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Messages - Mourne Rover

#1231
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
August 06, 2008, 11:59:46 PM
Having taken a few days to get over Saturday, I think we need to take a wider look at the summer campaign. While the Wexford performance was pretty dreadful on almost every front, there is reason to believe that we are still heading in the right direction.

Going into this season, we had not beaten a team regarded as serious provincial contenders in that particular year for almost a decade (since we hammered Tyrone at Casement in 1999). we had failed to put together any sort of run in the qualifiers since their launch in 2001, and we had not played a championship game at Croke Park since 1994.

We have now managed all three objectives, through the Tyrone and arguably the Laois results, getting back to back wins in the qualifiers and having a run-out at HQ as well.

We should never have been favourites against Wexford, as, apart from the second half against Dublin, they have been operating at a much higher level than us over recent years. They stuffed us in the league last spring, before winning the division, and have also been regulars at Croke Park as well.

They also had the benefit of a two-week break, while our boys were out on their feet after hanging on with 14 men against Laois. Hughes in particular looked drained against Wexford, while we cannot expect Gordon to be MoM in every match.

Losing our only two experienced defenders, Cole and Doyle, left us very vulnerable, and McComiskey would also have given us a range of options up front. By the time Ambrose ended up having major surgery, after the other long-term injuries to O'Hanlon, Ciaran McGovern and Rooney, it was pretty clear that we were not having much luck in 2008.

If and when they all return, we now know we can take on at least some of the leading sides, we are capable of coming through the qualifiers with the right draw and we have a much clearer idea about what is required if we ever get back to Croke Park.

I hope that the present management stays in place, despite some of the rumblings in the background, and I believe there are two or three young players out there who could make a real difference to the present squad. Kevin Duffin of Castlewellan  is obviously one, while Peter Fitzpatrick of Ballymartin, if fit, and Kalum King of Bryansford, if committed, should also be in the frame.I think that Brendan McVeigh is a decent keeper who has simply let in too many goals, so I would also give McAllister his chance in nets.

The priority is to get into division two in 2009 and make it to the championship quarter finals within two years. I think we can do it.
#1232
Down / Re: Down Club Hurling & Football
August 06, 2008, 10:46:52 PM
Bredagh beat Drumaness by four points tonight to win the East Down minor league for the first time in their history ~ any word of when the draw is for the semis of the MFC ?
#1233
GAA Discussion / Re: Down v Wexford
August 02, 2008, 07:25:52 PM
Congratulations to Wexford, who should have won by a wider margin. We have made strong progress this season, but we were brutal today. The business with Dan did not help, and the Laois game took a lot of out us, but we still picked the wrong team, had no real tactical plan and played with little spirit or shape. It was hard to watch in a barin in Spain,and only Aidan Carr and to a lesser extend Peter Turley and Benny Coulter can hold their heads high. McGuigan, Murtagh and particularly Fegan should never have started, and the rest were largely anonymous. We will pick ourselves up and start again.
#1234
GAA Discussion / Re: Laois v Down
July 22, 2008, 12:11:15 AM
Laoislad, during this season, you were in division one and we were in division three. We were in the same league section in 2006 and 2007, and you hammered us, home and away, when we met. You have regularly played in big matches at Croke Park over recent years but we have not been involved in a championship game there since 1994. We hope that Down are improving, but I somehow think `poor little ol' Laois' might just turn up on Saturday night.
#1235
GAA Discussion / Re: Qualifiers Round 2
July 21, 2008, 05:29:05 PM
OM, it seems that you are right. The RTE2 seven-day listings in the Sunday papers indicated coverage between 4.40pm and 9pm, but Sky's advance tv guide says that the programme finishes at 7pm. We will probably have to settle for a radio link via the internet.
#1236
GAA Discussion / Re: Laois v Down
July 21, 2008, 05:09:32 PM
Are you sure about that, Bacon ? TV3 obviously has first choice, but the RTE2 listings pretty clearly indicate that two games are due to be covered at Saturday evening.
#1237
GAA Discussion / Re: Qualifiers Round 2
July 21, 2008, 04:54:17 PM
As I have just posted on the Laois v Down thread, RTE2  is scheduled to have qualifier coverage from 4.40pm to 9pm. This obviously means Donegal v Monaghan at 5pm and either Limerick v Kildare or - hopefully, as we are in Spain - Laois v Down at 7pm. Can anyone offer any more information ?
#1238
GAA Discussion / Re: Laois v Down
July 21, 2008, 04:51:28 PM
We are in Spain this weekend, so television coverage has suddenly become a huge issue. TV3 is already committed to the 3pm start, which is Tyrone v Westmeath. The RTE2 listings has qualifier coverage from 4.40pm to 9pm, so they must be doing Donegal V Monaghan at 5pm and either Limerick v Kildare or - hopefully - Laois v Down at 7pm. Can anyone confirm this, or offer any more information /
#1239
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 21, 2008, 11:59:15 AM
AZ, there is no point in patronising you and saying that your boys were unlucky. It's probably more realistic to accept that most of them were brutal on the day, and the final score could have been worse. Down repeatedly took points when goals were readily available, and it was the most one-sided county game I have ever seen.

