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Well... After that result I'm sure it will be a calm and collect discussion on here

Popcorn at the ready

With Preseason under way, what club teams do you think will take the next step this year?

Would there be many Teams back training? Too early surely?
Stepping up!
Longstone & Bredagh From 2 to 1
Ballymartin & Shamrocks 3 to 2
Drumaness & Dundrum 4 to 3

By the end of next week all clubs should be back at it. From Div 1, anyone from Rostrevor, Bryansford, Castlewellan and Loughinisland to drop. Div 2, anyone from Longstone, Glenn, Darragh Cross, An Riocht or Saul to go up. Rest in contention to drop. Div 3, anyone from Shamrocks, Drumgath, Ballymartin or Attical to go up. Rest are in contention to drop. Div 4, 3 way battle between Kilclief, Dundrum and East Belfast

Drumaness - Pat Morgan
Longstone - Eamon Morgan
Mitchels - Marty Boyle
Glasdrumman - Liam Howlett

Yes a better 19/20 competition needs to happen and with the current scheduling it just doesn't work
I think the board will push on with normal leagues from March
As bad as cases are now with covid I think the days of lockdowns on outdoor sports is gone

Yes hopefully. It's been a struggle this last few years and it makes you realise how much you miss uninterrupted football. The U20/U21/U19 has traditionally always been in winter. It's never changed apart from the number of clubs participating has got smaller. What do you suggest would make it better?

Not really sure what the county committee will do. Thought that corn an duin had its merits last year but was a bit lop sided in planning and execution. It would be good if the committee were planning now for next season, but in typical fashion it will be left until middle of march before anything is even talked about

Expand on this lopsided planning & execution? Or is it just another chance to moan about the County Board. You'll find Down's fixtures are among the best organised around. Never going to please everyone but just ask around other counties. You just have to look at what Armagh clubs were given as a calendar last year as one example.

Just really didnt see the value in 1st Div teams playing 3rd Div teams - no-one learns anything genuine. Also was a bit long winded - no need for 7 games - could have been condensed to 4 games or 3 games. Just my opinion

Can see where you are coming from, though it has to be said given the uncertain times and the lack of football the previous year it was a fairly good attempt by the county board to give players something to look forward to and take part in. I think most players now appreciate even more how fortunate they are to be able to get out and kick ball at the weekend regardless of the competition.

That's true too. I'm just thinking that if they're willing to invest so much time of the season into this, it could be used to beef out a league campaign like in pre covid. CAD was used by clubs last year to cherrypick games. Not trying to downgrade it, it's fact. But I thought it was a good theory which could be tweaked

Not really sure what the county committee will do. Thought that corn an duin had its merits last year but was a bit lop sided in planning and execution. It would be good if the committee were planning now for next season, but in typical fashion it will be left until middle of march before anything is even talked about

Expand on this lopsided planning & execution? Or is it just another chance to moan about the County Board. You'll find Down's fixtures are among the best organised around. Never going to please everyone but just ask around other counties. You just have to look at what Armagh clubs were given as a calendar last year as one example.

Just really didnt see the value in 1st Div teams playing 3rd Div teams - no-one learns anything genuine. Also was a bit long winded - no need for 7 games - could have been condensed to 4 games or 3 games. Just my opinion

Div 1

Kilcoo
Clonduff
Rostrevor
Mayobridge
Loughinisland
Ballyholland
Burren
Warrenpoint
Bryansford
Carryduff
Downpatrick
Castlewellan

Div 2

Glenn
Longstone
An Riocht
Darragh Cross
Saul
St Johns
Annaclone
Bredagh
Saval
Liatroim

Div 3

Shamrocks
Drumgath
Tullylish
Clan na Banna
Ballymartin
Aughlisnafin
Attical
Teconnaught
Newry Bosco
Bright
Dromara
St Pauls (can anyone confirm this)

Div 4

East Belfast
Ardglass
Dundrum
Kilclief
Glassdrumman
St Michaels
Aghaderg
Drumaness
Mitchels


Who goes up/down next season and in what format??

