Messages

Cracking game in Warrenpoint tonight, CPN v Burren. Things starting to heat up in the league over the last week or so. I'm sure Clonduff will be hoping for a Burren win tonight, they'll fancy themselves for the league title again this year after winning last year's final.

Match Ups will be interesting...both teams have been very hot and cold in the league. CPN normally struggle against the defensive systems and Burren are going as defensive as I've ever seen them in my time watching them. The U20s could be the difference tonight for Burren, if Danny Magill and young Murdock step up tonight they will be hard to beat.

Can't wait for this one...

Clonduff will surely be too strong for a Carryduff side that have a lengthy trip down to Hilltown?

Match Ups will be interesting...both teams have been very hot and cold in the league. CPN normally struggle against the defensive systems and Burren are going as defensive as I've ever seen them in my time watching them. The U20s could be the difference tonight for Burren, if Danny Magill and young Murdock step up tonight they will be hard to beat.

A lot will depend on the team Warrenpoint field, they still looked to be missing a few of their first choice players from last year against the Bridge on Friday night. Would fancy Burren for the win tonight,

What is the story with Clonduff team? Watched Point game and Clonduff on Friday and the yellas were the better team. Strange one though because after 20mins they emptied the bench bringing on Three O'Hagans, Ryan Brannigan and Stephen McConville...and they have two U-20s to come in as well which can only help...they just never seem to do it on the big day against Burren or Kilcoo...

Can they finally take things to the next level or will they fall away? They have so many good forwards but their defence is leaky...If the draw keep the big teams apart for the first two rounds then we could have a cracking knockout stage ahead

Didn't think there was a lot between them but clonduff seemed more up for it, a good draw for the Point considering they were missing 4 or 5 lads who would normally be starting. Agree with previous posters could be a tight championship this year if the better teams avoid each other in the early rounds

Warrenpoint seem to have a lot of lads missing. Very one sided game, their new management team have a lot to work on.

Early season trophy up for grabs Sunday evening in Newry
I think this may attract a good crowd
We have had different players in and out of the team in our first 6 games. We are starting to get more lads back so the final may be a tasty affair
Looking forward to the game
Was at the Rostrevor match last night. Bryansford kicked a few late scores to make the scoreboard look better. They play a very negative brand of football

Was at the loughinisland game and tbh the point we're missing a lot of players no John Boyle no Magee's no mc cartans  and r mc aleenan. Some of the lads replacing them struggled so I would be fearful for CPN if the same team lines out against Kilcoo.

So now you want the club's leagues stopped to facilitate the under 20s?
Club players are bound to be pretty pissed off at this stage
When do the leagues start?
Why not start them this week?
What's the hold up now

When did I once say that I wanted the leagues stopped. I am just stating that it would not be fair on clubs playing in leagues without their u20 players providing they go on a run. Has anyone a breakdown of the squad and their clubs?
The leagues cannot be started this week as warm-up competitions need to be finished, I can not wait to see the final stages of the Corn an Duin plate. Kilcoo look to be in good nick but Burren and Warrenpoint under new management seems to be motoring a long rightly

Provided Kilcoo win their section, Kilcoo v Burren should be a good match to watch. Fancy the Island to beat CPN.

[The Point on the other hand thought they had their number one target but just couldn't get it over the line.]

Two massive appointments but not the two that were expected.

Burren were to go with an Ex County senior manager and a very high profile lively coach but it all went wrong when the two lads were insisting a very close relation be addition to management team. Burren players not happy with that addition so that appointment couldn't go through .Then at last minute they got another high profile man in.All not so happy in caravan land.

The Point on the other hand thought they had their number one target but just couldn't get it over the line.But in Shane Mulholland they have a real top manager and a very canny assistant in Mark Poland. Mark and Shane will bring a freshness to the Point and the reassuring thing is the players and changing room are all very excited to be working under Shane.Shane understands only too well the John Boyle position in terms of his football commitments.
All in all the mood about The Point is very positive about this management and feel it could be the key to at last getting over the line and an O'Hare Cup.

