Any venue for this? Assuming Newry if not neutral and Armagh if it is?
Semi finals always neutral. Previously this pairing would have met at Casement Park. However, now that the Athletic Grounds have been reopened that would be a more suitable option.
Quote from: western exile on June 09, 2012, 11:15:46 AM
Semi finals always neutral. Previously this pairing would have met at Casement Park. However, now that the Athletic Grounds have been reopened that would be a more suitable option.
Is it for sure that semi finals are always played at a neutral venue?
If Monaghan win their next 2 matches they'll be Ulster Champions. It's about time they did it again.
I'd prefer Casement as a neutral venue. Monaghan have done well there the last few times and a lot of the current squad would have had plenty of games there.
I know from talking to Down supporters, they are very confident of making the Ulster Final. While not dismissive of the Monaghan challenge they understandably point to the big recent wins against us in the League and McKenna cup. The form guide points to a Down win.
Hopefully we'll come out firing on all cylinders and buck the trend.
Quote from: babarino on June 09, 2012, 07:39:36 PM
I'd prefer Casement as a neutral venue. Monaghan have done well there the last few times and a lot of the current squad would have had plenty of games there.
I know from talking to Down supporters, they are very confident of making the Ulster Final. While not dismissive of the Monaghan challenge they understandably point to the big recent wins against us in the League and McKenna cup. The form guide points to a Down win.
Hopefully we'll come out firing on all cylinders and buck the trend.
Armagh thought similarly in 2010 and got humped. Monaghan are most dangerous when they are written off, I can see them winning this one.
Quote from: borderfox on June 10, 2012, 01:39:57 AM
Armagh thought similarly in 2010 and got humped. Monaghan are most dangerous when they are written off, I can see them winning this one.
When Monaghan are written off, there are usually good reasons for doing so, afair we were not written off in 2010 before that Armagh game, except by ignoramuses.
Possibly the 4 weeks period since the win again against Antrim will work partly in our favour and offer some hope. There's a few important players like Finlay and Darren Hughes nursing injuries and both are still not fit. There's a few more like Freeman and McManus on the way back to being match sharp.
As it stands now, Down have every right to be confident of getting through, without too much fuss.
Armagh confirmed as venue.
Watching the Armagh/Tyrone game I saw a dozen or so empty seats at the rear of the MAG stand. I was up near these seats for Down's legaue game and couldn't believe the obstructed view from them.
Quote from: Aristo 60 on June 12, 2012, 12:12:14 PM
Watching the Armagh/Tyrone game I saw a dozen or so empty seats at the rear of the MAG stand. I was up near these seats for Down's legaue game and couldn't believe the obstructed view from them.
Agree, you would be as well as home as in some off these seats, totally crap they shouldnt be sold to the public especially the ones up tight to the commentary box.
For Monaghan to have any chance in this they'll need to have all their players back fully fit - Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay. Hopefully the other walking wounded that played the last day will also be sharper with a few games behind them - Walshe, Freeman, McManus, Corey, Mone.
Still given form and recent results, you'd expect Down to be favourites.
Armagh a good choice, should be a big crowd and with location of spectators so close to the action, could be a redhot atmosphere.
Down by 3.
Quote from: Bingo on June 12, 2012, 01:03:25 PM
For Monaghan to have any chance in this they'll need to have all their players back fully fit - Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay. Hopefully the other walking wounded that played the last day will also be sharper with a few games behind them - Walshe, Freeman, McManus, Corey, Mone.
Still given form and recent results, you'd expect Down to be favourites.
Armagh a good choice, should be a big crowd and with location of spectators so close to the action, could be a redhot atmosphere.
Down by 3.
Darren Hughes scored a goal in Scotstown's SFL game at the weekend. He'll be playing against Down. Finlay didn't line out for Ballybay for Ballybay's SFC game so he is still in doubt. Lennon, McManus, Corey, Mone should be much sharper after their injuries. Walsh is in absolutely flying form at the moment. I seen a contrast between county squad members Matthew McKenna and Paul McArdle in a recent league game - McKenna was as anonymous as he was in Antrim game and McArdle was on fire. If McArdle was a bit fitter he'd be a starter for Monaghan, he's a good a left foot as Finlay.
I see Freeman's an injury doubt again.
what happened to him maguire ?
Quote from: blueannavy on June 13, 2012, 05:53:27 PM
what happened to him maguire ?
Recurring hamstring injury apparently - i'm only going from a Hoganstand story - http://www.hoganstand.com/Monaghan/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=171128
At best, that means Freman won't be training and might have a chance to get through 20 minutes against Down
Looks more doubtful than hopeful for Finlay.
Any updates on Down's injuries? Would be very suprised if we see anything from Coulter.
Quote from: southdown on June 14, 2012, 12:19:41 PM
Any updates on Down's injuries? Would be very suprised if we see anything from Coulter.
I would suspect that it is too soon for Benny Coulter's broken ankle (6 weeks ago) to have healed. Dan Gordon's broken foot occurred 3 weeks earlier, any news on how he is progressing?
I would be happy if McArdle has another run out giving Dan max time recovering. Hoping that the more game time and experience Mcardle gets now the more options we have during the summer
Whats the latest on Benny ??
Very big of Aidan Brannigan to take his punishment 'like a man' according to James McCartan. Pity he didn't throw a punch like a man during the game.
Quote from: everymanaman on June 20, 2012, 08:25:14 AM
Very big of Aidan Brannigan to take his punishment 'like a man' according to James McCartan. Pity he didn't throw a punch like a man during the game.
Yawn
Quote from: everymanaman on June 20, 2012, 08:25:14 AM
Very big of Aidan Brannigan to take his punishment 'like a man' according to James McCartan. Pity he didn't throw a punch like a man during the game.
Move on. Down have.
The weather forecast for Sunday is fairly bad. I have tickets for the "Main stand", is it covered?
Quote from: amallon on June 21, 2012, 09:33:32 AM
The weather forecast for Sunday is fairly bad. I have tickets for the "Main stand", is it covered?
