Down Club Hurling & Football

[Truth hurts]

A really positive performance last night, we wer strong in defence, dominated midfield and should have scored a whole lot more. Donegal will be another good test but to make a McKenna semi final would be unreal.

[urbangael]

Making a McKenna cup semi final would hardly be unreal!!  Imagine we win a championship game Truth you'll need medical attention!!

[ardtole]

I think Donegal at home for us is a great draw. There will be relatively low expectation on us to win.

From the outside looking in, the Carr appointment for Donegal has been underwhelming, there are reports of poor attendance at training. A poor league campaign for them and a good one for us could leave both of us in div 2 next year.

It's no more than a hunch, but as soon as I saw the draw I thought it was a good draw for us.

[redandblackareback]

Good win and good to get the monkey off the back of not having won last year but don't fall for that old chestnut of "oh look at what we have inherited, poor us." This is a group who have been training and playing games long before any county in Ireland, Down have the current all Ireland club champions, and the standard of club footballer is very very high, unfortunately last year we were 2 months behind. I expect nothing less than a straight forward promotion out of a very poor division three. Also remember, it's the most expensive management team we have assembled in a long time, 120k wouldn't cover it so with that comes expectations and fair dues the team looked fit but they should be having been training 5 nights a week since the start of October.
Kilcoo players only returned on Monday night past so it was surprising to see Docherty and McEvoy play when others have been training hard since October but it will be hard to hide the Kilcoo loyalty as we heard him say on the Niblock podcast back in February, they are number one always for him. Wing back Rooney and goalkeeper Kane the only other two involved presently, no sign of any Brannigans, no Ward, no Anthony Morgan and really surprised the Johnston's arent back.

[ardtole]

Laverty might well have more Burren men starting than Kilcoo men come championship. I'd expect Liam Kerr and Odhran Murdock to be nailed on and likely at least one of the Magills.

McEvoy could well start but there are not too many more you would have as certainties to start. Rooney as mentioned above would certainly be a strong option.

[extra time]

Is it online ticketing for the match on Sunday or can you pay at the gate?

[OgraAnDun]

A really positive performance last night, we wer strong in defence, dominated midfield and should have scored a whole lot more. Donegal will be another good test but to make a McKenna semi final would be unreal.

Ffs it's the McKenna cup.

[snoopdog]

Is it online ticketing for the match on Sunday or can you pay at the gate?

Id say you need to buy online.

[Truth hurts]

You wont be turned away with cash at the gate

[Lecale Gael]

Is it online ticketing for the match on Sunday or can you pay at the gate?

No cash as it's Ulster gaa taking the money not Down GAA. No cash at gate unfortunately.

[redandblackareback]

Curious to see how many changes we make today especially with so many lads involved in Sigerson action in two days time. Have heard we will see at least 5 changes from Wednesdays team. Donegal are in a very similar predicament to ourselves this time last year with a late appointment and a late start. Our 3 month head start should see us win comfortably and into our first McKenna Cup semi final in a few years. Also, "Wee Doc" is in line for the captaincy for the year ahead.

[ardtole]

I had a suspicion that Liam Kerr might get the captaincy. Guaranteed starter, probably our best player, bit of an olive branch to the Burren contingent. No more than a hunch though.

[Smurfy123]

The best Down performance in 2 or 3 years
A serious team gathering pace
Havern was brilliant

[downtothecore]

Good performance from down. Pat haven, liam kerr and pat haven all excellent. Donegal aare a good bit of the pace though t present and apparently they have over 40 players in their county involved  in sigerson next weekend so they will be very different outfit come championship.

[SHEEDY]

It's only McKenna cup etc etc but winning breeds confidence. Another very good performance from Down, top performances from Havern, Conor Francis and Barry OHagan among others. Still a big panel and competition for places is good to see. Good to get to McKenna semis and get at least one more competitive game before the league starts