A couple of the Offaly subs made at least some impression, including one who had apparently been on the bench for the hurlers and drove straight up from Thurles after the earlier game. However, it is a case of clearing the decks and starting all over again next year.

If it's any consolation, in our previous two games in the qualifiers, Meath at home in 2007 and Sligo away in 2006, we collapsed on each occasion and scored an overall total of two points from play across both matches. We had to regroup, and thankfully we seem to be heading in the right direction.

The Offaly fans knew the story in advance, and most of them went to Thurles or stayed in the bars. Those who made it to the ground were outnumbered roughly four to one by the Down support. People were flooding out when we scored our second goal well before half-time, and there was one guy who climbed on to the roof of his neighbouring house to watch and gave up after ten minutes.

However, the hard core stayed to the bitter end, cheered their own late goals and applauded Down off the field. They were a credit to the GAA, and everyone in the bars both before and after the game could not have been friendlier as well. You have a magnificent stand as well, but, er, that's about it in terms of positives for Offaly at the moment.
#1240
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 20, 2008, 08:14:50 PM
It was a memorable Down performance against admittedly limited opposition - people like Martin McHugh who claim that Down have a poor defence should take a look at Offaly. As far as I can work out, our total was the highest in the history of the qualifiers and the aggregate of both teams was also a record.

Conceding 2-10 was not great, although their two goals came at a stage when the contest was long over and the exchanges resembled a particularly polite pre-season friendly. McVeigh had no chance with either but otherwise did well. Howard again was the pick of our defence, although Cole did not really settle at full back and Murney was also fairly edgy. Things improved considerably when McArdle came on, and he must be in with a shout of starting the next day. Turley also did well, and has the size to make a difference, although I think it was also him who collided with Ambrose.

The half back line was fine, with Carr looking top quality from both play and frees. Murphy went off early, probably because of his yellow card, but McGuigan was surprisingly effective at centre half. He is quite an athlete, and used the ball impressively, but he will have to wait until he come up against a quality CHF before he can be judged in the position.

Our midfield, as Dubh Driocht, pointed out, was immense. Ambrose was in excellent form until his injury, which hopefully does not amount to much, but Dan was nothing less than majestic. His fielding was almost flawless, his shooting was great and his pace had poor McManus out on his feet after about 15 minutes. One pass in the first half, when he chipped the ball over the Offaly defence straight into the arms over a running Down forward was worth the admission alone.

McKernan, as has been suggested here before, is a natual CHF and had a fine game. Hughes was in and out, but showed his speed in flashes and took his scores well. Fegan works very hard, and gives us a good balance, but does not have much of a scoring threat.

Clarke and Murtagh was both impressive, although they were given plenty of time and space for their scores, and Benny was back to his best. I think he won every ball that came his way, and Offaly had no idea how to cope with him. Sexton deserves a mention for coming on with about two minutes left and hitting 1-1.

