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[McGovern]

Down v Monaghan Ulster SFC

Smyth

Collins
McArdle
Aaron Brannigan

D Brannigan
McParland
D O'Hagan

Murdock
Mooney

B O'Hagan
J Johnston
McGovern

Shea McCartan
Kerr
Ryan Johnston

This is the team that Down are hoping to put out in Championship.
Already there has been talk to try and get the money together to buy out the soccer contracts and wages.
Lots of talk about scholarships and other ways to compensate the players if this can be done within GAA rules.
At the minute QUB GAA have scholarships but talk is they don't want to offer any more scholarships if players aren't playing for club and counties .Mc Govern has GAA scholarship there for this year, be great if QUB, Harps and Down could facilitate.
The Shea McCartan situation could be harder with Glens.
It would be some addition to Down if this can happen.Lots of potential benefactors out there to get this over the line.

Down v Monaghan Ulster SFC

Smyth

Collins
McArdle
Aaron Brannigan

D Brannigan
McParland
D O'Hagan

Murdock
Mooney

B O'Hagan
J Johnston
McGovern

S McCartan
Kerr
Ryan Johnston

This is the team that Down are hoping to put out in Championship.
Already there has been talk to try and get the money together to buy out the soccer contracts and wages.
Lots of talk about scholarships and other ways to compensate the players if this can be done within GAA rules.
At the minute QUB GAA have scholarships but talk is they don't want to offer any more scholarships if players aren't playing for club and counties.
It would be some addition to Down if this can happen.

Great atmosphere yesterday in Pairc Esler for both games .

Lots of excitement mounting for this Burren side .Liam Kerr a massive loss as he has been player of the championship so far.

In fairness to Packy no malice intended , you don't want ever want to be hit by Packy but hopefully Liam recovers quickly.

Interesting chat going around about the Convention , rumour is a new regime being proposed to bring Down GAA more modern and to begin challenging again for silverware

Proposed nominations for County Board - these men are being approached to try and get them to run

Chairman - Connal Murray Darragh Cross
Vice Chairman -Gerard Connerry Carryduff
Secretary - not up yet for change still in post until readvertised
Assistant Secretary -Paul Fegan Burren
Treasurer -Padraig Matthews Clonduff
Coaching Officer - Ross Carr - (to oversee County Coaches etc and Underage Squads )
PRO -Anthony McNamee Ballyholland
Central Council -Roger Morgan Kilcoo
Ulster Council - Jack Devanney Bredagh and
Irish and Cultural Officer -Sean Gallagher Shamrocks

Feeling is if these men could be persuaded to run we would be looking at a transformed County in the years to come.

Division 2 -
St Johns - Rebuilding with Gilmores McMullan but underperformed to be in  relegation position .Queries over fitness and general conditioning of players, not a happy club.Result v Shamrocks last straw- vacancy
Annaclone -as above but run in championship covering the cracks as in relegation position .Committee already have knife out. Won't beat Darragh Cross in semi final - vacancy.
Saul - Very poor season after maiden IFC win, an extremely costly £££ management team which has committee not happy. Won 2 League games all year and one point from relegation. Issues regards player commitment and management commitment too but not happy with management overall .Only for the real brains in this management team John Fegan they would have been gone in August .As a result looks like John Fegan to be appointed with Peter McGrath junior , a very good combo.
Bredagh - With the numbers this club has, the last 2 years have been very poor. Brendan Mason was on borrowed time from club committee and then with the players reaction to  his decision to bring Frank Dawson in hastened his exit. Very poor year finishing 2 points from relegation. Promotion was committee expectation. - vacancy. Talk was Danny Hughes has been lined up for Bredagh.
Darragh Cross -A  great year under DJ and getting better.If he goes to Carryduff , maybe Enda Gormley could step up . - vacancy but possible Enda Gormley appointment.
An Riocht -Mid Table but great championship run Bernie Ruane working his magic. All happy with him but might we see Bernie Ruana being tempted backed to Warrenpoint - no vacancy unless Bernie Ruane goes back to Warrenpoint.
Glenn - no vacancy but expectation is to push on 2022.Players love Brendan Grant and Bagnall.
Longstone - club in decline and players not happy with Benny after not securing promotion, not saved by his negative championship night ! - vacancy.
Castlewellan - promotion and unlucky in championship.Promotion was the goal and only acceptable outcome . They will struggle in Division 1 in 2022, hence Danny moving on. Smart move.But think Danny Hughes has worked his magic and now he moves on.
Downpatrick - Great year and whole club revitalised by a very innovative and strong committee , unlucky v The Yellas and promotion back to Division 1 - very happy with Micky Walshs know how - no vacancy.