I'm in the "main stand" too, section 110 - does anyone know how the sections work in the MAG or have a seating plan?? Didn't pay any attention during at the league game.
(http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked/Library/SF721/522334.jpg)
You would want to be near the back to stay dry.
A strong 15 i think.........
1 Mark Keogh Seán Mac Diarmada
2 Drew Wylie Béal Átha Beithe
3 Vinnie Corey Cluain Tiobraid
4 Colin Walshe Dubhthamlacht
5 D Hughes An Bhoth
6 Dessie Mone Cluain Tiobraid
7 K O Connell Tigh Thalainn
8 Owen Lennon Leachtain
9 Dick Clerkin Curracháin
10 Pete Dooney Acadh na Muileann
11 S Gollogly Carraig Mhacaire Rois
12 J Turley An Bhoth
13 K Hughes An Bhoth
14 Paul Finlay Béal Atha Beithe
15 C Mc Manus Cluain Tiobraid
Not bad at all considering all the doubts.
Just Freeman is missing, perhaps he'll make the substitute list?
I just don't get why Finlay is at FF.
Looks like a decent Monaghan side. Pity Freeman still isn't back to 100%.
It will be interesting to see who Down name. The Down supporters seem to be thinking further ahead than this Sunday, not rushing players back, and having a bigger pick later in the summer.
Hopefully the weather conditions will allow for a good game.
Down team: McVeigh, D McCartan, McArdle, G McCartan, O'Hagan, McKernan, Garvey, Rogers, King, Hughes, Poland, Carr, O'Hare, Laverty, Maginn
A worrying thing for Down that was noticeable in Enniskillen was a lack of scores from of a left footed free taker.
Let's hope that Monaghan only concede frees within the range of Aidan Carr :-\
Quote from: FarneyMan on June 21, 2012, 04:40:12 PM
A strong 15 i think.........
1 Mark Keogh Seán Mac Diarmada
2 Drew Wylie Béal Átha Beithe
3 Vinnie Corey Cluain Tiobraid
4 Colin Walshe Dubhthamlacht
5 D Hughes An Bhoth
6 Dessie Mone Cluain Tiobraid
7 K O Connell Tigh Thalainn
8 Owen Lennon Leachtain
9 Dick Clerkin Curracháin
10 Pete Dooney Acadh na Muileann
11 S Gollogly Carraig Mhacaire Rois
12 J Turley An Bhoth
13 K Hughes An Bhoth
14 Paul Finlay Béal Atha Beithe
15 C Mc Manus Cluain Tiobraid
That's pretty much as good as you could have hoped for. Leaves Freeman, Hanratty and McGuinness as strong options in the forwards. Great to have Hughes and Finlay back and i'd be happy enough to have Freeman coming off the bench if needed, rather than starting and having to be substituted.
I heard that the squad is flying fit and played well in a draw against Mayo last week. It's the most optimistic I've been about Monaghan in a while. Freeman will definetly play a part. Still it is Down we're playing and they've always been very difficult for Monaghan to beat. Still a very difficult task.
Seem to remember Monaghan were susceptible to the high ball into the ff line in the mckenna cup in clones. Not sure that option open to down with the current starting line up. Maybe it''ll be McConville's turn to take his place on the edge of the square after the end of the match parade ????
Tommy starts, Jap moves out to the 40, Kiernan Hughes moves to FF, Dooney or Gollogly move to the bench..
That's great news GMF.
Turley 3rd midfielder?
Quote from: Main Street on June 23, 2012, 09:20:29 AM
That's great news GMF.
I don't think it's news, rather his analysis of what's likely to happen.
Personally, I don't think Freeman will start (and i'd prefer he didn't if he's not fit for 70 minutes) and unfortunately, McEnaney will probably persist with playing Jap at 14, at least for the first 10-15 minutes. He's been making this mistake all year.
Today's Indo has a story headlined "Farney men can finally give fans something to shout about"... but it also reckons Monaghan played in Division 3 this year and Finlay came on as a sub against Antrim.
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 11:41:36 AM
Quote from: Main Street on June 23, 2012, 09:20:29 AM
That's great news GMF.
I don't think it's news, rather his analysis of what's likely to happen.
Ah well, it was just a guess and not so likely. Sounded good though.
Quote from: Main Street on June 23, 2012, 01:58:38 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 11:41:36 AM
Quote from: Main Street on June 23, 2012, 09:20:29 AM
That's great news GMF.
I don't think it's news, rather his analysis of what's likely to happen.
Ah well, it was just a guess and not so likely. Sounded good though.
Yes, I had my two beers hypothetical head on! Jap and Tommy still not 100, neither took part in recent challenge game against Mayo. McGuinness is the man who will start in the FF line I'd imagine, if neither make it. Finlay on the 40 though.. I don't get why he's ever played on the edge of the square, apart from the odd interchange perhaps.. We've no other CHF to pull the strings though, not since Rory Woods left the arena..
Looking forward to it though. The spirit is good in the Mon camp. It'll be a very tight game though and could go either road.. I'm gonna nail them though.. Mon by 2.
I think it's a hard one to call. The bookies appear certain that Down will walk it, yet two previews in The Irish News today tip Monaghan. I think Monaghan can edge it, especially with Hughes back. Hopefully there's a big crowd and good atmosphere.
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 07:44:21 PM
I think it's a hard one to call. The bookies appear certain that Down will walk it, yet two previews in The Irish News today tip Monaghan. I think Monaghan can edge it, especially with Hughes back. Hopefully there's a big crowd and good atmosphere.
Yeah, Monaghan are damned good value at 15/8.. I'm not a betting man though and if I start now I'll likely jinx them! ;)
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 11:47:30 AM
Today's Indo has a story headlined "Farney men can finally give fans something to shout about"... but it also reckons Monaghan played in Division 3 this year and Finlay came on as a sub against Antrim.
Is that article online Maguire01? I can't locate it..
Quote from: GrandMasterFlash on June 23, 2012, 08:16:02 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 11:47:30 AM
Today's Indo has a story headlined "Farney men can finally give fans something to shout about"... but it also reckons Monaghan played in Division 3 this year and Finlay came on as a sub against Antrim.