It is difficult to argue with a display like Saturday's, but I still feel Kearney could strengthen our attack and it will be a massive blow if McComiskey is ruled out of even a sub's role.

Everyone seems to be making us favourites against Laois, but they absolutely destroyed us in the league at Newcastle last year. We have plainly improved significantly since then, and the second round will be a good test for us.   

 
#1241
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 19, 2008, 12:24:11 PM
Regular readers please note that the Rovermobile is now leaving for Tullamore. No further posts will be possible until we return, which may be some time.
#1242
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 18, 2008, 07:38:03 PM
Corn02, Cole is by some distance the best defender in the Down squad but he is a specialist corner back who is also a useful wing half. He can play at full back, but he does not look particularly comfortable there. While I would have been inclined to keep McCartan at no 3, and played Cole instead of Rafferty in the corner, I'm sure Ross had a good look at the tapes of Offaly before picking the team. However, a couple of changes before the throw-in would be no real surprise.

This is a big game for Down, as, if we win, it will be viewed as a season of progress regardless of what happens in the rest of the qualifiers. If we slip up against a division four side, coming after a fairly flat display against Armagh, questions will be asked. This is precisely the kind of fixture we have messed up since the start of the back door in 2001. However, if Dan the man does what he has been doing at midfield, we are capable of coming through.

#1243
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 18, 2008, 12:42:21 PM
The simple fact that Down do not have a natual, experienced, fullback on our present squad, and so we have to mix and match. Dan McCartan lacks height, as we all know, but his efforts against Sean Cavanagh at the Marshes were little short of heroic. Cavanagh was able to win possession, and kick a couple of points, but McCartan prevented him from either scoring or setting up the goal which would have cost us a fully deserved win on the night.

It is generally accepted that Ronan Clarke is the best full forward in Ireland at the moment, and McCartan, while he gave everything for the team, could not cope with him. There was no shame in that, and the vast majority of full backs across the country would be in a similar position with Clarke.

No one is suggesting that McCartan is all-star material, but total commitment and determination can take a player a long way. He would be in my squad every time on this year's form. Whether he starts is a judgment call for the management, but he has displayed beyond doubt that he is capable of playing at inter-county level.
#1244
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 17, 2008, 11:35:58 PM
The Down team will have surprised a few people, including me. The big talking point is the return of Fegan, who did reasonably well in the league but seemed to freeze on his championship debut in Omagh and was gone by half-time. He works hard and has no difficulty in dropping back to defend, but it is hard to understand what more Kearney has to do for a starting spot. He has pace, strength and can take a score from play. Fegan must have been selected for his free-taking ability, which is excellent, although he is right-sided like Carr, and it looks as though Colgan will take the kicks on the other side.

Our half-forward line looks good on paper, but will hardly line up that way. Murtagh is very fortunate to hold his place, as he was pretty dreadful in the second half against Armagh. It is possible that there will be a late switch or two up front, which could involve either Sexton or Kearney.

Cole was obviously going to come straight back in the defence, but the expectation was that it would be for Rafferty, who is a decent player, but struggled from start to finish against Armagh. McCartan gave everything against probably the best full forward in the country, and probably deserved another chance. McKernan looks more of a natural centre forward than a centre half, but a good player can fit in anywhere.

Offaly will know that they were very ordinary against Westmeath, which was fully six weeks ago. We were also poor against Armagh, and both teams have a dismal record in the qualifiers, so it is a hard one to call.

The main stand at Tullamore runs the full length of the pitch and apparently has a 7,000 capacity. Does any know if there are tickets, or if it is first come first served ?
#1245
GAA Discussion / Re: Offaly v Down 19/20 July
July 15, 2008, 11:10:26 PM
Restraint, yes - respect, you must be joking. Sullen silence is the best Mangan can expect from the visiting support. On a separate matter, the Irish Indo said today that Offaly were hoping to get the football throw-in brought forward to 2pm because of their hurling QF at 5pm. I have every sympathy for them, but I would assume it is simply too late for a change. Is there any word from Croke Park ?