Coming into the business end of the year year , predictions are -
SFC - Burren
IFC - Darragh Cross
JFC - Aughlisnafin

Some games the last while and a few crackers to look forward to.Finally Kilcoo are going to be dethroned  and it won't be by Burren who will win Frank O'Hare , Ballyholland will beat an aging side.Ballyholland are probably the toughest team in this championship and will bully Kilcoo.But come final Burren class will see them over the line.
In IFC I'd love to see Drumgath do it aith a very shrewd combination of wee fry and Jackie Lynch but can't see past Darragh Cross .Drumgath beat a Leitrim team fancied by some but just not up to it and a very costly management set up I'm led to believe .Darragh Cross have the inspirational hero of the 90s DJ in charge and feel his know how and experience will guide them over the line.
Delighted to see DJ back patrolling the sideline and talk is after IFC and Ulster All Ireland  series over he may well be taking over Carryduff as he has been approached.
Now a lot of clubs looking new managements for 2022
Division 1 -
Rostrevor - Peter McGrath gone to be confirmed - presumed vacancy
Loughinisland - Jodi£ Gormley gone ,players not happy with his training and older player influence , Dan Gordon was real manager and Gormley front- vacancy
Bryansford - no vacancy rebuilding and club committee understanding of that
Ballyholland - obviously no vacancy
Kilcoo - Micky Moran retiring , vacancy but not an attractive one as team on way down. They are turning on themselves at the minute , difficulties off pitch re sponsorship from the community and more.
Carryduff - Cahal Murray and D Morgan gone ,there too long and no progress .DJ Kane being pursued to come in.Also talk was James McCartan as his cousin is the power broker there. Maybe a DJ James McCartan combo- vacancy.
Burren - obviosly no vacancy
Mayobridge - Lots of old guard not happy with McKeever and want Benny back but issue is £ as club will not pay club member to manage so it is over to Benny on this one .Plenty of ways to get round this I'd say so Benny return on cards is £ issue sorted - vacancy
Clonduff - obviously no vacancy.
Warrenpoint - Things not good at all here.An internal power struggle at play here ,lots querying influence of Rose of Tralee man. Management were very weak all year and older players calling the shots, young Poland just not up to it apparently as trainer and management like a cheap fizzy wine all bubble and no substance.- vacancy.

Outstanding article today in Irish News from Jack Devanney.
He has shown great leadership  here and going out demanding a return to games in Northern Ireland before Republic returns. This makes sense as opposed to the romantic views from Tyrone. Our vaccination progress here and the First Minister allowing restrictions to be lifted soon makes it a very sensible and real prospect of games being played soon. The kids especially need back and let's hope this does not become political as we have different laws in NI so lets hope Down moves on. We led before in relation to the ground breaking rule 21 change .Jack Devanney won't be held back by the backward folk.
Even at congress he spoke very well and now could we be beginning to see the emergence of a potential GAA Presidential candidate in next election.
Proud of Jack's leadership.
Let's get behind him on this.