Is that article online Maguire01? I can't locate it..
Didn't see it online - read it on their iPhone app.
very low key build up to this match. hopefully this will help down as there doesnt seem to be the same hype as other years. i would be a bit concerned that we dont have a forward that is likely to kick 4/5pts. need a big game from danny hughes and mark poland. scores came from all over the team against fermanagh but this is unlikely to be the case tomorrow. hoping we can sneak a narrow win but am feeling less confident as the match approaches.
good luck to both down teams tomorrow.
Quote from: GrandMasterFlash on June 23, 2012, 07:48:08 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 07:44:21 PM
I think it's a hard one to call. The bookies appear certain that Down will walk it, yet two previews in The Irish News today tip Monaghan. I think Monaghan can edge it, especially with Hughes back. Hopefully there's a big crowd and good atmosphere.
Yeah, Monaghan are damned good value at 15/8.. I'm not a betting man though and if I start now I'll likely jinx them! ;)
What's the verdict on this one then.
Monaghan 5/2 on betfair, down clear favourites @ 1.6
Seems very generous! Have Monaghan selection problems?
Quote from: Bensars on June 23, 2012, 10:41:05 PM
Quote from: GrandMasterFlash on June 23, 2012, 07:48:08 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 07:44:21 PM
I think it's a hard one to call. The bookies appear certain that Down will walk it, yet two previews in The Irish News today tip Monaghan. I think Monaghan can edge it, especially with Hughes back. Hopefully there's a big crowd and good atmosphere.
Yeah, Monaghan are damned good value at 15/8.. I'm not a betting man though and if I start now I'll likely jinx them! ;)
What's the verdict on this one then.
Monaghan 5/2 on betfair, down clear favourites @ 1.6
Seems very generous! Have Monaghan selection problems?
[/b]
Scoring problems more like.
Benny played 20 mins for Mayobridge on Friday night - I hear he's good to go tomorrow.
Quote from: orangeman on June 23, 2012, 11:36:59 PM
Quote from: Bensars on June 23, 2012, 10:41:05 PM
Quote from: GrandMasterFlash on June 23, 2012, 07:48:08 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 07:44:21 PM
I think it's a hard one to call. The bookies appear certain that Down will walk it, yet two previews in The Irish News today tip Monaghan. I think Monaghan can edge it, especially with Hughes back. Hopefully there's a big crowd and good atmosphere.
Yeah, Monaghan are damned good value at 15/8.. I'm not a betting man though and if I start now I'll likely jinx them! ;)
What's the verdict on this one then.
Monaghan 5/2 on betfair, down clear favourites @ 1.6
Seems very generous! Have Monaghan selection problems?
[/b]
Scoring problems more like.
Unlike 2 years ago when the racked up 1:18 with an outfield player in goals and scores coming from all over the place: http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2010/0606/266248-monaghan_armagh/
::)
Does anyone know the seating plan for the athletic grounds?
I'm in section 109 row L.
Is row L covered?
Quote from: orangeman on June 23, 2012, 11:36:59 PM
Quote from: Bensars on June 23, 2012, 10:41:05 PM
Quote from: GrandMasterFlash on June 23, 2012, 07:48:08 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on June 23, 2012, 07:44:21 PM
I think it's a hard one to call. The bookies appear certain that Down will walk it, yet two previews in The Irish News today tip Monaghan. I think Monaghan can edge it, especially with Hughes back. Hopefully there's a big crowd and good atmosphere.
Yeah, Monaghan are damned good value at 15/8.. I'm not a betting man though and if I start now I'll likely jinx them! ;)
What's the verdict on this one then.
Monaghan 5/2 on betfair, down clear favourites @ 1.6
Seems very generous! Have Monaghan selection problems?
Scoring problems more like.
What are you talking about? 1-12 against Antrim from 9 different players, even with Finlay, our main scorer, off after 20 minutes?
Even in being relegated in the league, Monaghan averaged 15 points a game.
I think Orangeman was just being flippant. The question invited a flippant response.
Let's hope we do the point scoring on the pitch today.
QuoteLet's hope we do the point scoring on the pitch today.
A few wides, but so far you are!
5-1 Monaghan after 15 minutes, looking very assured and so far only 1 winner in this game. Down need to find another gear very soon or there will be too much to do in the 2nd half.
8-2 now. Down look to be on the way to the qualifiers unless they improve drastically.
Down should be dead and buried now, Monaghan is all over them, but missing a sinful of scores.
Monaghan 0-11 Down 1-02
was expecting this to be tight!
Quote from: ziggysego on June 24, 2012, 02:37:18 PM
Down should be dead and buried now, Monaghan is all over them, but missing a sinful of scores.
Monaghan 0-11 Down 1-02
In any game you'll have misses, hate how guys always draw on the negative here on rte, Monaghan are rampant but Carney can only say that they need to be more clinical in front of goal. 11 points in the first half Martin, aye there not clinical enough Marty ya bollix.
Half time coming now, can't wait to be told what Down are doing wrong. Do you think they'll give two minutes to what Monaghan are doing right. Can write it now, Down have turned up, poor passing, no heart, blah, blah, blah.
The most effect Down have made were through a couple of accidental collisions.
Great to McManus back to his best for Monaghan.
Oisin in the BBCNI studio called it a lucky enough penalty for Down, thanks Oisin but it looked a stonewall penalty to me.
Any radio coverage, lads?
Quote from: Oraisteach on June 24, 2012, 02:48:16 PM
Any radio coverage, lads?
http://www.northernsound.ie/
Thanks Cadence
game on 3 pts in it
monaghan hit the uprights there, not going for them atm. emptying the bench as we speak! carnage....
down pen there not given
BBC are a joke. Called it as Aidan Carr replacing Maginn in starting 15 before the game when Carr was starting all along. Eoin McCartan replaced Maginn in the xi but there was no mention of him the whole of the first half, any time no15 got the ball he was called either Donal O'Hare (13) or Maginn who they clearly said wasn't playing at the start of the game. Sort it out.
Quick free to a free man! Goal!
monaghan turn it round with a goal and a point......
