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Does anyone have the fixtures for next years NFL Division 2. The appointment of Downs All Ireland winning captain to the Armagh job should add a bit of spice to the Down v Armagh game next year. Hopefully it will be in Newry on a Saturday night.
I believe Downs first game is away to Kildare.

javascript:void(0); >:(Kildare's in Division One! - Doh!!

Quote from: Cúig huaire on October 02, 2009, 10:42:21 PM
Does anyone have the fixtures for next years NFL Division 2. The appointment of Downs All Ireland winning captain to the Armagh job should add a bit of spice to the Down v Armagh game next year. Hopefully it will be in Newry on a Saturday night.
I believe Downs first game is away to Kildare.

hopefully he'll be a distant memory by the time that comes round

Quote from: oraiste on October 02, 2009, 11:04:31 PM
javascript:void(0); >:(Kildare's in Division One! - Doh!!

No they're not! - Doh!

6/2/10 (Saturday)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 1

Division II

Laois v Tipperary

Meath v Armagh

07.02.010 (Sun)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 1

Division II

Kildare v Down

Westmeath v Donegal

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 2

Division II

Down v Meath

Tipperary v Kildare


14.02.2010 (Sun)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 2

Division II

Donegal v Laois (2.00pm)

Armagh v Westmeath

06.03.2010 (Sat)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 3

Division II

Laois v Armagh

Down v Tipperary

Meath v Westmeath

07.03.2010 (Sun)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)

Division II

Kildare v Donegal

13.03.2010 (Sat)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 4

Division II

Donegal v Down

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 4

Division II

Westmeath v Laois

Armagh v Kildare

Tipperary v Meath

20.03.2010 (Sat)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 5

Down v Armagh

Meath v Laois

Tipperary v Donegal

21.03.2010 (Sun)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 5

Division II

Kildare v Westmeath

27.03.2010 (Sat)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)

Round 6

Division II

Laois v Kildare

Donegal v Meath

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 6

Division II

Armagh v Tipperary

Westmeath v Down

11.04.09 (Sun)

Allianz GAA National Football League

(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)


Round 7

Division II [Final Round]

Down v Laois

Meath v Kildare

Donegal v Armagh

Tipperary v Westmeath

Quote06.02.2010 (Sat)   Meath v Armagh
13.02.2010 (Sat)   Down v Meath
06.03.2010 (Sat)   Meath v Westmeath
14.03.2010 (Sun)   Tipperary v Meath
20.03.2010 (Sat)   Meath v Laois
27.03.2010 (Sat)   Donegal v Meath
11.04.2010 (Sun)   Meath v Kildare

Promotion to Div 1 doesn't look too remote looking at those fixtures. But it depends on how Eamonn decides to approach the league, last year he must have been reading the team sheet upside down.

Only 2 games on Sunday for us. wonder at the reasoning for this.

7 Feb
Kildare v Down

13 Feb
Tipperary v Kildare

7 March
Kildare v Donegal

14 March
Armagh v Kildare

21 March
Kildare v Westmeath

27 March
Laois v Kildare

11 April
Meath v Kildare


Three home matches and four away again this year but sure I suppose we're not the only county in that both. The three home games are winnable and we'll have to win them if we've any hopes of promotion. The points we dropped in Newbridge, draw to Cork and the defeat to Armagh, cost us big time this year. No huge distances to travel either apart from the Armagh match.

Can barely remember the last time we had Meath at home in the NFL but Kildare teams have a good record in Navan at all age levels in recent years. Our last few games against Laois have all been in Portlaoise as well but we were 3 from 3 there last year so hopefully it will continue to be a happy hunting ground. Having three Leinster teams as the last three matches should really focus the mind before the championship.

Meh  :-\

6/2/10 - Meath v Armagh

14/2/10 - Armagh v Westmeath

6/3/10 - Laois v Armagh

14/3/10 - Armagh v Kildare

20/3/10 - Down v Armagh

28/3/10 - Armagh v Tipperary

11/4/10 - Donegal v Armagh

Difficult to get that excited about that fixture list, really only the Down game stands out. I can see us scraping past them and Tipperary, and grabbing a big win out of the blue against one of the promotion challengers, to just about avoid relegation as usual.

Also, the schedule is shite again. There's a massive gap between rounds two and three followed by four games on consecutive weekends. Would it not make more sense to leave more free weekends towards the end of the schedule for the inevitable postponements? Better hope for lovely weather in March.

07.02.010 (Sun)
Round 1
Westmeath v Donegal

14.02.2010 (Sun)
Round 2
Armagh v Westmeath

06.03.2010 (Sat)
Round 3
Meath v Westmeath

14.03.2010 (Sun)
Round 4
Westmeath v Laois


21.03.2010 (Sun)
Round 5
Kildare v Westmeath

28.03.2010 (Sun)
Round 6
Westmeath v Down

11.04.09 (Sun)
Round 7
Tipperary v Westmeath

We must have the weakest county board out there, this is the 3rd year in a row that we have had four league fixtures away from home.  >:( >:( >:( This is the biggest year in a long while for Westmeath football and we don't even have the advantage of having 4 league games at home for once. If they were half as efficient as standing their ground on getting four home games as they were in going outside the county for a manager there wouldn't be an issue. There's not even a decent trip there to make a weekend of it...

QuoteWe must have the weakest county board out there, this is the 3rd year in a row that we have had four league fixtures away from home. 

Meet your brothers in Kildare, our 3rd year in a row with 4 games away  ???

And we're bloody away to Laois and Meath again  >:(

Quote from: Dinny Breen on October 13, 2009, 06:11:28 PM

QuoteWe must have the weakest county board out there, this is the 3rd year in a row that we have had four league fixtures away from home. 

Meet your brothers in Kildare, our 3rd year in a row with 4 games away  ???

And we're bloody away to Laois and Meath again  >:(

Quit yer whinging, our county board is far worse. :-[

Come to Armagh, go to the city hotel on the saturday night and then in the morning go watch the bullets out at callanbridge, that is some craic, i love to do that when I get home, after this hit Devlins bar or better still go to the Harps club and meet all the Harps posters on here and then head to the game, now that is a great weekend. ;)

Quote from: Dinny Breen on October 13, 2009, 06:11:28 PM

QuoteWe must have the weakest county board out there, this is the 3rd year in a row that we have had four league fixtures away from home. 

Meet your brothers in Kildare, our 3rd year in a row with 4 games away  ???

And we're bloody away to Laois and Meath again  >:(

It's a bloody joke whoever signs these off, I remember last year 6 of our 7 games were at the same venue as they were the last time we played that opposition in the league. Not as bad this year, only home to Donegal, Laois and Down and away to Tipperary this time...  ::)

Predictions for next weekends games.

Laois v Tipperary

Meath v Armagh

Kildare v Down

Westmeath v Donegal

Quote from: Trevor Hill on January 30, 2010, 01:43:22 PM
Predictions for next weekends games.

Laois v Tipperary

Meath v Armagh

Kildare v Down

Westmeath v Donegal

I hope somebody sets up the Spreads again.

Quote from: AFS on October 13, 2009, 01:22:43 AM
Meh  :-\

6/2/10 - Meath v Armagh

14/2/10 - Armagh v Westmeath

6/3/10 - Laois v Armagh

14/3/10 - Armagh v Kildare

20/3/10 - Down v Armagh

28/3/10 - Armagh v Tipperary

11/4/10 - Donegal v Armagh

Difficult to get that excited about that fixture list, really only the Down game stands out. I can see us scraping past them and Tipperary, and grabbing a big win out of the blue against one of the promotion challengers, to just about avoid relegation as usual.

Tough enough fixture list right enough. You'd llike to think we'll beat Down and Tipp but you could never be sure. Home to Westmeath is the key fixture I think, lose that one and we could be in serious relegation bother by the time O'Rourke heads to his home people.

The last few years Armagh have had the "excuse" of missing the Cross players, this year there are no such problems. Relegation would really be a big disappointment with that in mind, we should be challanging for promotion with our hardest matches coming at the very start and the very end.

Quote from: thejuice on October 12, 2009, 05:02:30 PM

Quote06.02.2010 (Sat)   Meath v Armagh
13.02.2010 (Sat)   Down v Meath
06.03.2010 (Sat)   Meath v Westmeath
14.03.2010 (Sun)   Tipperary v Meath
20.03.2010 (Sat)   Meath v Laois
27.03.2010 (Sat)   Donegal v Meath
11.04.2010 (Sun)   Meath v Kildare

Promotion to Div 1 doesn't look too remote looking at those fixtures. But it depends on how Eamonn decides to approach the league, last year he must have been reading the team sheet upside down.

Only 2 games on Sunday for us. wonder at the reasoning for this.

We've no full-forward now that King is away! :D

Martin McHughs Division 2 preview on RTE news didn't even include Meath.
Plenty of talk about Down & Armagh though.  ::)

i heard mchugh as well jinxy, he totally wrote off down and talked about how laois are so talented. Down beat laois home and away this last 2 years in the championship. In newry last year laois were dreadful, and the previous year in portlaoise, down were hammering them before clancy feigned a headbutt from dan gordon, and got him sent off. I dont know were he is coming from with his talented laois team.

I would not pay too much attention to what McHugh says.   IMO he is one of the worst commentators around.  I don't know why RTE could not have interviewed some one else.

McHugh is a f@ckwit

At least most of our tv and raidio GAA commentators/panelists have some degreee of intellect or football knowledge, McHugh though is just a cliche man and he even can't get those right most of the time.

3 years ago, Donegal knocked Down out of the Ulster championship in Ballybofey. Down missed a 20 metre free with the last kick to draw the match, McHugh declared on the BBC that day that other than Kilkenny Down had the worst defence in Ireland - they only (just) conceded 1 score more than Donegal that day.

In the McKenna cup this year on highland radio he said something similar about Downs defence yet they only conceded 1 pt more than Donegal.

In the last 2 years, whilst not setting the world alight, Down won more competitive games than they lost, hence conceding less scores than the teams they were playing, unfortunatley Martin McHugh does'nt consider the facts when allowing the bullsh&t to flow from his bake.

Prediction:

1: Donegal
2: Kildare
3: Meath
4: Armagh
5: Down
6: Laois
7: Tipperary
8: Westmeath

Quote from: AFS on February 03, 2010, 06:44:30 PM
Prediction:

1: Donegal
2: Kildare
3: Meath
4: Armagh
5: Down

---

6: Laois
7: Tipperary
8: Westmeath

You are very close with that prediction, I think.   For sure, I would say that the 2  promoted will come from your top 5 and the 2  relegated will come from your  bottom 3

I would be happy enough if Down finished sixth, but I am hoping for they will do a bit better. At the end of the day there is only one important game in the league, the game against Armagh. Win that and it will be a new dawn for this panel. It will be a close game, they usually are, but we have been on the wrong end of those tight score lines over the last decade. That should change in The Marshes on a Saturday evening in March.

I will go for
Kildare
Donegal
Meath
Down
Laois
Armagh
Westmeath
Tipperary

QuoteThat should change in The Marshes on a Saturday evening in March.

Hopefully it will, and Armagh will win by a 1999 style margin, rather than those of the last decade.

I don't fancy Kildare to go up this year despite only narrowly missing out last year. The fixture list isn't kind to us and we have been decimated by injuries and suspensions, particularly in the forwards where we looked laboured and ordinary against Louth last Sunday. The full-back position is another big issue for us.

I think we're up against it at the weekend against Down. We might struggle to hold Benny Coulter and I fear they'll turn us over in Newbridge on Sunday.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0204/1224263733771.html

LOOKING AT the line-up of Division Two, it's clearly going to be an exciting ride for some, and a rough ride for others.

While the likes of Meath, Kildare, Donegal and Down have a strong foundation and no lack of confidence, Laois, Westmeath and Tipperary must be a little bit anxious of where their form will leave them in a few weeks' time. And then there's Armagh, who could just as easily rule the division as they could struggle in it.

On last year's championship form, Kildare and Meath would have to be considered favourites for promotion, and yet Donegal and Down have the potential to beat anyone else in this division on any given day, and, assuming Paddy O'Rourke can quickly establish himself, Armagh can't be ruled out either.

Westmeath and Tipperary will want to get some points on the board fairly promptly if they are to avoid the chop. All in all, definitely a division worth watching with interest.

Armagh

Manager: Paddy O'Rourke (1st season).

2009 NFL: P7, W4, L3 (4th Division Two).

First Game: Saturday, away v Meath.

In many ways this league marks the dawn of a new era for Armagh. After a decade as one of the top teams in the country, 2009 was alarmingly poor, though that didn't justify the messy departure of manager Peter McDonnell, although perhaps the bigger surprise was when former Down All-Ireland winning captain, and former manager Paddy O'Rourke was announced as his replacement.

O'Rourke has assembled an impressive backroom team of former Crossmaglen boss Donal Murtagh and 2002 All-Ireland winner Justin McNulty, with input from fitness expert Mike McGurn, but much of this league campaign will be about establishing younger players alongside the last of the old guard such as Steven McDonnell and Ronan Clarke, with the return of Kevin Dyas from Australian Rules going some way towards achieving that.

Donegal

Manager: John Joe Doherty (2nd season).

2009 NFL: P7, W2, D1, L4 (7th, Division One)

First Game: Sunday, away v Westmeath.

Whatever pressure John Joe Doherty came under after relegation from Division One last year was lifted, temporarily at least, by the impressive championship run. Building on that progress was crucial, and Doherty appears to have done exactly that, even employing Limerick physio Ger Hartmann to design some off-season training.

Winning the McKenna Cup last weekend, beating no less than Tyrone in the final, suggests things are going well, particularly as newcomers Leo McLoone, Adrian Hanlon and James Keeney stood out, and Donegal have to be considered contenders for promotion.

Down

Manager: James McCartan (1st season).

2009 NFL: P7, W5, L 2 (1st, Division Three).

First Game: Sunday, away v Kildare

Promotion from Division Three last year appeared to leave Down in good shape going into the championship.

However, a preliminary round loss to Fermanagh in Ulster, followed by defeat by Wicklow in the qualifiers, developed a feeling of crisis, or at least the need for change. Ross Carr was replaced by two-time All-Ireland winner James McCartan, and already he seems to have had a desired effect.

Three straight wins in the McKenna Cup, before the semi-final loss to Donegal, was highlighted by the return of Martin Clarke from his stint with Australian Rules (he hit 1-6 in his senior debut against Queen's) and with brother John Clarke also back on the panel, there is optimism in the county.

A good league run should underline that.

Kildare

Manager: Kieran McGeeney (3rd season).

2009 NFL: P7, W4, D2, L1 (3rd Division Two).

First Game: Sunday, home v Down.

It's impossible to deny the expectations on Kieran McGeeney's shoulders this season, starting with this league campaign. They narrowly, and disappointingly, missed out on promotion last year, but proved a real force in the championship - and still appear the only real threat to Dublin's reign as Leinster champions.

But whether he likes it or not, McGeeney will get to discover just how strong his panel is, starting with the tricky opening game against Down, following Alan Smith's exit, and the suspensions being served by Morgan O'Flaherty and Johnny Doyle.

The return of forwards James Kavanagh, Ken Donnelly and Willie Heffernan is well-timed.

Laois

Manager: Seán Dempsey (2nd season).

2009 NFL: P7, W3, D0, L4 (6th Division Two).

First Game: Saturday, home v Tipperary.

Along with the furore of the disciplinary breakdown in the recent O'Byrne Cup match against Kildare, Seán Dempsey had other things to worry about, particularly the fact that MJ Tierney was their only scorer.

Clearly there's a need to establish a more thorough scoring threat, and it's not necessarily easy to see where that will come from.

With Denis Booth, Billy Sheehan, Kevin Meaney and Peter O'Leary all suspended, Dempsey will be forced to try out new faces from the start, and even, though there is unquestionable talent in the panel, including the return from Australia of Colm Begley, this could be prove a challenging league campaign.

Meath

Manager: Eamonn O'Brien (2nd season).

2009 NFL: P7, W2, D2, L3 (5th Division Two).

First Game: Saturday, home v Armagh.

The lack of a county sponsor for the time being shouldn't be viewed as a reflection of Meath's prospects in this campaign. There was nothing much wrong with Eamonn O'Brien's first season in charge, taking Meath to the All-Ireland semi-final, and the recent O'Byrne Cup victory over Dublin suggests the competitive edge is still there.

What O'Brien will want to achieve in this league is the sort of consistency that would see them not only promoted, but arrive a little more fine-tuned for the championship in terms of a starting line-up. O'Brien hasn't been slow to try out new players, but it's time to make tough judgment calls.

Tipperary

Manager: John Evans (3rd season).

2009 NFL: P7, W5, L2 (2nd, Division Three).

First Game: Saturday evening, away v Laois.

After two years of unprecedented progress, rising from Division Four, to Three, and then to Division Two, there may inevitably be a small dose of reality about this upcoming campaign.