#
Who was their number one choice if not Mulholland ? 

Much as I would like cpn to win. After watching the clonduff v cpn game back I think paddy power has the odds about right with kilcoo 1/2 and cpn 2/1. After all this is the best kilcoo team ever, reigning ulster champions and very close to winning an all Ireland. Kilcoo by 3 or 4

Kilcoo in total control thought the score line flattered Rostrevor. Some posters blaming the ref, clonduff have no one to blame but themselves that point defence was wide open for more goals and they stopped pushing forward when they had 3 goals. Kilcoo will be quite happy with what they saw last night and be confident of retaining the cup.

[Kilcoo v CPN in 2018 S/F-I counted 5 free kicks given to Kilcoo in that game which were at best, not fouls and at worst, actually free kicks the other way-4 of these amounted to scores)...Point captain Boyle got two yellows in this game and sent off when Point were winning by 2 and in ascendancy...His first yellow card was mystifying and Devlin got nothing for two of the EXACT same tackles...Kilcoo won by 3/4 points...]

Say what you like about this forum but by Christ It is entertaining...I'm not biased towards any particular referee or against any either but from where I watched the match it was referred excellently (apart from the obvious mistake with time which was crazy). During the 59 and a half mins of play however I think Faloon had a fantastic game and that's hard to do where Kilcoo are involved. I don't think naming referees for calling them out is appropriate on here but let's look at the conspiracy theory from outside the Magpie camp for a second if you want to go down this rabbit hole.

Kilcoo v Burren in 2015 Q/F (I think, could be wrong on year) Gerard McGovern black card for 'sledging' (never seen or heard of that before or after that instance) when Burren were well on top, that changed the game and Kilcoo won.

Kilcoo v Burren 2017- Kilcoo MANAGEMENT kick Balls on to the pitch to waste time and no extra time added to allow for their shithousery, then they cried off for Burren doing same thing in 2018 in County final the following year

Kilcoo v CPN in 2018 S/F-I counted 5 free kicks given to Kilcoo in that game which were at best, not fouls and at worst, actually free kicks the other way-4 of these amounted to scores)...Point captain Boyle got two yellows in this game and sent off when Point were winning by 2 and in ascendancy...His first yellow card was mystifying and Devlin got nothing for two of the EXACT same tackles...Kilcoo won by 3/4 points...

Kilcoo v Clonduff 2019 S/F- One of the Brannigans reckless flying knees in to the keeper at the end and scuffle ensues...McConville and keeper both sent off and Brannigan gets a YELLOW card from a Rostrevor referee (I wonder why a Rostrevor man wouldn't want an important Kilcoo player to be suspended for their final that particular year)

Constant reports of Referees doing in-house games and overseeing TACKLING GRIDS and Pressure cooker drills in training sessions too, maybe Paul Faloon wasn't willing to be bought off by the Magpies and hence the grudge they have towards him...

Makes for a more appealing conspiracy theory than the 'Sure yer man forgot the remote' narrative...


For those of you might miss the tone of this post I'll sum it up...Sometimes decisions go your way, sometimes they don't...sometimes teams feel hard done by and it happens EVERY SINGLE CLUB at some point...The way I see it, when you are the favourites in a match or champonship-you will always get the rub of the green from referees when it matters (IN ALL SPORTS) and that will be the same until you become the big team...as underdogs you are going to have to beat the favourites and the referee...you will have to overcome 16 men maybe 17 men really when you have umpires that can't make the big calls evenly...Kilcoo did it at one point to overturn the burren team that was dominating 10yrs ago, as did Burren to take down the Mighty Bridge sides early 2000s...so will Burren or Warrenpoint or anyone else that wants a crack at the title...they will have to beat all the officials too, or get a half strong referee with the backbone to refer unbiased and make calls as he sees them...unfortunately for the chasing pack I think it will have to be the former because we aren't blessed with strong enough referees in this county other than Paul and possibly Con Reynolds who has had a couple of great games in this year's championship already...

