Down Club Hurling & Football

[Mourne Rover]

The corner backs were OK. Madine had a few handling errors but competed well at both centre half and midfield and at least give us a physical presence down the middle.

Apart from that, and a couple of flashes from Laverty, it was a poor display from what was admittedly an understrength team. We did not start too badly, but conceding two goals in about a minute, one from a dubious penalty and the second from a pretty dreadful McKernan mistake,  effectively finished us off before half time.

It's early days, but we might have expected a bit more from McKernan and O'Hare. Devlin is another experienced player who failed to impose himself apart from a couple of late points when the game was really over. His missed penalty indicated a lack of confidence, and he was lucky to get away from a yellow for a late follow-through.

Very few of the newer faces did themselves many favours, and we can anticipate quite a few changes for the trip to Monaghan next week.

[Dubh driocht]

Poor game. Positives to take out of it none the less

WGM got to this before me. The two CBs and Dee Turley showed a bit and I think Madine could do a job at CHB but overall a pretty poor performance all round. No point in highlighting individual players as not much more than a friendly which a fair few of us paid a tenner in to see. The main point of interest was to see Mc Corry in his competitive debut. There's a theory that he has deliberately chosen low-profile mentors so it is clear who is the boss. Well, could do better is the first report then. Taking off a relatively young player just before half-time is not really a confidence-booster. Some positional changes were baffling. Nominating a player not playing well to take a penalty is not really good judgement. Cavan were no great shakes but they were a fair bit better than us so a long hard season ahead

[DownFanatic]

Gerdie Collins and Darren O'Hagan were the two standout performers for Down today.
Great to see a lot of the newcomers getting a chance on the big stage.
Cavan definitely had the greater physical presence with most of their players having graduated from their successful U-21 teams of the past while.

[redandblackareback]

Poor game. Positives to take out of it none the less

WGM got to this before me. The two CBs and Dee Turley showed a bit and I think Madine could do a job at CHB but overall a pretty poor performance all round. No point in highlighting individual players as not much more than a friendly which a fair few of us paid a tenner in to see. The main point of interest was to see Mc Corry in his competitive debut. There's a theory that he has deliberately chosen low-profile mentors so it is clear who is the boss. Well, could do better is the first report then. Taking off a relatively young player just before half-time is not really a confidence-booster. Some positional changes were baffling. Nominating a player not playing well to take a penalty is not really good judgement. Cavan were no great shakes but they were a fair bit better than us so a long hard season ahead

Totally agree Dubh driocht, think it's pretty obvious at this stage that McCurry likes to be the general, hence his management team, no disrespect to the two guys, but Copeland seems a good guy but is clearly out of his depth, some jump from Down ladies to Down senior men's team, and John is too nice a guy. The substitution of Kevin Anderson was a disgrace one minute before half time in a glorified challenge game and young Mc Kay who did well for his senior inter county debut pulled aside after a half wasn't good either. Positives, hard to know, but I'd be concerned about our lack of shape, direction and effort. Extremely cold day, poor display and a steep entrance fee to say the least, 5 quid would have been sufficient.

[Line Ball]

The corner backs were OK. Madine had a few handling errors but competed well at both centre half and midfield and at least give us a physical presence down the middle.

Apart from that, and a couple of flashes from Laverty, it was a poor display from what was admittedly an understrength team. We did not start too badly, but conceding two goals in about a minute, one from a dubious penalty and the second from a pretty dreadful McKernan mistake,  effectively finished us off before half time.

It's early days, but we might have expected a bit more from McKernan and O'Hare. Devlin is another experienced player who failed to impose himself apart from a couple of late points when the game was really over. His missed penalty indicated a lack of confidence, and he was lucky to get away from a yellow for a late follow-through.

Very few of the newer faces did themselves many favours, and we can anticipate quite a few changes for the trip to Monaghan next week.

Who exactly is going to come in to strengthen the team?  Seems like a very disappointing start for both players and management.