Although they recently ran Kerry to within a point in the McGrath Cup, it remains to be seen if Tipperary have the depth in talent to repeatedly take on the likes of Armagh, Kildare, Meath, Down and Donegal - although they certainly won't prove any pushover.

John Evans has instilled remarkable belief in to his squad, but that may not be enough to see them survive in the division.

Westmeath

Manager: Brendan Hackett (1st season).

2009 NFL: P7, L7 (8th Division One).

First Game: Sunday, home v Donegal.

There were at least a couple of games in last year's National Football League that Westmeath were desperately unlucky to lose, like conceding a last-minute goal to Tyrone, but in the end they were simply unable to hold up to the demands of Division One, and were relegated without a win.

A hugely disappointing championship followed, resulting in Tomás Ó Flatharta

being replaced by the relatively unknown Brendan Hackett (at least outside of athletics circles). A trained psychologist, Hackett will need to call on all those skills to restore player confidence, because there's no doubt they still have talent.

Yet it could still prove a difficult league, particularly as former All Star Dessie Dolan continues his self-exile, evidently disgruntled that his father, Dessie Snr, wasn't considered for the job.

Ian O'Riordan

The Down GAA senior panel for the 2010 National Football League
Round 1 vs Kildare on Sunday, 7th February 2010


1. Brendan McVeigh (An Riocht)  Breandán Mac an Bheatha (An Riocht)
2. Daniel McCartan (Burren)   Dónal Mac Artáin (Boireann)
3. Brendan McArdle (Annaclone)  Breandán Mac Árdghail (Eanach Chluáin)
4. Damien Rafferty (Newry Shamrocks) Damien Ó Raifeartaigh (Seamrogaí an Íuir)
5. Kevin McKernan (Burren)   Caoimhín Mac Thiarnáin (Boireann)
6. James Colgan (An Riocht)   Seamás Mac Colgan (An Riocht)
7. Conor Garvey (Mayobridge)  Conchúr Ó Gairbhith (Droichead Mhaigh Éo)
8. Ambrose Rodgers (Longstone)  Ambrós Mac Ruairí (Cloch Fhada)
9. Kalum King (Bryansford)   Colm Ó Cionga (Áth Bhriain)
10. Conor Maginn (Bryansford)  Conchúr Mag Fhinn (Áth Bhriain)
11. Martin Clarke (An Riocht)   Mairtín Ó Cléirigh (An Riocht)
12. Daniel Hughes (Saval)   Dónal Ó hAodha (Sabhaill)
13. Paul McComiskey (Dundrum)  Pól Mac Cumascaigh (Dún Droma)
14. John Clarke (An Riocht)   Seán Ó Cléirigh (An Riocht)
15. Brendan Coulter (Mayobridge)  Breandán Ó Coltáir (Droichead Mhaigh Éo)
16. Declan Alder (Carryduff)   Deaglán Alder (Ceathrú Aodha Dhuibh)
17. Stephen Kearney (Saval)   Stíofán Ó Cearnaigh (Sabhaill)
18. Kevin Duffin (Castlewellan)  Caoimhín Ó Duifinn (Caisleán Uidhlinn)
19. Aidan Brannigan (Kilcoo)   Aodhán Ó Branagáin (Cill Chua)
20. Sean Parr (Rostrevor)   Seán de Parr (Caisleán Ruairí)
21. Peter Fitzpatrick (Ballymartin)  Peadar Mac Giolla Phádraig (Baile Mhairtín)
22. Paul Greenan (Kilcoo)   Pól Ó Grianáin (Cill Chua)
23. Conor Laverty (Kilcoo)   Conchúr Mac Laibheartaigh (Cill Chua)
24. Mark Poland (Longstone)   Marcas Mac Póilín  (Cloch Fhada)

aertel preview page 204, for div 2 goes for 4 away wins, paddypower has tipp 7/4, armagh 5/4, down 6/4 and donegal 1/3. makes for an interesting accumulator, pays nearly 20/1. Think i might go with their predictions, though as a down man i'm not sure if i should be backing armagh!

Quote from: blue kj on February 05, 2010, 11:34:37 PM
aertel preview page 204, for div 2 goes for 4 away wins, paddypower has tipp 7/4, armagh 5/4, down 6/4 and donegal 1/3. makes for an interesting accumulator, pays nearly 20/1. Think i might go with their predictions, though as a down man i'm not sure if i should be backing armagh!

To be fair there's more than one reason to stay away ;)

Quote from: blue kj on February 05, 2010, 11:34:37 PM
aertel preview page 204, for div 2 goes for 4 away wins, paddypower has tipp 7/4, armagh 5/4, down 6/4 and donegal 1/3. makes for an interesting accumulator, pays nearly 20/1. Think i might go with their predictions, though as a down man i'm not sure if i should be backing armagh!

The Aertel/ RTE website predictions are usually criminally bad.

Prediction:

1: Donegal
2: Kildare
3: Down
4: Armagh
5: Meath
6: Laois
7: Tipperary
8: Westmeath

While I think Meath could do better I just don't think our focus will be on the league, much like last year.

Tonights results;
Laois 1-13 1-11 Tipperary
Meath 2-08 0-13 Armagh

Week 1                     
Pos.   Team   Pld   W   L   D   Agg   Pts
1   Down   1   1   0   0   11   2
2   Donegal   1   1   0   0   7   2
3   Laois      1   1   0   0   2   2
4   Meath   1   1   0   0   1   2
5   Armagh   1   0   1   0   -1   0
6   Tipperary   1   0   1   0   -2   0
7   Westmeath1   0   1   0   -7   0
8   Kildare   1   0   1   0   -11   0


Results:
Laois 1-13 1-11 Tipperary
Meath 2-08 0-13 Armagh
Down 1-16 0-08- Kildare
Donegal 1-13 0-09 Westmeath

Nice to see that we're settling into our customary mid-table berth good and early.

Kildare opened brightly and had a score on the board inside the first minute, but McComiskey quickly had Down back on level terms with a well taken point, before he slotted over a free to leave down ahead by 2-1. Kildare scored two points before John Clarke levelled the game on 18 minutes when he had the goal at his mercy. A Martin Clarke free put Down ahead by a point and a few minutes later John Clarke added another to leave down ahead by the minimum 5-4. Kildare added another 2 points before a great ball from Martin Clarke put Paul McComiskey in on goal and he made no mistake to leave the score 1-5 to 6 points in favour of Down. McComiskey lobbed over another free on 30 minutes before Ambrose Rogers got in on the act with a fine individual point to leave the score 1-7 to 0-6 in favour of Down at half time.
Down started the second half very brightly and Daniel Hughes added a point within 30 seconds. Connor Garvey had arguably the score of the day on 42 minutes to leave the scores at 1-9 to 0-6. Another Martin Clarke free followed by 2 points from Ambi left the score at 1-12 to 0-7 as the Kildare fans headed for the gate. McComiskey took a blow to the face, before slotting over the resulting free on 56 minutes, quickly followed by a point from sub Steven Kearney.  McComiskey added another from play before another of Down subs, Conor Laverty deservedly got on the score sheet to leave Down ahead by 11 points at the final whistle 1-16 to 0-08.
This was probably Downs best performance since beating Tyrone in Newry in2008, but no one will be getting carried away. We played with a purpose and cohesion that has been missing for too long. There were very few negatives today everyone played well, but Kildare made it easy for them. Kildare did not go out there to play football today, they went out to bully and foul Down and were very lucky to end up with 13 players on the field. They lost 1 player after a straight red card and a second in the dying minutes for a second yellow, but they could and should have had a few more players sent off. McGeeney really needs to have a look at this, but maybe this is what he wants.
The much maligned Down full back line didn't have much to do today. D. Rafferty was outstanding, while the others were steady enough after a shaky start. The half back line is very strong, they hardly put a foot wrong, though I was very impressed with James Colgan today. The midfield came into the game after a sluggish start. Ambi had 3 fine points from play, while Calum King added a physical aspect that has been missing for a long time. The forwards as a unit worked hard and took their scores well, with very few chances wasted. Martin Clarke did all that was asked of him, without being outstanding. He rarely wastes a ball and has the ability to find space in a crowded area and also play great balls into the corner forwards. He instinctively knows where John is and the two of them were worth the admission price alone. McComiskey had a great day, took a few knocks, but took his scores very well. Coulter, while not his usual flamboyant self put in a good, hard days work. For a while in the last 10 minutes he was playing in the full back line, in fact everyone seemed to want to defend. Its a pity Martin McHugh wasn't there to see it, I would have bought him a fish supper after the game.
All in all a good day at the office. My Man of the Match was D. Rafferty, though it really could go to any one. Next up, Meath on Saturday night who will be a much tougher test.
Down Scorers.
P. McComiskey  1-5 (3F), J. Clarke 0-2, M. Clarke 0-2 (2F), A. Rodgers 0-3, D. Hughes 0-1, C. Garvey 0-1, S. Kearney 0-1, C. Laverty 0-1.

QuoteKildare did not go out there to play football today, they went out to bully and foul Down and were very lucky to end up with 13 players on the field. They lost 1 player after a straight red card and a second in the dying minutes for a second yellow, but they could and should have had a few more players sent off. McGeeney really needs to have a look at this, but maybe this is what he wants.

The fact that you don't know both players were sent off for two yellow cards, shows you how stupid that comment is. Gary Whites first yellow was for a terrible dive by Rafferty I think, simply embarassing, rolling around and then when he didn't get a free got up and played on, even worse was the ref was closer than the linesman and waved play on, but the clown of a lines man felt he had to have his say, very annoying. Down players went down the slightest bit of contact, won an awful lot of soft frees, Kildare's discipline went in the last 20 I admit but that was out of frustration as they were well beat at that stage. Benny Coulter should have seen a red card for that elbow as well, funny you don't comment on that.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 07, 2010, 09:07:50 PM

QuoteKildare did not go out there to play football today, they went out to bully and foul Down and were very lucky to end up with 13 players on the field. They lost 1 player after a straight red card and a second in the dying minutes for a second yellow, but they could and should have had a few more players sent off. McGeeney really needs to have a look at this, but maybe this is what he wants.

The fact that you don't know both players were sent off for two yellow cards, shows you how stupid that comment is. Gary Whites first yellow was for a terrible dive by Rafferty I think, simply embarassing, rolling around and then when he didn't get a free got up and played on, even worse was the ref was closer than the linesman and waved play on, but the clown of a lines man felt he had to have his say, very annoying. Down players went down the slightest bit of contact, won an awful lot of soft frees, Kildare's discipline went in the last 20 I admit but that was out of frustration as they were well beat at that stage. Benny Coulter should have seen a red card for that elbow as well, funny you don't comment on that.

As I said on another thread Dinny, I hope those sour grapes skitter the arse of you.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 07, 2010, 09:07:50 PM

QuoteKildare did not go out there to play football today, they went out to bully and foul Down and were very lucky to end up with 13 players on the field. They lost 1 player after a straight red card and a second in the dying minutes for a second yellow, but they could and should have had a few more players sent off. McGeeney really needs to have a look at this, but maybe this is what he wants.

The fact that you don't know both players were sent off for two yellow cards, shows you how stupid that comment is. Gary Whites first yellow was for a terrible dive by Rafferty I think, simply embarassing, rolling around and then when he didn't get a free got up and played on, even worse was the ref was closer than the linesman and waved play on, but the clown of a lines man felt he had to have his say, very annoying. Down players went down the slightest bit of contact, won an awful lot of soft frees, Kildare's discipline went in the last 20 I admit but that was out of frustration as they were well beat at that stage. Benny Coulter should have seen a red card for that elbow as well, funny you don't comment on that.

I can only comment on what I saw. I did not see Benny lift his elbow and it wouldnt really be something that Benny would normally do. I may have made a mistake over the red card incident I only saw the red card being shown, but I did not make a mistake about the final score, which after all is all that matters. Down have been too nice for too long. Wee James may have brought a certain amount of ring craft to the team. He was a cute wee hoor himself.  ;)

QuoteWee James may have brought a certain amount of ring craft to the team. He was a cute wee hoor himself.  ;)

Aye, he was that. Isn't there a Westmeath lad who'll tell you how 'cute' he was? ALthough Dinny, I have to say the county that brought us Martin Lynch complaining about diving is a bit ironic :D

QuoteALthough Dinny, I have to say the county that brought us Martin Lynch complaining about diving is a bit ironic :D

Ouch, in ahem Martins defence he wasn't diving he was just clever at winning frees  :P

Poor old Martin got more abuse from the Kildare crowd than any opposing counties despite being one of our finest ever footballers. The cuteness in engineering frees came from his Kerry roots!

Not looking forward to facing Down next week. Eamonn needs to get us playing a bit more coherently. Play is too disjointed, they play like individuals and not a team that knows each other.

Quote from: AZOffaly on February 07, 2010, 09:51:15 PM
Aye, he was that. Isn't there a Westmeath lad who'll tell you how 'cute' he was?

That was a very strange case. No one saw McCartan lift a hand, yet the player, Ken Larkin a Garda was able to manufacture a prosecution. Ultimately James was not convicted, but had to make a large donation to a charity. The whole affair stank and should have been handled a lot better, it should never have gone near a court and probably would not have if the accuser had not been a member of the Gardai.


The court heard references to McCartan's good character from a series of high-profile individuals.

Former Northern Ireland Ombudsman Senator Maurice Hayes said he had known McCartan and his family for more than 15 years.

He described the former Down footballer as hard-working, respectful and very truthful.

"He was one of the best forwards of his time, probably one of the best corner-forwards ever."

He said he had attended all the games McCartan played during his Down career and had seen him take a lot of abuse from defenders who were intent on stopping him.

"I never, ever saw him retaliate," he said.

"He was a role model for youngsters in Co Down. He was widely admired for his skill and in particular the way he played the game."

However, Mr Hayes said he abhorred dirty play and did not in anyway condone it.

The former Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers, said she had no hesitation in commending McCartan as a man of good and excellent character.

In her letter to Judge Early she said she had never witnessed anything approaching "dirty play" from McCartan.

John Farrell, the president of the University of Ulster, said McCartan was one of the most talented and exciting forwards he had ever seen.

He said he frequently witnessed McCartan playing for Queen's University, Belfast in the Sigerson Cup where he was subjected to ferocious late tackles from defenders.

"Despite serious provocation I never saw him react," he said.

A local priest and friend of the McCartan family said the player had never received a red card while playing for his club or county.

Mr O'Higgins told Judge Early the submissions indicated that his client came to court with a significant body of credit.



Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2004/1122/ireland/gaa-star-to-make-donation-after-player-assault-177088.html#ixzz0etiUpybk

Quote from: Trevor Hill on February 07, 2010, 11:58:19 PM

That was a very strange case. No one saw McCartan lift a hand, yet the player, Ken Larkin a Garda was able to manufacture a prosecution. Ultimately James was not convicted, but had to make a large donation to a charity. The whole affair stank and should have been handled a lot better, it should never have gone near a court and probably would not have if the accuser had not been a member of the Gardai.

Ludicrous suggestion.

The fact of the matter is that following an incident with McCartan this lad left with a severely broken jaw and all the senators in the world and regardless of whether the victim was a member of the Gardai are not going to change that fact.

Perhaps someone can clarify this, but my recollection is that James was going to be convicted unless he agreed to the settlement of donating to charity, that he made the donation would suggest as much as certainly imlpies guilt.

How is it a ludicrous suggestion? The case should never have come before a court of law. The GAA should have dealt with this matter in house. I suppose it shows how far we have fallen as a society when GAA players, like many others are very quick to run to the courts to try to claim a few pounds in compensation. Thankfully he didnt get it in this case, but it looks to me like that was the injured parties intention.
I am not condoning on field violence here, far from it, but wee James was not a dirty player. James` usual response when a player got physical was to tap the ball over the bar, sometimes minus his boot.  ;)

Following is the details of traffic regulations for this Saturday's game v Meath in Páirc Esler. Down GAA ask patrons attending the National Football League game v Meath at Páirc Esler on saturday night to observe the following traffic regulations.

There is no parking permitted on the warrenpoint Road Dual Carriageway, we want all patrons to travel in safety to and from the game

Parking is available in the Greenbank Industrial Estate and priority will be given to those vehicles when exiting after the game.

Parking is available at the Quays Shopping Complex for patrons travelling from the Dublin Road direction.

We ask all patrons to co operate with stewards in ensuring the safe arrival and departure of supporters to and from the game.
Le meas, Rónán

Quote from: Trevor Hill on February 08, 2010, 08:16:05 PM
Following is the details of traffic regulations for this Saturday's game v Meath in Páirc Esler. Down GAA ask patrons attending the National Football League game v Meath at Páirc Esler on saturday night to observe the following traffic regulations.

There is no parking permitted on the warrenpoint Road Dual Carriageway, we want all patrons to travel in safety to and from the game

Parking is available in the Greenbank Industrial Estate and priority will be given to those vehicles when exiting after the game.

