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Merry Christmas to all. I enjoy following this forum to keep up to date with things, however I can't believe that people are already trying to drag the new manager down. Roscommon wiped the floor with Down in Div2 last year and while it is only a challenge game, a 15 point win over the same opposition is very encouraging. Monaghan and Donegal struggled to attract a manager and both counties would bite your hand off to have Laverty in charge rather than what they have ended up with. For the first time in a long time there seems to be a lot of positivity in general about how the county setup is going, so maybe some people should put the anti-Kilcoo bias to one side and stop moaning.

I changed to hoka bondi about four years ago and they're great, was asics before that but for no particular reason. I would have had a few issues with the knees back in the day playing football so the extra cushioning is worth it, took a punt on hoka after going to Pure running in Belfast. That said I was between pairs a couple of yrs ago and took a chance on the Brooks glycerin because I saw a good deal, ended up with a stress fracture in my foot, pushing too hard too soon instead of building up. Hoka definitely don't last as long though. I find anything from 300 miles on and it's time for a new pair. I think when you find a shoe which suits your feet you really have little option other than sticking with it, or you might risk injury otherwise.

It's maddening to see this response at eight o'clock on a Friday evening, in addition to CCEA issuing guidance this afternoon. The lack of planning or forward thinking is a disgrace. There is no proactive thinking or vision in anticipating problems that lie ahead. For example Weir and CCEA put out consultations regarding GCSE / A level in Sept, and I know that feedback was that course content needed to be reduced. Took four months to accept this! I share an A level class with another school and I have just spent 4 months teaching a unit to my Year 14s which will now not be assessed. Likewise, my co-teacher in a neighbouring school who has been sharing a Yr 13 class with me and he has been teaching a unit for 4 months which has just been a waste of time. Could have been avoided. So many of these ministers have portfolios which they are not qualified to carry. I think Canada is an example where they appoint former teachers to the role of Education minister, doctors to the role of Health Minister. Weir seems to be making it up as he goes along.
I agree that students should be in school by the way, but a phased return in January should definitely be looked at to maximise the effect of the lockdown. And it is spreading in schools, no doubt about it. If you think adults are fed up complying, teenagers especially Yr 11 and upwards are sick of it and they are the students who are carrying the virus and displaying symptoms. An absolute shitshow from the Education Minister all week.

Delighted to see this to be honest. No sense in having Laverty in Monaghan when we need the best coaches here. Exciting management and if a few more make it through to seniors we can challenge at senior level for an Ulster title.

Lads whats the story with the older Mayo lads? Are Boyle, Higgins, etc still on the extended panel?

To say the schools are marking pupils who are absent due to Covid as present is nonsense. School attendance is recorded by SIMs, a program used across the North in all schools and the code for Covid related absence or absence due to self-isolation is '8'. This is the guidance from the Department of Education. This covers the absence so that a student is not disadvantaged down the line by a poor attendance record which cannot be explained. But they are still marked as not in school and the number of students coded under '8' can easily be kept on record by the Department. I like a good conspiracy theory as much as anybody but nothing to see here....

Thanks for the advice folks, a new goal like focusing on the 5k time sounds like a plan. Definitely agree about the virtual races, found GNR very underwhelming to be honest. Might have to build up to 50 consecutive days, that's some going Ballinaman!

Long time no posting folks, but just at a loose end these days, wondering how others are finding lockdown / partial lockdown these days regarding running?

Motivation is up and down with me these days - my big aim (and has been for a while) is to run a half marathon under 1hr 50 and I completed the virtual GNR in under 1hr 51 a few weeks back.

Any tips for how to get going again? Would love an event of some sort but just feeling a bit flat.

Long time since I've posted but have to say as a teacher, I've enjoyed the craic with the students in school this week. Seems that the only way is 7/8 week blocks at a time followed by 2 weeks of a lockdown for the foreseeable future, very doable. Roll on Christmas!

I take it that you have seen Madine play county football before? If you had you would know that he is certainly one of a few who would as I say strengthen the team. A few good oerformances for Jordanstown are enough for me yes, how many Down forwards would  make the Jordanstown team?
If you read my earlier post you'll see that I suggested wee James or Paddy O'Rourke as people who could come in. Now I'll not hold my breath on that but both would be an improvement.

