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[Armagh are a poor side who will not be in the Championship in the later stages]

3 things that are clear after watching today's game:

1.  Armagh are a poor side who will not be in the Championship in the later stages.

2.  Derry are brutal.

3.  The new handpass rule is destroying the flow of the game. Both teams suffered badly because of it.

I would have to disagree with comment number 1.  I'd expect armagh to make it to the quarter finals this year, and who knows what can happen then.  I agree with your other 2 comments but as Meatloaf said 2 outta 3 ain't bad!  Was a terrible game but it was never going to be a classic, to go to celtic park and win in the 1st round of the championship is no mean feat.  So as a Down man I say fair play to Armagh, they passed their first big test of the season and with relative ease!

I changed jobs and have not had the same access to this site for the last 6 months or so and have not really been a frequent user.  But having read through parts of this thread it seems to have seriously lost it's way.  I think we're all on the same boat at the end of the day in so far as being upset and appalled by the abuse of children by the church, and in agreement that the cover up was all handled disgustingly down the years.  All the fighting and backbiting between anonymous people on here really helps nobody, perhaps you should all use your energy elsewhere.  How would people feel about me deleting this thread?

Latest table (sorry about the formatting!)

1   Down           4   3   0   1   58   41   7
2   Armagh         4   3   1   0   63   39   6
3   Donegal        4   2   2   0   59   47   4
4   Kildare          4   2   2   0   53   51   4
5   Meath          4   2   2   0   47   51   4
6   Laois            4   2   2   0   57   64   4
7   Tipperary      4   1   2   1   48   60   3
8   Westmeath   4   0   4   0   48   80   0

Looking at that table, if down could get a win next weekend against armagh,they would be almost guaranteed promotion being 3 points clear at the top with 2 games to go.  Going to be a very tough and exciting evening!

Result of the early start in Thurles - Tipperary 1-9; Meath 0-10.   Tipp led all the way and a Barry Grogan penalty was the difference in the end.  The battle to avoid relegation is getting tight now.  Great result for Tipp and well done to all.

Just heard that myself, great result for tipp indeed! Maybe that draw wasn't such a bad result for down last week

Armagh leading kildare 7-2, sets things up for a cracking encounter next saturday night at pairc esler I can't wait!!!!!

First half last night was atrocious stuff, by both teams, but Donegal definitely looked slightly better and I thought they would push on for the win in the 2nd half.  Donegal completely crowded out the full back line with bodies when we attacked giving no time on the ball whatsoever...took the players a very long time it seemed to cop on to what was going on and to try and break quickly so as not to allow the donegal defenders to get back.  In the 2nd half it seemed that our half forward line were told to push right up the  middle of the field to allow Benny + john clarke space in the full forward line when we attacked, and this definitely worked!  The 2nd half performance from Down was much better overall and this result has left us with a huge chance of promotion.  Best in defence for us would have been McKernan, dan mccartan had a solid 2nd half, and colgan played well.  Ambrose was brilliant in the last 30, and was largely responsible for downs result, with his surging forward runs and superb fielding!!  Up front john clarke was again excellent at winning at times 50/50 ball that was being given into him, and kicked two great points.  Benny caused a lot of problems for donegal and played a huge part also in this great result.  Other players to mention would be Kalum King who I feel is improving all the time and looking fitter now, daniel hughes who runs his socks off every game, alder for the excellent save, and martin clarke for 2 super frees off the ground!