Parking is available at the Quays Shopping Complex for patrons travelling from the Dublin Road direction.

We ask all patrons to co operate with stewards in ensuring the safe arrival and departure of supporters to and from the game.
Le meas, Rónán

But not for free!

Quote from: Trevor Hill on February 08, 2010, 01:19:40 PM
How is it a ludicrous suggestion? The case should never have come before a court of law.

So the lad who was left sucking his food through a straw for a couple of months as a result of a tackle used his position as a member of the Gardai to ensure that this came to court? That is what you're saying, right? And you're also saying that this isn't a ludicrous suggestion?

Was he left sucking food through a straw? Or are you assuming. Maybe I am also assuming that he used his job/contacts as a Garda to bring about a prosecution, but if he had been a brick layer or teacher would James have ended up in Court?

Quote from: Trevor Hill on February 08, 2010, 11:09:12 PM
Was he left sucking food through a straw? Or are you assuming. Maybe I am also assuming that he used his job/contacts as a Garda to bring about a prosecution, but if he had been a brick layer or teacher would James have ended up in Court?

He was left suckiung food through a straw - about 8 weeks of it I think.

If you're assuming that a lad can use his contacts as a member of the Gardai to manufacture a prosecution than that's completely incorrect - a high profile issue like this would have been handled completely above board. That wee James was approached outside of Croker with a summons was down to the fact that he ignored all correspondence prior to this.

I have no personal interest in this case, but I remember it fairly clearly and was thinking at the time that James must have been guilty as he paid the money after being forced into court. If he had done nothuing wrong why did he do this?

What's wrong with being a brick layer or a teacher, and why wouldn't it have neded up in court?

A brick layer or teacher probably would not have the contacts to bring about a prosecution. In my opinion and I may be wrong, the prosection was brought about so a claim for compensation could be made. It all came down to money.
I got my arm broke playing at minor level, it was a dirty act. Waited for almost a year to get revenge on the field and when I got my chance I took it. Neither of us thought about courts, it was one of those things. He did me, I did him. I would be lying if I said we were friends, but when we see each other out and about I always ask him how the head is, he always asks how the arm is. Football is a contact sport, these things happen. I got banned, he didn't. No one would have dreamed of going to the cops.

Breaking an arm at minor level is different to being out of work for an age following a perceived dirty act, this was one of the instances that bought about the DRA, there was a plethora of cases up and down the country, including a lad that has a conviction in Mayo for breaking a lads jaw at underage level.

That you think this was about money is neither here nor there, the fact that the lad involved wanted the money to go to charity tells me enough about him, the fact that it was paid tells me enough also.

The judge made the reccomendation that the money went to charity. The Garda got to choose the charity. In making the reccomendation the judge also stated that there was to be no civil case brought. In case you dont know it, the civil case was what we in the north call "a claim".
And how is breaking an arm at minor level any differernt to the injury the Garda received? At least the Garda still got his wages. I got a weeks sick pay and a lot of stick in work.

What were you working at, at minor level?

Regardless, are you seriously suggesting that anyone who is badly assaulted whilst playing an amateur match resulting in having to suck through a straw for 8 weeks suffers the same than someone who has a fractured arm? Now that's ludicrous

Quote from: stephenite on February 09, 2010, 12:14:06 AM
What were you working at, at minor level?

At 18 I had nearly 2 years bricklaying done. There are were a lot of bricklayers in south Down.

Quote from: stephenite on February 09, 2010, 12:14:06 AM
Regardless, are you seriously suggesting that anyone who is badly assaulted whilst playing an amateur match resulting in having to suck through a straw for 8 weeks suffers the same than someone who has a fractured arm? Now that's ludicrous

As I said before you are assuming that the injured Garda was sucking through a straw for 8 weeks. How do you know this? Do you know him? Why the interest? If you cannot prove that he was sucking through a straw can we assume that you are talking through your hole?

From Downgaa.net

Down GAA star James McCartan appeared in a Dublin court on Wednesday charged with assaulting an opponent. McCartan, denies breaking the jaw of Westmeath full-back Kenny Larkin during a match last May.
Judge Timothy Lucey was told that 19-year-old Mr Larkin, a trainee Garda officer, needed three metal plates inserted into his chin and had to wear a jaw brace for six weeks.Defence counsel Karl Finnegan said he would be contesting the manner in which Sgt Feeney said the injuries had occurred

I knew a guy that was a trainee Garda with Larkin at the time, so any evidence I have is purely anecdotal - however the piece above refers to a jaw brace being in pace for 6 weeks - this would suggest there was a minimum of 6 weeks straw sucking, but I've heard it was longer

my interest was sparked my your ignorant and ludicrous theory that a trainee Garda could manufacture a civil case against another player, on the grounds that he was a trainee Garda alone. I think you're the one talking shit :-*

Quote from: stephenite on February 09, 2010, 12:51:09 AM
Down GAA star James McCartan appeared in a Dublin court on Wednesday charged with assaulting an opponent. McCartan, denies breaking the jaw of Westmeath full-back Kenny Larkin during a match last May.
Judge Timothy Lucey was told that 19-year-old Mr Larkin, a trainee Garda officer, needed three metal plates inserted into his chin and had to wear a jaw brace for six weeks.Defence counsel Karl Finnegan said he would be contesting the manner in which Sgt Feeney said the injuries had occurred

I am sure that would have done his civil case no harm if the judge hadnt seen through it. As it stands James was not convicted of any assault and the Garda didnt get his claim.  ;)

Right, time out folks...take that sh*te somewhere else. Back to the point of the thread please.
Great to get a win on sunday last and a nice start to the league but this saturday nights game against the royals will be a better test of some of Down's individuals.
Here's hoping that the lads put up another good performance and get a victory, be it by a one-point win or otherwise.

Down will need Dan back on board at some stage, if its a break and a rest he needs for whatever reasons then it has to be respected and left at that.

As for Dan Mc Cartan i really dont know what the fuss is all about. Iv seen many a Down panelist getting skinned for his club at various stages down the years, happens to the best of them. Cant believe people would still be of the opinion that he is only there due to his name. Some guys just dont like him and will criticise him at every opportunity no matter what he does. Give the lad a break ffs.

I raised the Dan McCartan issue on the Down thread as I think its a joke that some of our supporters seem to go to games to pick faults. As I said previously I though he settled after a shaky start and had a decent game. I think he gets treated badly by a lot of supporters simply because of who he is.

James Mc Cartan has decided to keep the faith with the 15 who faced Kildare in last weeks opening NFL clash in Newbridge.

Down looked very sharp against the Lilywhites but the Down manager has been at pains to point out that it is very early in the year to be making rash predictions of where his side will end up.

The last day out filled the Down faithful with hope nevertheless and arguably the most significant factor was that Down were not found wanting in the tackle. Their hunger against Kildare was impressive.

Meath go into this weekends clash with two points in the bag having defeated Armagh in the opening round, their appetite for another two points is assured.

Down can be sure that their inside forward line will not be given the same space to maneuver as they had the last day out.

Down will undoubtedly have their work cut out keeping an eye on the likes of John Queeney and Stephen Bray, both of whom registered goals against the Orchardmen last week.

Supporters are advised to arrive early for Saturday evening's match as there is a big crowd expected.

Down team to face Meath;


1. Brendan McVeigh (An Riocht)  Breandán Mac an Bheatha (An Riocht)
2. Daniel McCartan (Burren)  Dónal Mac Artáin (Boireann)
3. Brendan McArdle (Annaclone)  Breandán Mac Árdghail (Eanach Chluáin)
4. Damien Rafferty (Newry Shamrocks) Damien Ó Raifeartaigh (Seamrogaí an Íuir)
5. Kevin McKernan (Burren)   Caoimhín Mac Thiarnáin (Boireann)
6. James Colgan (An Riocht)  Seamás Mac Colgan (An Riocht)
7. Conor Garvey (Mayobridge    Conchúr Ó Gairbhith (Droichead Mhaigh Éo)
8. Ambrose Rodgers (Longstone) Ambrós Mac Ruairí (Cloch Fhada)
9. Kalum King (Bryansford)   Colm Ó Cionga (Áth Bhriain)
10. Conor Maginn (Bryansford)  Conchúr Mag Fhinn (Áth Bhriain)
11. Martin Clarke (An Riocht)   Mairtín Ó Cléirigh (An Riocht)
12. Daniel Hughes (Saval)       Dónal Ó hAodha (Sabhaill)
13. Paul McComiskey (Dundrum)   Pól Mac Cumascaigh (Dún Droma)
14. John Clarke (An Riocht)     Seán Ó Cléirigh (An Riocht)
15. Brendan Coulter (Mayobridge)  Breandán Ó Coltáir (Droichead Mhaigh Éo)

Anyone any thoughts on how the Tipperary vs Kildare game should pan out ?

Kildare are missing a complete forward line and will struggle to score added to the fact that we have issues in the full back line and with discipline in general,  throw in Tipperary's hunger and I'd expect Tipp to win it by 3/4 points. Travelling down more in hope than expectation.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 13, 2010, 12:32:35 PM
Kildare are missing a complete forward line and will struggle to score added to the fact that we have issues in the full back line and with discipline in general,  throw in Tipperary's hunger and I'd expect Tipp to win it by 3/4 points. Travelling down more in hope than expectation.

Cute hoor!

Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 13, 2010, 12:32:35 PM
Kildare are missing a complete forward line and will struggle to score added to the fact that we have issues in the full back line and with discipline in general,  throw in Tipperary's hunger and I'd expect Tipp to win it by 3/4 points. Travelling down more in hope than expectation.

I hope you are right Dinny, but I know that you don't believe a word of what you posted and that you are confident of a win for Kildare. 

I'm not actually poor mouthing for once, we're missing the following

Eamon Callaghan,
Alan Smith,
Rob Kelly,
John Doyle,
Mickey Conway
Morgan O'Flaherty.
Karl Ennis and
Gary White.

We're not Kerry, Cork, Tyrone or Dublin we don't have an abundance of talent to call upon. Also the winter weather disrupted training plans and Kildare are still in the middle of very intense conditioning work with only nominal speed work been done. Geezer gambled that we'd get something from last weeks and this weeks game, alas it looks like a bad bet. I'd be delighted if Kildare win but Thurles is a big paddock and Tipperary are a good 2nd half team and expect them to win it the last quarter. Bet of the day, Kildare h/t Tipp f/t.

Hard to see where Kildare's scores are going to come from. With Rob Kelly out, only Kavanagh looks capable of scoring 4 or 5 points+ from play. If Tipp play like they did in the second half against Laois, they're more than capable of beating this Kildare team.

Donegal team to play Laois in Ballyshannon on Sunday...

1 Paul Durcan Four Masters, Donegal Town
2 James Keeney Bundoran
3 Neil McGee Gaoith Dobhair
4 Karl Lacey Four Masters, Donegal Town
5 Anthony Thompson Naomh Conaill, Glenties
6 Frank McGlynn Glenfin
7 Kevin Cassidy(Capt) Gaoith Dobhair
8 Neil Gallagher Glenwswilly
9 Barry Monaghan Four Masters Donegal Town
10 Conall Dunne Saint Eunan's
11 David Walsh Naomh Bríd, Ballintra
12 Stephen Griffin St. Naul's, Mountcharles
13 Colm Mc Fadden St. Michael's Dunfanaghy
14 Michael Murphy Glenswilly
15 Adrian Hanlon Dungloe

Need to win this one to have much of a chance of promotion. Not sure where Laois are compared to ourselves, but I guess we would be favourites with the game in Ballyshannon and a fairly strong side out (we're missing four or five first choice players, but most of those lads named have championship experience).

Downs first score came from a McComiskey free on 6 minutes after Meath had scored early on. A Martin Clarke free 10 minutes later put Down 2-1 ahead, a lead that they would not relinquish. John Clarke added his first of the game on 17 minutes before Marty added another. Ambrose then got on the end of a move that he started to leave the score at 5-1  after 23 minutes and it look ed like it was going to be all one way traffic from then. But Down lost their way after that and wasted chance after chance. Meath pulled a point back after Kevin McKernan had been replaced by Aidan Brannigan on 25 minutes. McKernan took a knock after playing the ball out of defence. One of many incidents that the referee decided to ignore. A McComiskey free on 28 minutes left it 6-2 in favour of Down, before Meath enjoyed their best spell of the game adding on 3 points before half time to leave the minimum between the sides, 6-5 at the break.
The second half started as badly as the first finished. It took 11 minutes before John Clarke opened the scoring.  Ambrose added another 3 minutes later and a McComiskey free on 55 minutes put Down 3 ahead 9-6. Meath pulled one back before John Clarke and a well taken score by Maginn made it 11-7. The teams swapped points in the closing stages. McComiskey getting Downs last point 3 minutes from the end.
Meath controlled this game at midfield, Mark Ward was the stand out player on the pitch. Down simply had no answer to him.  Up front it was a very different story from last week, they just didn't click. At times taking too much out of the ball, going for goal when a simple point would have pt more daylight between the sides. At least half a dozen balls were dropped into the Meath keepers hands from very scoreable positions. Strangely for Down, it is the defence that is the talking point these days and not in a negative way for a change. Down are now playing with a defensive strategy, everyone has a job to do from corner forward back. The 6 defenders are playing well together, with James Colgan being the pick of the bunch. He is mopping up a lot of ball in front of the full back line and can carry the ball out of defence with ease. How he had been ignored over the last 3 years is anyones guess.
This wasn't a perfect performance, but they dug deep and got the 2 points which is all that matters, sometimes its better to win ugly. Down haven't been able to win these tight scrappy games for a generation. James and co have brought a tenacity back to the team. We always knew we could score, but we knew we were weak at the back. Personally I would prefer to see McKernan at full back, but McArdle hasn't really put a foot wrong. McVeigh had a slightly busier 70 minutes and probably should have been beaten, but the Meath forward blasted the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Relegation is a word you wont hear in Down this year. Full time score 12-8.

Down scorers. P. McComiskey 4 (3f), M. Clarke 2 (1f), J. Clarke 3, A. Rodgers 2, Maginn 1. 

Down 0-12 Meath 0-8
Tipperary 0-8 Kildare 1-17

Irish Examiner

Saturday

Tipperary 0-8 Kildare 1-16

NFL DIVISION 2

A depleted Kildare put last weekend's chastening defeat to Down behind
them with a comfortable victory over 14-man Tipperary at a sparsely
attended Semple Stadium tonight. Kieran McGeeney was without seven front
line players through suspension and injury, and will be worried about
further knocks picked up by Hugh McGrillen and Anthony Rainbow that
necessitated their substitutions during the game. The evergreen Rainbow
impressed in an unusual role at centre-forward, while Ken Donnelly did
his cause no harm for a more regular starting role and James Kavanagh
finished with an eight-point haul. Midfielder Daryl Flynn was the most
influential figure on the field however, displaying tremendous fielding
skills to go with a keen work ethic. Donnelly struck the net in the
sixth minute, having been placed expertly by Mark Scanlon, to give
Kildare an early four-point lead and it was an advantage they held until
half time. Conor Sweeney and Barry Grogan did get on the score sheet for
the home side but Kavanagh tagged on three points of his own to give
Kildare a 1-5 to 0-4 interval lead.

Kavanagh, Karl Ennis and Padraig O'Neill kept the scoreboard ticking
over after the resumption and when Tipp midfielder Hugh Coghlan was sent
off in the 50th minute after an off-the-ball incident involving Flynn,
it was curtains for the home side. Both sides emptied their benches as
the result became inevitable. Tipp replacement, Stephen Hahessy did kick
two fine points from play but it was all Kildare, with Flynn covering
every blade of grass on the field. O'Neill brought his tally to three
with a beauty with the outside of his right boot and Dermot Earley
produced the loudest cheer of the night courtesy of a wonderful point on
the run from 40m. The defeat leaves Tipperary facing a tough battle to
retain their newfound Division 2 status already, while Kildare will hope
to build on this morale-boosting win to make a stab at promotion to the
top tier.

Kildare: S McCormack; A Mac Lochlainn, H McGrillen, E Bolton; M Foley, B
Flanagan, M Scanlon; D Flynn, D Earley 0-1; D Whyte, A Rainbow, P
O'Neill 0-3; K Ennis 0-4(3fs), J Kavanagh 0-8(5fs), K Donnelly 1-0.
Subs: D Hendy for McGrillen inj (32); R Sweeney for Rainbow inj (46); H
Lynch for White (60); D Lyons for Bolton (65)

Tipperary: M O'Donnell; C Morrissey, P Codd, C McDonald; R Costigan, N
Curran, C Aylward; G Hannigan, H Coghlan; J Cagney 0-1, S Grogan P
Acheson; C Sweeney 0-3(2fs), P Austin, B Grogan 0-2(1f). Subs: B
Mulvhill for Cagney (40); B Coen for S Grogan (47); A Rockett for Austin
(53); S Hahessy 0-2 for B Grogan (61); C McGrath for Codd (66)

Referee: A Mangan (Kerry)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDJrt7unKUI&feature=related


The Snake with Eyes of Garnet
By Shane MacGowan (1994)
Last night as I lay dreaming
My way across the sea
James Mangan brought me comfort
With laudnum and poitin
He flew me back to Dublin
In 1819
To a public execution
Being held on Stephen's Green
The young man on the platform
Held his head up and he did sing
Then he whispered hard into my ear
As he handed me this ring

"If you miss me on the harbour
For the boat, it leaves at three
Take this snake with eyes of garnet
My mother gave to me!

