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I actually thought the intermediate final was a proper game. Yes there were errors and skill set not quite as high as senior Ulster club but the intensity and effort from both sides could be felt never mind seen.  The atmosphere was unbelievable.  Fair play to both sides.

Ulster and All Ireland Intermediate is a funny one

In 2015 we won our first three match's at a canter and in the final we won on a scoreline of 4-01 to 0-10. We finished 2nd in Division 2 that year and most of the teams we played would have been Division 2 teams aswell. At that stage we had 16 team  divisions but some of the teams we played only had 8 in a division. In terms of league position we were the 18th best team in Down but in other counties, the team we were playing were 9/10th in their respective county

When we got through to the All Ireland Final, the team we played from Mayo had finished 2nd in Division 1 and from a physical point of view where a completely different animal to anything we faced in Ulster where apart from the Ulster final (which was played in horrible conditions in Owenbeg) we tore every team to shreds by at least 10 points.

We lost by 5 from what I recall and the Mayo team then got well beat by the Kerry team a couple of weeks later.

If the Mayo team that beat us was in Down, I would say they would have easily have been a top 4 side

Every county seems to have their own take on Senior v Intermediate.  This is shown by the Rostrevor v Milford game.  Rostrevor finished 2nd in Div 2, effectively ranked 14 in Down, but were intermediate by finishing 4th in Div 2 last year, while Milford finished 8th in Div 1 in Donegal this year after getting promoted last year.  They would have been in senior championship in Down this year.

There wasnt a whole lot wrong with this year was there?
The biggest problem comes at the end of the year when teams, with nothing to play for, go through the motions.  That is the result of not having any playoffs.  Only the bottom 2 or 3 teams in Div 2 have anything to play for.  All else is sown up from Div 1 to Div 4 and mostly has been for some time.
If there are not going to be league playoffs, then it is probably a better option to finish the leagues before championship is played.
Aside from that, most of the year saw competitive games throughout.  The bigger clubs with more county players are victims of their own success when they lose them to the county for that spring/summer period but I dont think anyone would want to go to a place where we dont play games because county players arent available. 

Most weeks there was a game on the Friday night, and the championship back door I think works alright.  You sense the anticipation of the quarter finals coming and whats wrong with having a few games to sort that out!

Reserve leagues finishing up earlier also well, although why some regional reserve games are still happening I have no idea.  I think U20/21 should run earlier in the year as well.

I have no problem with the co board looking at alternatives as we should always strive to get the optimal set up but as others have said, the premier teams competing in Div 4 will prove a logistical nightmare for most clubs involved.  If they can do it then more power to them and is bound to provide a stronger first team in years to come for those who can.  Down Fanatics proposal is not half bad but it introduces the play offs idea again which people wanted rid off just a few years ago. 

Ultimately, you want a game every week, you want as many players as possible to get a game, you want the 18-20 group looked after and kept involved while also not overbearing them, ideally you want each game to matter, and you want the cream coming to the top by the end of September/October.   Whichever system gets as close to that is the one I would choose.

Umpire, as always, an extremely well run competition.  Efficient to the last even with potential results out before the final games were even played!!

I would love to know what his role will be.  Is his role different to Cathal Murray, is he an actual coach?  He obviously has experience of managing at both club and county but to what degree.  Say it had been Peter Donnelly brought in, well we know what he would have been doing.  What will Gearoid bring to the table?

Sunday 1st Oct
MFC
Burren
SFC 
Kilcoo

Sunday 8th Oct
JFC
Bright
IFC
Rostrevor

Thursday 14th Sept to Sat 16th Sept

Semi Finals
SFC
Castlewellan
Kilcoo

IFC
Annaclone
Rostrevor

JFC
Dundrum
Bright

Can anyone explain how relegation from the SFC works?

Top 15 teams based on league standings from 2017, plus the winners of Intermediate Championship for 2017 go into Senior Championship in 2018.  Simples.

Quarter Finals
SFC
Mayobridge
Castlewellan
Ballyholland
Kilcoo

IFC
Annaclone
Liatriom
Shamrocks
Rostrevor

JFC
Kilclief
Dundrum
Dromara
Ardglass

Round 3
SFC
Ballyholland
Bryanford
Mayobridge
CPN

IFC
Darragh Cross
Rostrevor
Annaclone
Bosco

JFC
Round 1
St Michael's
Kilclief

PRFC Final
Castlewellan
RFC Final
Loughinisland
[/quote]

Castlewellan
Loughinisland

Senior
Bryansford
Bredagh
Cumann Pheadair Naofa   
Clonduff
Loughinisland
Castlewellan
Burren   
Kilcoo

Intermediate
Rostrevor   
Carryduff   
Tullylish   
Glasdrumman   
St John's Drumnaquoile   
St Colman's Drumaness
Annaclone   
Darragh Cross

[Bryansford]

Bryansford v CPN
Ballymartin v Saval
Longstone v Mayobridge
An Riocht v Downpatrick
Loughinisland v Ballyholland
Bredagh v Castlewellan
Kilcoo v Clonduff
Burren v Glenn

Intermediate Football Championship
First Round

Shamrocks v Tecconnaugh
Bosco v Attical
Liatriom v St John's
Drumaness v Rostrevor
Saul v Darragh Cross
Annaclone v Clann na Banna
Carryduff v Tullylish
Drumgath v Glasdrumman

Big crowd going on Sunday I gather. Buses running from a lot of towns.
Here's hoping that Down can get into Tyrones faces as they did to Monaghan and bring Mooney/O'Hanlon and the Johnstons into the game on the back of that. 
Too many defeats in finals these past 20 years.  Time to change our fortunes.

Although it was a superb win on Saturday night, that was just the icing on the cake.  What we as supporters want is our county to play with heart and pride, as well some sort of a game plan.  We got all of that and some at the weekend and that is what was so pleasing.  If you play like that, you will inevitably win big games.

Tyrone will be tough opposition in the final, we are all aware of that.  If we can display the same attributes as we have done to date however then we can be sure Tyrone will know they were in a game.