel somewhat alien to them given their track record over the past 20 odd years or so. The facts remain, however, that Antrim football has been given a new lease of life following their exploits last year in beating Down before going under to Derry following a replay. "There's no question that last year was an excellent one for Antrim football and an enormous amount of credit must go to manager Brian Whyte for that. He introduced a level of professionalism which hasn't been seen in the Antrim football team for quite some time. "More importantly, however, he instilled self-belief in the players. That was crucial to the team's success last year." The aforementioned anticipation, however, must have been quenched somewhat when they were drawn against perennial favourites Derry in the first round. The fall-out from the Antrim football final debacle will not have helped matters either. "Restoring unity in the Antrim panel following the county final will be a major problem for Brian this year but I'm sure he's more than up to the task and the players will want to get on with the job in hand. "As far as the draw is concerned they don't come any more difficult than Derry. The element of surprise which Antrim possessed last year is now gone so it is an entirely different challenge. While it would be great to think they could overcome that major obstacle you would have to say that all the odds are stacked against them. I would be content with another year of steady progress on the football front." For years now the growth of gaelic games in Belfast city has been a source of major concern for the powers-that-be in Croke Park. The county's failure to set the national scene alight hasn't helped in the promotion of gaelic football and hurling. Aidan has been headmaster of La Salles Boys school, which boasts a student population of approximately 1,200, since September 1999 and so has first hand experience of the problems facing the GAA in the city. "I believe the underage structures has to be seriously examined in the county. We need to provide a lot more competitive games for kids. There is a lot of competition from other sports and if the GAA doesn't organise more games then it's inevitable that they will be lost to the like of soccer or rugby." Things have been looking up for the GAA teams of La Salles of late though. "Despite having such a large number of students attending the school, our sports facilities consists of just one soccer pitch but we have enjoyed our fair amount of sport successes nonetheless," revealed Aidan. "We have contested the final of the McCain Cup (hurling) for the past two years while we reached the semi-final stage of the McLarnon Cup (football) last year. There's a huge interest in sport within the school." Owing to his hectic work commitments, Aidan is unable to adopt a hands-on-approach with any of the school teams. It's a pity because his experience would be a welcome addition to any managerial team. He has represented Antrim, in both hurling and football, at minor, U-21 and senior grades, while he has also donned the yellow and black of Ulster in the Railway Cup hurling competition. His medal collection includes three All-Ireland hurling 'B', a number of Ulster HC, three Antrim SH, two Ulster SH and two Ulster SF medals. Pride of place, however, goes to the All-Ireland U-21 FC souvenir he garnered with the county in 1969. Aidan donned the number 10 jersey on that historic occasion when Roscommon were beaten in the decider in Croke Park on a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-10. "That championship was played right in the middle of the troubles," he recalled. "After winning the Ulster championship we were due to meet Cork in Cork but owing to the troubles there was a serious worry whether or not we would be able to travel because there was roadblocks everywhere. In the end, Jack Lynch, who was Taoiseach at the time, organised for us to fly down. I'd say we were the first GAA team to take an internal flight in the country!" A year later, Aidan was a member of the Antrim team which reached the Ulster football final - the last time the county contest the provincial football showpiece - against Derry but he hasn't too many fond memories of that particular day. The reason? "I missed a penalty!" Given his outstanding contribution to GAA matters within the county, no doubt Antrim GAA fans have long forgiven him that minor indiscretion! Tweet

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