This snake cannot be captured
This snake cannot be tied
This snake cannot be tortured, or
Hung or crucified

It came down through the ages
It belongs to you and me
So pass it on and pass it on
'Till all mankind is free

If you miss me on the harbour
For the boat, it leaves at three
Take this snake with eyes of garnet
My mother gave to me"

He swung, his face went purple
A roar came from the crowd
But Mangan laughed and pushed me
And we got back on the cloud
He dropped me off in London
Back in this dying land
But my eyes were filled with wonder
At the ring still in my hand

If you miss me on the harbour
For the boat, it leaves at three
Take this snake with eyes of garnet
My mother gave to me!

And if you miss me on the harbour
For the boat, it leaves at three
Take this snake with eyes of garnet
My mother gave to me!


--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdskdLV4MWY Cáitlín Maude


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzh5uq8rkN0 Matt Cunningham tin whistle

Horrible poet. Faked translations of oriental poems for no apparent reason. Not in my name, James Clarence.

Much better effort from Kildare last night. Kavanagh led the line very well up front. Rainbow rolled back the years but it is a worry that he went off injured. Hugh McGrillen's injury looked particularly nasty. Hopefully they'll be ok for the next day out.

Darryl Flynn had a superb game alongside big Dermot. Best display I've seen from him since his u21 days.

Agree with DH there, thought Flynn was superb but I'd say his best moment was when he took the box in the face, stayed standing and didn't retaliate, a level of maturity he has never shown in club or county games especially as it didn't affect his game in the slightest.

JK took on the leadership role up front and apart from some loose passing which is normally a strenght of his he did very well, as did Ken Donnelly. Karl Ennis is starting to impress me, never hid last night and seemed to learn from last week and was getting out in front of his man, his work-rate was excellent as well. If Ennis is to feature in the championship it could be at the expense of Pauric O'Neill, looks slower than ever and just didn't show any hunger last night and only showed glimpses of his talent with some well taken long range points.

Having played football and rugby alongside Rainbow, it still amazes me how he can still do it at his age. One of our best performers, at centre half forward I wouldn't mind, up until his injury and well worth his place in the panel. Just in awe of the man.

Brian Flanagan is to the manner born and most of Kildare's best attacks were instigated by his foraging runs, reminded me Seamus Moynihan and Keith Barr last night albeit against limited opposition.

Still the full back line is an issue, I just can't understand why Kevin O'Neill isn't getting a run but that's for Geezer to decide I suppose. McLoughlin did wellish last night only to undo his good work with Hahessy coming and skinning him for 2 good points.

Referee Watch

I persume his awful first half peformance was due more to Kildare's reputation than his own ineptitude, showed no constistency he how treated certain fouls whereas the Tipp player got the benefit of the doubt Kildare player got no such leniency. Hopefully not a sign of things to come.

Overall happy with Kildare's response to the Down defeat but don't think they'll play a side that will play as poorly as that again this year. A win next day out against Donegal will set us up for a league challenge, the 3 week break should see us in better shape for that test.

Well Dinny your pessimism about Kildare's prospects was unfounded.  Tipp were well beaten and apart from the shot that hit the crossbar in the first half when we were 4 points behind, we could not even say if this or that had happened things might have been closer.  Coming from Division 4 to Division 2 in sucessive seasons looks to be a step too far for Tipp.  However, for the life of me I don't see how you can say that the ref. favoured Tipp and was hard on Kildare.  I accept that we all look at matches from our own team's point of view, but every Tipp person in Thurles last night was very unhappy with the referee.  Just think how many times Tipp were penalised for hand passing and Kildare were, to my best recollection, never penalised.  I know it is difficult to see the hand pass fouls, but I remember a Kildare score coming from a movement that had a throw rather than a handpass of any description.  I agree with you that Mangan is a really poor ref and the first yellow card that he gave to a Kildare player was a crazy decision.  Your player did nothing to deserve that card.  As for Anthony Rainbow, he was exceptional aand is some example for young players in every county. 

Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 14, 2010, 12:11:02 PM
Still the full back line is an issue, I just can't understand why Kevin O'Neill isn't getting a run but that's for Geezer to decide I suppose. McLoughlin did wellish last night only to undo his good work with Hahessy coming and skinning him for 2 good points.

Very puzzling that KON isn't getting more of a go especially given the issues we've had in the full-back line. He was one of the first names on the team sheet up until the shoulder injury last year. Apart from getting a bit of a roasting from Stevie McDonnell in Newbridge, I can't recall him playing badly last year. He was excellent against Cork and up in Monaghan.

Got to trust McGeeney I suppose but Mac will cost us in the long run. You can't question his commitment but he is far too rash in his tackling. If we're to have any chance of competing against the Kerrys Corks and Tyrones of this world, you can't be giving them three or four kickable frees a half.

 

QuoteI know it is difficult to see the hand pass fouls, but I remember a Kildare score coming from a movement that had a throw rather than a handpass of any description

That was a terrible decision, it was Ronan Sweeney, he threw the ball in the air and then fisted it, don't know how he missed it.  My annoyance with the ref was how he seemed determined to lay the law down with Kildare players yet show leniency to the Tipp player for the same disgressions, I fear our reputation is hindering us, this all stems from his 1st half performance. Looking at the 2nd half in isolation he was very poor for both sides.

I was pessemistic going down but I have never seen Tipp in the flesh and physically they weren't able to match Kildare and I thought they should have moved the ball quicker into their full-forward line. 2 successive promotions is a steep learning curve and Kildare, Meath, Down, Donegal  and Armagh would have all big ambitions, it's a pity you didn't get something from the Laois game.

DH,

What did you think of Cribben's cameo? Will be interesting if he persists with that, I quite like the romantic idea of Cribben, Flanagan and Conway in the half-back line very swash buckling but would you want them to be defending a lead going into the last 10 mins against a Dublin or Tyrone?

Quote from: Dinny Breen on February 14, 2010, 01:06:43 PM
DH,

What did you think of Cribben's cameo? Will be interesting if he persists with that, I quite like the romantic idea of Cribben, Flanagan and Conway in the half-back line very swash buckling but would you want them to be defending a lead going into the last 10 mins against a Dublin or Tyrone?

Very impressed with him. I was a bit disappointed with him in the O'Byrne Cup but he was lost inside in the full-forward line especially when we were raining garryowens down on top of him.

He has lightning pace and you could see him really coming into his own in the summer when the ground drys up a bit. I wouldn't be too sure about him in the backs. Flaherty is very solid dependable player and Conway will be straight back into the team when he comes back. I think wing-forward would be perfect for him. He'll push Paudie and Roli for that position I reckon. If Leper is back before the summer I'd put him back in at corner-back rather than in the forwards. Shame to waste such a natural footballer but he always did a good job there. We could line up with something like this in the forwards all going well:

I am surprised that you refer to "Kildare's reputation" in your posts on last night's game, Dinny.  I did not see any Kildare player do anything out of line and I would not have criticism to make of any aspect of you team's play last night.  Is it the fact that Kieran McGeeney is from Armagh that gives rise to this "reputation".  If so, this is most unfair, as I always saw that Armagh team as sound genuine team who played good hard football and played it fairly as well.  No Tipp supporter that I spoke to last night had any fault to find with Kildare and to me you must have a genuine chance of a Leinster Championship this year.

Quote from: Onlooker on February 14, 2010, 01:33:29 PM
I am surprised that you refer to "Kildare's reputation" in your posts on last night's game, Dinny.  I did not see any Kildare player do anything out of line and I would not have criticism to make of any aspect of you team's play last night.  Is it the fact that Kieran McGeeney is from Armagh that gives rise to this "reputation".  If so, this is most unfair, as I always saw that Armagh team as sound genuine team who played good hard football and played it fairly as well.  No Tipp supporter that I spoke to last night had any fault to find with Kildare and to me you must have a genuine chance of a Leinster Championship this year.

A lot was made of the scrap in the Laois game and then we had a man sent off against Louth and two more last weekend against Down. I think rightly or wrongly, a lot of referees will be wary of Kildare because of our last few games. We have one or two hot heads in our team but I don't think we've any out and out dirty player in our ranks. We're certainly a lot more physical in the tackle than we were before McGeeney took over. I know a lot of the players and McGeeney himself are fustrated with the inconsistency of certain referees in their interpretation of the tackle.

We had 5 players sent off in the previous 3 games to last night and as DH states the likes of Flynn and Chalkie Whyte are hot heads and are easily provoked and are often targetted by the oppostion which why it was good to see Flynn not react to the thump he got.

McGeeney wants Kildare to be physical in the tackle but we're not getting the balance right still and I think the team aren't handling that frustration well. Referee intreprations are just too varied and the GAA seems to have no inclination to resolve that.

As for Cribben, he's one of our more natural footballers but still a little light although you can see his conditioning improving but you can't coach pace and I think you could be right the half-forward line could be his natural home, did well is his 15 minutes last night. Would be nice to see him and Rob Kelly force their way into the championship side.

A few very weak looking teams in this division, at least going by Donegal's two games so far. How bad were Tipperary when they allowed Laois to build up a ten point lead? And Westmeath have been well beaten by Donegal and Armagh. We're no great shakes, so at this point, you would have to fancy Westmeath, Laois and Tipperary to be fighting it out for the drop. Still, there's only two games gone, so you never know, but I think another two points each should make Down and Donegal safe, at least.

Team P W D L F A +/- Pts
1 Donegal 2 2 0 0 4-24 0-14 22 4
2 Down 2 2 0 0 1-28 0-16 15 4
3 Armagh 2 1 0 1 2-32 2-16 16 2
4 Kildare 2 1 0 1 1-25 1-24 1 2
5 Meath 2 1 0 1 2-16 0-25 -3 2
6 Laois 2 1 0 1 1-18 4-22 -13 2
7 Tipperary 2 0 0 2 1-19 2-30 -14 0
8 Westmeath 2 0 0 2 0-17 3-32 -24 0

Kildare v Down on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueBqdCABHTk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zD-JTyymXw&feature=related

Quotebut I think another two points each should make Down and Donegal safe, at least.

Even Down should manage two points against Laois/Tipp/Westmeath! If Donegal beat Kildare then they will be in good shape, Meath are only middling and they'll have Armagh at home.

Quote from: J70 on February 14, 2010, 04:48:34 PM
A few very weak looking teams in this division, at least going by Donegal's two games so far. How bad were Tipperary when they allowed Laois to build up a ten point lead? And Westmeath have been well beaten by Donegal and Armagh. We're no great shakes, so at this point, you would have to fancy Westmeath, Laois and Tipperary to be fighting it out for the drop. Still, there's only two games gone, so you never know, but I think another two points each should make Down and Donegal safe, at least.

Would agree with this, promotion is a possibility, I just hope we don't blow our load against Down and Armagh before the start of the Anglo-Celt against Down!

The Ulster Derby games in Div 2 this year, involving Armagh, Down and Donegal will far surpass in quality, the kicking matches in Div 1 between Derry, Tyrone and Monaghan.

 ::)

Careful Tony that was almost a compliment you gave Down.

Should be a good match against Ciaran's men, think we can pull off a win.

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on February 19, 2010, 12:27:27 AM
Should be a good match against Ciaran's men, think we can pull off a win.

We don't have the best record down in Newbridge though. I will be pleasantly surprised if we get a result. Narrow defeat more likely, in my opinion.

Quote from: J70 on February 19, 2010, 03:17:15 AM

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on February 19, 2010, 12:27:27 AM
Should be a good match against Ciaran's men, think we can pull off a win.

We don't have the best record down in Newbridge though. I will be pleasantly surprised if we get a result. Narrow defeat more likely, in my opinion.

Hope your wrong, but yeah record not great and McGeeney has brought themon a fair bit.

An Dúnv Tiobraid Árann
Laois v Ard Mhacha
An Mhí v An Iarmhí
Cill Dara v Dún na nGall

I think the Saturday night games are bankers for Down, Armagh and Meath, but I think Kildare may be in much better shape for the visit of Donegal than they were for in the opening round. There will definitely be a surprise result after the 3 week lay off, I hope this is the game that gives it to us.

This will be Donegal's first big test of the league. With all due respect to Laois and Westmeath nothing but 2 wins was expected against them. With Doyle coming back for Kildare I think they will be well up for this and expect them to beat us by a couple of points.

Sunday looks like a toss of a coin between Kildare and Donegal really. Doubt there'll be much in it and 15/2 about the draw looks tempting. JD returning is a big plus but I'd worry about Murphy against our full-back line. Smith is back on the panel but he will probably be given a few weeks to feel his way back in. Rob Kelly and David Whyte are also out but Chalky and the fine wine Rainbow should be fit. Probably line out with something like this all going well:

Quote from: Trevor Hill on March 03, 2010, 07:25:03 PM
An Dúnv Tiobraid Árann
Laois v Ard Mhacha
An Mhí v An Iarmhí
Cill Dara v Dún na nGall

I think the Saturday night games are bankers for Down, Armagh and Meath, but I think Kildare may be in much better shape for the visit of Donegal than they were for in the opening round. There will definitely be a surprise result after the 3 week lay off, I hope this is the game that gives it to us.

An Dúnv Tiobraid Árann (by 7pts)
Laois v Ard Mhacha (By 1pt)
An Mhí v An Iarmhí (By 5pts)
Cill Dara v Dún na nGall (Draw)

Down should win comfortable
Armagh never do it easy (except last match) and i expect a tighter match than most predict
Meath should win comfortable but i expect West Meath to improve a bit and put it up to thier rivals
Kildare and Donegal to serve up a draw

Kildare team v Donegal - 7 March 2010 St Conleths Park Newbridge

1 Tom Corley (Moorefield)
2 Hugh McGrillen (Celbridge)
3 Damien Hendy (Castledermot)
4 Emmet Bolton (Eadestown)
5 Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)
6 Mark Scanlon (Round Towers)
7 Gary White (Sarsfields)
8 Daryl Flynn (Moorefield)
9 Dermot Earley (Sarsfields)
10 David Whyte (Moorefield)
11 Pádraig O'Neill (St Laurences)
12 Johnny Doyle (Allenwood)
13 Ken Donnelly (Ellistown)
14 James Kavanagh (Ballymore)
15 Karl Ennis (Maynooth)

Not so confident after seeing that team. Brian Flanagan and Rainbow out due to injury. Corley returns between the sticks but there doesn't appear to be a lot between the two goalkeepers. I wouldn't mind seeing the lad from Clane who was on the u21s last week getting a run. He looked very accomplished against Westmeath.

Not sure whether the experiment of playing Cribbin at wing back will work. Both himself and Chalky will bomb forward and Scanlon will have a job on to hold the middle.

Can't remember the last time Damien Hendy started for Kildare - down in Tralee against Donaghy in 2008 maybe? Hope he does well because he's been a good servant down the years but I'd worry about him up against the likes of Colm McFadden and Murphy.

An Dún v Tiobraid Árann (by 3-5pts)
Laois v Ard Mhacha (by 2-4pts)
An Mhí v An Iarmhí (by 5-7pts)
Cill Dara v Dún na nGall (by 1-3pts)

Down (NFL v Tipperary) - Brendan McVeigh, Daniel McCartan, Brendan McArdle, Damien Rafferty, Kevin McKernan, James Colgan, Conor Garvey, Ambrose Rodgers, Kalum King, Conor Maginn, Martin Clarke, Paul McComiskey, Conor Laverty, John Clarke, Brendan Coulter.

Subs - Declan Alder, Aidan Brannigan, Stephen Kearney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Paul Greenan, Mark Poland, James McGovern, Gerard McCartan, Mark Doran.

Quote from: Trevor Hill on March 05, 2010, 03:17:01 PM
Down (NFL v Tipperary) - Brendan McVeigh, Daniel McCartan, Brendan McArdle, Damien Rafferty, Kevin McKernan, James Colgan, Conor Garvey, Ambrose Rodgers, Kalum King, Conor Maginn, Martin Clarke, Paul McComiskey, Conor Laverty, John Clarke, Brendan Coulter.

Subs - Declan Alder, Aidan Brannigan, Stephen Kearney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Paul Greenan, Mark Poland, James McGovern, Gerard McCartan, Mark Doran.

obvious omission there is Danny Hughes.  Is he unavailable?

