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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.

Does promotion guarantee Sam maguire group for this year?.

I read somewhere recently, that the team that tops div 3, is likely to play in the All Ireland series this year.

If Kildare got to a leinster final, this might change, but it could mean the division 3 play off will have a huge amount at stake.

Also if Down won Div 3, and got to an Ulster final the runner up might progress also.

Eamonn Brown came on as sub and Ryan Magill started and captained the team, as far as I'm aware that is the only Down contribution.

I saw a picture of Oisin Treacey from Bredagh, no 16, I presume the sub goalkeeper. Eamonn Brown's brother was on the panel too, don't know the other two.

Mc rory is donminated these days by Tyrone and Derry teams. St colmans, Abbey, St Louis and red high downpatrick well of the pace.

Red High very rarely compete in McRory even when they have had teams with several county minors.
They seem to value competing in a B competition more than testing themselves in an A competition.

Maybe with the impending bigger pick as "Lecale" next year they'll do a St Ronans of Lurgan and make bigger in-roads.

I thought the same, but I was talking to someone last weekend and he said that the Castlewellan and Bryansford students who would have formed the backbone of the team most years, are probably more likely to go to St Malachys Castlewellan now.

In fairness there is a massive difference in winning the McCrory with the equivalent of Kerry and bringing Kilkeel single handedly to the final more suited to a Sligo.

R.I.P
He lived in "interesting times".
But had he got back as Taoiseach in 97 woukd we have got the Good Friday Agreement?

Not a hope would there have been a GFA with Bruton at the helm. The historic pic of Hume Reynolds and Adams would never have taken place if John Bruton was still Taoiseach.

I'd love to see McEvoy and Murdock in midfield together, I think they would compliment each other well.

Laverty, Fagan, McCarthy, Docherty, McElroy and a few others can provide cover in the full back line.

Great show usually, but outstanding tonight. I really enjoyed it, what a player Tony was.