Messages

Well done!  Great effort a with good starting selection and choice of subs.  We need the Senior team to do well as a rising tide lifts all and provides encouragement for our development squads.  Hope that we as a County are on the way up.

Hi, fellow Down fans, I was away overseas and missed the recent Clare game and follow up.  Indeed am very disappointed for everyone. Lads at the match inform me that Clare took off a few good players for rest and only for that the result would have been far worst.  I am nearly convinced the current Management under Eamonn Burns are treating this as a Senior team 'Development Squad' and hence the reason why the strongest and most experienced team was not started. If this is the case they would need to explain themselves!
The Meath encounter will bring things to a head at close quarters.

Was at the match and was fairly content with the first half. However the lack of player and management experience at this level soon showed.  Pete McGrath with Quigley, Corrigan and other Fermanagh player's experience prevailed. 
Poor calls by the Down forwards blasting the ball into backs/goalie (like a u14 glorying!) rather than fisting over the bar or looking for passing options plus a lack of self belief in taking a shot for a point from the side line, instead they recycled the ball back the other way.  Down goalie kick outs and poor mid field play were also our downfall.
Certain now that the Down Senior football team and Management is a 'holding position' until new talent or some of the older experience lads return.  The Down players have indeed talent, but need self belief and I am afraid more experience, which means further losses until the ship is turned around.
I can see a good future having attended development squad matches in 2016 at u14 and u15 level.  Also we must recognise the strong Minor club teams in Down.  The future, perhaps 3-5 years is Red/Black and positive.