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Rumours swirling around the whatsapps - looking like a big push from certain quarters to change the leagues to 1a/1b next year and line the championships up to suit leagues

And ensure that relegated teams who may or may not have won championships/made county finals don't end up in division 3???  Seems reasonable...

Is there a new county manager? Or does Gleeson remain?

Down football is falling down with coaches who can quickly spot and replicate the more negative sides of Kilcoo's game: how to form a blockade between your 21 and 25. How to endlessly recycle with patience. How to assign man markers who literally do nothing but man mark. How to wind up and leave sky digs on opponents. How to intimidate referees. How to appeal and jostle every county board decision. How to build a cloak of omertà around the team. Etc.

But despite all of their expensive support teams and specialists, and despite all of their infatuation with stupid statistics, and with even stupider GPS data, and despite all of their hours watching, dissecting then foisting the sheer boredom of club football videos upon everyone...... not one manager in the county seems to be able to get a handle on let alone replicate what makes Kilcoo so bloody good.

None of them have found a way to control momentum against Kilcoo; actually none of them have even found a way to negate Kilcoo's control of momentum. None of them seem to be able to stop Kane kicking the ball into an unmarked man in the right half back channel, even though this has been his bailout kick out for years. So nobody ever scores twice in a row against them. When teams do force Kilcoo into a mistake, it's almost a given that they'll then retreat and hug the life out of the ball for a couple of mins just to get a breather; the exact opposite of how Kilcoo behave in this situation, where they'll pile forward at multiple angles. When you have the ball and Kilcoo get you where they want you - endlessly recycling on the Kilcoo 45 - it never seems to dawn on anyone that this might be the correct time to load the square and make Kilcoo retreat to match up the numbers, and not just form a line with them across the 45, waiting for the inevitable dispossession.


I'm not saying that Kilcoo aren't better anyhow. They probably are. But by f**k wouldn't it be nice if one team in Down didn't just fall into their traps? Just once?

Management in Down club football is bluffery of the highest order. Absolute bluffery.

Great last line - while everyone can put their own spin on progress - the 'circuit' as its now called, knows no boundaries!

Glen 1-0 up after 23 minutes! At least it picked up a bit after that and there was interest until the end, but it was a hard watch football wise.

Bang on Oak Leaf - the streaming services around Ulster has allowed for great audiences.  Nothing like streaming these games to the clubhouse on Sunday evenings...particularly when not from the county nor close enough to 'nip'over.  And its more of a reason for the style to change and players to have greater autonomy, to showcase skill and brilliance, but I think not for the foreseeable!

But it was not pretty - screaming at the TV to push on - watched this after the earlier Down final.

Its ALL very hard to watch!  But watch it we will...

Good luck!

Intermediate Final between Bredagh and Carryduff should be a very good game.

Not too often you see this South Belfast Derby in the hurling. I expect it to be a good show.

I always would have thought of Bredagh as being more of a hurling dominant club whilst Carryduff would be more of a football dominant club, but I would imagine Carryduff come away with the win on Saturday.

Bredagh have struggled badly this year. That devastating opening round loss to Liatroim really did set the tone for a poor season. Salvaging a win from Newry Shamrocks and beating Warrenpoint has done little to resolve the issues.

Donal Hughes has been a massive loss to them. So has Ronan Costello. It's been a hard year, but more minor success for Bredagh means I wouldn't despair too much. Bredagh will eventually win a senior hurling championship. Granted, we've been saying that for a couple of years, but surely you can't keep knocking on the door forever? With so much underage success, it's inevitable?

They'll not fear Carryduff, though. I honestly expected Carryduff to absolutely walk this championship. Whilst they've come out comfortable enough winners in every game, it hasn't been as handy as I was expecting.

Bredagh's competition will stand well to them. Carryduff have had nowhere near the same level to exposure of high level as Bredagh have this year. This may cause problems. Carryduff's forwards have been dangerous, but Bredagh have good defenders. Niall McFarland is, in my opinion, a great asset to any defence. Carryduff have very much seemed like they were destined to win this from the start, but will that complacency cause problems?

Despite all this, Carryduff should have enough to cross the line. They won the friendlies played at the start of the year, and seem to be in a better place than their neighbours at the minute.

These teams met last year in the Betsy Gray final. By all accounts, they both fielded very strong teams and went at it hammer and tongs with carryduff coming out on the better side.

Carryduff will be sick of being the bridesmaid for the past couple years, and it is hard to see anyone stopping them this time.

Either way, I would imagine whoever wins this will do quite well in Ulster. Would imagine Ulster will be between Down Champion, Middletown (Armagh), and Creggan (Antrim). Judging off the fact there was never that much between Carryduff and Liatroim, there is no reason why Carryduff should not win Ulster.

