Down Club Hurling & Football

[off the laces]

Would Loughinisland have ever heard of Magic Johnson or Darragh Cross have signed Brendan McGourty if Ross hadn't have invited them into the Down football panel?

I believe Magic played minor for Kilclief.

I can't see how anyone could have played in the two senior finals in the same year in recent times.

Magic played u-21 for saul and marked D gordan out off game as well as outcaught him a few years back.

[johnneycool]

Don't think Carryduff ever got to a senior championship final!  If ever it would probably be someone playing for Kilclief in the 40s or whatver.

Kilclief have never competed in the senior football final. 

2 or 3 semi finals in the 70's but Loughinisland always seemed to stop us.

Mark Trainor of the RGU might be your best bet, pretty sure he has a SFC winners medal but I ain't sure if he even hurled senior for Portaferry, never mind won a SHC!

I'd say Mark does have a senior hurling medal as well in his younger days.

[orangeman]

Lads. what's this story about Pavalova being served at half time in the Burren dressing room - Benny Tierney is at it in today's Irish News - is he on the wind up ?

[amallon]

IslandBoy - Some in the Bridge are disappointed its not Burren in the final some are glad its Loughinisland instead.  Loosing to Loughinisland wouldn't be nearly as hard to take as loosing to Burren!  I'd be fairly confident that we will win the game as I don't think Loughinisland are as strong as the Longstone team we faced last year.  

[spiritof91and94]

A Mallon i think your correct with the 3-10 not 3-9. we scored two goals in first half. collie mason and gary wre playing then and were superb. john killen actually played corner forward but year previous got mom at corner back. we had a good team in 80 's best remebered outside down for the 3 game saga with burren in 86. ten points up at half time but they came back. they won the all ireland the same year. what the view in the bridge about the final?

3.10 - 0.05 - we were brutal on the day
That was the day John Trainor came back to haunt Bryansford - he never played another game like it in his life! btw youse were at it back then as well!!

[stpauls]

Would Loughinisland have ever heard of Magic Johnson or Darragh Cross have signed Brendan McGourty if Ross hadn't have invited them into the Down football panel?

I believe Magic played minor for Kilclief.

I can't see how anyone could have played in the two senior finals in the same year in recent times.

Magic played u-21 for saul and marked D gordan out off game as well as outcaught him a few years back.

Brendan McGourty also played U-21 for us about 2 years ago, when Kevin Blaney brought him on to our Senior panel!!

[Super Dupe]

The Bridge's record since 1998 in county finals

1998 Mayobridge v Rostrevor Lost Don't know score
1999 Mayobridge 0-14 Burren 0-8
2001 Mayobridge 0-15 Castewellan 1-9
2002 Mayobridge 2-14 Rostrevor 0-9
2003 Bryansford 1-08 Mayobridge 0-09
2004 Mayobidge 4-12 Annaclone 0-8
2005 Mayobridge 0-13 Bryansford 0-7
2006 Mayobridge 1-10 Burren 0-4
2007 Mayobridge 0-16 Longstone 1-13
2007 Mayobridge 1-8  Longstone 0-9

I must say this is some record for Mayobridge over the last 10 years.  9 out of 10 years in the final.  Looking at most of them they are pretty one sided finals also.  Apart from Longstone las year, nobody has come close since Bryansford won it in 2003.  Are we destined for a Crossmaglen type scenario in Down where the Bridge will just keep on winning now for 14/15 years? 
I know we like to think that the Bridge are pushed every year but looking at the scorelines above, is that really true?  In Armagh however, Cross have been winning minor titles regularly also whereas in Down, the last minor title the Bridge won was when Coulter et all did it.  Maybe that is the hope the rest of us cling onto.
They have definitely not been pushed this year and we can only hope that Loughinisland put up a good show.