Quote from: hardstation on June 24, 2012, 03:09:47 PM
Down will win this.
Tommy might have something to say about that. Gonna be a good finish now
killer
2pts in it again. on for the big finish. who's going to step up?!
monaghan doing a poor imitation of donegal in the first half.. normal service in the second half
Fine comeback,win by the Down men.
Ref did his best for Monaghan but Down deserved that
Even the referee couldnt get Monaghan over the finish line.
worth it just to wipe that stupid smug look of tommy freemans face
good game - UlsterFootball not dead yet !!Colm O'Rourke had this down for a crap game at 1.30 PM before the players were even on the pitch !
Good game, best team won. Monaghan will be sick that they capitulated in the 2nd half though.
Great entertainment. Duffy's sheer ineptitude probably added to the drama!
Down in my mind are the most cynical team i have seen in action this year, diving like they were shot,, third man tackles, (hope ref's cop on to that bullsh*t. Having said that they were the better team. Just play football.
Close at the end. Down did very well in the 2nd half, not miss a beat after Freeman's goal and then to get ahead for the first time in the game in added time.
Could'a been a draw.
I wouldn't have complained if it was a draw :)
tough on monaghan. you have to feel for them. fair play to down though.
ref done his best to ruin the game. good to see down win in the end.
With a competant referee Down would have won that by 5 or 6 at least.
Quote from: The Worker on June 24, 2012, 03:47:04 PM
ref done his best to ruin the game. good to see down win in the end.
He really was awful.
Great fightback by Down. Very proud of our team right now.
Woeful ref, but he made, however unintentionally, the Down resurgence all the more exciting.
Powerful comeback from Down. When Freeman got the dodgy goal, I didn't think there was any chance of Down winning. Still, they put their heads down and fought for it.
I still think the Ulster Champions will come from next Saturday's game. Neither of the two teams would allow Down back into it, particularly Donegal.
Great comeback from down. Not only from nine points down, but to come back again after freemans contentious goal. Ref was v.poor.
Leave the ref alone ;D
though I don't know he missed that foul on Clerkin late in the game, he was looking straight at it.
Whatever happened to the GAA draw?
Down had 2 points on the board with 34 mins gone, so they are also as rubbish as that says. Fair play for 2nd half comeback, slightly the better team, but i would be looking more at the monaghan performance than anything else. Any team that shits itself with a 9 point league deserves nothing, i would be sick if i was a monaghan man today. The stupid clumsy tackling by monaghan that gave handy frees to down was terrible, thowing their arms around necks. Donegal to upset tyrone and then give down a trimming in the final
Absolute disaster.
What happened for the Down penalty shout? Looked to me that the Down forward was dragged to the ground?
Think Monaghan got a bit complacent, cruising and everything going their way referee-wise. Hats off to Down, huge contrast between their performance in the first half and that in the second.
Conor Laverty caused absolute havoc and Monaghan had no answer.
2 useless refs
A) M. Duffy (sligeach)
B) M. Duffy (sligeach)
One marty the other micheal; take yer pick in which wan is worse!
Thank God we won't be favourites for the Final .. hopefully then we will perform 70 minutes
brilliant 2nd half comeback. thought we were dead and buried at half time. still cant believe we won that. ;D
Good game to watch for the neutral. Duffy was terrible as per usual, fair play to Down to come back against 16 men :P. Monaghan can take heart from their first half performance if they can play like that for 70 theyll give anyone a game.
Great photo from Oz...hurry up and come back lads...look what yiz are missing!!
(https://p.twimg.com/AwKZS3pCEAA5qSc.jpg)
Great Photo. COngrats down but Monaghan could regroup with confidence a decent outfit
What in God's earth was up with the coverage/editing of the game today. Scores missed while the camera focused on the crowd and/or replayed previous incidents.
Hilarious when Sean Cavanagh was asked did the Down attacker go down to easily for the penalty shout.
Duffy's getting plenty of criticism for the way he handled the match and rightly so. One incident did go in Down's favour today. Just after the second penalty appeal, it looked like the Down 7 trod on the Monaghan 7's neck/back/ head area. Looked like a nasty incident that the ref missed. Down could easily have been playing catch up with 14 men!
If Down had lost that game today the referee would have come in for some stick. He had a shocker. Hopefully the fact that Down won the game won't mean that he escapes the cririticism that he deserves. He should be made watch this match to see where he went wrong.
Hi guys,
I've put together a tactical analysis piece on this for anyone interested
http://action81.com/blog/?p=5905
Very good Emmetryan
One of the worst referees I have ever seen. A completely one sided bit of refereeing if ever I saw it....he almost managed to hand it to Monaghan.
Fair play to Down, deserved it all the more for the fact they had to bet the ref too.
Cant seem them beating either Donegal or Tyrone though. I think Donegal will win 2 in a row at this rate.
Worst half of championship football ever from Down although Monaghan were excellent.Have to admit I couldn't see where they could find the scores as Conor Laverty was the only man who seemed to understand what championship meant. Were Down inspired or did Monaghan collapse ? Benny Mc Ardle seemed to grow by a foot over half-time and some outstanding performances from Kalum, Ambrose, Carr, Poly and the wee man ( now officially a genius and his club-mate didn't do too bad either ;)) saw us back where we belong and the great thing is we will be outsiders. Great to see the two lads in Oz - proud to be a Down man tonight.
I do not claim to know much about the nuances of the rules of Gaelic football, but to my untrained eye there were four almost identical incidents involving Farney men tackling Down men around the Monaghan big square: Stamper Lennon on Ambrose; Dick on Ambrose; Vinnie Corey on Laverty and O'Connell on Hughes. Two were penalised, two weren't. Of the two that were penalised, one was a yellow card, one wasn't. Now either there were subtle differences that I missed or the referee was shockingly inconsistent.
Oh, and Stamper Garvey deserves a retrospective ban.
Down were woeful in the first half and lucky to be at 6 points but Duffy really did shaft them today.
I'm not sure what happened Monaghan in the second half - could they not have made some changes round midfield?
