Messages

Rather than talking about the negativity surrounding our county teams, can we look at the positivity  Of youth and discuss how the U16 and Minor leagues are shaping up, can't be too many games left I presume?

Filling out teams will be an increasing problem; perhaps time to reconsider 13-a-side again. Would also help with the spectacle, make the massed defence less viable.
Unfortunately gaelic football by it's nature is so open it's harder to play on a casual basis or as you get older. In contrast, in soccer + rugby you can play into your 50s

Don't mention soccer on a Down GAA forum, you might end up on page 3 of the Irish news!

Reid's kickouts were outstanding. He kicked every ball short to a Down man as Antrim did not contest one kickout
It was absolute dire stuff from Down
Antrim have cemented their  place as the worst team in ulster and possibly Ireland

Name me another team in Ireland as bad as Antrim?

Carlow...? 

After round 5 in the minor league, any team impressing? Or is it too early?

Can I just begin with saying how good of a tournament I think the Malachy Murdock is, which is ironic as he was such a great man. I went on Friday night - a miserable night may I add to see the stone against the harps. Inevitably both teams where rusty as it is preseason but I must say both teams did very well and made it a great game. The stone under shorty where aggressive and hungry, and with polie and ambrose playing made it a hard game for Ballyholland. The Harps were a bit slow to start of the game but gradually got there and played some great fluent football. Talking to a few men while watching the warm up I noticed a few new faces in the Ballyholland squad- later finding out that 5 of the squad are still playing minor football this year. 2 of these started and played great stuff- one eventually scoring the winning goal. Not often a team mixes in so many young players in the one batch but Poacher obviously sees something within these players as not any Tom Dick or Harry can play senior football. From what I saw, The stone will have great spirit and momentum going forward and should be there or there abouts for promotion to Division 1, while the Harps can look forward with promise to the future, with the energy these young players bring and the experience they still have- was a great watch.

The man only stepped down on Sunday night calm down!

Who ever takes the job on will have a tough job ahead of them. Even though Down division one is not of a great standard at the minute there is still a considerable gap between it and division two. A few of their more senior players starting to slow down and I don't think they have a big enough or good enough squad to replace them. Is  Mulholland joining another club?

would be interesting to see if he is joining another club

Can we not all agree that the league should have finished a while ago? I'd say its damn difficult for teams like Ballyholland who would have a very small panel to keep players playing into the start of November. Maybe Ballyholland will need a bigger panel of players for next year to prevent this. However it is different for Castlewellan who are playing for the league. Its the County boards fault- and it needs to change for next season. So I'd say Castlewellan can keep there complaints to themselves.

Poacher to the stone???

would love to know the predictions for championships next year, from 16s right through to seniors, just a few shouts at each age- 16's , minors, U21, senior- who can out do kilcoo?? Whos got potential in 16s, minors, and who will win U21's??

wonder no longer...just pencil in burren for all those questions and move on.

Typical Burren confidence?

Minors - Kilcoo and Clonduff contested the U16 All County final few weeks ago so both will be thereabouts for the minors this year along with Liatroim and Burren

Going by the minors last year, i'd agree that kilcoo and clonduff will be there or there abouts. Liatrom i'm not too sure about- losing a lot of players from the team last year. Two of the McCrickards- who are two quality players are moving up. Same with Burren, although they do still have quality players. Can't count out the Belfast teams, while going by the U16 championship final two years ago, Warrenpoint and Ballyholland could be there or there abouts.

would love to know the predictions for championships next year, from 16s right through to seniors, just a few shouts at each age- 16's , minors, U21, senior- who can out do kilcoo?? Whos got potential in 16s, minors, and who will win U21's??

wonder no longer...just pencil in burren for all those questions and move on.

Typical Burren confidence?

would love to know the predictions for championships next year, from 16s right through to seniors, just a few shouts at each age- 16's , minors, U21, senior- who can out do kilcoo?? Whos got potential in 16s, minors, and who will win U21's??