Down Club Hurling & Football

[updownup]

Down Intermediate and Junior Championships have a six-week break from the last league match, then a single game and another five-week break before the last two games of a round-robin. The top two teams go to a final, what is the purpose of having these championships so spaced out when they could be finished by the end of summer?

I think you have that wrong. Junior have 3 week and Intermediate has 2 weeks until start of championships.

Junior groups starts 26th Aug Weekend and Ends 9th Sept weekend.

Was supposed to mention this was hurling I was talking about sorry!

But still can't put my head around the gap.

[Mourne Red]

Still tickets available through clubs if anyone needs them. Only Hogan Stand and only Adult tickets though

[johnnycool]

Down Hurling Intermediate and Junior Championships have a six-week break from the last league match, then a single game and another five-week break before the last two games of a round-robin. The top two teams go to a final, what is the purpose of having these championships so spaced out when they could be finished by the end of summer?

To run into the Ulster club championships I presume.

Bottom two teams in the senior championship go into the intermediate so that'll need played off before the semi-finals and finals can be set.

[5times5times]

any single tickets going folks?

[statto]

any single tickets going folks?

county board office open to 330pm with limited number of tickets said on their facebook page.

[Lazer]

any single tickets going folks?

I think I have a spare hill.ticket if you interested?
Available for collection in Castlewellan/Newcastle area

[ardtole]

Are we expecting any changes for Saturdays game? For me McEvoy has to start.

[snoopdog]

Will many Down people travel to croke pk tomorrow.? Not much of a build up from the national press, they're all about the semi finals. Hope we get over the line. Can't afford a poor start like the longford game. 2 great performances since that.

[ardtole]

I'm concerned about the weather, the forecast is similar to the Amagh game in Clones this year. This game is definitely gone under the radar barely gets a mention.

[SHEEDY]

Will many Down people travel to croke pk tomorrow.? Not much of a build up from the national press, they're all about the semi finals. Hope we get over the line. Can't afford a poor start like the longford game. 2 great performances since that.

Down will have big support tomorrow, lots travelling down, hopefully weather isn't too bad.

[ardtole]

I'm in Dublin today, and it's lashing rain and very windy and the same forecast for tomorrow. Dreadful conditions for football.

[urbangael]

Conditions will be a leveller.  Makes it more difficult to play the running game but I'm sure Down will not be afraid to go direct at times.  Can't see McEvoy start.  The Armagh game done him no favours. Andre Murnin had a field day.   He  can't play the same game he does for Kilcoo as he does for Down.  Full back needs to stay at home and marshall the square.  Let the corner men attack if need be. Meath will go direct and probably more physical.  Won't be much between the teams.  Down by 2.  I hope we haven't used up all our goals!!

[ardtole]

I'd have somewhere in the middle 8, particularly with the conditions forecast.

[Truth hurts]

Good luck to the boys on Saturday

[Dubh driocht]

Looking forward to a day in HQ.
Laverty, Clarke, Morgan and Donnelly are to be congratulated for their professional and focused approach over last 8 months- there have been setbacks but clear progress. Those who thought Conor would be a divisive figure couldn't have been more wrong. He loves Gaelic Football and loves winning. Players respect this and even those who have had disagreements with him personally, and Kilcoo generally. have jumped on board. Careers are short and we will never get a manager who ticks all the boxes, but Conor ticks most of them. Fair play to the County Board who have backed him and especially to the players who are an honest and dedicated group of young men.
We have only lost 4 games all year ( I don't count the Derry McKenna cup defeat on penalties as ,along with Cavan in the TC, that was one of our best performances) and I've been at 3 of the defeats. Only Armagh beat us well so the management team learned from that and pushed on.
In terms of team selection , I think it will be similar to the starting 15 against Laois.
Niall Kane has been fairly steady; a couple of wobbles in Ederney and Clones cost us but he should have had more protection. He has pulled off a couple of excellent saves out of the bag at crucial times; his 45 conversion rate is about 2 out of 3 and Conor trusts him.
Paddy McCarthy is quality, our captain Pearse is a much improved player and leads well despite conceding height and Anthony Doherty has been a revelation.
Management may be tempted to throw McPartland ( if fit) in from the start against a physical Meath hf line but more likely they will stick with Rooney, C Doc and Paddy Brannigan; these boys don't let you down although all have had off games.
Ryan McEvoy is a good option and again brings physicality but I think he's better held in reserve to wait and see where the pressure points are. Same with Ryan Magill.
Nothing more needs to be said about Odhran Murdoch- would get on to any of Down's all Ireland winning teams.
Daniel Guinness will be named at 8 but play in the middle third and is Laverty's type of player. Pat Haven will alternate between mf and ff and plays like a man who loves playing for Down.
I reckon they will stick with Kerr, Mason and Danny Magill; three very different players but all have qualities that have been missing in recent years. Mason finds time to find the right ball, never gets flustered and hits frees for fun. Kerr's energy is electric while Magill has the swagger of a Down man destined to win at Croke park. Shelan Johnson, Ross Carr and McAleenan are likely to feature and are good men to bring in.
I reckon he will stick with Ryan Johnson ( who is flying), Havern and Eugene Brannigan. Brannigan will never win a popularity contest but he does what has to be done, has learned from Laverty and , more importantly, is trusted by him. Poland and Francis have played their parts this year and  deserve a run in HQ but Laverty doesn't do sentiment unless we are 10 points up in injury time.
Happily the weather is not going to be as bad as some predicted; there will be showers but it won't be persistent. I didn't see anything in Parnell Park or Croke Park that tells me Meath are great shakes;while it will be close, we should win.