Monaghan looked decent in parts and with Freeman getting fitter they'll be harder to watch but in reality Down were denied a lot by the referee and would have won by more were it not for him. I didn't care who won at the start of it but the ref turned me in Down's favour.
Imagine the craic if the Garvey incident involved Ricey or Galvin. There'd be a twenty page thread already. Rotten action,
Quote from: omagh_gael on June 24, 2012, 08:59:31 PM
Imagine the craic if the Garvey incident involved Ricey or Galvin. There'd be a twenty page thread already. Rotten action,
You're almost as repetitive as I am.
Which Duffy was reffing it?
The really bad one.
Whoever that referee was today he was symptomatic of the problems with officiating in our game.
Given the amount of times he missed the obvious, you have to assume that he doesn't believe the rule book matters. Referees really have to get it into their heads that a foul is a foul; the circumstances prior to the incident do not affect the incident.
As for allowing a quick free when you've signalled that you're going to book someone, only a troublemaker would bring that upon themselves.
Quote from: theticklemister on June 24, 2012, 04:46:43 PM
2 useless refs
A) M. Duffy (sligeach)
B) M. Duffy (sligeach)
One marty the other micheal; take yer pick in which wan is worse!
You should sent that question to some of head guys in Croke Park. How those 2 refs keep getting games is beyond me. They are both terrible. >:( >:(
Quote from: 5 Sams on June 24, 2012, 06:27:15 PM
Great photo from Oz...hurry up and come back lads...look what yiz are missing!!
(https://p.twimg.com/AwKZS3pCEAA5qSc.jpg)
easily excited them 2 boys are, did they post that themselves
No I did. Easily excited my arse...those boys are red and black to the core...away back to the qualifiers ye boy ye.
Where the f**k did we pull that from? What a result! Serious character in that team. Never thought they had it in them. Eoin and Dan cannot start next day out.
Quote from: No1 on June 24, 2012, 10:08:41 PM
Where the f**k did we pull that from? What a result! Serious character in that team. Never thought they had it in them. Eoin and Dan cannot start next day out.
Dan isnt 100% fit, back problem, thats why he wasnt himself today!
The ref certainly wasn't as bad as some are making out. He was on the mark with a few of the dives and penalised over carrying, unlike most. The Monaghan midfield weren't as sharp as Down in the 2nd half, they had the supply line that Monaghan had in the 1st. Aidan Carr turned it on big time for Down.
Ádh mór Down in the final.
Quote from: thewobbler on June 24, 2012, 09:34:04 PM
Whoever that referee was today he was symptomatic of the problems with officiating in our game.
Given the amount of times he missed the obvious, you have to assume that he doesn't believe the rule book matters. Referees really have to get it into their heads that a foul is a foul; the circumstances prior to the incident do not affect the incident.
As for allowing a quick free when you've signalled that you're going to book someone, only a troublemaker would bring that upon themselves.
F**kin couldnt get over that one myself. Blows a foul for Monaghan, and motions to McArdle as if going to book him, then amazingly as McArdle approaches him to be repreimanded he allows a quick free.....McArdle pulled out of position by ref and allows play to continue and Monaghan score goal. THEN he decides to book him after he has allowed the goal to stand. Ye would be hard pressed to find a worse refereeing performance in recent memory id wager. Some of his calls bordered on bias.
A mixed day of emotions..Angry as fook that Down didnt bother their holes showing up in first half but also credit to Monaghan they came to play ball and everythin they touched first half they made count. They didnt hang about or mess about. Down showed no intensity, no drive, no passion at all in that first half, and everything they touched turned to dung. The penalty was a lifeline. If Carr had missed it would have been catastrophic.
The 2nd period was a mixture of Down getting the fingers out and Monaghan not being able to handle the opposition's purple patch. A better side than Monaghan maybe wouldnt have let Down back into that game. Delighted to get the win considering the circumstances and thought we showed great persistance to keep at it right until the final whistle, though we will have to play alot better across the board next day out.
McVeigh - Varied kickouts to great effect and used ball wisely, had little chanxce for goal.
G McCartan - Brutral First Half (Like the rest), some rusty handling & passing but stuck to task well for remainder of game
B McArdle - Forgetful first half when had hands full, but was one of the chief architects of stunning comeback in 2nd half, Fearless, solid, reliable and always choosing correct option...my MOM
D McCartan- Not one of Dan's best days, was very loose and careless in both marking and handling..in fairness he was one of many could have been called ashore early. He will be back im sure.
D O'Hagan - The energiser bunny..this guy was also peerless in 2nd period alongsidde McArdle and shut out numerous attacks, plugged holes at both half and full back lines when required...first class attitude and a decent ball player to boot...becoming a nailed on starter.
C Garvey - Garvey pulled the socks up for 2nd half and provided the physical aggression and no nonsense approach that was sorely missed in 1st half.
K McKernan - still remains an enigma, hugely talented but hugely frustrating. doesnt press his man enough whe not in possession and looks uncomfortable marking space.Weak link in defensive line but then we already knew that.
K King - looked like he had legs stuck in cement blocks for first half..2nd half threw down the challenge to Big Dick and Dolph Lundgren..100% improvement..caught ball, broke ball, spolied, harried,hassled and generally scattered white jerseys when he had the chance, left his paw prints all over that 2nd half comeback.
A Rodgers - Ambrose drove and drove and never gave up, always provided an outlet and although understandable tired toward the end he completely emptied the tank for the team.
A Carr - After chasing shadows and trying to come to grips with a rampant Monaghan half back line Aidan stepped up when it mattered. Never shirked the challenge, veins of ice for the penalty and also for the equalising free, played a pivotal role in the comeback, whether at half back or half forward. was shattered at final whistle after a great shift.
M Poland - Excellent decision-making and ball retention with a cool head under pressure makes Poland an intergral part of this team..hardly ever wasted a ball and although never did the scoreboard any damage he was the chief playmaker.
D Hughes - Not Danny's best display by his own high standards but still put in a heavy hours work and kept Monaghan on back foot. Will have better days in terms of scoring chances.