Niall Madine is and has shown himself to be capable of playing county football. Speak to anyone outside of Down, especially those who have watched him at Jordanstown and they are amazed that he is not involved. He would certainly strengthen the team. In terms of management being the least of our problems, I understand that view but it an obvious area to start. Would take a bold decision now  to have a change in management, someone come in who can restore a bit of pride and set up for next year but I would rather see that than Burns and co being humiliated for the duration of the season.

As things stand folks there is a serious issue regarding selection and inability to keep players onboard. Think back to last summer when Alan Davidson had to practically beg for a Down call up through the media or go to Antrim. Add to that the manner in which the Marty Clarke situation has been handled and what appears to be a new revelation in these recent articles that Laverty would have been open to returning had he been asked. Other players such as Damien Turley and Danny Savage must be completely disillusioned and will weaken the panel further by their absence. Player unavailability has to be considered of course but a manager / management should recognise that their job is to get everyone onboard and champing at the bit to pull on the jersey.

A good manager knows that he needs his best players available and should be doing his utmost to pull together the best panel possible. Now I am not a man with much managerial experience however some of the best managers I played under were successful because of their ability to man-manage. I would have run through walls for some because they focussed on each and every player. Result was that every member of the panel knew that the team would be picked on merit, we had the best players available and we were a united as a team. Now if I am Marty Clarke and willing to make myself available where possible, while recognising that I have an illness which will limit my ability to be the player I was in the past, a good man-manager would have me involved in some capacity. Even if it is as a twenty minute cameo or a role model for younger players, players who would have watched the 2010 final as young lads. Likewise if I am Conor Laverty or Dan Gordon and struggling to commit to training 5 days a week (especially in Newry but thats another matter) surely there has to be some accommodation? Therein lies the problem folks - no point talking about leaving such players behind while a 32 year old Aidan Carr, as committed a county player as you could find, is suddenly being asked to be the lynchpin of the side from midfield when he has never played there at county level.  I for one would be thanking Eamonn Burns for his efforts and asking either wee James or Paddy O'Rourke to take over for the remainder of the season.

I think my point is clear enough. He should be there in some capacity and the country is laughing at us. Correct me if I'm wrong but at no stage did Clarke mention that he felt unable to play county football last night. Change of management mentioned as a factor which is very frustrating. I believe that Clarke would be on every panel in the country yet we can't find a place for him. As I mentioned Pete McGrath swallowed his pride in 94 as he knew the players involved were essential to any hopes of success, surely the current management could do likewise. We certainly won't win an all-ireland but the situation is plain daft. As I said I don't comment very often and I believe the players that are there are doing their best in my eyes, but surely even they are bemused by the state of affairs.

Not been on this in a while but feel the need to get involved. Firstly I feel that Fermanagh are more capable of an Ulster title this yr. Having said that, it's obviously about making the most of what is available to you. I'm sure that many would remember the fallout with blaney and mcartan pre championship 1994? Pete McGrath realised that he needed to get everyone on board.

Therefore, I have a question for you all - would a half fit Marty Clarke be on the Dublin panel? I think we all know the answer. At 29 we have had 2 seasons to appreciate his footballing talents.

Management is not all about dictatorship. Proper man management is sorely lacking, therefore fans are being deprived of watching one of the best players of the modern era pull on a Down jersey. Now we can argue all day long about this but we all know what should be happening.  As a lifelong Down supporter I am dismayed by the status quo.

I have to say that the personal attack on Seán Óg is completely unfair and has crossed a line, not for the first time. The majority of us want the same thing which is a competitive county team and that means that the best players in the county must be on the field. The main reasons as to why that is not happening are well documented, be it that players are not being approached, are unwilling to commit for whatever reason or feel unable to commit. That's not a criticism of the lads who are playing at the minute. No doubt a few more players will look at things and wonder what is the point. The abuse some people were shouting from the stand on Saturday wouldn't make anyone want to pull on a Down jersey. Morale is low among county players and Tomás Ó Sé made a few excellent points through the week, regarding the Irish players being able to celebrate the Win over Italy with a beer while gaa players would be cut from club panels, never mind county, for doing the same in an amateur sport. If there is no enjoyment to be had in doing something people will simply stop doing it. That is a bigger issue for the county board and the GAA to deal with. Slagging off Seán Óg, management or players gets us nowhere. No doubt changes will come but new ideas and positive thinking is needed. There is plenty of potential within the county yet.