[Shamrocks Gaelp]

Completely agree with redandblackareback, dismayed with the fact that mccorry dragged off Kevy Anderson after he was playing well as a driving force from the half back Line and midfield. Also confused as to why he played both McKay and Anderson in midfield, both being attack oriented players. Don't think either player made a clean catch. However both players looked effective going forward especially when they took on players. Very little attacking players on this current panel fit this new sweeper game plan. Felt sorry for both mckays and Kevin Anderson.

[whitegoodman]

Midfield as very poor in first half and even worse in second half ( Paul Devlin midfield wtf ).  I can't see any of those at midfield today starting there come the national league.

I wouldnt feel sorry for any of them, they weren't performing so taken off, simples !!!

[Mourne Rover]

Line Ball, the players who are unavailable as opposed to allegedly retired are Cunningham,  who is in goals for QUB,  Savage and the Johnston brothers who are with UUJ, O'Hanlon, who is on holidays, Donnelly who is injured, Carr and Poland, who are on their respective honeymoons, and the four Warrenpoint guys, Boyle, Mallon, McCartan and McGarry. Throw in Fitzpatrick and Peter Turley, who were unused subs today, and there is practically an entire team which is arguably stronger than the starting 15 today.

There is every reason to hope that Clarke will also return, and it would not be a major surprise if Ambrose, Gordon and even Benny were to appear again later in the year.

No one will be too upset about a McKenna Cup defeat, even if we looked well off the pace, and the point of the competition is to find a couple of new faces who can initially press for a league place. Collins could be one of them and Chris McKay is worth another run.

What was disappointing today was the lack of an effective game plan and the low-key response when we conceded a couple of bad goals, but people will remember that we lost at home to Antrim at the same stage last year with what looked like a much more capable squad. McCorry is an experienced coach and he will know that we will have to be in better shape before we go to Kildare for our first league fixture.

[Shamrocks Gaelp]

Gearard McGovern also unavailable as he is playing full back for queens. Agree with your post Mounre Rover. No point in over analysing a McKenna Cup game. It really is early days yet.

[supersub]

Caolan Mooney also playing for UUJ. No need to get carried away folks 4th Jan first game of the year, calm down.

[thewobbler]

It was the first competitive match of the season.

It was the first competitive match for a new management team.

It was the first time that half these players had taken to the field with each other.

This is the pre-pre season competition. It matters marginally less than a club RFC. It's used to prune players and test players. It's January, the grass is 4" long and it's about 3 degrees.

Tactics don't come into it. what players do today has no relevance on what they'll do in May.

It's closer to a waste of time than a meaningful exercise.

So calm the f**k down lads.

[Highlander3]

Is Cunningham the only one playing for Queens, and have we no one at the Ranch?

Line Ball, the players who are unavailable as opposed to allegedly retired are Cunningham,  who is in goals for QUB,  Savage and the Johnston brothers who are with UUJ, O'Hanlon, who is on holidays, Donnelly who is injured, Carr and Poland, who are on their respective honeymoons, and the four Warrenpoint guys, Boyle, Mallon, McCartan and McGarry. Throw in Fitzpatrick and Peter Turley, who were unused subs today, and there is practically an entire team which is arguably stronger than the starting 15 today.

There is every reason to hope that Clarke will also return, and it would not be a major surprise if Ambrose, Gordon and even Benny were to appear again later in the year.

No one will be too upset about a McKenna Cup defeat, even if we looked well off the pace, and the point of the competition is to find a couple of new faces who can initially press for a league place. Collins could be one of them and Chris McKay is worth another run.

What was disappointing today was the lack of an effective game plan and the low-key response when we conceded a couple of bad goals, but people will remember that we lost at home to Antrim at the same stage last year with what looked like a much more capable squad. McCorry is an experienced coach and he will know that we will have to be in better shape before we go to Kildare for our first league fixture.