Talking to a gent today at petrol pump and he was saying that , looks like then Benny will be back at last to Bridge.
That is prime for Benny as he knows all the young uns coming through and in reality from what I'm told he wasn't that happy at Longstone Apparently too much interference from the old fella that is always about there.
Bridge need to get him back as Longstone is a club pretty much with their best days behind them ,Mark Poland stopped and pretty much nothing coming through. Prediction is within 4 years they'll be Division 3.
So looks like good news for The Bridge and a smart move for Benny.

Just about to buy club draw tickets £120 Co Board draw, has got me thinking about fundraising within the county.
Somebody mentioned Club Down also fund raises. Was looking into it ,what is it about ? I see a twitter account that is only tweeting about camogie mostly? Says on twitter it is a fundraising body for Official Down GAA but doesn't mention it is fundraising for Down Camogie Board or Ladies Board.
Any posters here give more info.

Buy a Clubs Draw Ticket. Club Down all but dead and gone. As certain '91 star was being paid £25k a year by Club Down to fund raise. Don't think he raised 25 quid!

So trying to get more information on options to donate to Down GAA , any posters out there confirm what is status of Club Down ? How do you donate ? Just want to give something, as long as it is not put into Ballykinler and goes to Gaelic Football.
Partner would rather me spending it on her lol but just a modest amount to give considering the Covid times.

Yes ,I feel for those men who have bills to pay and all are victims of Covid.
From what I hear they are still getting money for organising training plans and doing zoom calls.
Let's hope our clubs don't forget these coaches as this extra income is vital, lost mileage and expenses is a serious issue here .Clubs at least should be providing these coaches with at least 60 /70 % of agreed income .There are lots of ways clubs can raise this by Lotto , Last Man Standing and the big County Draw tickets.
If they don't it will say a lot about GAA committees. It is a duty of care to these coaches with the professionalism they bring to lots of clubs and communities.

[two big pieces]

Was looking through Daily Mirror sport and two big pieces of news in Paddy Tally is suspended for 8 weeks and no Gaelic until May now apparently including County.

Just about to buy club draw tickets £120 Co Board draw, has got me thinking about fundraising within the county.
Somebody mentioned Club Down also fund raises. Was looking into it ,what is it about ? I see a twitter account that is only tweeting about camogie mostly? Says on twitter it is a fundraising body for Official Down GAA but doesn't mention it is fundraising for Down Camogie Board or Ladies Board.
Any posters here give more info.

These last few posts are silly. First the Smurf is wondering what wobbler thinks, don't be such a nerd .
We are in the midst of a life and death issue and a few close to me and the partner have lost against Covid. Down GAA were wrong and Tally carries the can.
John Devanney has been exonerated when he first spoke to the media he was relying on information supplied to him ,John is a respectable man and Croke Park exonerated him.
Darren O'Hagan has just made a fool of himself ,seems out in Hilltown some of these people just adore social media and think that their words or tweets are like 'press releases' from Stormont Government. Darren you play football like a man don't be getting on like a woman there as there are too many women around GAA getting on like men.

Sorry there , too much football wrong board but anyways I just feel Down needs to start tapping more into the greater Newry Sports community.

Still recovering from too much refreshments with my LFC supporters bubble the other night. Wow what a game just there on BBC2 feel Glentoran gained a point and Larne lost 2.Though big Jeff Hughes was immense and McDaid should have got penalty at the end but Larne under Tiarnan Lynch are doing great.
Just shows the quality of the local football game ,I really enjoyed that game. But still miss being there at The Showgrounds live to see our guys.
This brings me to the point quite possibly the dinosaurs will be up in arms , what about getting Darren Mullen involved in the county underage structures.?? He works with Everton too.
Too fixated with tradition , time moves on Down GAA should too.

Good enough result for us considering no natural centre backs .We dominated play and unlucky with Bobby's strike.
If The Mancs can't beat us with a makeshift defence they are living in Space.
With injuries cleared up and possible a centre half in the window plenty of time left for us to re-establish our top position.