Messages

Why is anyone surprised by the decision club football is a necessary evil for our county board at this time of year if they could postpone all club games until the county team were beat they would no common sense not a thought for the hundreds of honest club footballers and their families who have planned around a Friday night fixture bank holidays are a rare chance to plan things if you are a gaa family weddings ect and how many will benefit from this 6 or 7 players but remember folks its THE DOWN WAY

Its always worth remembering that the County Board aren't some mythical body up in the sky - its made up of the Clubs of Down with all Clubs having a representation. So instead of sitting on the sidelines slagging off the "County Board, why not speak with your county rep  - if you know who that is?

Anyone else been following the JFC issue on Hogan Stand re Dromara/Drumaness/County Board? Not going to go into the details (see Hogan Stand for background) but Dromara appealed a County Board decision to the Ulster Council who ruled in favour of Dromara so Dromara obviously had merit in their position. Wonder is there any impact of this issue on other Down competitions including league positionings - only appears to be a problem when a team fails to field.

[Mayobridge]

Mayobridge v Shamrocks
Saval v Liatroim
Rostrevor v Clonduff
Castlewellan v Loughinisland
Burren v Kilclief
Downpatrick v Bryansford
Kilcoo v An Riocht
Longstone v Ballyholland

Just back from the game. Its a long road home after such a roasting. Dont know what it looked like on TV but Down just werent at the game. Cork looked fitter, more athletic, more hungry than Down throughout the whole game. Puts the AIF in context - Down not near the same level as Cork. We were beaten comprehensively at midfield on kickouts from both sides, we fluffed too many good chances while Cork seem to run at us and float over points at ease. And the goals!!! - very poor defensive mistakes. All in all, a bad day day for Down - beaten hands down by an impressibve Cork side. We have a lot of work still to do.

[well done to the County Board for the organisation apart from 2 things- firstly the PA is a disaster, secondly, I found it hard at half-time of the IFC final to cope with a sevens game, the skills competetion and a raffle. Sometimes less is more.]

well done to the County Board for the organisation apart from 2 things- firstly the PA is a disaster, secondly, I found it hard at half-time of the IFC final to cope with a sevens game, the skills competetion and a raffle. Sometimes less is more.

Dubh driocht. totally agree with that. The PA system is absolutely terrible - its like listening Radio 3 on a transistor radio!! Surely in this day and age we can do better than this!

And cramming everything into half time of the intermediate match was ill-thought out (& you forgot (or maybe you missed!) he club ground awards which also took place at the same time - the match had actually restarted before the award "ceremony" was over. Now in my opinion, if we are going to publicly acknowledge a Club or person at such an event, we should make it an event - the presenter should be in the middle of the pitch and one by one the receipents names called out to come and receive the award - make it meaningful!

Regarding presentations generally, why are these done so close to the stand where only a very limited number of people can see what is going on. Again, why cant we have a small platform to pull out onto the pitch where everyone can see whats happenig - even with no platform it would be better than we had today where the presentations were done on the sideline, where the majority could see FA and a useless PA system meant they could hear FA as well!!

And on to price - I just thought £12 and £3 for a programme was ripping the arse out of it a bit today - suddenly everything to do with Down football has become terribly expensive.

But to finish on a positive note - two cracking games played in great spirits, in an excellent venue, good football, good refereeing and a thourghably enjoyable afternoon. Roll on next year!!

[Burren]

SFC final
Burren v Bryansford

IFC final
Annaclone v Tullylish

Minor - Kilcoo

[Rostrevor]

RFC Final
24/09Warrenpoint v Rostrevor
PRFC Final
24/09An Riocht v Mayobridge

JFC Semi-finals
26/09Bright v St John Bosco
26/09 Drumaness v Aughlisnafinn

MFC
Kilcoo v Rostrevor

By God. its a small world!!! Now where else could someone have gone to find a bar in MONTENEGRO showing the AIF?? Good old GAA Board.  We've come a long way since we changed behind the ditch!!

