Messages

May he rest in peace.

Down have scored a total of 2-68 in their 5 games.

Paul McComiskey 1-12 (9f)
Martin Clarke 0-14 (7f)
John Clarke 0-12 (1f)
Ambrose Rodgers 0-9 (1f)
Brendan Coulter 1-4
Conor Laverty 0-4
Daniel Hughes 0-3
Conor Maginn 0-3
Mark Poland 0-3 (2f)
Conor Garvey 0-1
Stephen Kearney 0-1
Peter Fitzpatrick 0-1
Kevin McKernan 0-1

Lets not be too hard on Brendan McArdle, he was marking one of the best forwards in the country last night. Luke Howard will be a great addition to the team when he is fit again. He didn't give McDonnell a sniff in their last meeting.

I dont know if we will see Dan back in a Down jersey.

Tipperary lost by a point last night, I hope they can stay up. Westmeath look gone, so its probably between Laois and Tipp for the other relegation place.

That may have only been a second division game last night, but Down are in a different league to Armagh. Its alright beating the likes of Donegal and Meath, but even the wee teams like Armagh have to be disposed off as well.  Every aspect of last nights game has been covered over the last few pages, so I don't really need to add anything. One thing that I have to mention are the McKeever incidents. That kn**ker should not be allowed to wear a jersey of any kind, he is a disgrace to his county and the game itself, but from what I hear a credit to his club. A large section of the Armagh crowd stood up and applauded and cheered him off the field and he reacted to them like something you would see in Windsor Park. The true Armagh fan will still follow his team come what may, but we are as well off without these bandwagon supporters as we are without the likes of McKeever. Good riddance to both.



Down Scorers.
B Coulter 1-1, M Poland 0-3 (2f),A Rodgers 0-3 (1f), J Clarke 0-2 (1f), M Clarke 0-2 (1f), C Maginn 0-1, D Hughes 0-1.

Tony you weren't looking at too many when you were leaving with 5 to go in the game!

What is it they say about rats and sinking ships?

Is it possible to buy a ticket at the ground before the game?  will it be a full house?

Contact the Down C.B. on 02843770880 to see if tickets will be on sale at the ground, I doubt it will be a full house but it will be close to it.

On serious note i put £20 on the draw

If Fearon is very long odds we could arrange for me to go down in the third. Split the winnings?

[password]

I presume these lads regard themselves, in the traditional fashion, as the lawful government of Ireland. In that case, I was wondering where's their passport office? The Mrs can't get a password off the crowd who are supposed to be temporarily running the country because they're on a "go-slow", so where should she apply for Real Passport?

Tell her to send an email to newpasswrords@rira.co.uk they will then reset her password 

Its all over, the Brits have had enough. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8577172.stm

I notice as it gets closer there's less talk from TH and Fearon of a fight. Are they both running scared? I think it's off. If they meet there'll be handshakes and smiles.

I'd be very diappointed if TH doesnt at least physically threaten Fearon with a hotdog before being placated with the offer of a weekend for 2 in the Cosy Corner guest house in Larne that TF won in a some competition in the Newsletter.

Lets just say there have been a couple of approaches from a third party. There has been an offer of a dinner for two in Rices, a years free subscription to the Norn Iron supporters magazine or the lions share of any future win of the Gaelic Life Fantasy Football competition. All have been refused so far, but that weekend in Larne does sound tempting.
I`ve been in contact with Sean og during the week to see if we could arrange something as part of the half time entertainment. Sean og was up for it until he heard Fearons name mentioned. He said the only time he ever saw Fearon anywhere near Greenbank was for a game between Newry Colts and Dungannon Swifts reserves. Fearon was arrested that night for breach of a non molestation order that Harry Fay had taken against him a few years previously. Something to do with IFA/Linfield, Dungannon, Ken Magennis, the Free Masons and the News Letter.

Some cracking posts in here for the rest of us. Particularly liked the swamp donkey and the happy motherfuckers day.

Armagh by two.

Down by three.

Down by five. 

15 years maybe, in fairness that's a long way off 117 years of hurt, depression, and slow sales of silver polish in Armagh City.

 

Ive said it before and I`ll say it after we beat them tomorrow night, Armagh have only won one All Ireland, no letter writing campaign to the Bele Tele will ever change that. Is it any wonder POG is such a miserable sod. One miserable, solitary All Ireland.

[What is in the air?]

Never before can I remember such an air of excitement or anticipation before a Down v. Armagh NFL game in the tail end of winter. It is only for 2 Division II points after all. Yet it is all ticket! There was less excitement when they last met in Divison I.
What is in the air?

For me its the changing of the guard.
I remember all to well the run up to the 99 final. Armagh had something about them that I certainly hadn't seen before, not even in `77. They looked like they could have the makings of a very good team. Down were in serious decline. Long story short Down got hammered and it was the start of a long road for Armagh that took them to the ultimate prize in 2002, but they really should have won at least one and maybe two more All Irelands. Joe Kernan famously said good teams win won, great teams win two. Armagh were so close to becoming a great team.
That team is gone. I think only Stevie remains, Clarke is injured. They have a few promising players and they aren't a bad team, but I think we are going to see a game that will set the tone for the next few years. I think Down are ready to come of age tomorrow night. It doesn't matter if it is a one point win or a cricket score, the result is all that matters and I simply cannot see Down losing this. They can slag off our defence all they want, but we are unbeaten in the league and the defence has coped very well. At midfield we have a great pairing in Ambi and King or should that be King Ambi. For me Kallum King is the Brian McGilligan of the partnership and Ambi the Tohill. Ambi will get the headlines, but King is a solid player, a steely player that Down have been missing for far too long. Up front we have the Clarke's, John is playing his best football to date ably assisted by Martin. There simply are not enough superlatives to describe this young man. He has it all. Everyone in the country just how good he is, so we sent him away to Oz to toughen him up. He left Australia with nothing to prove, he came home to play for Down. The rest of our forwards have little to prove, Coulter is among the best in the country on his day. McComiskey, Hughes and Kearney have all been effective at different times this year.
There has been plenty of talk about POR lately, first and foremost Paddy is not only a Down man, but a legend in the Mourne county. He has won it all and could be considered unlucky not to have won an Ulster title as manager in 2003, regardless of tomorrows result every one of us will wish Paddy well. Unlike a certain poster from Armagh we bear no mailice to any of our "exiles" no matter where they may be.

Is there any possibility of getting tickets outside the ground?? 

The Allianz GAA Football National League Division 2 game between Down & Armagh this Saturday (20th March) at 7:30pm is an all-ticket affair.

The stand is sold out but terrace tickets can be purchased from:

• Down GAA County Board, Pairc Esler, 46-48 Main Street, Castlewellan, Co Down, BT31 9DP
• Armagh GAA County Board, Athletic Grounds, Dalton Road, Armagh, BT60 4AE

or from the following outlets:

• Smyths Music, Newcastle
• Loko, Bangor
• Carlin Music, Newry
• Skelton Travel, Lurgan
• Mac's Music, Portadown

Terrace tickets are £10 for this fixture with juvenile tickets available at £4.