Quote from: western exile on March 05, 2010, 03:46:14 PM

Quote from: Trevor Hill on March 05, 2010, 03:17:01 PM
Down (NFL v Tipperary) - Brendan McVeigh, Daniel McCartan, Brendan McArdle, Damien Rafferty, Kevin McKernan, James Colgan, Conor Garvey, Ambrose Rodgers, Kalum King, Conor Maginn, Martin Clarke, Paul McComiskey, Conor Laverty, John Clarke, Brendan Coulter.

Subs - Declan Alder, Aidan Brannigan, Stephen Kearney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Paul Greenan, Mark Poland, James McGovern, Gerard McCartan, Mark Doran.

obvious omission there is Danny Hughes.  Is he unavailable?

Daniel is on best man duties at Ronan Sextons wedding tomorrow.

Donegal team for Sunday

M Boyle
J Keaney
N McGee
K Lacey
A Thompson
F McGlynn
K Cassidy
N Gallagher
B Monaghan
F McNulty
D Walsh
S Griffin
C McFadden
M Murphy
C Dunne

Down, Laois, Meath and Donegal all to win.

According to Aertel the game in Newry ended as a draw - Down 0-14; Tipperary 1-11.  That is a fine performance by Tipp, especially as Down had lost to Tipp in extra time in the Div. 3 Final last year and would be taking nothing for granted tonight.

Quote from: Dubh driocht on March 06, 2010, 05:57:59 PM
Down, Laois, Meath and Donegal all to win.

After those predictions I'm now actually confident Kildare will win  ;)

Here's hoping.

Pity for us Westmeath and our neighbours from down the M7 couldn't hold out for draws tonight. Must win game tomorrow. Puts us right back in the hunt for promotion if we win it. Lose and we might as well forget about Div1 football for another year.

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on March 06, 2010, 09:32:24 PM
Here's hoping.

Pity for us Westmeath and our neighbours from down the M7 couldn't hold out for draws tonight. Must win game tomorrow. Puts us right back in the hunt for promotion if we win it. Lose and we might as well forget about Div1 football for another year.

Absolutely, not confident at all but it is imperative we get off to a good start, quite an attacking side but have a feeling Newbridge will suit Donegal and could be a 2 point swing either way kind of game.

Quote from: Trevor Hill on March 03, 2010, 07:25:03 PM
An Dúnv Tiobraid Árann
Laois v Ard Mhacha
An Mhí v An Iarmhí
Cill Dara v Dún na nGall

I think the Saturday night games are bankers for Down, Armagh and Meath, but I think Kildare may be in much better shape for the visit of Donegal than they were for in the opening round. There will definitely be a surprise result after the 3 week lay off, I hope this is the game that gives it to us.

You were really on the button regarding the probability of a surprise result after the 3 week lay off.  Thankfully, for Tipperary that surprise was in Newry.  I did not expect that Tipp would get a draw, but that result gives us an outside chance of avoiding relegation, by finishing ahead of Laois and Westmeath.  It is still a long shot, but not impossible.  After tonight Down and Tipp have played 3 times in the league in the last 2 years, with 1 win each and a draw.  You can't get much closer than that.  Down are still very much in the promotion mix IMO.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 07, 2010, 12:16:45 AM

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on March 06, 2010, 09:32:24 PM
Here's hoping.

Pity for us Westmeath and our neighbours from down the M7 couldn't hold out for draws tonight. Must win game tomorrow. Puts us right back in the hunt for promotion if we win it. Lose and we might as well forget about Div1 football for another year.

Absolutely, not confident at all but it is imperative we get off to a good start, quite an attacking side but have a feeling Newbridge will suit Donegal and could be a 2 point swing either way kind of game.

What, given our "superb" record in Newbridge!

I agree that it'll probably be very tight, with only a point or two in it. Donegal do have some unbelievably awful days in front of the posts though, so it is always hard to predict how we'll do. Plus Westmeath were awful the first day, while Laois's shocking performance in Ballyshannon can be at least partially excused given the numbers they were missing. Two or three point win for Kildare for me. If it was Ballybofey, I'd be tipping our boys by the same.

Rude awakening for Donegal.

FT Kildare 1-17 Donegal 1-9

Gap far bigger even than the score suggests however as we tagged on a few scores after McGeeney make a rake of substitutions. Second best all the way through. McHugh reckons we're far to timid in the midfield area and too individual up front.

Christ, that was a hammering. From what I could gather on Highland we didn't compete in midfield at all. One point from play from McFadden and Murphy (I'm excluding the point that Murphy got in added time when Kildare had already switched off). Lacey switched off his man. 7 points from Doyle - 4-5 of which were from play.
Not a lot to be happy about this evening.

Quote from: RMDrive on March 07, 2010, 04:13:09 PM
Christ, that was a hammering. From what I could gather on Highland we didn't compete in midfield at all. One point from play from McFadden and Murphy (I'm excluding the point that Murphy got in added time when Kildare had already switched off). Lacey switched off his man. 7 points from Doyle - 4-5 of which were from play.
Not a lot to be happy about this evening.

Maybe it'll be the kick in the bollocks they need. I don't what it is with Donegal teams but they always seem to follow up a couple of good performances with an absolute hammering (although everyone seemed to admit, at least in public, that the performances against Westmeath and Laois were nothing to write home about). Whether that is us being brought down to our proper level or whether its the players and public losing the run of themselves and getting arrogant, I don't know. Once again though, midfield looks to be a big problem and whatever about getting the forwards to click, there isn't much you can do if you just don't have the necessary players in the county, as is the case with our midfield. Ever since Gildea and McGuinness retired, its been Neil Gallagher tried with one player after another, none of whom ever seem to work out for more than a few games, while Gallagher is rarely able to dominate in the packed midfield areas you invariably get in intercounty football.

Wouldn't get carried away with that win, Donegal were very poor and kicked some awful wides and their goal was just a freak. Anyone nice to pull up with 10 mins to go winning comfortable. Looking at the match-ups Kildare's forward were man for man bigger than their marker so physically we were always going to be in it but our work-rate exemplified by our Captain was a step-up from the last two and that kind of leadership was badly missed against Down. The game wasn't won at midfield as such and Earley had one of his quieter games up until about 20 to go, as the Donegal goalie in particular used a short kick-out strategy a lot. Ken Donnelly had a great 1st half and himself and Ennis had the beating of their men everytime. in the 2nd half we moved the ball very well into the wind with some cracking scores from play but the with 15 to go and 10 points up the game fizzled out. Thought Cribben had a smashing game at half-back although needs to show more confidence in the 50/50s but his work rate was excellent and for the most part his distribution was excellent too. That added to Karl Ennis's form hopefully means we're developing that strenght in dept we need especially as Hendy was very composed at full-back and the full-back played very well as a unit.

I was very surprised at how poor Donegal were on the day. Murphy and McFadden had the potential to do damage but Donegal kicked some god awful ball into them and Hendy and Hughie mopped it up. Pleasantly surprised at how well Hendy played. McGrillen was excellent and he should be well up for Armagh after getting a bit of a lesson off Clarke last year.

No point in getting carried away because the game was won at half-time but there definitely appears to be some depth there now. There'll be some competition for places now facing into the next four matches. Rob Kelly, Conway, Leper, Flanagan, Flaherty and Smith all to come back in. I wouldn't like to call the half-back line for the Championship. Scanlon saw plenty of ball and Chalky was excellent (great finish for the goal). Cribbin is a real prospect but I'd be surprised if he was more of a half-back than a half-forward.

Forwards were showing much better than they were a month ago. JD makes such a huge difference and looked very sharp. Hopefully the knock he picked up isn't too serious. Ken Donnelly and Paudie O'Neill were also very good for two guys who usually ship a lot of criticism. Goalkeeper is still an issue though. Corley was poor for the goal even with the sun in his eyes. That should be meat and drink to an inter-county keeper and McCormack has never looked too convincing under the high ball either. I'd definitely give Robbie Eyres a go when Westmeath come to town in a fortnight's time.

Point dropped last night. We were cruising for the first 20 minutes and 7-2 up and then the wheels came off. The same old defensive frailties came back to haunt us for the goal, but we all make mistakes. Fair play to Tipp, they worked hard and deserved a point, but the ref was definitely their sixteenth man.
Crucial game next week. A win sets us up nicely for the big one the following week, but a defeat would be a big blow.

Down scorers. M Clarke (0-5, 1f), C Laverty (0-3), J Clarke (0-3), P McComiskey (0-2, 2f), C Maginn (0-1)

Team P W D L F A +/- Pts
1 Down 3 2 1 0 1-42 1-27 15 5
2 Armagh 3 2 0 1 2-45 2-28 17 4
3 Donegal 3 2 0 1 5-33 1-31 14 4
4 Kildare 3 2 0 1 2-42 2-33 9 4
5 Meath 3 2 0 1 3-28 2-33 -2 4
6 Laois 3 1 0 2 1-30 4-35 -14 2
7 Tipperary 3 0 1 2 2-30 2-44 -14 1
8 Westmeath 3 0 0 3 2-25 4-44 -25 0

RM and J70, heard from my father that Eamon McGee has gone to London and registered with a team there, gone for work. Kinda guess he'll not be appearing for us this campaign.

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on March 07, 2010, 11:40:47 PM
RM and J70, heard from my father that Eamon McGee has gone to London and registered with a team there, gone for work. Kinda guess he'll not be appearing for us this campaign.

He's with Tir Chonaill Gaels, isn't he? Kevin Cassidy, if I recall correctly, reckoned in an interview a few weeks back that he would miss it and be back in time for the championship! Of course, he could also opt to play for London. Can't begrudge him - he's an amateur player and work and career comes first, so hopefully it'll work out well for him, whatever he decides to do. I would love to live back home in Donegal as well, but the career options just aren't there and short of the slim possibility of retiring there someday, I doubt if I'll ever live there again.

As for whether the Donegal team will miss him, I think we're well enough covered in the backs, even if his absence will obviously weaken the squad. Since Frank McGlynn came through, he hasn't always been first choice anyway.

Any word on whether Rory Kavanagh will be back for the championship? He would not be as easily replaced, particularly if Toye isn't back to full fitness by that stage.

Saw that Ricky Nixon chap on the terrace in Newbridge today. Presume he was there to watch young Murphy.

I wonder if he might pursue big Willie Heff after his cameo at full-forward today! He'd be well fit for horsing into them Aussie full-backs.

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on March 08, 2010, 12:04:22 AM
I wonder if he might pursue big Willie Heff after his cameo at full-forward today! He'd be well fit for horsing into them Aussie full-backs.

ha ah the boy done well, it was almost a joke among the fans when he came on, but he done well enough, we have to keep him around anyway to scare them Offaly boyos!!

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on March 08, 2010, 12:04:22 AM
Saw that Ricky Nixon chap on the terrace in Newbridge today. Presume he was there to watch young Murphy.

I wonder if he might pursue big Willie Heff after his cameo at full-forward today! He'd be well fit for horsing into them Aussie full-backs.

I read somewhere that Murphy played in an Aussie Rules trial game during the week. If so, he must be interested.

Quote from: J70 on March 07, 2010, 11:48:25 PM

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on March 07, 2010, 11:40:47 PM
RM and J70, heard from my father that Eamon McGee has gone to London and registered with a team there, gone for work. Kinda guess he'll not be appearing for us this campaign.

He's with Tir Chonaill Gaels, isn't he? Kevin Cassidy, if I recall correctly, reckoned in an interview a few weeks back that he would miss it and be back in time for the championship! Of course, he could also opt to play for London. Can't begrudge him - he's an amateur player and work and career comes first, so hopefully it'll work out well for him, whatever he decides to do. I would love to live back home in Donegal as well, but the career options just aren't there and short of the slim possibility of retiring there someday, I doubt if I'll ever live there again.

As for whether the Donegal team will miss him, I think we're well enough covered in the backs, even if his absence will obviously weaken the squad. Since Frank McGlynn came through, he hasn't always been first choice anyway.

Any word on whether Rory Kavanagh will be back for the championship? He would not be as easily replaced, particularly if Toye isn't back to full fitness by that stage.

Not sure if he went to the Gaels. Fair enough he can be replaced but he has alot of experience and I hope your right and he comes back for the Anglo-Celt. Work is work though and I wouldn't hold it against him, he's family after all.  ;)

Quote from: J70 on March 08, 2010, 12:19:16 AM

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on March 08, 2010, 12:04:22 AM
Saw that Ricky Nixon chap on the terrace in Newbridge today. Presume he was there to watch young Murphy.

I wonder if he might pursue big Willie Heff after his cameo at full-forward today! He'd be well fit for horsing into them Aussie full-backs.

I read somewhere that Murphy played in an Aussie Rules trial game during the week. If so, he must be interested.

He's flying out for a trial at the end of this year. Seemingly Nixon has been in discussions with JJ about the best time to do it etc (he's softening his approaching apparently). I suppose it will be similar to what Aiden O'Shea did. From reading O'Shea's blog of the trip, it will be no holiday anyway!!

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on March 08, 2010, 12:27:34 AM

Quote from: J70 on March 07, 2010, 11:48:25 PM

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on March 07, 2010, 11:40:47 PM
RM and J70, heard from my father that Eamon McGee has gone to London and registered with a team there, gone for work. Kinda guess he'll not be appearing for us this campaign.

He's with Tir Chonaill Gaels, isn't he? Kevin Cassidy, if I recall correctly, reckoned in an interview a few weeks back that he would miss it and be back in time for the championship! Of course, he could also opt to play for London. Can't begrudge him - he's an amateur player and work and career comes first, so hopefully it'll work out well for him, whatever he decides to do. I would love to live back home in Donegal as well, but the career options just aren't there and short of the slim possibility of retiring there someday, I doubt if I'll ever live there again.

As for whether the Donegal team will miss him, I think we're well enough covered in the backs, even if his absence will obviously weaken the squad. Since Frank McGlynn came through, he hasn't always been first choice anyway.

Any word on whether Rory Kavanagh will be back for the championship? He would not be as easily replaced, particularly if Toye isn't back to full fitness by that stage.

Not sure if he went to the Gaels. Fair enough he can be replaced but he has alot of experience and I hope your right and he comes back for the Anglo-Celt. Work is work though and I wouldn't hold it against him, he's family after all.  ;)

Yeah it's looking increasingly likely he will stay over there. As yous have said you can't fault him for it. He's been training with London while over there but I don't know if it's Gaels he is thinking about transferring to.

If we need him back we can always get GDA to use the family connection anyway!

A preview of the Championship tomorrow night in Ballybofey. I hope to make it up for the game. Any word on the Donegal team? Will JJ change things up a bit after the whupping against Kildare? Of course he's fairly limited in the changes he can make.

Donegal Team

Paul Durkan
Shane Boyle
Neil McGee
Karl Lacey
Michael Maguire
Anthony Thompson
Kevin Cassidy
Neil Gallagher
Barry Monaghan
David Walsh
Conall Dunne
Edward Kelly
Colm McFadden
Michael Murphy
Adrian Hanlon

Have a feeling we will not get the result we want in Tipp this weekend. Unless we improve greatly from last week I think we are in for a tough battle for the 2 points.

We should have a stronger hand with some of the U-21's back and injuries cleared up. I think Davy Dalton will be fit again.

No team announced yet but I'd be inclined to go with:

1. P O'Rourke

2. E Harrington
3. J Macken
4. C O'Conner

5. S McAnarney
6. A Moyles
7. S Kenny

8. N Crawford
9. C Gillespie

10. G Reilly
11. J Sheridan
12. B Sheridan

13. D. Bray
14. S. Bray
15. B. Farrell

QuoteI think Davy Dalton will be fit again

Just doesn't sound right in this context  :'(

His grand-dad, a Kildare legend passed away this week.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 12, 2010, 05:41:42 PM

QuoteI think Davy Dalton will be fit again

Just doesn't sound right in this context  :'(

His grand-dad, a Kildare legend passed away this week.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

Down team v Donegal.

D Alder; D McCartan, B McArdle, D Rafferty; K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey; A Rodgers, K King; D Hughes, M Clarke, S Kearney; P McComiskey, J Clarke, B Coulter.

Dún na nGall V An Dun
Tiobraid Árann V An Mhí
Ard Mhacha V Cill Dara
An Iarmhí V Laois

Coulter off injured, went for a 50/50 ball. Two poor teams on a wet night. Pat McEnaney probably Donegals best player. Downs old failings coming back to haunt them.
Apparently we have the Orange County ref again next week. Down really need to get their act together in the second half.

Keep them coming Trevor , I'd rather hear what you have to say than listen to McHugh .

McEnaney has just led the Donegal team out for thesecond half

Mckernan pt.5-5

Marellous Marty with a free from 50 yes

Down wasteful again.  6-6 Donegal free made by McEnaney.

Quote from: hardstation on March 13, 2010, 08:32:39 PM
Benny Coulter not off injured?
[/quo

benny pt 6-7
danny Hughes with another wide

Down 8-6 ahead. McComiskey free. McEnaneys head has dropped.