[T O Hare]

The Bridge's record since 1998 in county finals

1998 Mayobridge v Rostrevor Lost Don't know score
1999 Mayobridge 0-14 Burren 0-8
2001 Mayobridge 0-15 Castewellan 1-9
2002 Mayobridge 2-14 Rostrevor 0-9
2003 Bryansford 1-08 Mayobridge 0-09
2004 Mayobidge 4-12 Annaclone 0-8
2005 Mayobridge 0-13 Bryansford 0-7
2006 Mayobridge 1-10 Burren 0-4
2007 Mayobridge 0-16 Longstone 1-13
2007 Mayobridge 1-8  Longstone 0-9

I must say this is some record for Mayobridge over the last 10 years.  9 out of 10 years in the final.  Looking at most of them they are pretty one sided finals also.  Apart from Longstone las year, nobody has come close since Bryansford won it in 2003.  Are we destined for a Crossmaglen type scenario in Down where the Bridge will just keep on winning now for 14/15 years? 
I know we like to think that the Bridge are pushed every year but looking at the scorelines above, is that really true?  In Armagh however, Cross have been winning minor titles regularly also whereas in Down, the last minor title the Bridge won was when Coulter et all did it.  Maybe that is the hope the rest of us cling onto.
They have definitely not been pushed this year and we can only hope that Loughinisland put up a good show.

Cross definately dont have a great minor success rate, we played in minor finals in 97,98,99,2000 winning two and losing two, we also got beat well by a great rostrevor side in 2003 or 2004??? but i would mantain that we would have as much if not more players from that side playing today!!!!!
minor success does not guarentee anything!!! look ar Rostrevor as a prime example!!!!!!

[Lecale2]

Or An Riocht.

[amallon]

That was 04 Rostrevor beat us in the minor final. 

[Dulaney]

Tyrone are gunning for it on Sunday, but when is the last time the Senior and Minor double was done in Down???
Mayobridge are attempting it this year and also had a go at it 2004 but came up against a very good Rostrevor minor team (would have to agree with T O Hare though, the bridge still have a number of that '04 minor team with at least 5 being important figures in the c/ship over the last 3 years whereas were have all those boys from that great minor team gone for Rostrevor??)
Did Mayobridge do the double in 1999???

[amallon]

Yes the did a treble in 99 winning the 2nds championship which was played before the senior final.  The minor final was played a few weeks later.

[Super Dupe]

Tyrone are gunning for it on Sunday, but when is the last time the Senior and Minor double was done in Down???
Mayobridge are attempting it this year and also had a go at it 2004 but came up against a very good Rostrevor minor team (would have to agree with T O Hare though, the bridge still have a number of that '04 minor team with at least 5 being important figures in the c/ship over the last 3 years whereas were have all those boys from that great minor team gone for Rostrevor??)
Did Mayobridge do the double in 1999???

Rostrevor had 7 players on the 2005 all ireland championship winning panel!!

Eamon McConville, Gary Magee, Collie Murney, Conor Mackin - All played championship for Rostrevor this year

Gerard McCartan - playing with Burren

Paddy Mooney, Adrian Magee - Playing 2nds football

Other players of note from the 2004 or 2005 team would be

Sean Parr - playing with Rostrevor and asked onto Down panel this year i believe.
Conor Magee - playing midfield for Rostrevor seniors this year and a potential county player
Anthony Donnan - has just broken onto senior team this past 2 months

Going back another year to 2003, basically the same team as 2004 and 2005 but also had Adrian Mackin, played championship football for Rostrevor this year and Aidan Cousins - sub in championhip but played most of the league for the seniors.

As you can see from the above, we basically have brought through all the main players from those championship teams with the exception of 3 (1 of whom has transferred).  I am not sure how many players the Bridge have brought through but Rostrevors rate of bringing them through is higher than any team ever in our club.  Just because we have not won a championship does not mean they have not come through!!!   Would any of you re-assess your opinion based on the above names.  Do you think this is a good 'bring through' rate?

Regarding last years minor team.  Only Nicholas Mills has played any real number of games for the seniors this year, but i would expect Sean Mackin, miceal Mackin, Dermot Morgan, Declan and Damian Magee, Sean Magee and a number of others to push for places on seniors next year.

[Whitehair]

As you can see from the above, we basically have brought through all the main players from those championship teams with the exception of 3 (1 of whom has transferred).

Would they be two out of; Patrick Mc Greevy, Collie Clerkin & Ryan Watt? The 3 mentioned would be some of the most naturally gifted that were coming through on those teams IMO.

[Colonel Cool]

Who do Ballela play in Ulster Whitehair? Best of luck.