Alder grove Gael how can 2 teams in div 6 end up in division 4 when two of them where in the bottom 3 and all saints2 finished second behind ballycastle. Or are you just trying too give the county a hand for next year, because you know and i know that your team will be playing until January

gabby (Antrim) - Posts: 173 - 29/10/2008 19:59:51    129261

Gabby have another read. Reserve teams will be in a reserve league for reserve teams does this make it any clearer.

Aldergrove Gael (Antrim) - Posts: 161 - 29/10/2008 23:45:57    129415

i think just keep the numbers in the league the same as what was proposed at the start of the year - with the two up two down scenario.. forget about the play offs as these usually take place in mid winter anyway! Its totally unfair on the clubs that have been training away to achieve a goal for this year i.e. only for it to be taken off them. I believe the problem lies with the fixtures as has been previously mentioned by several authors.. play two fixtures a week - two in football wed and sun followed by two in hurling.. there are only 18 league fixtures in div 1 & 2 football - these can be played out over 9 weeks x2. Let championship begin in Aug - this would still allow fixtures to be completed by the 23rd nov which happens every year. A radical overhaul that you've suggested could be discussed but any implimentations should occur the following year!!

captainsensible (Antrim) - Posts: 60 - 30/10/2008 08:18:55    129478

I know it is only your opinion Aldergrove Gael but congratulations. I agree entirely with this proposal. It is the system adopted within most of the stronger counties and the standards have improved. The league structure at present is a shambles. At this stage of the year points are being exchanged without fielding teams so the prospect of both senior and reserve teams playing the same opposition weekly is a positive one as the problem of finding enough players could be resolved with the subs of the senior team perhaps ling out for reserves if the team is short. It also as you stated enables the management and selectors to view all players with the added bonus that two matches on the same day would increase attendances thereby increasing much need income for each club.

cruncher (Antrim) - Posts: 3 - 30/10/2008 09:29:37    129516

Saffron - agree with your three original points. Need to get the colleges in particular sorted. I played colleges and minor club football (a while ago now) and I would guess that at St Malachys College, only 3 or 4 of the best 15 gaelic footballers were playing for the college team. Similarly, a lot of the best minors weren't in the county panel (admittedly I can only comment on the South Antrim players in the panel). There is a lot of distractions - mainly soccer. I can't imagine it is hugely different now.
If you go to Tyrone, Derry, Down, Armagh etc, most lads of 17 are busting to even be in contention for a place on the county panel.
Given the potential pool of talent - with the right inspiration - Antrim should be up there every year. I believe that getting right in the colleges, at minor and U21 should pay dividends in the long run.
I don't know if messing with the league structures is the answer - it may be more of a distraction than anything else.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 30/10/2008 10:30:22    129593

Alder-grove Gael i have read your post again so the reserve league's will have relegation and promotion lie the senior ones so the bottom two teams in div4 stay in that division do they not.and the top two in res league 1 stay there as well

gabby (Antrim) - Posts: 173 - 30/10/2008 10:54:20    129627

Pearsesabu I think we are both right in saying players in the city have so many different sports, distractions etc on offer and the only way to keep them playing is through the schools. However I do think Antrim would benefit from an overhaul in the league strucutres similar to Aldergrove Gael and especially designed to fit around the needs of the county team.

Saffron (Antrim) - Posts: 216 - 30/10/2008 12:36:22    129757

Saffron - the parallel I was thinking of was inter-county hurling where messing about with league and championship structures has achieved nothing. But maybe thats not a good parallel.
I've re-read the posts by Aldergrove Gael and others about the league structure again - in fairness they all seem to have a clear idea of what they are talking about and the benefits it would bring (and the models where it has worked).

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 30/10/2008 13:13:04    129831

Keep the faith Saffron, We might begin to make progress by burying some of our old hatchets' and habits, like swapping negativity for positivity and creating a 'we can and we will mentality; if we really make an effort to work together and kill off our '' bad attitude and blame game issues''. We might if, all town and country clubs would make a real effort to find common ground with county and begin to forge closer working links, showing mutual respect for difference, whilst better understanding each others particular difficulties. We might make progress if, we make a greater effort to form a stronger panel of players, drawn from a wider trawl and make a real effort to seek out those with stout hearts, who really want to wear their Antrim Jersey and defend it to the last kick of the ball with pride. ''Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.'' - William Shakespeare We might begin to achieve in Antrim, when players can visualise themselves as potential winners, as of right and then adopt an uncompromising attitude of ''its my ball '' when on the field of play. Physical fitness and passion when matched with hunger and skill can create a winning team, in any county; Discipline, commitment and dedication, are the elements which separate the regular winners from the rest. Winners do take all. [Luk4Ward]

Luke4Ward (Antrim) - Posts: 7 - 31/10/2008 02:06:46    130498

Correct Gabby have a look around at some of the other Counties Club football structures they seem to be doing something right with fewer Leagues than us. You have to admit 6 Divisions is a bit much, though some Clubs would be happy to have 2 teams in Div 1 I don't believe the County as a whole benifits thats why I've kept the Reserve teams in Leagues of their own (Like Div 1 Hurling in Antrim??????????). I know people say about play offs are no good but it means every place in the league means something & you don't end up with the end of the season syndrome that we all know is happening now with so called shock results. Also with the championships tied into the leagues it means we don't end up with anyone thinking a certain team should'nt be playing in a certain championship. It's a 16 game league could be over in 8 weeks if it was played Sun & Wed leave 2 weeks for refixs & 2 weeks for the playoffs. Then straight into the championships so there's no start stop, say 16 weeks in total that gives enough time for the hurling as well to be played over the good summer months

Aldergrove Gael (Antrim) - Posts: 161 - 04/11/2008 10:17:13    133139