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[Kilcoo]

SFC
Longstone v Kilcoo
Castlewellan v Clonduff
Liatriom v Annaclone
Bryansford v Burren
Ballyholland v An Riocht
Saval v Mayobridge
Rostrevor v Warrenpoint
Downpatrick v Loughinisland

IFC
Glasdrumman v Clann na Banna
Glenn v Bredagh
Tullylish v Kilclief
Bosco v Atticall
Drumgath v Shamrocks
Ballymartin v Dundrum
Darragh Cross v St John's
Saul v Carryduff

JFC
Bright v Drumaness
St Michael's v St Paul's
Teconnaught v Mitchels
Aughlisnafinn v Killyleagh
Dromara v Ardglass
Aghaderg v Ballykinlar

Thats fair enough Raven and good to hear they are being 'catered' for in that respect.

I can't understand how there isn't enough gear for the Development Squads as a mate of mine was picking up the championship ticket in the county office a few weeks back and he told me the place was coming down with bags, shorts, socks, water, juice etc.  So what are they doing with all this stuff if the lads aren't getting it.?  There is nothing worse than turning up for a match in a mish/mash of gear when your opponents look immaculate.  Even worse at a blitz like this when numerous county teams will be there as well.

There was talk of Club Down wanting to help kit out the development squads. What happened to that?

Club Down seem to have disappeared without trace, their website is blank. Another well intentioned initiative gone by the wayside

[Taken from Down Facebook page]

Taken from Down Facebook page

The following are the arrangements for this weeks Down GAA Football Development Squads:

Wednesday 14th August 2013:
Down U17 Footballers - Indoor Session @ Abbey CBS Newry at 10am sharp.

All players are asked to attend. Any player who is unavailable is asked to inform the squad coaches immediately.

Saturday 17th August 2013:
Down u15 Footballers will travel to Portlaoise where they will compete in the National u15 Football Blitzes.

They will be in a group with Louth, Laois, Wicklow and Limerick. The games will commence at 11am.

Bus Times as follows:
7am Ivanhoe Hotel Carryduff
7.20am Brennans Shop Loughinisland
7.30am Upper Sq Castlewellan,
7.40am Kilcoo Shop,
7.50am Hilltown Square,
8.00am Mayobridge Bus Stop,
8.15am Brass Monkey

All players are asked to attend. Any player who is unavailable is asked to inform the squad coaches immediately.
All players must wear Down Training tops and Bottoms and bring their Shorts and Socks. All players are asked to bring a packed lunch.

Saturday 17th August 2013:
Down u16 Footballers will travel to Darver, Co. Louth where they will compete in the National u16 Football Blitzes.

They will be in a group with Louth, Armagh, Carlow, Wicklow, Westmeath and Wexford. The Games will commence at 11am.

Bus Times as follows:
7.50am Ivanhoe Hotel Carryduff
8.20am Brennans Shop Loughinisland
8.30am Upper Sq Castlewellan
8.40am Kilcoo Shop,
8.50am Hilltown Square,
9.00am Mayobridge Bus Stop,
9.15am Brass Monkey

All players are asked to attend. Any player who is unavailable is asked to inform the squad coaches immediately.
All players must wear Down Training tops and Bottoms and bring their Shorts and Socks. All players are asked to bring a packed lunch


Obviously someone from the County Board reads these pages as suddenly this week for the development squads there is a bus going from the Ivanhoe when previously lads had to make their way from Castlewellan!

This is a step in the right direction but a major issue is that some lads are getting on a bus in Carryduff at 7am, travelling to Portlaoise to represent Down in the National U.15 Blitz and not home to god knows what time.  What do they get to eat - BRING A PACKED LUNCH!!!!  Are you for real.  I would need some bloody packed lunch if I was going to Portlaoise for the day, never mind play a few games of football as well.  These Development Squads are centrally funded I believe with Down being given a certain amount to spend on our teams as they like.  How hard would it be for them to spend a few pound on a bite to eat, after all the thousands that are being spent on the Senior Team per week during the year isn't being used now so could they not have some of this?

All development squads are given food after the blitz is over. Their own packed lunch is for the break midway through the day. I have been to few of these with my son over last couple of years and to be honest I think they are adequately catered for. My only gripe would be the gear, when other teams come they are fully kitted out whereas we arrive in a multi coloured range of county shirts and even god forbid soccer tops. as soon as squads are finalised they should be kitted out. Pride in the jersey!!!