8-7 Down giving the ball away

John Clarke pt. 7-9

Marvellous with the score of the game.7-10. Couter puts Down 4 up

Match winning save from Alder. Ball mopped up by Colgan again. 8-11. 11 mins to go.

Donegal pt 9-11

Trevor Hill - You're doing a great job - Keep it coming

This is desperate refereeing
ambi with a wide

Fitzpatrk for king

Laverty for mccomiskey
coulter missed a sitter
all square

John Clarke pt

Another down wide

Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it McHugh!!!! Crying C@@T!!!!!

Trevor Hill - Thanks a million for the scores - The Donegal commentators were hard to listen to at times - Again thanks

and the full time score was???

0-11 to 0-13 ;D

Good stuff, down have a fair shout at promotion now!

Top of the league. And will be this time next week.
Down worked hard in the second half but were still very wasteful at times. Defence had their moments but they kept a clean sheet thanks to a wonder save from Alder. We just edged midfield but the forward unit were patchy to say the least.
M. Clarke 0-3. (2f)
Coulter 0-3
J. Clarke 0-2
P. McComiskey 0-1 (1f)
Ambi 0-1
D. Hughes 0-1
K. McKernan 0-1
P. Fitzpatrick 0-1

full time 0-11 0-13

last man leaving Jacksons put me to bed.

Good man Trevor - Geat to see Benny "he has gone back a bit" Coulter landing 3 pts . Did Alder play the whole game ? as either McHugh or his side kick mentioned McVeigh in the seconf half .

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

Quote from: downredblack on March 13, 2010, 09:34:36 PM
Good man Trevor - Geat to see Benny "he has gone back a bit" Coulter landing 3 pts . Did Alder play the whole game ? as either McHugh or his side kick mentioned McVeigh in the seconf half .

Alder played the whole game. Pulled off a superb save, but gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times. He ll start next week

If I don't turn this phone off there will be a divorce on the cards.

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 13, 2010, 09:37:57 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

What will all these boys do when McHugh packs in the punditry and they've no one else to cry and whinge about? Such sensitive souls.

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 12:19:44 AM

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 13, 2010, 09:37:57 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

What will all these boys do when McHugh packs in the punditry and they've no one else to cry and whinge about? Such sensitive souls.

No Fish Suppers going tonight in Donegal  ;D

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 12:19:44 AM

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 13, 2010, 09:37:57 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

What will all these boys do when McHugh packs in the punditry and they've no one else to cry and whinge about? Such sensitive souls.

If you're doing an english language broadcast you should have to good grace to speak correctly.

His lack of football knowledge was portrayed alongside a general lack of knowledge by the way he spoke. Can't believe BBC have the time of day for him.

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 ;)

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 14, 2010, 10:10:50 AM

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 12:19:44 AM

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 13, 2010, 09:37:57 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

What will all these boys do when McHugh packs in the punditry and they've no one else to cry and whinge about? Such sensitive souls.

If you're doing an english language broadcast you should have to good grace to speak correctly.

His lack of football knowledge was portrayed alongside a general lack of knowledge by the way he spoke. Can't believe BBC have the time of day for him.

Can't defend "defiantly", assuming that is what he actually said, but pronouncing "win" as "won", or in certain contexts, simply just replacing "win" with "won", is very common in Donegal, at least in the part I'm from, and presumably, based on McHugh's pronunciation, at least along the rest of the north coast of Donegal Bay (as is pronouncing "Sean" as "shan", the other pronunciation you northern lads seem to commonly get upset with McHugh about). Vernacular quirks are not usually considered to be a reflection of the collective intelligence level of a population, but maybe there's something to that.

As for football knowledge, well I'm sure McHugh's achievements as a player, player-manager and manager compares favourably enough with the average GAA board member. But perhaps he got lucky for all those years and his own knowledge and intelligence had f**k all to do with it.

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. :) :) :)

Quote from: Onlooker on March 14, 2010, 03:17:14 PM
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!!!!!

Quote from: D4S on March 14, 2010, 03:19:43 PM

Quote from: Onlooker on March 14, 2010, 03:17:14 PM
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!!!!!

A friend of mine made the long trip to Newry last week and was talking to a Down supporter after the game, who told him that Tipp were the best team Down played in the League so far.  Hope he was right!!.

Quote from: Onlooker on March 14, 2010, 03:52:22 PM

Quote from: D4S on March 14, 2010, 03:19:43 PM

Quote from: Onlooker on March 14, 2010, 03:17:14 PM
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!!!!!

A friend of mine made the long trip to Newry last week and was talking to a Down supporter after the game, who told him that Tipp were the best team Down played in the League so far.  Hope he was right!!.

And here was I thinking earlier on that Donegal may have to rely on beating Tipp to avoid relegation!

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

Am I right in thinking that its closing in on two years since Westmeath played a league game and didn't lose it?

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 04:48:09 PM
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!

Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on March 14, 2010, 05:05:44 PM
Am I right in thinking that its closing in on two years since Westmeath played a league game and didn't lose it?

I think you're right. They went down with us last year, and while I think we ended up with four or five points, they lost all seven games. From the table, it could be the same situation again this year! I wouldn't be putting the house on Donegal beating Armagh at home or Tipp or Meath away!

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 01:43:13 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 14, 2010, 10:10:50 AM

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 12:19:44 AM

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 13, 2010, 09:37:57 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

What will all these boys do when McHugh packs in the punditry and they've no one else to cry and whinge about? Such sensitive souls.

If you're doing an english language broadcast you should have to good grace to speak correctly.

His lack of football knowledge was portrayed alongside a general lack of knowledge by the way he spoke. Can't believe BBC have the time of day for him.

Can't defend "defiantly", assuming that is what he actually said, but pronouncing "win" as "won", or in certain contexts, simply just replacing "win" with "won", is very common in Donegal, at least in the part I'm from, and presumably, based on McHugh's pronunciation, at least along the rest of the north coast of Donegal Bay (as is pronouncing "Sean" as "shan", the other pronunciation you northern lads seem to commonly get upset with McHugh about). Vernacular quirks are not usually considered to be a reflection of the collective intelligence level of a population, but maybe there's something to that.

As for football knowledge, well I'm sure McHugh's achievements as a player, player-manager and manager compares favourably enough with the average GAA board member. But perhaps he got lucky for all those years and his own knowledge and intelligence had f**k all to do with it.

Have to distance myself from those posters who criticise McHugh's prononciation - there is nothing wrong with regional or local accents or dialects and those who jumping up and down about it mightn't sound too clever on the radio themselves. But I agree that McHugh is one of those boys who constantly betrays a grudge against Down - probably too often a bad loser against them - Fermanagh's mcGinnity is anothetr, It is their problem, rest easy lads, let them have their lttle inward torment.

Quote from: Leo on March 14, 2010, 10:15:48 PM

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 01:43:13 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 14, 2010, 10:10:50 AM

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 12:19:44 AM

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 13, 2010, 09:37:57 PM

Quote from: down6061689194 on March 13, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
Not getting to the game was bad, I'm not a fan of the radio,

but Martin McHugh, such an illiterate man to be given responsibility on a radio station. Absolutely sick of him.

"down can defiantly won this game"
"Connor Laferty coming on for Down"

He cant even read off a page.


And as for his football knowledge. Idiot of the highest order.

I'm sure he's devestated to have annoyed you by not speaking the Queen's English properly.

What will all these boys do when McHugh packs in the punditry and they've no one else to cry and whinge about? Such sensitive souls.

If you're doing an english language broadcast you should have to good grace to speak correctly.

His lack of football knowledge was portrayed alongside a general lack of knowledge by the way he spoke. Can't believe BBC have the time of day for him.

Can't defend "defiantly", assuming that is what he actually said, but pronouncing "win" as "won", or in certain contexts, simply just replacing "win" with "won", is very common in Donegal, at least in the part I'm from, and presumably, based on McHugh's pronunciation, at least along the rest of the north coast of Donegal Bay (as is pronouncing "Sean" as "shan", the other pronunciation you northern lads seem to commonly get upset with McHugh about). Vernacular quirks are not usually considered to be a reflection of the collective intelligence level of a population, but maybe there's something to that.

As for football knowledge, well I'm sure McHugh's achievements as a player, player-manager and manager compares favourably enough with the average GAA board member. But perhaps he got lucky for all those years and his own knowledge and intelligence had f**k all to do with it.

Have to distance myself from those posters who criticise McHugh's prononciation - there is nothing wrong with regional or local accents or dialects and those who jumping up and down about it mightn't sound too clever on the radio themselves. But I agree that McHugh is one of those boys who constantly betrays a grudge against Down - probably too often a bad loser against them - Fermanagh's mcGinnity is anothetr, It is their problem, rest easy lads, let them have their lttle inward torment.

Everyone has their biases, but it is interesting that the representatives of other Ulster counties here also claim that he is biased towards them! And he never spares the criticism for Donegal either (wait till we play Armagh in a couple of weeks for both angles!). So personally I've never noticed a bias when he's commentating, beyond his obvious wish for Donegal to win. He's definitely one who focuses on the negative when it comes to standard of play, but that's just his style (or maybe its just the often poor levels of play we see in Donegal games!). I just don't understand why people get so upset over a pundit - he's there to give his opinion on a football match, usually involving his own county for his county's radio station, not give an dispassionate, objective presentation on some scientific issue.

Quote from: J70 on March 14, 2010, 04:48:09 PM
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

Reckon two wins out of the last three games should be enough for Armagh to finish in the top two given our points difference. Even though it's the highest profile of the three, our game against Down is probably the least important in terms of promotion. It would be less damaging to lose ground to a team already ahead of us than to a team trying to catch us.

Can anyone clarify, when teams are level on points do head to heads ever come into it or is it just down to score difference?

Scores difference.

Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on March 14, 2010, 05:05:44 PM
Am I right in thinking that its closing in on two years since Westmeath played a league game and didn't lose it?

Yep  :-[ Last league game we won was against the Dubs in the league final in 2008...

Went down to Mullingar for my sins yesterday, brutal altogether, I don't know what corner Hackett was on about having turned but it wasn't a big one anyway. He should save that claptrap for the dressing room anyway and not be trying to appease supporters via the media. Westmeath were taken apart yesterday, you should always win a game you score 3 goals in and keep a clean sheet but in reality we were cleaned out, especially in the middle. There was no pressure on the ball coming in whatsoever and in the end we were well beat. Disgrace to conceed 24 points in any match, never mind in your own venue. The only positive from yesterday is that he didn't involve the U21s, hopefully they can extract some revenge for that mauling on Wed...

Allianz National Football League Division 2
   Team         P   W   D   L   F   A   +/-   Pts
1   Down      5   4   1   0   2-68   2-44   24   9
2   Armagh      5   3   0   2   3-63   3-46   17   6
3   Donegal      5   3   0   2   6-53   3-49   13   6
4   Meath      5   3   0   2   3-51   4-51   -3   6
5   Kildare      4   2   0   2   2-47   2-45   2   4
6   Laois         5   2   0   3   2-63   7-56   -8   4
7   Tipperary      5   1   1   3   5-44   3-63   -13   3
8   Westmeath   4   0   0   4   5-33   4-68   -32   0



Well it looks like its getting interesting in the fight for 2nd place. Down setting the pace and are good money to win DIv 2 anyway but Armagh, Meath, Donegal and pending todays game Kildare all moving to 6 points. Meath have fared poorly in the scoring stakes as the forwards have wasted plenty of goal chances so far through the campaign just like last year.

Kildare haven't shown the form they are capable of yet but will leapfrog Meath with a win today. Donegal and Armagh have shown very similar strong scoring rates and lead the race for second place. but with 4 points still up for grabs (Westmeath and Kildare with 6 still to play for) no ones place on the table is guaranteed, however Westmeath Tipperary and Laois are out of the running for the top spot, with everyone else still with the possibility of 1st place, mathematically at least.

Tipperary lost by a point last night, I hope they can stay up. Westmeath look gone, so its probably between Laois and Tipp for the other relegation place.

Down have scored a total of 2-68 in their 5 games.

Paul McComiskey 1-12 (9f)
Martin Clarke 0-14 (7f)
John Clarke 0-12 (1f)
Ambrose Rodgers 0-9 (1f)
Brendan Coulter 1-4
Conor Laverty 0-4
Daniel Hughes 0-3
Conor Maginn 0-3
Mark Poland 0-3 (2f)
Conor Garvey 0-1
Stephen Kearney 0-1
Peter Fitzpatrick 0-1
Kevin McKernan 0-1

Quote from: thejuice on March 21, 2010, 08:28:08 AM
Allianz National Football League Division 2
   Team         P   W   D   L   F   A   +/-   Pts
1   Down      5   4   1   0   2-68   2-44   24   9
2   Armagh      5   3   0   2   3-63   3-46   17   6
3   Donegal      5   3   0   2   6-53   3-49   13   6
4   Meath      5   3   0   2   3-51   4-51   -3   6
5   Kildare      4   2   0   2   2-47   2-45   2   4
6   Laois         5   2   0   3   2-63   7-56   -8   4
7   Tipperary      5   1   1   3   5-44   3-63   -13   3
8   Westmeath   4   0   0   4   5-33   4-68   -32   0

Despite last night's abomination, two wins should see Armagh up in second spot. Meath's score difference will count against them, as will Kildare's by the looks of things. Donegal have a similar total to us, but a victory there will knock them out of the equation. Would be great to right yesterday's wrong as soon as possible, and I'd like to think that the opportunity to do so in a league final will provide enough motivation for our final two games.

Anybody have the remaining fixtures?

Donegal have two home games against Armagh and Meath. Both winnable, but both very losable as well, particularly given our patchy form so far in this league campaign (god help us if Michael Murphy gets injured!). Should be safe from the drop with six points, but another point is probably needed to make sure.

Not too optimistic about the last Sunday in May at this point, but low expectations are always helpful when it comes to Donegal. Plus, Down always seem to be talked up, only to disappoint (a bit like Derry), so I wouldn't be writing us off completely (I do remember certain Down board members telling us we'd no hope before the '06 meeting!).

Remaining NFL – Div. Two Fixtures

Saturday 27 March (7.30)
Laois v Kildare (Portlaois) – Referee: Patrick Fox
Donegal v Meath (Ballybofey) – Referee: Martin Sludden
Sunday 28th March (2.30)
Armagh v Tipperary (Crossmaglen) – Referee: Martin Higgins
Westmeath v Down (Mullingar) – Referee: Gearoid Ó Conamha
Sunday 11 April (2.30)
Down v Laois (Newry) – Referee: TBA
Meath v Kildare (Navan) – Referee: TBA
Donegal v Armagh (Letterkenny) – Referee: TBA
Tipperary v Westmeath (Thurles) – Referee: TBA

Meath-Kildare and Donegal-Armagh on the last day will be interesting to say the least.
I think Laois can do us a favour in the next round but Armagh should beat Tipp in Cross.
Don't really fancy us to get anything from the trip to Donegal tbh.

Quote from: Carbery on March 21, 2010, 05:05:58 PM
Westmeath v Down (Mullingar) – Referee: Gearoid Ó Conamha

Oh FFS

Quote from: Trevor Hill on March 21, 2010, 11:10:43 AM
Tipperary lost by a point last night, I hope they can stay up. Westmeath look gone, so its probably between Laois and Tipp for the other relegation place.

Thanks for the good wishes Trevor, but that 1st round defeat against Laois has really put us in a very tight spot.  Not gone yet, but depending on favours from Kildare and Down in their matches against Laois.  Whatever happens we have competed well in Div. 2 considering that 2 years ago we were playing i n Div. 4.  Maybe, promotion to Div. 2 came a year early, as judging on our form this year, I think we would have got promotion from Div. 3 at our ease this year and would have been better equipped for Div. 2 next year.  Good to see Down on their way to Div. 1.  Hopefully they will win their last 2 matches so that Tipp will be the only team to take a point from them!!.

Feck don't know what to make of Kildare, very sluggish, look disorganised and now we're heading towards an unsettled team. Very frustrating, should beat Laois but it's a derby so who knows and Meath games are always tight, won't win promotion this year.

At least Kevin O'Neill has found favour again.

We made Westmeath look like Micko's Kerry at their peak at times today during the first half. Very few positives to take out of it really.

Its taken twelve months but finally we have our full-back returned - leave him there now and let him get match sharp.

We keep having to rely on the older experienced heads which is also a worry. Rainbow showed real leadership during the first half and Roli turned the tide around at midfield. JD wasn't at the races at all in the first half but his last two scores when we really needed him oozed class.

A few poor kickouts from Paul Flood were punished. I thought this would be the perfect game to give Robbie Eyres a run. Hard to know what McGeeney's thoughts on the 1 jersey are at the moment. I think he might stick with Corley come the championship.

Leper and Morgan Flaherty both did well. Two certs for the Championship XV I'd have thought. Alan Smith and Mikey Conway can't come back soon enough. There's no guarantee either will be in the form they were in last summer though.

Not at all confident heading to Port Laoise now. At least our indifferent form will force people to become a bit more realistic and we won't be hyped up like we were in the national media before last summer.

