Messages

Smyth / Kane

Fegan
McEvoy
McElroy

Rooney
D O Hagan / McParland
Mooney

Doherty
Murdock

Ward
Kerr
R Johnston

S Johnston
B O Hagan
J Johnston

Pace Pace Pace

That assumes none of the Brannigans will commit and the Johnstons will.  Mooney has played his best football for Down when he is running onto the ball from half back.  I dont think we are going to out defend a team as we arent good enough at it so lets attack teams with our strengths, speed and accuracy.

There's a few players named in tonight's team who, for the good of everyone involved in Down football, could do with a "thank you for your services" letter. It must be nullifying for younger players to waltz around them in training, to watch them start.

I would normally agree with you on this sort of thing but I would make 2 points on this.  1) All of last years panel was asked back due to the management being appointed so late in the year and the limited time for trials and the management seeing any of the club championship. 2)  Some of the younger lads are out this week because of the Sigerson and obviously the Kilcoo contingent so the management may have been limited in what they could do in terms of selection.

If some of those guys are still starting by the end of the league then I would be fully in agreement with you.

Also, Kerr is better coming from deep and gaining yards, I do not think he is suited to playing inside and I do not think he has the brain for that game. He is unreal at getting the ball at half-back and making yards, same with Shealan J.

I would have him playing inside and coming out the field.

Barry O Hagan is best forward in county for me.  Corey needs to do a bit more for county to get to that level IMO.  Ideally I would have Barry further out the field as well but we would be extremely small full forward line with Jerome and Corey in it.

All depends on what Kilcoo players commit.  If you only get 2 or 3 which i fear then you will need everyone from last years panel and the below mentioned.

From last years team I would be put the below as key players.

D O Hagan
Mooney
B O Hagan
Kerr

That leaves a lot of places up for grabs.

Add in the returning Doherty and McParland who will probably become key players and you are still short.  Realistically the below would probably be starters for Down if they make themselves available;

Kane
R McEvoy
Rooney
Morgan
J Johnston
R Johnston

With Ward and C Johnston not far away.  If the above was available it actually would be the makings of a decent div 2 team

Kane
?
McEvoy
O Hagan
Rooney
McParland
Morgan
Doherty
Mooney
R Johnston
?
?
Kerr
O Hagan
J Johnston

That full forward line would put the fear into a lot of teams.  I still think we might be a bit light at midfield and are obviously missing a few half forwards which is where some of the younger lads might fit in.

If we could get all of the above to commit I think there are reasons to be optimistic.

Didn't think I was being harsh.  Odhran is only out of minor and Tom is probably a year older.  Just want realistic expectations set on them.

Was funny game for the amount we could see anyway.

Defended well but didnt offer much up front which maybe is expected from such an inexperienced team and the time of year.  Doherty and McParland will definitely add a bit of strength and bite around the middle.

I like the cut of McElroys jibe and McCormack did well.  O Hagan is a class act and hard to know whether he is better inside as he did so well in the half forward line last year.  The likes of Murdock and Close are going to need time so would be surprised if they are involved at the start of the league.  If we could find a target man akin to Harrison we mightn't be far away in staying up in Division 2.

All in all not bad start having expected a lot worse.  Thought the ref was terrible for both teams.

Will be interesting to see if they do provide a refund.

Has it not always been the case that any of the established teams would struggle to get more than 3 players through each year to the senior team.  Is it not the nature of things you have to be a very good minor to make it to the senior teams of Kilcoo, Burren or Clonduff etc ?

Even when Burren had mediocre teams in the early 2000's 80% of the minor teams coming through drifted to seconds/thirds teams and some even just drifted away from football altogether.  I would suggest that is the case throughout the county.

As you say this was a freak under 20 team so I dont think it will be an issue in the Burren club going forward.

On the issue of managing the flow ( if there is an issue ), should it not be on the likes of CPN, Saval or whoever else feels hard done by to do something about it rather than Burren closing its gates or the county board getting involved.  Should it not be up to those clubs to make themselves a more attractive proposition to kids and children.  I know CPN are working on it but their facilities are amongst the worst in the top division and have been for 20 years.

Derryleckagh? I suppose if you mean the Cove, then probably. If you mean 1km closer to Ballyholland, then no. Almost every child from south of the playing fields goes to Ballyholland PS.

The parish distinction is never going to work for Ballyholland. We don't have a chapel and therefore a parish per se. In this regard, are as much Newry Parish as Newry Shamrocks are, if that's how people wish to draw lines. But here's the basic reality: the most convenient GAA club for walking or driving to from the Manse is Ballyholland.

So going forward what will be the guidelines for Newry clubs and Ballyholland.  Is it if you don't go to Ballyholland school you don't come through the gates or is it a free for all among the 3-4 clubs ?  Is there any problems with this at underage level at the moment ?  Genuine question BTW.

TH yes I will put a motion forward at the the next AGM in Burren to turn away all new kids and parents and tell them to feck off to the point.  I am sure it will be approved without a hitch.

[while Loughinisland would be like the Burren of East Down, if you stopped for ice cream in Brennans you are entitled to represent The Blues.]

Alright fair enough, just wondering is there consistency on here when describing different clubs attracting young players.

BTW Derryleckagh would be Saval / Burren parish no ?

No idea on The Manse but would have thought it falls into a Newry parish as well if we are looking to be black and white about things on here.

Derryleckagh is in the Saval parish WGM

WGM would Burren not refuse to take players from the point for a start and tell them that their club is CPN. Surely it is becoming apparent that you have too many players and people are getting pissed off.
And yes Castlewellan , Bryansford and RGU are noted for the poaching while Loughinisland would be like the Burren of East Down, if you stopped for ice cream in Brennans you are entitled to represent The Blues.

Alright fair enough, just wondering is there consistency on here when describing different clubs attracting young players.

BTW Derryleckagh would be Saval / Burren parish no ?

No idea on The Manse but would have thought it falls into a Newry parish as well if we are looking to be black and white about things on here.

So does going to Ballyholland PS school mean they live in or are from Ballyholland ?

The general consensus on here is that there are a lot that went to Burren PS but aren't from or living in Burren !!

Just wondering does different clubs have different rules on this sort of thing when it comes to Gaaboard rules ?

This discussion is hilarious today.

The comments about Glenn and Dromintine Sunday is particularly funny and the loaning of players.  A WUM at its best.

On another point is Ballyholland seen as a Newry club ?  Does their parish include parts of Newry ?  Genuine question as the perception is that a load of lads from Newry play for them now compared to 10-15 years ago.

I would hope the seniors would leave the likes of Murdock alone for at least another year.

Would the minor team from 3 years ago not have been rated as one of the favourites for Ulster ? 

Would there not be a decent percentage of last years under 20's still around ?

Most of that good Burren underage team should all be around the 19 mark by then too.  I know they didn't do themselves justice at minor level but there should be the basis of a decent side there.