C Laverty - Rocky Balboa eventually learned to catch thon chicken but even the great man wouldnt be able to catch this fella. Single handedly kept Down in the game in the first half and continued to be at the centre of everything good about the performance of the 2nd half. immense dsiplay from the Kilcoo man.
E McCartan - Eoin took watching and although didnt set the world alight he provided an outlet as the traditional targetman..may be under presure to hold onto the jersey next day out.
D O'Hare - making only his 2nd full appearance O'Hare did well considering the lack of a decent supply line at times...dropped a few balls, brushed off a few balls but cant underestimate importance of his scores... Took his frees well and kept chipping away at the Monaghan lead. This type of game should bring him on.
Management - all the substitiutions worked and each of them contributed in some shape or form. Calling Dan aside so early was brave but necessary. The ragged, loose-marking and lethargic team we had seen in the first half was replaced by a much tighter, meaner unit in the second and for that the management must take credit. Id say that dressing room wasnt a great place to be at half time.
one question though...why why why why does Jerome Johnston need to be on the field so often, hell he nearly tackled one of their defenders in the 2nd half when emerging with the ball...what nuggets of tactical advice could he possibly be imparting with maybe 9 visits onto the field in that 2nd half?..
Quote from: barelegs on June 24, 2012, 06:53:45 PM
Duffy's getting plenty of criticism for the way he handled the match and rightly so. One incident did go in Down's favour today. Just after the second penalty appeal, it looked like the Down 7 trod on the Monaghan 7's neck/back/ head area. Looked like a nasty incident that the ref missed. Down could easily have been playing catch up with 14 men!
Not only was there a Down-centric commentary on BBCNi but a complete Down-centric view of the game here. However, that stamping incident was accidental, I'd have little doubt about that.
Not much comment so far about the quality of Monaghan point scoring in the first half. Overall, the best of both halves made it into one exciting game for 70 minutes.
Bottom line
Monaghan were impressive and by far better team in 1st half.....likewise for Dow in the 2nd.
either team could have won or lost that game very easily, Down were fortunate to get theor nose over the line in the end.
still think that the ref was poor and favoured Monaghan on alot of important calls.
hardly a Down-centric view i wouldnt think.
if i were from Monaghan id have to ask how we capitulated so badly 2nd half and why there were no leaders to drag us back into that game.
Quote from: Brick Tamlin on June 24, 2012, 11:19:36 PM
Bottom line
Monaghan were impressive and by far better team in 1st half.....likewise for Dow in the 2nd.
either team could have won or lost that game very easily, Down were fortunate to get theor nose over the line in the end.
still think that the ref was poor and favoured Monaghan on alot of important calls.
hardly a Down-centric view i wouldnt think.
if i were from Monaghan id have to ask how we capitulated so badly 2nd half and why there were no leaders to drag us back into that game.
A 6 point lead at half time isn't that unsurmountable, unfortunately, as events have proven :)
Down also had to play good football in the 2nd half in order to make Monaghan look rudderless.
yeah i agree, and im loathe to criticise Danny but i suppose its just that we have been treated to the sights of him running at heart of defences and taking scores on the run over the last few seasons..as soon as we see him carry out the worker role it diminishes his attacking potency somewhat.
I dont think he had a bad game at all, just maybe quieter in the traditional attacking sense..
Monaghan lead by 6 at half-time-it should have been considerably more!!
Was it a co-incidence that the teams with wind advantage were vastly superior???
Or was this only missed by those who watched on television?
It was more the 3 or 4 easy points opportunities missed in the 2nd half that cost Monaghan, not the first half misses.
Ineptitude is the only word to adequately sum up today's referee. I'd love to think that his wife, mother, sons and daughters are tiptoeing around the house to night in fear of this man's form! >:(
Well done Down, you did us proud.
B McArdle my MOTM.
Today demonstrated why we put ourselves through the emotional wringer with Down year after year.We were unbelievably poor in the first half, and should have been behind by 12 to 15 points at the break. We then took over completely and would have won pulling up with a half-sensible referee. However, what we did manage to show is that we do have both talent and guts when we put our minds to it.
We have all seen Down through away leads in the championship year after year, but we very seldom come back from a significant deficit. The biggest recovery I can recall was when we were seven behind after the first quarter away to Tyrone in 08, and got a draw before winning the replay, so today is probably some kind of record for us.
The early stages were genuinely alarming, as we were clueless, shapeless and did not seem to realise that we were being taken apart. We could not retain the ball in the Monaghan half and they scored at will by exploiting huge gaps in most of their attacks. If they had got a goal, which looked inevitable, it really would have been all over. Luckily, through our little genius, we got one instead totally against the run of play and, with their lead down to six, we had something to cling to.
The wind was more of a factor that we initially realised, and it got stronger in the second half as we found our confidence. We actually could have been level within ten minutes of the restart, but we were well on track until a joke of a goal for them. The free Duffy initially awarded looked a little dubious, but he clearly stopped the play and was about to issue a booking. Allowing them to take the quick free from completely the wrong place was ludicrous, although after Enniskillen we should have been better organised, and their goal would have finished off a lesser side.
Our self belief in the last ten was impressive, even if every decision went against us and Clerkin's late miss was verging on the amazing.
McVeigh, as often happens, mixed the excellent and the poor. He made a crucial save and had a great fisted clearance, but his kick-outs were mixed and put us under pressure far too often.
You would have to feel sory for Dan McCartan, as everything went wrong for him. He was caught out of position, misplaced passes and he might have been replaced even earlier, although he played a part behind the goals late on when balls needed to be returned swiftly. McArdle struggled early on but became a transformed figure, making catches and tremendous runs from defence. Gerard McCartan was as poor as the rest from the start and was also lucky to avoid the hook.
Garvey, our most reliable defender, was pretty dreadful, and can only improve. McKernan was also all over the place, and is not really a centre half, although he pushed up well late on. O'Hegan nearly gave away a goal by misjudging a long ball but he has ability and determination and his winning point was a gem.
Ambrose was one of the few to show some leadership when the early pressure was on, and he very nearly got in for a couple of goals. King was off the pace initially but eventually dominated and was in full flow towards the end.
