Down Club Hurling & Football

[Targetman]

Not if Linden and Coulter retire!!

[downjim]

Here lads, let's Sledge at all costs, but don't admit to it, deny deny deny

[Last Caress]

Here lads, let's Sledge at all costs, but don't admit to it, deny deny deny

BORING......

[KeyboardWarrior645]

I think people are overestimating the potential strength of second string teams in the ACFL structure.
Remember that if a seconds' team enters into this structure then their games will be at the same time on a Friday night as their senior game.
Take for example if Kilcoo 1sts were in Division 1 and Kilcoo 2nds were in Division 4. Top 13 rule is applicable.
Say the Kilcoo 1sts manager has an injury list of 4/5 and yet still, as most do, wants to bring a panel of 25-28 to the senior game. That's the guts of 33 -35 players out of commission for the 2nds team for their game.
Not withstanding the 2nds squads' own potential injury list/unavailability. That would probably leave half of a 2nds team made up with 3rds players. Consistently this sort of team may be competitive enough at times in Division 4 but definitely not in Division 3.

Do you really think a Kilcoo player that the senior manager has told he is on the seconds on a given week wants to travel to St. Paul's in Belfast in division 4 while the senior team is playing the bridge/ burren/ yellas or point? Same for every seconds teams that would be considered for playing in division 4 but in all honesty it wouldn't be fair on them players as it would be more than likely they wouldn't have one single supporter watching them.
Kilcoo burren Mayobridge rostrevor castlewellan and clonduff would be the 6 strongest in terms of panels and should probably play each other in their own league. This would mean minimal travelling and players playing at their level while being challenged weekly. Put these games on a Wednesday leaves weekends free for everyone. Senior teams do most training on Mondays and Wednesday would be the second night where they could do their tactics work etc with the smaller numbers

[terrifictommy]

So we create an elite reserve league for these clubs, the rest we will just shove to the side. Sounds like a proper plan. Sign me up.
Every county faces the same battles, teams at different levels. The leagues and teams involved are not the issue. Participation is the issue but there is a lot of work going on at grass roots so hopefully we can benefit from this in a few years.

[PTC]

Any word how the double header went in Castlewellan today

[Maiden1]

Any word how the double header went in Castlewellan today

Saul and Bryansford won

[6th sam]

Saul beat Saval by 4 after extra time, Bryansford beat RGU by 2 , 2 tough entertaining games on a heavy pitch.

[PTC]

Saval have went well back they were in division one last year.

[Targetman]

Bright play in the Ulster junior championship championship tomorrow and the team they're playing has just got promoted to Div1 in Cavan, doesn't seem fair, what exactly are the criteria for what championship you're eligible to play in?

[Dubh driocht]

So unless we get to the Ulster final next year were out of Sam ? Disaster

[PTC]

So unless we get to the Ulster final next year were out of Sam ? Disaster

an Ulster final appearance is a possibility next year. Disaster?? Do you honestly feel like we have a chance of winning Sam?

[Hedgehunter]

Has anyone else in recent memory went from Division 1 to division 3 in back to back seasons?

[Nanderson]

Has anyone else in recent memory went from Division 1 to division 3 in back to back seasons?

Think clann na banna may have done that recently but not 100% sure

[east down gael]

Ballymartin were in division one not so long ago and now find themselves in the third division.Its not that strange as after a year of losing games regularly in division one,you get used to it and once relegated it can affect your next year in the second division.
   On today's games you would have to give great credit to saul and especially their manager.They had one and a half feet in division three at half time,but somehow managed to completely turn the game on it's head and deservedly went on to win.they have a good young team and another year in division two will bring them on massively,albeit in a tighter division where results will be harder to come by.
   RGU started the brighter in the second game but a goal before half time gave bryansford an arguably unfair lead.bryansford shaded it in the second half,thanks to some poor shooting from the downpatrick forwards.the RGU lads could rightly be fairly annoyed with the referee.