[Bryansford]

SFC
Bryansford v Ballyholland
Rostrevor v Saval
Warrenpoint v Mayobridge
Clonduff v Annaclone
Liatriom v Castlewellan
Kilcoo v Loughinisland
Downpatrick v Longstone
Burren v An Riocht

IFC
Carryduff v St John
Bosco v Tullylish
Ballymartin v Drumgath
Clan na Banna v Bredagh
Darragh Cross v Saul
Kilclief v Atticall
Shamrocks v Dundrum
Glenn v Glasdrumman

JFC
Ardglass v Ballykinler
Aughlisnafinn v Teconnaught
St Michaels v Bright
Drumaness v St Pauls
Aghaderg v Dromara
Mitchels v Killyleagh

Joe Brolly, bang on the money.

100%+1
Tyrone a disgrace to GAA

Whats the story with the championship prediction thread being locked

[Mayobridge]

SFC
Mayobridge v Rostrevor
Ballyholland v Burren
Loughinisland v Longstone
Liatroim v Clonduff
Annaclone v Castlewellan
Cumann Pheadair Naofa v Saval
An Riocht v Bryansford
Downpatrick vKilcoo

IFC
Dundrum v Drumgath
Bosco v Kilclief
Glenn v Clann na Banna
Atticall v Tullylish
St Johns v Saul
Ballymartin v Shamrocks
Bredagh v Glasdrumman
Darragh Cross v Carryduff

JFC
Aughlisnafinn v Mitchels
St Michaels v Drumaness
Ballykinlar v Dromara
St Pauls v Bright
Killyleagh v Teconnaught
Aghaderg v Ardglass

Very disappointing result but coming for a long time. We seem to have forgotten or don't have the courage to score or perhaps this ridiculous defencive system we have tried to adopt doesn't allow scoring. Its just a pity we don't have a good big target man up front who win a ball and lay it off to couple fast corner forwards. God how we miss Mickey and Bundy !!

I like Benny knew leaving Croke Park 2010 we wouldn't be back

Some weird results in division one last night. Burren had a shocking first half v the ford but conditions were terrible. What sort of team did kilcoo have out v the kingdom??? Annnaclone and ballyholland are doing well at the minute. What happened the bridge last night, are rostrevor  really that bad as the bridge as a club are in decline big time??

Here Jim, anytime your over at our club this year when your club is getting a lend of our ground I will give you a tour around Downs oldest club and I will let you see for yourself how much decline we are in 

Sorry to correct you but I believe Mayobridge is not the oldest club in Down

Sorry to correct you but if you go to Croke park and go through the records it will tell you that on 30th April 1888 St Patrick's Mayobridge became the first club in the county to have an affiliation accepted by the GAA. This makes Mayobridge the oldest registered club in the county .

Hows the hurling going this weather in the Bridge

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the O'Hare family, Dromara Gac & gaaboard member Western Exile on the passing of Kevin. Rest in peace

I hear there was another total embarassment of a draw for the championships in the Canal Court.  Was it 3 bowls of 4 teams or 4 bowls of 3 teams?  Just before the full time paid secretary was about to go ahead with 3 bowls they elected to change to 4 bowls . . . . . . .  no no no stop, it should be 3 bowls like we thought - what an absolutely incompetent way of doing things.  How hard would have been to have a trial run before the live draw to ensure the organisation of the actual draw was perfect.  We should have learned from our past draws but obviously our full time paid secretary hasn't learned from his previous c**k ups!

What do these guys actually do?  Our secretary is a joke - he absolutely epitomises the 'Down Way' (his words) of doing things and with a bunch of jokers around him who are supposed organise development squads and courses for coaches, is it any wonder we are light years behind many other counties in Ulster.

Following on from this sentiment does anyone know much about the advert that was placed in serveral papers calling on ex county squad members to come to a meeting to discuss the way forward in Down?

Did this really need adverts in the province wide Irish News newspaper? Do the DCB not have contact details for the vast majority of the relevant people that we wouldn't have needed a probably expensive advertising campaign?

Well said, we may as well told everyone in Ulster we havn't a clue and going by the comments above it could be true

Disgraceful scenes 2day in the ACPRL between castlewellan and kilcoo. A mass brawl of around 70people involving players subs managers and supporters. Would be interesting to see the referees report

Tell us more, hard to beat a good row

Does anyone know where the Down website has gone?. When I click on www.downgaa.net it takes you to the 2010 old website. Any ideas?