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Messages - DownFanatic

#1
GAA Discussion / Re: Tailteann Cup 2025
April 28, 2025, 12:22:30 PM
We are in an era of constant flux in the GAA at the moment but I'd near guarantee that we will we have a three tier competition in place within the next 3/4 years.
#2
General discussion / Re: The Official Golf Thread
April 15, 2025, 08:43:59 AM
It maybe just be an issue with the psyche in this part of the world, but why is Rory such a divisive sportsperson? Knew certain ones (including casual golf fans) who were absolutely rooting for him whilst others were indifferent to his success on Sunday. He seems to have a real polarising effect here.
#3
General discussion / Re: TV Show recommendations
April 08, 2025, 10:02:38 PM
Quote from: gallsman on April 08, 2025, 11:11:45 AMUnderbelly S1 is terrific.

Watched the whole thing years ago. Very engaging.
#4
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
March 29, 2025, 03:15:45 PM
After a tentative and at times wasteful 1st half, I thought Down produced a brilliant 2nd half display there. Kildare were decent but in McGrattan, Prenter and Pearse Óg McCrickard we had three excellent performers. Entertaining game that was played at the most part at a high standard. Brilliant that this group will now be playing Division 1 hurling next year.
#5
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
March 10, 2025, 11:38:08 AM
Brilliant achievement for our hurlers getting to 1B. Do we have the ability and depth to sustain a period at this level or would that be a huge ask?
#6
General discussion / Re: The DUP thread
March 06, 2025, 09:24:30 AM
Is Evangelical Protestantism still prominent in certain parts of the North and would the DUP's base still be mostly grounded in it?
#7
General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:
February 03, 2025, 01:30:25 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on February 03, 2025, 01:24:01 PM
Quote from: DownFanatic on February 03, 2025, 01:14:42 PMBeen following United since 91/92, albeit my passion and interest has dwindled somewhat this last decade or so. But genuinely, that current squad, is the weakest I can remember in terms of sheer lack of high end quality.

Not sure on the quality element they are all individually good players, there just has been a real poor culture develop around the club that has accepted second best in a lot of aspects of the club. This has led to what we see out on the pitch currently.

Who are the high end quality players at the moment? Martinez? Amad?
#8
General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:
February 03, 2025, 01:14:42 PM
Been following United since 91/92, albeit my passion and interest has dwindled somewhat this last decade or so. But genuinely, that current squad, is the weakest I can remember in terms of sheer lack of high end quality.
#9
What EC did in relation to the final stage after pulling away from behind the band was just silly. As you say, they were obviously very pumped up.
#10
We always look for reasons to justify a poor start from a team in a game. But yesterday there was a marked difference in the warm up regimes from both teams. That being the 20 minute slot from about 3:10pm to 3:30pm that they did on the pitch. Cuala's, whilst simple and straightforward, flowed a lot better and looked regimented and energetic. Errigal's didn't and looked for the most part way too laid back and lethargic at times. Just really an observation but I can't help think that it played into that disastrous first half for EC.
#11
GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Colleges
January 15, 2025, 10:20:20 AM
Quote from: Targetman on January 14, 2025, 11:12:39 PMFrom a Down perspective its been another poor year for schools at senior level, Abbey and Colmans beat in 1/4 finals of Mc Rory and Red High and St Malachys the same in Mc Larnon, its not looking great for future!!

Another very disappointing year for our schools. Plans afoot I see to send GDO's into our secondary schools. This is a move in the right direction. Just thinking as well. We've one Ulster MFC title in the past 36 years and that was in 1999.
#12
General discussion / Re: The DUP thread
January 09, 2025, 09:10:52 AM
Not sure if the figure is still accurate but I think up until recently only 7% of the children in the North of Ireland were in official Integrated education.
#13
Always been interested by the Scottish League and the inevitable two horse race for the domestic competitions each season. What would it take for the other clubs outside the top two to raise their outcomes, I'm guessing huge financial interventions etc? I know it has been mooted before but would there be any scope or even interest in them joining the English league structure? Suppose with consistent qualification to European football and regular doses of silverware in Scotland there probably isn't any desire for it.
#14
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
December 19, 2024, 03:31:55 PM
There are big financial implications in going straight knockout across all three grades. I'm all for a return to the straight knockout. I've always believed in it and if it is marketed correctly, planned accordingly etc then there is no reason at all why we can't boost our product. Whether that would be enough to overcome the financial shortfall, I'm not so sure.

Take the JFC for example, CCC have tried their best at different formats to give teams more than one game with a deeper Championship. But really, JFC teams would far prefer straight knockout.

We are lucky in that our leagues in Down are taken very seriously and they have meaning. Leagues in other counties across the island are more and more turning into glorified friendlies. We need to sustain the significance of our Leagues and move to a straight knockout Championship programme that does away with meaningless games and starts making more sense for Down club teams.
#15
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
December 13, 2024, 08:16:57 AM
Quote from: Splash on December 10, 2024, 03:00:18 PMRealistically, winning the league is very feasible, and gaining promotion to Division One should be the bare minimum.

Having Kildare at home is probably beneficial to Down. Kildare have been a bit of a bogey team in recent years, and it will realistically be between us, Kildare, and Kerry for who goes to Division One.

Derry should be tough- be interesting to see what happens Slaughtneil further into the season, and how this impacts the county team.

Donegal and Meath could be well fit to spring a surprise on us.

Be good to see Tyrone in Ballycran. I would imagine they have another wee bit to go before they can compete with the next level of teams in Ulster, but they do seem to be going in the right direction.

I know the league has been restructured, but it's great to see 4 Ulster teams in Div 2.

Will be an important year for Down as this is the first time in a while they will probably be favourites to win a league, with Antrim, Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, and Carlow all playing in Div One.

When was Down's last time in NHL Division 1 proper? Early 90's?