Messages

The Burren committee who reappointed McCorry and Adams must be severely regretting their decision.  The lack of a plan, the lack of ideas and the lack of fight from Burren was shocking.  However hats off to Kilcoo, their hunger and game intelligence was outstanding. While we should never condone bad behaviour the Magpies are by far the best team in the county and are worthy Down champions.

This is bizarre and unprecedented.  However, very few people know the full story so before people pile on, remember there's enough pressure on players and officials on county final day without ill- informed speculation.
Factually we know Paul was listed to referee and it appears its now David Gough. Two fine referees who represent the best of our association.  Paul would have been under unfair pressure today, and I don't know if he was involved in the decision himself so let's hope things proceed properly today.

Paul Faloon is an excellent referee and is a good selection to referee our showcase final. Full stop.
I have no idea if Kilcoo have objected to the appointment and I have no idea what these vague insinuations are.  But nobody should make any comment without accurate facts. So in absence of same, let us look forward to an epic battle between two great clubs and the two best teams in our county.

Kilcoo
Rostrevor
Drumaness

Surprised there isn't a thread on this already. A number of notable points; the size and sophistication of the ship(s) carrying the cocaine, the skill and bravery of the defence forces involved and the absence of comments in the UK media on a huge drug seizure which took place close to their coast. The Tories mantra is 'Stop the Boats'; well the Irish have just done that, for the benefit of your citizens as well as ours

Relegation Play Off IFC
St Pauls
Relgation Play Off SFC
Bryansford
Parador Lodge
 JFC Semi finals
East Belfast
Drumaness
Parador Lodge IFC Semi Finals
Liatroim
Rostrevor
Morgan Fuels SFC Semi Finals

Burren
Kilcoo

Great performance by Glenn tonight; plenty of direct football, could have won by more. The Bridge obs thought they only had to turn up; seemed paralysed by their tactics. Astonishing that Glenn were almost relegated to Div 3. Shay Millar was outstanding

No almost about it. They were relegated so some result tonight indeed.

Parador Lodge JFC Quarter finals

Ardglass
East Belfast
Glasdrumman
Dromara

Parador Lodge IFC Quarter Finals
An Riocht
Annaclone
Liatroim
Newry Shamrocks

Morgan Fuels SFC Quarter Finals

Burren
Clonduff
Kilcoo 
Mayobridge

Morgan Fuels SFC Relegation play off
Bryansford
Bredagh

Parador Lodge IFC Relegation play off
Clann na Banna
Attical

[Ballyholland]

Morgan Fuels SFC R3
Longstone V Ballyholland
Loughinisland V Carryduff
Mayobridge V Warrenpoint
RGU V Castlewellan

Morgan Fuels SFC Relegation play off
Bryansford V Saul
Bredagh V Saval

Parador Lodge IFC R3
Darragh Cross V Teconnaught
Rostrevor V Drumgath
St John's V Tullylish
St John's Bosco V Annaclone

Parador Lodge IFC Relegation play off
Clann na Banna V Aughlisnafin
St Paul's V Attical

Morgan Fuels SFC R2 Draw
Qualifiers
Carryduff
Ballyholland
Bredagh
Warrenpoint

Winners
Kilcoo
Glenn
Clonduff
Burren

Parador Lodge IFC

Qualifier draw:
Annaclone
Teconnaught
Drum Gath
Tullylish

Winners draw:
St John's
Ballymartin
Rostrevor
Liatroim

SFC

RGU DOWNPATRICK
BREDAGH
LOUGHINISLAND
MAYOBRIDGE
SAVAL
CASTLEWELLAN   
BURREN   
KILCOO


IFC

NEWRY SHAMROCKS 
ST JOHN'S   
ST JOHN BOSCO   
BALLYMARTIN   
DARRAGH CROSS   
AN RIOCHT   
ROSTREVOR   
LIATROIM

I didn't even know Costello was on the pitch to be honest

This is why those lads have 9 medals and a few more have 7 and 8. Costello was the main reason (maybe only reason) they got past Monaghan. Yesterday someone else steps up when he has a quiet day. Most counties, including Kerry, need their top men to step up every day

Exactly. Name another team in history that could afford to use Jack McCaffrey from the bench. Impossible.

