Messages

Has anyone else had issues getting on to the county website recently? My browser tells me they have invalid certificates and doesn't let me on

Hi Anderson, no I have no problem getting on.

Strange. I've tried a couple of different browsers and on my phone as well. Must be a problem on my end then

I have it too. On your phone, click advanced at the bottom then proceed to www.downgaa.net

Correct, I was just posing the question as prior to format changes across the province, probably between 2005-2012(?), while Errigal were the only team to win it, there were certainly more Tyrone teams reaching finals. After the format changes in other counties even these final appearances have dried up for Tyrone clubs.

It could simply be coincidence, as I say I was only posing the question so all angles are considered before arriving at the conclusion that one format is better than another.

Controversial perhaps, but I prefer the format the way it is. Just don't go down the route of other counties and go group stages again. That format does not suit club football and cannot see how counties persist with it.

Since counties began installing multiple elimination competitions (groups/back doors), Tyrone, who didn't give in and are the only county in Ireland still with straight knockout (I think?), they haven't actually produced a provincial club champion in that time.

The question would be is it down to the championship, has better teams fallen by the wayside in a one off game? Has teams not gotten enough competitive championship  games? Or is it simply a case of their club teams just not being strong enough?

Obviously in that time there has been strong sides, Cross winning 5, Slaughtneil winning 3 and Kilcoo winning 2, but Tyrone have only produced one losing finalist since Errigal Ciaran winning in 2002.

St Michael's magherlin is likely our most westerly club in down.

St John Bosco's pitch actually is

Glenn is second but only marginally, to Shamrocks/Pairc Esler.

Ballyvarley must be close too.

Correct, they'd be next after Shamrocks.

Interestingly, Aghaderg/Ballyvarley are not as west as Pairc Esler, but further west than Mitchels pitch, which is only metres away from Pairc Esler in a South East direction

And for Ballela being known as a west down club - Clanna na Banna, Tullylish, St Michaels, Annaclone and Drumgath are all further west. Don't think I missed anyone. There's a big area with not many sports grounds at all really

Order from west to east:

Bosco
Glenn
Shamrocks
Aghaderg/Ballyvarley
Mitchels (inactive)
Tullylish
Ballyholland
Saval
Clann na Banna
St Michaels
Burren
Warrenpoint
Mayobridge
Drumgath
Rostrevor
Annaclone
Ballela

Had to check the Saval/ Clann na Banna one. That one surprised me.

Rostrevor, Burren, and the Point being further west than Ballela also a surprise.

Learn something new every day.

Just to add a further point, three of the South Down clubs, Ballymartin, Longstone and Glasdrumman all sit geographically further east than Kilcoo, Liatroim and Dromara, with the latter two south clubs also further east than Castlewellan. However no complaints from me as they do also justify being called a 'South' club.

St Michael's magherlin is likely our most westerly club in down.

St John Bosco's pitch actually is

Glenn is second but only marginally, to Shamrocks/Pairc Esler.

Ballyvarley must be close too.

Correct, they'd be next after Shamrocks.

Interestingly, Aghaderg/Ballyvarley are not as west as Pairc Esler, but further west than Mitchels pitch, which is only metres away from Pairc Esler in a South East direction

And for Ballela being known as a west down club - Clanna na Banna, Tullylish, St Michaels, Annaclone and Drumgath are all further west. Don't think I missed anyone. There's a big area with not many sports grounds at all really

Order from west to east:

Bosco
Glenn
Shamrocks
Aghaderg/Ballyvarley
Mitchels (inactive)
Tullylish
Ballyholland
Saval
Clann na Banna
St Michaels
Burren
Warrenpoint
Mayobridge
Drumgath
Rostrevor
Annaclone
Ballela

St Michael's magherlin is likely our most westerly club in down.

St John Bosco's pitch actually is

Glenn is second but only marginally, to Shamrocks/Pairc Esler.

Ballyvarley must be close too.

Correct, they'd be next after Shamrocks.

Interestingly, Aghaderg/Ballyvarley are not as west as Pairc Esler, but further west than Mitchels pitch, which is only metres away from Pairc Esler in a South East direction

St Michael's magherlin is likely our most westerly club in down.

St John Bosco's pitch actually is

Glenn is second but only marginally, to Shamrocks/Pairc Esler.

what is with this east v south stuff still going on? are people really that happy to see their own club wins nothing as long as a club from their 'half' wins the competition?

I think the whole lot is nonsense anyway. what if St Michaels win the JFC next season? do we say thats a great win for south down? considering they are the 5th most northern club in the county

Apparently match is off

Bizarrely, just two minutes ago Down's FB page has put up a post promoting the game. Have they found a very late replacement or has someone forgotten to notify the social media team?

McCoy now reporting Gough has pulled out

Niall McCoy now reporting that Gough considering pulling out. What a shit show

There's no doubt any more. We are the biggest laughing stock in the country.

Looks very likely that Down football final will be postponed on Sunday and rearranged for either 20/21 October. Kilcoo have went to Croke park with objections to the ref, now it transpires that whatever the outcome tomorrow morning, the county referees have took a stance of support and no-one will "stand in" as alternative which at this stage leaves rearranged game more likely, with discussions on a resolution to the saga early next week being organised.

They don't half know how to make friends them Kilcoo boys,,,,,,,,

Decision due to be made this afternoon

Was hearing that the decision was this morning and they already lost it.

As mentioned they've taken to social media to advertise the game within the last hour and specified the referee within the post, not something they'd normally do with a post of that type.

With this behind us, I just hope now we get a very entertaining final, regardless of who wins.

Hope TG4 have a good programme to replace it then

Hearing really horrible things that Kilcoo players are supposed to have said on pitch last night to instigate the fight. Is there no level too low for them?

That can't be true, did you not hear Karl Lacey say again that his team is being targeted??

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0M5qnengrA8ztv9cV2rKpktBv9p5Wn6wz5SN6Abdtjx3oKAEKvDtdukfVENhCXdC2l&id=100057505095491

Down LGFA have mad a balls of that

I was just reading that this morning. Is it a case of two sides to every story? I can't imagine an oversight of an administrative error on the Down LGFA's side requiring a vote from participating clubs. And why the participating clubs would then vote them out on the back of a board error.

I recall in, I believe 2011 (although could have been 2010), the CB forgot to include Tullylish in the [men's] Senior Championship draw as an amalgamated team took part (ASK Lecale). The draw was simply redone a few days later.

I can't see how this couldn't have been done in this case.

I think there may be more to this story than is being told. Although if everything Saval say is true then the word 'shambles' comes to mind.