Was at the CPN V Kilcoo 2018 game and Ronan Barry definitely had his Kilcoo colours on under his referees jersey that night.

Let's call a spade a spade , the scene's at the end were disgraceful and there should be hefty suspensions for the men who followed the ref to the changing rooms. There is no glossing over that and no excuses . Refereeing is hard enough and Paul had a great game last night. Bullying referees needs to be condemned and I hope our county board shows leadership and takes correct actions against the said individuals.

Totally agree, took the gloss off what was an enjoyable game. Although CPN got the result and met Kilcoo head on,I thought Kilcoo were the better team and the next team up for them will feel the backlash.

[Predictions Round 2]

Predictions Round 2

SFC

Bredagh vs Rostrevor
Longstone vs Bally Holland
Darraghcross vs Loughinisland
Clonduff vs Bryansford
Castewellan vs Burren
Kilcoo vs CPN
RGU vs Carryduff
Mayobridge vs Glenn


IFC

Letrim vs Shamrocks
St Johns vs Saul
Bright vs Dromara
Saval vs Teconnaught
Ballymartin vs Attical
Bosco vs CLB
An Roicht vs Drumgath
Annalcone vs Tullylish

JFC

East Belfast vs Kilclief
Mitchels vs St Michaels
Ardglass vs Aghaderg

Great coverage of the CPN / Burren game last night on Pairc TV, entertaining game. Besides Laim Kerr CPN players had the edge all over the pitch. Ryan Boyle, Paddy Murdock and Ciaran Mc Cartan were excellent for CPN. Would have to agree with Upandwin in that Davidson looked to be a yard of the pace and gave the ball away a lot. I would imagine some of the lads who came off the bench might fancy their chances of starting before him next game. Wouldn't write Burren off yet as with Kerr and O'Hare they have the potential to rack up heavy scores but they would need better service as O'Hare had to come out the pitch away from the scoring zone looking for the ball.

[SFC Round 1]

3 Rounds of the League played so we have something to base predictions on. Good Luck!

SFC Round 1

CPN vs Burren
Kilcoo vs Mayobridge
Ballyholland vs Darraghcross
Glenn vs Bryansford
Carryduff vs Clonduff
Rostrevor vs RGU
Longstone vs Loughinisland
Castlewellan vs Bredagh

IFC Round 1

An Riocht vs Teconnaught
Annaclone vs Bright
Leitrim vs Saval
Atticall vs Shamrocks
Dromara vs St Johns
Bosco vs Tullylish
Saul vs Ballymartin
Drumgath va Clann na Banna

JFC Round 1

St Paul's vs Mitchell's
Glassdrumman vs St Michaels
Finn vs Ardglass
Dundrum vs East Belfast
Aghaderg vs Drumaness

[St Marks Warrenpoint used to be a powerhouse in the county and I never hear of them playing at top level anymore]

Any word how Pairc Esler is? There has been some amount of rain. Is there any alternative to host the game in a different venue?

In all honestly the whole post primary set up in Down needs improved, that is where i would be pushing coaches. Look at St Pats Downpatrick, a massive school with over 800 boys, surely it should be McRory cup team . St Marks Warrenpoint used to be a powerhouse in the county and I never hear of them playing at top level anymore.
Its great to see the College and Abbey competing but half their footballers are Armagh so it would be better if all Down schools were improving. Maybe teachers don't have the time anymore but kids are being sent to these schools  from excellent clubs from county Down who provide excellent coaching.

When did St Marks play at the top level?

Can't agree yewtree. Donal is a great club player and a good county player but doesn't score enough from open play and has been average in the 3 games. He spent most of the Derry match in our half back line. Donal o Hare needs to be close to goal as that's what his game is about. Kerr a great player and would like to see him start against Longford.
Team
O Hare
Fegan
McArdle
Collins
James Guinness
O Hagen
Annett
Poland
Flynn
Kerr
Maginn
Havern
Johnstone
O hare
McCabe

Quinn Harrison O Hagen Devlin to come in

No CPN players good enough to start Smurfy