Quote from: Trevor Hill on March 21, 2010, 08:23:05 PM

Quote from: Carbery on March 21, 2010, 05:05:58 PM
Westmeath v Down (Mullingar) – Referee: Gearoid Ó Conamha

Oh FFS

I think he is the best of the 4 refs down for division 2 this weekend.
As Down are the greatest team ever to grace a gaelic football field I do not think they will have any bother next weekend. Poor old Westmeath are just lambs to the slaughter.  :D

QuotePoor old Westmeath are just lambs to the slaughter. 

Yes. Led by a member of a truly aristocratic family, the mightly Down will delvier a knockout punch to Westmeath.

to be fair if i was a donegal man i would rather not play down in a division 2 final soo close to the championship

Down are pretty much a certainty for the Div 2 final, Donegal are in pole position to join them with their home games in the run in.

If we get to the Div 2 final it will be a travesty. Donegal have played really poor stuff so far and don't deserve it. I'd hope that we beat Meath but expect Armagh to beat us.

Quote from: naka on March 22, 2010, 10:10:08 AM
to be fair if i was a donegal man i would rather not play down in a division 2 final soo close to the championship

I agree. Neither Donegal nor Down want to meet in a League final.  Come 1st round of Ulster Championship in Ballybofey, it would be the 4th time they have played each other this year!

Anyone know what dates the League Finals are due to be played? Are they being played at Croke?

Quote from: Green+Gold on March 23, 2010, 06:59:02 PM
Anyone know what dates the League Finals are due to be played? Are they being played at Croke?

Saturday April 24
Division 3 and Division 4 finals.

Sunday April 25
Division 1 and Division 2 finals.

I think the Division 1 and Division 2 finals will be a double header in Croke Park

25th April, Croke Park, double header with Div 1 final

Top Scorers.................Down (2-68: 5 games)
Lowest Scorers............Tipperary (5-44: 5 games)
Most conceded.............Westmeath (5-79: 5 games)
Least conceded.............Down (2-44: 5 games)

Winning the Div 1 title in 2005 didn't prevent Armagh going on to lift the Ulster Title that year (remember also our Minor team beat Down in the minor final ;D), though as I recall we were lucky enough to get a repaly with Donegal in the first round, only a couple of weeks after the NFL Final.

I wouldn't rule out Westmeath with Flanagan on baord beating Down. Depends which Down team tunrs up, ie the one that beat Armagh or the one lucky to scrape a home draw with Tipp

could have sworn Down minors won the ALL-IRELAND MINOR TITLE that year.

Quote from: T Fearon on March 24, 2010, 02:21:19 PM
Winning the Div 1 title in 2005 didn't prevent Armagh going on to lift the Ulster Title that year (remember also our Minor team beat Down in the minor final ;D), though as I recall we were lucky enough to get a repaly with Donegal in the first round, only a couple of weeks after the NFL Final.

I wouldn't rule out Westmeath with Flanagan on baord beating Down. Depends which Down team tunrs up, ie the one that beat Armagh or the one lucky to scrape a home draw with Tipp

You post a completely inaccurate summation of  a game which you did not even see  ???  Your bitterness has no bounds!
And only in your mind does the 2005 Div 1 title have anything to do with this thread.  And yes, Brick Tamlin, An Dún are indeed the 2005 All-Ireland Minor Champions  8)

Tony is correct that Armagh beat Down in the Ulster final but, as usual ,only gives half the story- a Down team led by James Colgan and starring MC and Mc Comiskey hammered Mayo in the AI final.

Kildare team v Laois:

1.      Paul Flood (Maynooth)
2.      Emmet Bolton (Eadestown)
3.      Hugh McGrillen (Celbridge)
4.      Gary White (Sarsfields)
5.      Mark Scanlon (Round Towers)
6.      Brian Flanagan (Johnstownbridge)
7.      Morgan O'Flaherty (Carbury)
8.      Ronan Sweeney (Moorefield)
9.      Dermot Earley (Sarsfields)
10.     Robert Kelly (Straffan)
11.     John Doyle (Allenwood)
12.     David Whyte (Moorefield)
13.     Eamonn Callaghan (Naas)
14.     Ken Donnelly (Ellistown)
15.     James Kavanagh (Ballymore)

Changes aplenty again from Geezer. Must be very frustrating for the management not to have a full deck to pick from with the championship just round the corner. Flynn is a big loss at midfield but if Roli can repeat his good form of last weekend then we should be ok here.

Kevin O'Neill must be scratching his head at not being selected after putting the shackles on Martin Flanagan when he came on. I'm sure Hughie will do a fine job on Kingston  but we're sacrificing our best corner back and the options for that position aren't plentiful. Chalky at no4 strikes me as a square peg in a round hole. I know Dinny won't agree but I'd have liked to see Scanlon tried in the corner at some stage. Even with Mikey Conway still out injured we could introduce Foley, Cribbin or Rainbow to the half-backs. I hope Smith sees some action at some stage.

Barry Monaghan out of the panel? Must be something going on here. Barry's a loyal servant and isn't going to step back for no reason.

Monaghan takes a break
27 March 2010


Donegal footballer Barry Monaghan has opted out of the county panel for the foreseeable future.

Monaghan is one of the county's most experienced footballer having made his debut in 2000, but he has decided to take a break and has not ruled out a return later on in the year.


http://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=126195

This will be relevant for this thread I think

26 March 2010

The GAA wishes to confirm that where Teams in the National Leagues finish on equal points the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:

(i) Where two Teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition;

(ii) Scoring Difference (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For);

(iii) Highest Total Score For;

(iv) A Play-Off.

Exceptions:
In relation to means (ii) and (iii) above, if the accumulated scores of a team, so involved, are affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walk over, the tie shall be decided by a Play-Off.
   

Quote from: RMDrive on March 27, 2010, 12:53:22 PM
Barry Monaghan out of the panel? Must be something going on here. Barry's a loyal servant and isn't going to step back for no reason.

Monaghan takes a break
27 March 2010


Donegal footballer Barry Monaghan has opted out of the county panel for the foreseeable future.

Monaghan is one of the county's most experienced footballer having made his debut in 2000, but he has decided to take a break and has not ruled out a return later on in the year.


http://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=126195

That's a surprise. He's been at it a long time though and he's probably not going to be first choice from now, with Anthony Thompson getting opportunities at centre-back. But, maybe he's just got personal or business commitments to take care of. It would be a shame if we lost him from the panel though - his clubmate Shane Carr left too early as well, but its hard to fit everything in with the commitments of being a county player.

Quote from: J70 on March 27, 2010, 02:38:54 PM

Quote from: RMDrive on March 27, 2010, 12:53:22 PM
Barry Monaghan out of the panel? Must be something going on here. Barry's a loyal servant and isn't going to step back for no reason.

Monaghan takes a break
27 March 2010


Donegal footballer Barry Monaghan has opted out of the county panel for the foreseeable future.

Monaghan is one of the county's most experienced footballer having made his debut in 2000, but he has decided to take a break and has not ruled out a return later on in the year.


http://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=126195

That's a surprise. He's been at it a long time though and he's probably not going to be first choice from now, with Anthony Thompson getting opportunities at centre-back. But, maybe he's just got personal or business commitments to take care of. It would be a shame if we lost him from the panel though - his clubmate Shane Carr left too early as well, but its hard to fit everything in with the commitments of being a county player.

Maybe it's as simple as not being able to put in the commitment but surely if that was the case he would have made the call at the start of the year? Wouldn't be surprised if there is something behind this.

Strange team selection for this evening with 4 wing backs named! McGlynn and Dunnion named at 10 and 12. Is JJ planning to play a very defensive game (even more so than we do already) or does he feel that those 2 men are suited to the HF line?

This is very interesting. If Meath win tonight against Donegal and then win their final game at home to Kildare they'll get promoted into division 1 irrespective of what else happens. This is possible since head to head record is now the deciding factor then scoring difference is considered for teams who finish level on points. This makes tonight's game against Donegal very important.

Quote from: PatDaly on March 27, 2010, 06:17:54 PM
This is very interesting. If Meath win tonight against Donegal and then win their final game at home to Kildare they'll get promoted into division 1 irrespective of what else happens. This is possible since head to head record is now the deciding factor then scoring difference is considered for teams who finish level on points. This makes tonight's game against Donegal very important.

The fact that the head to head result is the one that counts rather than points difference could have some serious effect on promotion and relegation.  I wonder were all counties aware of this before this week.  I certainly did not know about this.

Quote from: Onlooker on March 27, 2010, 06:51:56 PM

Quote from: PatDaly on March 27, 2010, 06:17:54 PM
This is very interesting. If Meath win tonight against Donegal and then win their final game at home to Kildare they'll get promoted into division 1 irrespective of what else happens. This is possible since head to head record is now the deciding factor then scoring difference is considered for teams who finish level on points. This makes tonight's game against Donegal very important.

The fact that the head to head result is the one that counts rather than points difference could have some serious effect on promotion and relegation.  I wonder were all counties aware of this before this week.  I certainly did not know about this.

It really annoys me when rules are changed mid competition. This should have been communicated before the start of the league, as this is not the way it was last year.

Donegal 1-12 Meath 0-10
Laois -13 Kildare 0-8

(http://www.rte.ie/aertel/images/217-02.gif)

If Tipp lose tomorrow, they're gone.

1 An Dun 5 4 0 1 74 50 9
2 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 86 68 8
3 Ard Mhacha 5 3 2 0 72 55 6
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 76 77 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 82 86 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 70 78 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 5 1 3 1 59 72 3
8 An Iarmhí 5 0 5 0 61 94 0

Relegated: Westmeath

If Tipp are beaten tomorrow they will join Westmeath.

Down need 1 point from 2 games to gain promotion

If Armagh beat Tipp as expected they will have a shoot out in Ballybofey to see who goes up.

Laois have done themselves a big favour there.

It probably won't happen, but if Tipp can produce a shock win tomorrow, it would throw everything wide open going into the last day. Armagh and a few others wouldn't know whether to look up or down the table.

Actually if Tipperary get a draw tomorrow against Armagh and win as expected against Westmeath in their final game they could stay up at Meath's expense this is assuming Kildare beat Meath in their final game.

In addition a draw tomorrow in the Armagh v Tipperary game would still mean that Armagh can get promoted to division 1 along with Down provided they beat Donegal in Ballybofey on April 11th.

well that had to be the most awful game of football I have ever witnessed absolute rubbish from both sides Laois were the less rubbish and deserved their win. Have absolutely no idea where Kildare are heading, very disturbing...

Quote from: PatDaly on March 27, 2010, 09:48:25 PM
Actually if Tipperary get a draw tomorrow against Armagh and win as expected against Westmeath in their final game they could stay up at Meath's expense this is assuming Kildare beat Meath in their final game.

In addition a draw tomorrow in the Armagh v Tipperary game would still mean that Armagh can get promoted to division 1 along with Down provided they beat Donegal in Ballybofey on April 11th.

And if we win by 2 or more tomorrow, or win by 1 scoring 15 points or more, a draw would do us against Donegal. Think the game's in Letterkenny by the way PatDaly.

Kildare have been disappointing this year, I really expected them to kick on from the progress of the previous 2 years and challenge for a Leinster title at least, now I'm not so sure.

Quote from: yellowcard on March 27, 2010, 09:32:30 PM
1 An Dun 5 4 0 1 74 50 9
2 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 86 68 8
3 Ard Mhacha 5 3 2 0 72 55 6
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 76 77 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 82 86 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 70 78 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 5 1 3 1 59 72 3
8 An Iarmhí 5 0 5 0 61 94 0

Relegated: Westmeath

If Tipp are beaten tomorrow they will join Westmeath.

Down need 1 point from 2 games to gain promotion

If Armagh beat Tipp as expected they will have a shoot out in Ballybofey to see who goes up.

No they don't. With the defeats of Meath and Kildare tonight they're already up. Only Armagh and Donegal can reach or better 9 points, and they play each other in the final round. Even if both finish on 9, Down will still be ahead by virtue of the head to heads.

Quote from: AFS on March 27, 2010, 10:33:06 PM

Quote from: yellowcard on March 27, 2010, 09:32:30 PM
1 An Dun 5 4 0 1 74 50 9
2 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 86 68 8
3 Ard Mhacha 5 3 2 0 72 55 6
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 76 77 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 82 86 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 70 78 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 5 1 3 1 59 72 3
8 An Iarmhí 5 0 5 0 61 94 0

Relegated: Westmeath

If Tipp are beaten tomorrow they will join Westmeath.

Down need 1 point from 2 games to gain promotion

If Armagh beat Tipp as expected they will have a shoot out in Ballybofey to see who goes up.

No they don't. With the defeats of Meath and Kildare tonight they're already up. Only Armagh and Donegal can reach or better 9 points, and they play each other in the final round. Even if both finish on 9, Down will still be ahead by virtue of the head to heads.

Well if what's stated above is correct, the head to head rule only comes into force if there are 2 teams level. So in theory, Down could lose both their remaining matches by a combined tally of 7 points, Armagh could beat Tipp, draw with Donegal and Armagh and Donegal would go up.

Possible, albeit very unlikely. But sure we can always hope.  :) ;)

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 27, 2010, 10:05:20 PM
well that had to be the most awful game of football I have ever witnessed absolute rubbish from both sides Laois were the less rubbish and deserved their win. Have absolutely no idea where Kildare are heading, very disturbing...

Thoroughly enjoyed it meself  ;)
In fairness, Laois weren't that awful, just our finishing (of goal chances in particular). It could have been a right hiding if we had put away a number of open goal chances.

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 27, 2010, 10:48:30 PM

Quote from: AFS on March 27, 2010, 10:33:06 PM

Quote from: yellowcard on March 27, 2010, 09:32:30 PM
1 An Dun 5 4 0 1 74 50 9
2 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 86 68 8
3 Ard Mhacha 5 3 2 0 72 55 6
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 76 77 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 82 86 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 70 78 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 5 1 3 1 59 72 3
8 An Iarmhí 5 0 5 0 61 94 0

Relegated: Westmeath

If Tipp are beaten tomorrow they will join Westmeath.

Down need 1 point from 2 games to gain promotion

If Armagh beat Tipp as expected they will have a shoot out in Ballybofey to see who goes up.

No they don't. With the defeats of Meath and Kildare tonight they're already up. Only Armagh and Donegal can reach or better 9 points, and they play each other in the final round. Even if both finish on 9, Down will still be ahead by virtue of the head to heads.

Well if what's stated above is correct, the head to head rule only comes into force if there are 2 teams level. So in theory, Down could lose both their remaining matches by a combined tally of 7 points, Armagh could beat Tipp, draw with Donegal and Armagh and Donegal would go up.

Possible, albeit very unlikely. But sure we can always hope.  :) ;)

Hmmm, when head to head records are preeminent criteria for sorting teams level on points then surely if one team has a better head to head record than all other teams with the same points total they should expect to be placed above these teams. It would only make sense to discard the head to head criteria if things got messy with a lot of teams level on points who've all beaten each other. But the sensible way is not the GAA way.

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 27, 2010, 10:48:30 PM

Quote from: AFS on March 27, 2010, 10:33:06 PM

Quote from: yellowcard on March 27, 2010, 09:32:30 PM
1 An Dun 5 4 0 1 74 50 9
2 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 86 68 8
3 Ard Mhacha 5 3 2 0 72 55 6
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 76 77 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 82 86 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 70 78 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 5 1 3 1 59 72 3
8 An Iarmhí 5 0 5 0 61 94 0

Relegated: Westmeath

If Tipp are beaten tomorrow they will join Westmeath.

Down need 1 point from 2 games to gain promotion

If Armagh beat Tipp as expected they will have a shoot out in Ballybofey to see who goes up.

No they don't. With the defeats of Meath and Kildare tonight they're already up. Only Armagh and Donegal can reach or better 9 points, and they play each other in the final round. Even if both finish on 9, Down will still be ahead by virtue of the head to heads.

Well if what's stated above is correct, the head to head rule only comes into force if there are 2 teams level. So in theory, Down could lose both their remaining matches by a combined tally of 7 points, Armagh could beat Tipp, draw with Donegal and Armagh and Donegal would go up.

Possible, albeit very unlikely. But sure we can always hope.  :) ;)

Ya, that's correct. Down are not officially promoted because there's a (very unlikely) scenario that could see both Armagh and Donegal finish ahead of them. When there are 3 team son the same points, head to head is not counted, even if one team has beaten both of the others.

Down should seal it tomorrow though.

Quote from: AFS on March 27, 2010, 11:06:37 PM


Hmmm, when head to head records are preeminent criteria for sorting teams level on points then surely if one team has a better head to head record than all other teams with the same points total they should expect to be placed above these teams. It would only make sense to discard the head to head criteria if things got messy with a lot of teams level on points who've all beaten each other. But the sensible way is not the GAA way.