Hughes, like several others, was not at the races in the first half, but his fitness and pace was a big factor when the crunch came, Poland could not get involved for the opening stages, but is a class act and was at the centre of our revival. Carr had some good and bad moments, but eventually proved his quality and the late free was crucial.
Eoin McCartan made one great catch but made very little difference otherwise, and it was surprising that he was not replaced after his booking. O'Hare only played in flashes, although a couple of his frees were vital.
To save the best until last, Conor was magnificent throughout. He knew we were in trouble and he took the fight to the opposition. He probably picked up the ball in our half before the run for the penalty, and he had only one thing on his mind. It turned the game, and his points in the second half were fantastic. When Clerkin missed, he had the alertness to ask the ref abut the time left and his dance of joy when he realised we had snatched it was memorable
Of the subs, Duffin made a huge difference and should start in the final. It was baffling that he should have been the one to make way for Doyle, but a quality player then left his mark and he made a difficult free look early. Benny's arrival got a massive ovation and the roof nearly came off when he kicked his point with some authority.
We will be big underdogs for the final, which is exactly where we want to be.
Today we won a game,but we lost our credibility as a serious football team capable of challenging for major honours. Monaghan exposed our ineptitudes in a ruthless manner. To talk of problems in defence would be silly, when quite simply we do not have a defence. The lack of basic skills, pace, and any semblance of tactical awareness rendered them redundant, indeed i have witnessed better defenders at U16 level. That we are in an ulster Final is due too the individual brilliance of Conor Laverty over the two games to date. There is insufficient time available to address our serious shortcomings, so i very much fear we are in for a tanking from either Donegal or Tyrone. I would dearly love to know what exactly they do at Down traing sessions, as there is little evidence of any work
Why do teams have to bring on players not listed on the program. Who are they kiddin. The whole of ulster knew tommy freeman would make an appearance today. I did believe that coulter was injured and out for another few weeks but low and behold down have a lazerous of their own. If a player is doubtful surely its up to the manager to either take the risk and name them in the panel or just leave them out. Anyway aside from that as a monaghan man i was gutted after the match today. Prob our best half of ball in about 2 years followed by one of the worst. I do feel sorry for clerkin. He had the bottle to take on that last chance but unfortunately made a mess of it. Down in fairness are prob better equipped to take on the winners of the other semi
Down to nice and not ruthless enough at this level.saying that they done well to hold in there all the second half even when things went against them they kept plugging away.referee was awful and I guess that will be his last inter county game this year
Still major problems in that Down team.
But still, to win against that referee took some doing.
Quote from: Pangurban on June 25, 2012, 12:33:37 AM
Today we won a game,but we lost our credibility as a serious football team capable of challenging for major honours. Monaghan exposed our ineptitudes in a ruthless manner. To talk of problems in defence would be silly, when quite simply we do not have a defence. The lack of basic skills, pace, and any semblance of tactical awareness rendered them redundant, indeed i have witnessed better defenders at U16 level. That we are in an ulster Final is due too the individual brilliance of Conor Laverty over the two games to date. There is insufficient time available to address our serious shortcomings, so i very much fear we are in for a tanking from either Donegal or Tyrone. I would dearly love to know what exactly they do at Down traing sessions, as there is little evidence of any work
First Ulster final in nearly ten years and you can't give those lads a bit of credit! That's a wee bit harsh imo. They did what was asked and have a clean slate to work on now. They showed unreal character to come back from 9 points down. You'd probably have said the same in 2010 when it took an Aidan Carr goal to get over the mighty Offaly. We know what happened after that. Same man produced the goods yesterday too. Down are in the final with nothing to lose which is a great place to be.
Duffy should be removed from the championship listing after yesterdays performance. I'm not sure of the ruling when a player is being booked but the ref went to book the Down defender before the quick free for the Monaghan goal. Surely if he goes to book a player then he has to halt the play? Whilst I think that the benefit of the doubt should go the attacker in this instance just as I think an advantage rule should be brought in, I am nearly certain that no such rule exists. Can anyone clarify? Apologies if this has been brought up already, I haven't trawled through this thread....
On the match itself Laverty and Poland were very impressive for Down and McManus likewise for Monaghan and I thought it was a decent game quality wise and provided plenty of entertainment. Down are a much better team when they abandon the defensive tactics that they employed in the first half. Coulter will be a big help if fit the next day and they will need him to stand any chance against Tyrone or Donegal. Monaghan on the other hand will be kicking themselves as they grasped defeat from the jaws of victory. I'd say this season will be the swansong for the manager and a few of the elder statesmen on that Monaghan team.
Great win but the first half must be a concern, that simply cannot happen against Donegal/Tyrone. Polie, Laverty, Carr, McArdle and king were immense in the second half. O'Hare played in front of where I sat in the first half and seemed to be second to the ball almost every time but hit some decent free kicks. All that can be said about the ref had already been said.
Was great to win in such a manner, especially after seeing the smug celebration of Freeman after his goal. It reminded me of how Down threw away a 9 point lead against Tyrone in 2003!
Benny's point was something else and provided a huge llift just when it was needed. Special mention also to Paul Finlay for one of the most stylish points you will see for a long time.
On another note (and the obstructed views of the main stand were mentioned before on this thread) - some kids near us were sat on the front row and could not see the pitch due to the high fence/advert boards. They informed the stewards and were moved to the terraced area, I would like to think they received the price difference back.
Quote from: yellowcard on June 25, 2012, 11:14:12 AM
Duffy should be removed from the championship listing after yesterdays performance. I'm not sure of the ruling when a player is being booked but the ref went to book the Down defender before the quick free for the Monaghan goal. Surely if he goes to book a player then he has to halt the play? Whilst I think that the benefit of the doubt should go the attacker in this instance just as I think an advantage rule should be brought in, I am nearly certain that no such rule exists. Can anyone clarify? Apologies if this has been brought up already, I haven't trawled through this thread....