I actually thought Lee Gannon was doing decent enough at times. Yellow card, substituted. Ruthless because they can be with that strength in depth.

What's tiring is people thinking that other teams are close to Dublin when they are a million miles away from that depth. They will almost certainly be in the final nearly every year for the next decade again. Too strong.

I agree. It's the greatest challenge to our game ; I admire the Dubs, and especially their players, but the contest has become totally unfair.  We're a nation of romantics but 21 and 22 were an aberration , and it will become the exception for Dublin not to be in the final. I also admire Oisin McConville as a pundit but he got it wrong by stating on numerous occasions this year that Dublin wouldn't win it.
On a separate note I think David Gough was man of the match.

Disappointing end to a roller coaster county season.
We could and probably should have won that game and the consequences of defeat are significant for us.
Firstly, Comghairdeas to Meath; best team on the day won.
It was a good day out and no doubt the younger generation are hungry to be at the top table again. 
Every player on the squad has put in a great shift so go raibh maith agaibh lads. And management.
Plenty of positives but plenty of regrets and ultimately we're still in Division 3 and unlikeliest ⁶to be competing in Sam Maguire in 2024, which hurts.
Some players rise to the challenge of a big stsge; others freeze or don't play to their potential.  Management will learn. Some of the changes could/ should have been made earlier but hard to plan for the freak goal and Meath pushed on from that.
So we pause and look forward to the County championships. Up Down.

Looking forward to a day in HQ.
Laverty, Clarke, Morgan and Donnelly are to be congratulated for their professional and focused approach over last 8 months- there have been setbacks but clear progress. Those who thought Conor would be a divisive figure couldn't have been more wrong. He loves Gaelic Football and loves winning. Players respect this and even those who have had disagreements with him personally, and Kilcoo generally. have jumped on board. Careers are short and we will never get a manager who ticks all the boxes, but Conor ticks most of them. Fair play to the County Board who have backed him and especially to the players who are an honest and dedicated group of young men.
We have only lost 4 games all year ( I don't count the Derry McKenna cup defeat on penalties as ,along with Cavan in the TC, that was one of our best performances) and I've been at 3 of the defeats. Only Armagh beat us well so the management team learned from that and pushed on.
In terms of team selection , I think it will be similar to the starting 15 against Laois.
Niall Kane has been fairly steady; a couple of wobbles in Ederney and Clones cost us but he should have had more protection. He has pulled off a couple of excellent saves out of the bag at crucial times; his 45 conversion rate is about 2 out of 3 and Conor trusts him.
Paddy McCarthy is quality, our captain Pearse is a much improved player and leads well despite conceding height and Anthony Doherty has been a revelation.
Management may be tempted to throw McPartland ( if fit) in from the start against a physical Meath hf line but more likely they will stick with Rooney, C Doc and Paddy Brannigan; these boys don't let you down although all have had off games.
Ryan McEvoy is a good option and again brings physicality but I think he's better held in reserve to wait and see where the pressure points are. Same with Ryan Magill.
Nothing more needs to be said about Odhran Murdoch- would get on to any of Down's all Ireland winning teams.
Daniel Guinness will be named at 8 but play in the middle third and is Laverty's type of player. Pat Haven will alternate between mf and ff and plays like a man who loves playing for Down.
I reckon they will stick with Kerr, Mason and Danny Magill; three very different players but all have qualities that have been missing in recent years. Mason finds time to find the right ball, never gets flustered and hits frees for fun. Kerr's energy is electric while Magill has the swagger of a Down man destined to win at Croke park. Shelan Johnson, Ross Carr and McAleenan are likely to feature and are good men to bring in.
I reckon he will stick with Ryan Johnson ( who is flying), Havern and Eugene Brannigan. Brannigan will never win a popularity contest but he does what has to be done, has learned from Laverty and , more importantly, is trusted by him. Poland and Francis have played their parts this year and  deserve a run in HQ but Laverty doesn't do sentiment unless we are 10 points up in injury time.
Happily the weather is not going to be as bad as some predicted; there will be showers but it won't be persistent. I didn't see anything in Parnell Park or Croke Park that tells me Meath are great shakes;while it will be close, we should win.

An excellent interview with Willie Anderson, well worth listening to. A perfect example of what we Gaels should be doing to prepare for a new Ireland.