[St Michaels]

02/09/10   St Michaels  v Aughlisnafin
03/09/10   Drumaness v Mitchels
05/09/10   Bright v St Pauls
05/09/10   St John Bosco v Teconnaught

[Rostrevor]

2010 Prediction League
Senior Football Championship

Ballyholland v Rostrevor
Castlewellan v Bryansford
Mayobridge v Warrenpoint
An Riocht v Clonduff
Downpatrick v Kilcoo
Burren v Loughinisland
Ballymartin v Saval
Liatroim v Longstone

Intermediate Football Championship
Drumgath v Saul
Darragh Cross v Atticall
Bredagh v Tullylish
Dundrum v Carryduff
Ardglass v St Johns
Glenn v Clann na Banna
Annaclone v Shamrocks
Kilclief v Glasdrumman

Junior Football Championship
Bright v Ballykinlar
Aghaderg v St Micheals
Dromara v St John Bosco

(off topic) Could anyone post or email me some directions to St John's (Drumnaquoile) Pitch.  Pairc Naomh Eoin I think.
Will be travelling from Belfast direction so probably just need general directions from Ballynahinch.  I think you go towards Drumaroad?

Cheers, folks.

Are you the new steel supplier - i hear Watsons have run out. If you're coming in a 40 footer, you might be better headin into Clough and down thru the Fin. Them wee roads thru the Spa are narra esp if the beams are hanging out the back.

Congrats to Kilcoo - its been an enviable year for the Club so very well done to all those who put the ground work in over the past number of years. Kilcoo have achieved what all Clubs up & down the country aspire to and yesterday's win by the Minors augers well for more of the same.

I do however feel that Kilcoo generally display a "win at all costs attitude" and its one that isn't pleasant to witness - diving, exaggerated reaction to contact, holding unto the ball unnecessarily when a free is awarded, kicking the ball away when a free is awarded, goalie making sure that, when in the lead, a replacement ball isnt available to kick out (by booting it to the sideline every time one appears), off the ball punching, nipping, kicking etc etc  - you can argue that this is all part of the game but is it? Is that what our great GAA is about?

But the worst example of this "win at all costs" attitude yesterday wasnt even on the field - it was the Kilcoo supporters in the stand who consistently & very loudly  jeered the hapless L'island free taker when he was lining up his frees but, even worse, cheered even more loudly when he missed - in fact an L'island miss was cheered equally as loudly as a Kilcoo score.

So Kilcoos off home with their trophies and are rightly proud of their sons and daughters who have brought so much to the Club this year. But I cant help feeling that their cold ruthless "win at ALL costs" approach  isnt totally in keeping with the ethos of Cuman Luthcleas Gael.

[Yesterdays Irish News (back page)]

Yesterdays Irish News (back page)


'If I was approached, I would give the offer serious consideration. If Armagh were interested in me, I would certainly think about it,' he told the Irish News.

McGrath was surprisingly not considered for a return to management with Down after Ross Carr left the post, and he admitted that it's a decision that still rankles with him.


When asked if the pain had started to ease, he replied: 'It hasn't really. I think it is one of those things that is going to linger.

'In saying that, I have got to move on. I can't allow my life to be overwhelmed by something that was devastating and very hurtful. It is still very much there and I just wouldn't be on top of the world at the moment.

'But it's up to me to make sure that it doesn't take a grip. No-one should allow that to happen because it would all sorts of inroads into you health and well-being.'

This claptrap from broken winged Pete really does my head in. Why doesnt he just move on instead of this whinging to the Irish News and to anyone elase who will listen?

13aside, I think thats a fairly specific issue you might have with one individual in your own Club (doesn't sound like a pleasant chap though).
Im actually talking about a different animal altogether - egotistical head stuck up a ususally adequate backside who thinks the GAA world should bow to them in reverent respect. Sad development in the GAA species as many who have developed into this state have made reasonable or even significant contributions in the past but now believe they can live off that for the rest of their lives - they tend to think the GAA (either Club or County) is all about them, forget about the fact that there was a functioniing organisation there before they were even born and, sadly, forget the old truism "you're only as good as your last game".

Hear now that Pete McGath is complaining about the manager selection process. Does Pete expect some special treatment - does he forget how far his halo had slipped prior to the appointment of his successor.?
How many egoheads do we have in this county - first the embarrassment of Ross & co who just didnt know when to go and now Pete jumping up & down like a petulant child. My memorys not that good now, but I dont remember Paddy O'Rourke making a show of himself when things didnt work out - he left like a gentleman. dignity intact.

I totally despair with these others who seem to need/want their egos massaged on a regular basis. Mind you, it doent just happen at county level  - most clubs seem to own one or two as well!!!