All in all Down did brilliantly to get this result on a damp night, and at times looked lethal when attacking.  We need to improve vastly though for championship time, as you can be sure donegal will play much better than they did last night.  But we have another 3 league games and perhaps even a day out in croke park before then

First half last night was atrocious stuff, by both teams, but Donegal definitely looked slightly better and I thought they would push on for the win in the 2nd half.  Donegal completely crowded out the full back line with bodies when we attacked giving no time on the ball whatsoever...took the players a very long time it seemed to cop on to what was going on and to try and break quickly so as not to allow the donegal defenders to get back.  In the 2nd half it seemed that our half forward line were told to push right up the  middle of the field to allow Benny + john clarke space in the full forward line when we attacked, and this definitely worked!  The 2nd half performance from Down was much better overall and this result has left us with a huge chance of promotion.  Best in defence for us would have been McKernan, dan mccartan had a solid 2nd half, and colgan played well.  Ambrose was brilliant in the last 30, and was largely responsible for downs result, with his surging forward runs and superb fielding!!  Up front john clarke was again excellent at winning at times 50/50 ball that was being given into him, and kicked two great points.  Benny caused a lot of problems for donegal and played a huge part also in this great result.  Other players to mention would be Kalum King who I feel is improving all the time and looking fitter now, daniel hughes who runs his socks off every game, alder for the excellent save, and martin clarke for 2 super frees off the ground!

All in all Down did brilliantly to get this result on a damp night, and at times looked lethal when attacking.  We need to improve vastly though for championship time, as you can be sure donegal will play much better than they did last night.  But we have another 3 league games and perhaps even a day out in croke park before then

Had a quick look at the irish star in work today and never noticed it, was it just showing who won the weekly prize, or did it gove scores of everyone who has entered?

The strangest I've seen was at the 2005 MacRory Cup final in Casement, Omagh CBS V St.Louis' Kilkeel.

At half time we were standing on the terracing below the stand and to the right, and this spide came running down the steps beside us with nothing on but a pair of socks! He jumped the fence and ran out onto the field, throwing in a few Ray Houghton type tumbles on the way and waving to the crowd. He didn't make it as far as midfield and turned back when a not very athletic steward came running at him. The steward didn't get him and he jumped the fence and away up the steps. The strangest thing about it was that he didn't get much of a reaction from the crowd.

Ziggy: I think you need to read myles' post again

I remember this it was hilarious! But I think your wrong about it bein a wee spide...i think i remember it was a young fella from the mournes, namely Attical...anyone else clarify this ?

It's immediately prior to the 2008 Ulster semi final since i saw down spirits so high...

In hindsight we had just come from 7 points down in omagh, taken a replay to newry, beaten the all-ireland champions elect in a thriller after extra-time......any team in the country would have had high spirits! 

PS See my comment above RE: consistency and back to back good performances....thanks

Joking aside T Hill what is the story with Gordon? Was at the donegal game in enniskillen wednesday week ago and he didnt look at his best at all, but was veruy surprised when i heard yesterday he wouldnt be on the panel today, does he want a break? Seems a strange one if so.  DD on your debate about how poor kildare were, its hard to understand the answer.  The kildare man i was chatting to on the way out also said to me the kildare lads have been training 6 nights a week and said he'd love to know what they've been doin?!  Injuries and suspensions aside I think the kildare fans and players were a bit dumbfounded today at how good Down were....but the big challenge for Down now is consistency, we need back to back great displays! We had great days at the office under O' Rourke + Carr but we need consistent good performances to be able to improve long term and challenge for ulster titles and in the latter stages of the all ireland series.  Meath next saturday night will ask a lot of tough questions of us, they will be coming now expecting one tough game, hopefully be a big turnout in Newry to cheer the lads on (unfortunately im workin late), a win here would be another huge boost!

Great performance today by Down.  I thought every man played a part in what was the best team performance since beating Tyrone in 2008...it may be only february but there is a lot to be optimistic about after today!  Was a very strong line up and id say that the team that lined out today we will see around 12 of them line out in may in ballybofey.  Speaking to a kildare man coming out and he thought that was about 10 of kildares first choice so it's a decent indication of how good down were today.