I don't disagree but if what Dinny posted is correct then they seem to have made the head-to-head rule for 2 teams only. In the Champions League if 3 teams finished level they'd effectively have a mini-table of those 3 teams results against each other.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 27, 2010, 12:59:03 PM
This will be relevant for this thread I think

26 March 2010

The GAA wishes to confirm that where Teams in the National Leagues finish on equal points the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:

(i) Where two Teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition;

(ii) Scoring Difference (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For);

(iii) Highest Total Score For;

(iv) A Play-Off.

Exceptions:
In relation to means (ii) and (iii) above, if the accumulated scores of a team, so involved, are affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walk over, the tie shall be decided by a Play-Off.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 27, 2010, 10:05:20 PM
well that had to be the most awful game of football I have ever witnessed absolute rubbish from both sides Laois were the less rubbish and deserved their win. Have absolutely no idea where Kildare are heading, very disturbing...

I have absolutely no idea what we're at at all this year Dinny. Apart from Thurles and the Donegal match we've been piss poor and regressed significantly from the last two years. The team looks like they've never played with each other before.

A few questions I'd like to ask:

-Why is Kevin O'Neill continually overlooked when we are crying out for someone with a bit of presence about them in the full-back line?
-Why was David Whyte left on for the full game? The lad works hard but he couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo.
-Why didn't Flynn start? Surely if he's deemed fit enough to come on in the first half he could have started.
-Was Paul Grimley that significant to the set-up?
-When is Smith going to be reintroduced?
-When is Mikey Conway back?
-Who has kidnapped the real Johnny Doyle?
-How bad is Dermot's injury?
-Is there anyone on the junior panel that could come in and shake things up a bit?

Worrying times. We can't just flick a switch and expect things to fall into place for the summer.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 27, 2010, 10:05:20 PM
well that had to be the most awful game of football I have ever witnessed absolute rubbish from both sides Laois were the less rubbish and deserved their win. Have absolutely no idea where Kildare are heading, very disturbing...

You were at a different game than I was so. ::)
The work rate of Laois was tremendous tonight,and we made Kildare look very ordinary.

Should have won by at least 8 points in the end but we will take any sort of a win over your lot  :)

Quote from: TacadoirArdMhacha on March 27, 2010, 11:11:32 PM
I don't disagree but if what Dinny posted is correct then they seem to have made the head-to-head rule for 2 teams only. In the Champions League if 3 teams finished level they'd effectively have a mini-table of those 3 teams results against each other.

Yeah the wee mini league sounds like it would make more sense, and by the way things seem to be being made up as we go along it could happen yet. Probably all academic anyway as you'd imagine Down will have enough for a Westmeath team now with nothing to play for.

.

Quote from: The Real Laoislad on March 27, 2010, 11:19:02 PM

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 27, 2010, 10:05:20 PM
well that had to be the most awful game of football I have ever witnessed absolute rubbish from both sides Laois were the less rubbish and deserved their win. Have absolutely no idea where Kildare are heading, very disturbing...

You were at a different game than I was so. ::)
The work rate of Laois was tremendous tonight,and we made Kildare look very ordinary.

Should have won by at least 8 points in the end but we will take any sort of a win over your lot  :)

Welcome back LL.

Fair play to ye're boys tonight they were well up for it and were much more willing to put their bodies on the line and they owed us one from Tullamore last summer.

However, the general standard of football was woeful especially from ourselves and from Laois to a lesser extent. I'm starting to buy into this theory that Leinster football is miles behind the rest of the country. The Dubs and Meath were both humbled tonight as well.

QuoteYou were at a different game than I was so.

You can turn your eyes up all you want but that was terrible football from both sides, Laois kicked some awful wides and both teams hand and foot passing was schoolboy stuff. Loais has a good work rate and wanted it more and deserved their win. Kildare were a complete shambles.

With so much chopping and changing the team have no fluidity and McGeeney I think is digging himself a big hole with his if you're not performing in training you're not playing attitude, after 3 years things will naturally get stale he needs new ideas, we're also playing like a team with no confidence where the burden of expectation is weighing them down.

We have stood still this year, going to be a short summer.

Its not going to be that short a summer for Kildare,they will breeze through the Leinster Championship with the teams they have in their side of the draw,they should be overwhelming favourites to get to the Final at the very least...
No offence to Louth,Longford,Wicklow,Carlow and Westmeath of course  :)

Yesterday morning I was hoping for a Tipp win yesterday, today I'm up for Armagh. Thought we were going well at half time, Murphy destroyed us, our much lauded forward line is almost the worst in Division 2. Especially in getting goals. Hope they are saving themselves for May 23rd.

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 28, 2010, 08:35:57 AM
We have stood still this year, going to be a short summer.

Things wouldn't be too bad if we'd have stood still Dinny. We've gone backwards big time.

The wider panel needed freshening up this year but we were left with the same old tired faces on the bench. I don't understand why David Lyons was called up for one when we have an abundance of half-backs but not one natural corner-back. The lad has been on the scene since 2003 and has been tried in plenty of positions. When he finally looked like nailing down a place he went off travelling. Surely there's a tight marking corner-back somewhere in the county?

The lack of forward options is frightening. In fairness to McGeeney he wasn't helped by Eoghan O'Flaherty opting out. Why weren't Gavin Smullen or Mark O'Sullivan called up though especially when we started Ronan Walsh (a back) at corner forward in the O'Byrne Cup. Cribbin should have seen way more action in the half-forwards where his pace could be utilised. Ken Donnelly will only do it in one game and then go missing for the next three. Injuries have robbed us of Karl Ennis' best years and he looks to have lost his pace completely now. Smith has to start against Meath no matter how fit he is.

Just got to hope that it'll come right before the first weekend in June because we should still be capable of reaching Croke Park but we're running out of time at this stage.

Quote from: thejuice on March 28, 2010, 12:03:54 PM
Yesterday morning I was hoping for a Tipp win yesterday, today I'm up for Armagh. Thought we were going well at half time, Murphy destroyed us, our much lauded forward line is almost the worst in Division 2. Especially in getting goals. Hope they are saving themselves for May 23rd.

Just wait until you see the Kildare forwards in Navan if the last few weekends are anything to go by.

1 An Dun 6 5 0 1 +45 11 (Promoted)
2 Ard Mhacha 6 4 2 0 +21 8
3 Dún na nGall 6 4 2 0 +18 8
4 Cill Dara 6 3 3 0 -1 6
5 Laois 6 3 3 0 -4 6
6 An Mhí 6 3 3 0 -8 6
7 Tiobraid Árann 6 1 4 1 -17 3 (Relegated)
8 An Iarmhí 6 0 6 0 -46 0 (Relegated)

A draw will be enough for Armagh to get promoted along with Down but that'll be a very difficult task since our last game is away to Donegal

Just goes to show, if we hadn't fecked up against Tipp, we would be in the promotional shake up but for 1 loss were almost facing a drop. Not to take anything away from Tipp but just goes to show how the league is fairly fraught with danger, 'one loss and your gone'. Would be great if the teams in all leagues brought a more fighting attitude to it, so too the GAA

Have to say I'm enjoying most of the league games I've seen this year.
Except our games, of course.

Surprise, surprise,

All games on Sunday is down for same time so no unfair advantage to any team. But....

Down v Laois,  Meath v Kildare,  Tipperary v Westmeath have nothing at stake, only pride or fringe players fighting for place in championship team.

Meath and Kildare should both give it a right go.
I think it's important to win your last league game.

Quote from: Jinxy on March 29, 2010, 11:57:01 AM
Meath and Kildare should both give it a right go.
I think it's important to win your last league game.

I don't think Kildare are capable of giving it a right go, we'll send up our ladies they'll give you a better game...

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 29, 2010, 12:38:58 PM

Quote from: Jinxy on March 29, 2010, 11:57:01 AM
Meath and Kildare should both give it a right go.
I think it's important to win your last league game.

I don't think Kildare are capable of giving it a right go, we'll send up our ladies they'll give you a better game...

You took us to the cleaners a couple of weeks back! What the hell happened?

Quote from: J70 on March 30, 2010, 12:06:28 AM

Quote from: Dinny Breen on March 29, 2010, 12:38:58 PM

Quote from: Jinxy on March 29, 2010, 11:57:01 AM
Meath and Kildare should both give it a right go.
I think it's important to win your last league game.

I don't think Kildare are capable of giving it a right go, we'll send up our ladies they'll give you a better game...

You took us to the cleaners a couple of weeks back! What the hell happened?

Sh1t happened!

Quote
Down v Laois,  Meath v Kildare,  Tipperary v Westmeath have nothing at stake, only pride or fringe players fighting for place in championship team.

Probably better to have teams with no continuing interest playing each other. Armagh and Donegal have an equal interest rather than one of them playing a team that has given up.

QuoteIf Down and Armagh were to meet in the Div 2 final, would it be in Newry or would that be seen as a home match for Down?

It would probably be in Croke Pk with the Div 1 final. If not, then somewhere like Casement. There would be a reasonable crowd.

Division 1 & 2 NFL finals are a double header in Croke Park on Sunday 25th April.

An NFL 1 Final involving Dublin and a NFL 2 Final between Armagh and Down should well near fill Croker. Here's hoping that both the Dubs and Armagh can deliver this weekend ;D

Quote from: T Fearon on April 07, 2010, 12:44:18 PM
An NFL 1 Final involving Dublin and a NFL 2 Final between Armagh and Down should well near fill Croker. Here's hoping that both the Dubs and Armagh can deliver this weekend ;D

You should not underestimate the size of the Mayo support

Donegal face Armagh without Walsh
By Staff reporter
Tom Comack

Naomh Brid's David Walsh has been added to John Joe Doherty's walking wounded ahead of Donegal's final round League game with Armagh in O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny. (Throw in 2.30 pm).

Walsh picked up a nasty ankle injury in a club game over the weekend and is a major doubt for Sunday's winner-takes-all clash with the Orchard County and he joins Eoin Waide (ankle), Gareth Concarr (cruciate).

While the Naomh Brid man did not start last time out against Meath he has been a first choice for most of the Dr. McKenna Cup and league campaign and was also introduced as a substitute in the 1-12 to 0-10 victory over the Royals.

The manager is also sweating on the fitness of midfielder Brendan Boyle, who missed his club's league game with Glenswilly on Sunday with a groin strain.

"David (Walsh) got a kick just above the ankle in a club game at the weekend and he was very uncomfortable at training on Tuesday night. And looking at him he is in big bother for Sunday's game and to be honest it is hard to see him be fit for Sunday," Doherty told the Democrat.

"Brendan (Boyle) has been struggling a little with a groin injury though I would be more hopeful that he will be fine come the weekend and I would expect him to be in with a great chance of being fit enough to play."

With Eoin Waide and Gareth Concarr already ruled out, Doherty's options are greatly reduced though on the good news front he did report that Barry Dunnion has been going well in training and is in good shape again.

Neither Rory Kavanagh, who has returned from his travels, and Christy Toye, who has resumed action with his club after a lengthy layoff with an achilles heel injury, will be in the Donegal squad for Sunday's game though both are expected to return to the county squad in the next week or so.

Sunday's game is a big game for both Donegal and Armagh with both chasing a place in the league final with Down and promotion to Division One. And while a draw will do Armagh, Donegal need to win the game to make the decider and clinch the second promotion spot.

"It is good to be going into the last game with our destiny in our own hands. We know on Sunday if we win we are in the league final and we will be also back playing in the top division next season. We will be going all out to achieve that and win the game," said John Joe.

Quote1   Down   7   38   13
2   Armagh   7   37   10
3   Donegal   7   2   8
4   Meath   7   -3   8
5   Laois           7   -5   6
6   Kildare   7   -6   6
7   Tipperary   7   -11   5
8   Westmeath7   -52   0

And so it is Armagh have another shot at Down in the final and have a place in Div1.


Division 2 teams for 2011

1. Donegal
2. Meath
3. Kildare
4. Laois
5. Derry
6. Tyrone
7. Antrim
8. Wexford (or is it Sligo?)

Quote from: T Fearon on April 07, 2010, 12:44:18 PM
An NFL 1 Final involving Dublin and a NFL 2 Final between Armagh and Down should well near fill Croker. Here's hoping that both the Dubs and Armagh can deliver this weekend ;D

If it goes on head to head then it's Cork in the final and not Dublin.

Was one of the 208 souls in Semple Stadium yesterday, very poor game, both sides not up to much, ruined what was a lovely day for a drive. Hackett for all his talk hasn't a clue about the Westmeath mentality, we desperately needed to win that game yesterday to have any chance of turning our season around and giving Wicklow/Carlow a game. It was so pivotal to win that the U21s should have been involved, there wasn't even one of them on the bench. When/If the game is in the balance the next day we're not gonna have the mentality to push on for the win as we're used to being nipped at the post these days, another year without a league point, disgraceful.

The program yesterday listed 6 people as being part of the Westmeath management, SIX, a case of far too many cooks I think. What's worse is that I don't think any of them know what they're at. Brought Hoey on when we got back to within one, he did his usual soloing into trouble, giving the ball away that lead directly to scores and then they took him off after 10 mins, beggared belief. The only positives from the game were to see Seanie O'Donoghue in maroon and the fact we actually reached double figures for points scored, it's gonna be a short, short summer, lets hope Heavin doesn't make a balls of the minors again this year...

I was also one of the 208 yesterday, looking at the game from a Tipperary point of view and with the Under 21 players being rested for next Saturday's All Ireland semi final v. Donegal, I was not at all confident that Tipp would win the game and I would certainly not have expected a 6 points winning margin.  To me, Westmeath looked extremely low on confidence, which is not surprising after their last 2 League campaigns.     As you say, WH got to within a point of Tipp in the second half, but once Tipp put on a couple of points, I thought that WH fell away very easily and in the end Tipp could have won by more.   I am sure that you are right about the WH management set up.  I remember reading early in the year of the people that Brendan Hackett was appointing to his back room team and they made no sense to me.  i know that Spike Fagan was a very good footballer, but i don't see what the likes of Michael Carruth and some others add to the set up.  Their appointments look very much like gimmicks to me.  No team needs a management team of 6 people and IMO if any team in the country needs a change of manager it has to be Westmeath.  Having said that Westmeath have some fine footballers and Martin Flanagan is still a very dangerous forward.  I could not understand why WH moved him out the field, as once they did so the Tipp full back line were in control of that part of the field.  There is still no reason if they get their act in order why WH can not beat the winners of the Carlow/Wicklow game.  These are my thoughts on Westmeath, after what I saw yesterday.

Good man Onlooker, it was a lovely day for it anyway. I presumed your U21s weren't involved as I was expecting more from yous, best of luck to them against Donegal. You're right, confidence levels are at rock bottom, yesterday was the time to build confidence again but we were a shambles. I counted 7 players who started who had no game time for Westmeath this year, talk about late in the day to be giving lads their chance. The heads dropped once Tipp started to pull away again and I'd be very concerned that the same will happen against Wicklow/Carlow. You're spot on about Michael Carruth, what significant contribution can a man who was involved in a solo sport make to a team. To me, he's just a well known name who was put on a ticket to get Hackett the job. Flan is indeed still very dangerous but he's infuriating to watch, great to sell a dummy and move past players but has absolutely zero workrate. Moving him out the field backfired, they say Willo was doing damage inside and probably hoped Flan could keep him supplied with ball but his lack of industry saw Tipp take over the middle and they kicked on from there. Grogan is a lovely player and was easily the best player on view yesterday. Tipp should be dangerous enough in Munster once they get their U21s back, best of luck anyway and see yous bright and early next year in Roinn 3. By the way, I know the hurlers are going well but where were all your supporters yesterday? It seemed to be mostly friends and family there...

Tipp will cetainly benefit from the return of the Under 21's, but I am afraid our chances in the Munster Championship ended on the night that the draw was made last November.  Tipp play Kerry in the Quarter Final with the winners meeting Cork in the Semi Final.  Talk about a nightmare draw.  They can not admit it, but Tipp have to be thinking about the qualifiers already.  Hope we get a better draw.  No venue for the Under 21 game has been announced yet.  There could be a Westmeath connection as it could be fixed for Mullingar.  The bookmakers have Donegal as favourites to win the All Ireland, but I think that Tipp will give them plenty of it on Saturday.  We were given no chance against Kerry in the Munster Final in Tralee and I am quite hopeful for Saturday.  I have always liked Martin Flanagan anytime I have seen him play.  He is a talented player.  Barry Grogan is a fine player and was really on his game yesterday.  He is a confidence player and got off to a good start yesterday.  The lack of support for Tipp footballers is a fact of life down here.   Interest in football is picking up, but people have not yet got into the habit of going to matches, plus there were a lot of club matches on yesterday.  There is real interest and goodwill in parts of the county, but Thurles and most of the North of the county is a desert for football.  Don't like to be thinking of next winter on fine days like this but Div. 3 is always a very interesting and competitive league.  Maybe Tipp won promotion to Div. 2 a year too soon.