Would be great to see Carryduff win an All Ireland. Would do a lot to lift hurling in a part of Down that we could really tap in to. But let us not get ahead of ourselves.

Will be a tight battle, and Bredagh, despite the bad year they've had, are still a better hurling set up in my opinion. Carryduff have had some success at underage, but not yet on par with Bredagh (although I'm sure they will catch up). Their seconds team don't seem to be anywhere near as competitive this year as they were. Wonder what happened there. Despite this, based on current form, I expect Carryduff to come away with the win.

Will be another great showcase of hurling I hope. The whole north down/Belfast area is one which Down GAA is yet to properly tap into. It seems to be one which we could really benefit from. All three north down hurling teams are in a final this weekend (the other being East Belfast in the Junior Final)- this a great thing for Down. We have a large area of the county which thus far, hasn't really been tapped into. There is a lot of potential here. From a hurling perspective, we are also lucky it has not got a football tradition. We all know the problems with trying to establish hurling in places where football is king. We have a chance to promote both side by side in these areas we are only now starting to see develop into top tier clubs.

On that note, is there many dual players between Bredagh and Carryduff?

All in all, a unique game, and one which should offer a great evening's entertainment.

Very good Splash, and not a lot to disagree with other than the outcome me thinks.  I think Carryduff have been struggling with a few injuries the last 4 weeks or so, they really have had to dig into their squad.  I also think they were better at the beginning of the season.  Bredagh have indeed been dealt a few blows this year, but its going to be a competitive one, looking forward to it!  I have Bredagh as winners but just!  Expect it to be a very tight affair.  Added interest is that both managers hail from the same club in Antrim and possibly played together at senior level. All the more intriguing!!!

Players not available for clubs again Wednesday night - some fighting relegation!  Cant be right!
But dont know what the solution is... 

Interesting result between Dunloy loughgiel. Loughgiel have been beating all round them and the Dunloy beat them by 15. Wonder do they have the county guys back.

Clearly decided it's time to start hurling. They've only been messing about until now. Great apathy towards the leagues this year in general. Not great for our game if the season is going to boil down to a handful of competitive games. Even the senior championship groups will largely be uncompetitive.

Again, intermediate is where the gruelling competition lies.

Intermediate groups are probably a bit lopsided too though. Cushendun, Carey & St Galls in the same group.

Yeah it's a fair point. Glenariffe touched lucky. Sarsfields at full strength will probably be the 2nd team to come out of that group. Carey or Cushendun will be hard to beat.

Fair

Rossa's two best players(goalie and McEnhill) would be in the football and then Walsh would be handy enough from the hurling too.

You're right about st johns and the hurling. They'd be missing a lot through the hurling. Also I'd expect Fitzpatrick to play more in the summer. (or in fact maybe linfield start early for europe so not sure?)

Very handy indeed - watch this space!

Massive!

Tough one!

Can anyone give me an example of this having happened before?  In that they (Croke Park) have agreed to a replay after steps climbed, speeches made, trophies presented, songs sung etc?

I think it unlikely.  That said, Glen do have the right to ask/appeal!

Big fat fine me thinks!

Connacht minor final Ros V Galway, the year cake took the penalty when he shouldn't have. Pretty sure it was 1989! Not an all ireland, but it was a final. Roscommon captain got the cup and later in the day the game was 'awarded' to galway. Subsequently, a replay was agreed and Ros won the replay (AET in Tuam if my memory serves me correctly!)

There are other replays - Offaly V clare hurling & Armagh V laois football championship but I don't recall any other final being played

Fair! Cheers

Tough one!

Can anyone give me an example of this having happened before?  In that they (Croke Park) have agreed to a replay after steps climbed, speeches made, trophies presented, songs sung etc?

I think it unlikely.  That said, Glen do have the right to ask/appeal!

Big fat fine me thinks!

I see Mulholland isn't listed with the CPN management. Could he be returning to the Harps?

Maybe watch this space

Galls were very very poor, and one would question why? Really? A few strange matchups! but all credit to Cargin who were hungry, motivated, and playing the far better football.  Saint Galls are an amazing club, and who would bet against them winning again next year.  bEst of luck to Cargin in the champ, a few other teams will now believe they can also win it!!!😉

A lack of press around this fixture tonight, even online, find it quite strange!  Have people had their fill of this matchup? Expect nothing new?

Was arranged as a stand alone game.........but obviously a double header would ensure an increase in admission........ £10?

Was a fiver into Corrigan on Sat for senior championship double header, why would it cost more for football?

And what a view you had for your fiver MR2