[Line Ball]

From Down game

Poor game. Positives to take out of it none the less

WGM got to this before me. The two CBs and Dee Turley showed a bit and I think Madine could do a job at CHB but overall a pretty poor performance all round. No point in highlighting individual players as not much more than a friendly which a fair few of us paid a tenner in to see. The main point of interest was to see Mc Corry in his competitive debut. There's a theory that he has deliberately chosen low-profile mentors so it is clear who is the boss. Well, could do better is the first report then. Taking off a relatively young player just before half-time is not really a confidence-booster. Some positional changes were baffling. Nominating a player not playing well to take a penalty is not really good judgement. Cavan were no great shakes but they were a fair bit better than us so a long hard season ahead

From Antrim game

Poor game, played a lot of sideways football with absolutely no ball into ff line in first half. Changed in 2nd half when Magill came on but when he was hit there's was nobody taking it off him and he ended up out near the 45. Personally I wouldn't have much optimism for the year but I'm in pessimistic mood these days. CJ with some compete scrapbook moments which took the pain of the £8 admission fee abit. Laverty, Burke,McAleer and Carron in patches for me, new goalkeeper top is a thing of beauty as well.

£8 into the game in Antrim but according to Dubh driocht it was £10 into the Down game.  I thought the admission was the same into all Mc Kenna Cup games

[SHEEDY]

From Down game

Poor game. Positives to take out of it none the less

WGM got to this before me. The two CBs and Dee Turley showed a bit and I think Madine could do a job at CHB but overall a pretty poor performance all round. No point in highlighting individual players as not much more than a friendly which a fair few of us paid a tenner in to see. The main point of interest was to see Mc Corry in his competitive debut. There's a theory that he has deliberately chosen low-profile mentors so it is clear who is the boss. Well, could do better is the first report then. Taking off a relatively young player just before half-time is not really a confidence-booster. Some positional changes were baffling. Nominating a player not playing well to take a penalty is not really good judgement. Cavan were no great shakes but they were a fair bit better than us so a long hard season ahead

From Antrim game

Poor game, played a lot of sideways football with absolutely no ball into ff line in first half. Changed in 2nd half when Magill came on but when he was hit there's was nobody taking it off him and he ended up out near the 45. Personally I wouldn't have much optimism for the year but I'm in pessimistic mood these days. CJ with some compete scrapbook moments which took the pain of the £8 admission fee abit. Laverty, Burke,McAleer and Carron in patches for me, new goalkeeper top is a thing of beauty as well.

£8 into the game in Antrim but according to Dubh driocht it was £10 into the Down game.  I thought the admission was the same into all Mc Kenna Cup games

it was 8 quid into the game in newry, which is still to much. 5 or 6quid would have more than enough to see what was no more than a glorified challenge game.

[Shamrocks Gaelp]

Highlander, we have Barry o'hagan and the two Johnstons with St Mary's. At queens we have Micky Cunningham, Gearard McGovern, Ruari Wells and Michael Monan (Darragh Cross).

Is Cunningham the only one playing for Queens, and have we no one at the Ranch?

Line Ball, the players who are unavailable as opposed to allegedly retired are Cunningham,  who is in goals for QUB,  Savage and the Johnston brothers who are with UUJ, O'Hanlon, who is on holidays, Donnelly who is injured, Carr and Poland, who are on their respective honeymoons, and the four Warrenpoint guys, Boyle, Mallon, McCartan and McGarry. Throw in Fitzpatrick and Peter Turley, who were unused subs today, and there is practically an entire team which is arguably stronger than the starting 15 today.

There is every reason to hope that Clarke will also return, and it would not be a major surprise if Ambrose, Gordon and even Benny were to appear again later in the year.

No one will be too upset about a McKenna Cup defeat, even if we looked well off the pace, and the point of the competition is to find a couple of new faces who can initially press for a league place. Collins could be one of them and Chris McKay is worth another run.

What was disappointing today was the lack of an effective game plan and the low-key response when we conceded a couple of bad goals, but people will remember that we lost at home to Antrim at the same stage last year with what looked like a much more capable squad. McCorry is an experienced coach and he will know that we will have to be in better shape before we go to Kildare for our first league fixture.