On the match itself Laverty and Poland were very impressive for Down and McManus likewise for Monaghan and I thought it was a decent game quality wise and provided plenty of entertainment. Down are a much better team when they abandon the defensive tactics that they employed in the first half. Coulter will be a big help if fit the next day and they will need him to stand any chance against Tyrone or Donegal. Monaghan on the other hand will be kicking themselves as they grasped defeat from the jaws of victory. I'd say this season will be the swansong for the manager and a few of the elder statesmen on that Monaghan team.
Monaghan goal should not have stood for 3 separate reasons. He was booking the Down player, it was taken from the wrong place and no way was Freeman 13m from the taker. Duffy belongs in the circus of his name sake.
Anyone know where I could watch the highlights of yesterdays game?
Quote from: Catch the high ball on June 25, 2012, 06:07:39 PM
Anyone know where I could watch the highlights of yesterdays game?
rte.ie
The Sunday Game is on the rte player.
Quote from: yellowcard on June 25, 2012, 11:14:12 AM
Duffy should be removed from the championship listing after yesterdays performance.
Derry wans will be delighted to know that they have the same referee for their game against Longford.
Thought beforehand that Monaghan had a good chance because Down thought they were going to run out easy enough winners. It was following the script, a la Monaghan v Armagh, at Casement, a couple of years ago. Monaghan were well up for it and we were beginning to feel a bit embarrassed for Down. Maybe we should have been wearing jersies, like the Down players before the game, with "RUTHLESS" in big, bold fonts. We should have been completely out of sight at half time. Mc Manus was running riot and Hughes was well on top of his man. He wasn't quite the same after he got a "knock" in the head.
Still it's hard to believe we let that lead slip. It was discussed at half time and it was felt we had too much experience to let this one go. But let it go we did.
We can only hope that the players can pick themselves up for a good rattle through the back door. It's the first time we've had anything resembling our 1st choice 15 in a few years. A bit of rustiness showed in one or two of the seasoned players, but the attitude can't be faulted. Down's defense is porous, and if we had maintained something resembling the quality of supply of the first half, we would have run out easy winners.
This voice keeps saying something like, "don't give a sucker an even break". Let's prepare to face Kerry in the qualifiers again. And we'll do them this time, big time, out the back door.
Clawing back from a nine point deficit does remind me of a certain game in 03 (albeit the team doing the clawing back that day had the referee on their side for most of the game and a certain, shall we say, diving pedigree about them which O. McConville acknowledged "too honest" Down just don't have).
Final word saved for Benny The Great. Even the most cynical man wouldn't deny this magnificent guy his day in the sun and the (slim?) chance to put right what tramps like McGuigan and Jordan cheated their way to in 03...almost 10 years later.
Long live Benny The Great , long live County Down.
Quote from: Aristo 60 on June 26, 2012, 09:57:20 AM
Clawing back from a nine point deficit does remind me of a certain game in 03 (albeit the team doing the clawing back that day had the referee on their side for most of the game and a certain, shall we say, diving pedigree about them which O. McConville acknowledged "too honest" Down just don't have).
Final word saved for Benny The Great. Even the most cynical man wouldn't deny this magnificent guy his day in the sun and the (slim?) chance to put right what tramps like McGuigan and Jordan cheated their way to in 03...almost 10 years later.
Long live Benny The Great , long live County Down.
Would love to see a hard man keyboard warrior like yourself repeat that to those guy's faces.
Rewatch your game at the weekend and comment on Benny the Great (with all those Ulster/AI medals hanging out of his back pocket ;)) taking the mother of all dives when he ran into a Monaghan player while they were breaking up the field in the last couple of minutes.
Aristo, would ye rather meet Donegal in the final or us divers?
Talking about dives, did anyone think Keogh could have saved that penalty?
I thought he did very well to get down to meet the ball in time but seemed to let it slip through.
Good man Omagh I'll do that for you surely.
You do this for me now, repeat out loud:
"Medals in back pockets are for back door medals".
;)
I see the Ref has admitted that he was wrong to allow the Monaghan goal after calling the Down full-back towards him to be booked
We'll forgive him. Understandably he was awestruck at the audacity of the Monaghan forwards and forgot what he was about to do.
not sure if anyone has mentioned it already, but surely the winning point at the death was a throw ball? he tried to fist it over the bar but the speed and height that he had his hands at when the ball left him was the kind of pass outlawed a few years ago.
Down also got a nice peno and a few handy frees in the last lock of mins to get back in the game, ref wasn't too bad on them
Quote from: Stevie g 8 on June 25, 2012, 12:39:48 AM
Down to nice and not ruthless enough at this level.saying that they done well to hold in there all the second half even when things went against them they kept plugging away.referee was awful and I guess that will be his last inter county game this year
I completely agree that the referee was terrible, but you can be sure that he will get plenty games for the rest of the year. Incompetent referees seem to have no problem getting appointed to do games, just so long as they throw out plenty yellow cards whether they are justified or not.
Quote from: Orchardman on June 26, 2012, 05:54:38 PM
not sure if anyone has mentioned it already, but surely the winning point at the death was a throw ball? he tried to fist it over the bar but the speed and height that he had his hands at when the ball left him was the kind of pass outlawed a few years ago.
Down also got a nice peno and a few handy frees in the last lock of mins to get back in the game, ref wasn't too bad on them
I agree. All this guff about the ref is OTT.
What would we be listening to if a Monaghan player stamped on a Down players head?
What would we be listening to if a Monaghan player stamped on a Down players head?
' aaaahhhh thats my head you Monaghan b+#st@rd '
Quote from: grounded on June 26, 2012, 08:28:13 PM
What would we be listening to if a Monaghan player stamped on a Down players head?
' aaaahhhh thats my head you Monaghan b+#st@rd '
Saffron Sam would have a fatal heart attack after an appropriate (Monaghan thug outrage) sized apoplectic fit.
RIP
Silver linings do offer some consolation.
Yeah like they'd be up at 9.57am or 9.34am.... :P
anybody know of a way to watch the match highlights online?? cant find it on bbc iplayer and rte.ie only seems to have last weeks sunday game...
Full game here. http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=10035529
If you were right about me, which you aren't, you've been too keen to talk to children in internet chatrooms.... :-\
Control yourself.