We were the much hungrier and sharper team by a mile, and when kildares discipline started to go in the last 15/20 when they knew they were beaten, Downs' discipline was excellent.  Brendan McVeigh was untroubled all day due to the defence being so strong, Damien Rafferty was fantastic today, kevin mckernan and james colgan were also great in defence.  Ambrose really came into it in the last 15 of the first half and had a really solid 2nd half, scoring 3 points in total.  Kalum King had a decent game overall, Benny worked really hard today and was great not to see Down relying on him so much, letting him play his own roving game was brilliant to watch.  Martin Clarke came into it more as the game progressed but had a fairly quiet one by his high standards...but im sure we'll see much more of him over the coming months!  Young conor maginn had a really steady game at half forward, and in the full forward line mccumisky and john clarke were excellent! Best 3 players for Down would have been damien rafferty, paul mccumisky and john clarke, any one of these 3 could have been man of the match! If had to pick id go for rafferty but id say the papers will give it to mccumisky for his great scoring return today, wasn't counting but id guess at 1-6? 

Great performance today by Down.  I thought every man played a part in what was the best team performance since beating Tyrone in 2008...it may be only february but there is a lot to be optimistic about after today!  Was a very strong line up and id say that the team that lined out today we will see around 12 of them line out in may in ballybofey.  Speaking to a kildare man coming out and he thought that was about 10 of kildares first choice so it's a decent indication of how good down were today.

We were the much hungrier and sharper team by a mile, and when kildares discipline started to go in the last 15/20 when they knew they were beaten, Downs' discipline was excellent.  Brendan McVeigh was untroubled all day due to the defence being so strong, Damien Rafferty was fantastic today, kevin mckernan and james colgan were also great in defence.  Ambrose really came into it in the last 15 of the first half and had a really solid 2nd half, scoring 3 points in total.  Kalum King had a decent game overall, Benny worked really hard today and was great not to see Down relying on him so much, letting him play his own roving game was brilliant to watch.  Martin Clarke came into it more as the game progressed but had a fairly quiet one by his high standards...but im sure we'll see much more of him over the coming months!  Young conor maginn had a really steady game at half forward, and in the full forward line mccumisky and john clarke were excellent! Best 3 players for Down would have been damien rafferty, paul mccumisky and john clarke, any one of these 3 could have been man of the match! If had to pick id go for rafferty but id say the papers will give it to mccumisky for his great scoring return today, wasn't counting but id guess at 1-6? 

[Since when was Enniskillen half way between Down and Donegal]

Since when was Enniskillen half way between Down and Donegal

And how come Tyrone have home advantage for their semi-final?

Is say it's due to the lack of decent pitches at this time of year so it has to be a county ground!  Also If down v donegal had of been armagh, then the donegal 1s would have said that's not halfway, id imagine they tossed between armagh and enniskillen!  Im delighted its in enniskillen though, i live about 25mins from it

Heavyish snow in south tyrone for the past hour!

[LONGSTONE GAC 'FIGHT NIGHT']

LONGSTONE GAC
'FIGHT NIGHT'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MALACHY TRAINOR –v- PAUL TRIMBLE

CONNAIRE HARRISON –v- CONOR POLAND

ADRIAN TRAINOR –v- MARK HARRISON

PETER FITZPATRICK –v- RYAN KELLY

JOHN PAUL HAUGHIAN –v- COLLIE BURDEN

BRENDAN McVEIGH –v- JOHN TRAINOR

AIDAN POLAND –v- BARRY KELLY

ADRIAN DORAN –v- KIERAN DORAN

JOHN CLARKE –v- MARK POLAND

PAT MALLON –v- EAMON QUINN

FRIDAY 22nd JANUARY 2010 – LONGSTONE HALL

TICKETS £10 – FIRST FIGHT 8.30pm – DISCO TO FOLLOW FINAL FIGHT

Admission is by ticket only and can be obtained from Ashleen Poland & Mark Doran
Will also be on sale in the Longstone Hall between 8.30pm-9.00pm
Tuesday 12th January & Tuesday 19th January 2010 & Thursday 21st January 2010


Hope some of you can make it!

Is that the one and only narrow hips?

The one and only!!