Messages

At the start of the year for Down, promotion was the be all and end all, that has been comfortably secured.

But after losing the d3 final and a lacklustre display v Antrim all of a sudden its doom and gloom again.

Last year in Clones was probably my worst experience following Down, and I've seen both Wicklow and Sligo putting us out in the backdoor.

The weather, the hammering the lack of facilities in Clones, its a ground no longer fit for purpose, anyone saying otherwise is wearing rose tinted glasses and thinking of the good oul days.

A few weeks later I was in Thurles for the Tailtain cup, Tipp v Limerick in the hurling was on after as part of a double header. The contrast in atmosphere, facilities, organisation etc was stark.

Having said that il more than likely be in Clones on Saturday week.

The Kilcoo county final episode really tarnished Lavery's reputation; much of the enthusiasm and support from last year has gone. Not all his fault, we don't have the players to compete.

It was a shameful episode alright. Strange too that there were never any details released by Croke Park after their investigation into it. Something just isn't clicking at the minute, if we are beat in the semi final, will there be as much enthusiasm for the TC this year as there was last year?

I'd be fairly ignorant of the club hurling scene in Down. I think splash and jc give a great insight into it, and it's positive to see the game develop in parts of the county more associated with football.

[Preliminary round - 7 April]

ULSTER SFC FIXTURES (times BST)

Preliminary round - 7 April

Monaghan v Cavan Clones, 16:00

Quarter-final - 13 April

Down v Antrim Pairc Esler, 18:00

Quarter-final - 14 April

Fermanagh v Armagh Brewster Park, 14:00

Quarter-final - 20 April

Derry v Donegal Celtic Park, 18:15

Quarter-final - 21 April

Tyrone v Monaghan/Cavan TBC

Semi-final - 27 April

Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh TBC >> If this game the Sat night, will it be Omagh, or would (likely) Down & Armagh toss??

Semi-final - 28 April

Derry/Donegal v Monaghan/Cavan/Tyrone TBC

Final - 12 May

Down v Armagh would most likely be Clones. From a personal point of view I'd prefer if they tossed for it, or even played it in Breffini.

I'm still scarred from the drowning I got in Clones last year, and the hiding we got.

I thought the black card was very harsh, McGovern busted a gut to get back, I thought the westmeath man cut across him, there was a bit of a tangle alright, and if the referee had to have awarded the free against McGovern, it would have been sufficient in my opinion.

Down beat Donegal in the Ulster championship last year who got promoted from div 2 this year. They also beat Cavan in Breffini Park in the Tailtain cup last season.

Down won't fear any team next year in Div 2, particularly in Newry, even the 2 teams coming down from div 1 I'd expect Down to put it up to them at a minimum.

By my reckoning Louth would need to reach the Leinster final and Down beat Westmeath next weekend to qualify for the All Ireland series via their league position.

Or, they will need to beat Antrim and Armagh to qualify via the Ulster championship.

By contrast Downs opponents today, Clare only have to beat a division 4 opponent Tipp or Waterford, to guarantee a 2nd seed position in the All Ireland series.

Definitely a flaw in the system.

Bar the 2 teams ( Armagh and Donegal) that are likely to go up, I don't think the other div 2 teams are much better than Down, Westmeath and Clare.

Whoever goes up this year would be fairly confident of consolidating in div 2 next year, or prehaps be in the mix up for promotion, if they get 4 home games.

Splash has certainly been a welcome addition to the Down forum. I enjoy the coverage of the ihc and jhc during the summer, games you would generally hear little about. It's encouraging to hear of progress at underage particularly at clubs like Castlewellan and CPN, where you would associate them more as football clubs.

Peter O'Shea is taking Ardglass this year.

I was looking through the Derry team and it seemed to be backboned by the Kevin Lynch's and Lavey clubs.

Maybe Slaughtneil's dominance in recent years has given the other Derry clubs the push to improve at underage, and as a whole, the county is benefiting.

If Clarke is anyway proficient at the basics of goalkeeping, he could be a serious weapon, coming onto the ball from deep with time and space.

It's definitely worth a look at, particularly if we beat Westmeath and have a risk free game v Clare.

Without doubt he is a generational player, and the new innovative sweeper keeper role could suit him.

Westmeath were unlucky not to qualify from their group last year. The home game, away game and a neutral game is a good format, especially for a young team on the up, like Down.

I just had a  quick look at the leinster sfc draw and Westmeath and Kildare are on the same side of the draw and probably between them for a leinster final spot. Presuming Dublin win again, one of these teams would be a second seed in the All Ireland series.