St Paul's didn't get promoted, Bright and Dromara did. St Paul's retained their intermediate championship place though which might be what you're thinking off.

I thought I seen them post somewhere that they were in Div 3 but I also heard there was some sort of issue with that? Has it been sorted now?

Div 1

Kilcoo
Clonduff
Rostrevor
Mayobridge
Loughinisland
Ballyholland
Burren
Warrenpoint
Bryansford
Carryduff
Downpatrick
Castlewellan

Div 2

Glenn
Longstone
An Riocht
Darragh Cross
Saul
St Johns
Annaclone
Bredagh
Saval
Liatroim

Div 3

Shamrocks
Drumgath
Tullylish
Clan na Banna
Ballymartin
Aughlisnafin
Attical
Teconnaught
Newry Bosco
Bright
Dromara
St Pauls (can anyone confirm this)

Div 4

East Belfast
Ardglass
Dundrum
Kilclief
Glassdrumman
St Michaels
Aghaderg
Drumaness
Mitchels


Who goes up/down next season and in what format??

Not really sure what the county committee will do. Thought that corn an duin had its merits last year but was a bit lop sided in planning and execution. It would be good if the committee were planning now for next season, but in typical fashion it will be left until middle of march before anything is even talked about

Why would Castlewellan who are joined up with Loughinisland and Downpatrick players enter a 13 a side B competition with a squad of 29 players?
That just doesn't make any sense

A  :)lot  : :Dof teams back training from what I'm hearing. Rostrevor 5 nights a week what is all that about? Out county team wouldn't even be doing that

It's actually 6 

Clonduff back training now too, lights on and players down at the pitch tonight. Seen it on drive back from Christmas shopping

Mourne Red-That was Down Seniors training tonight and I would know!

County played Rostrevor in challenge game. Training after for both

[Derry have been training 5 times a week for over a month now,]

Wee bit harsh Lottery. I doubt if any panel in the country is finished.

James has a group of players training & playing challenge games. He'll whittle that down over time.

Same as any county in any season. I'd have more concerns about the start of the season being delayed due to this recent covid outbreak.

Derry have been training 5 times a week for over a month now, they are targeting a flying start to the league so it will be interesting to see how that stands to them vs Down in the first game. Word coming out of Derry is that the players have never done training like the sessions Gallagher has them doing ATM.

Derry could potentially be missing Slaughtneil hurlers (2 x McKaigues, Shane McGuigan, Brendan Rogers, Paudi Cassidy, Paul McNeil) it would be some opportunity for Down to get 2 points on the board if that is the case.

Likewise Down could be missing the Kilcoo players (if there are even many of them on this years panel)

Same as Rostrevor

The poster said he heard those names were on the panel . From where ?
More like plucked out his head like most of the postings on here from most.
Pub gossip at best

Big Rice ?

As laughable as the list itself

Heard the following are included in the panel at present as well as those from last years panel..

Adam Lynch - CPN
Gary McMahon -CPN
Tiarnan Rushe - Ballyholland
Charlie Smith - Mayobridge
Tom Close - Clonduff
Oisin McConvey - Darragh Cross
Conor Clarke - An Riocht
Oran Murdock - Burren
Cathal Foy - Burren
Pearse Og McCrickard - Liatroim
Anthony Doherty - Downpatrick
Tom Smith - Downpatrick
Big Rice - Rostrevor
Conor Doyle - Rostrevor
Pat Havern - Saval
Declan McClements - Loughinisland
Andrew Gilmore - St Johns
Shay Croskery - Fin

throw up a list of players that you would pick if you think these fellas aren't good enough.

As the pubs are closed early he probably was sitting in his bedroom with the light off talking to himself

Could Kilcoo go all the way and do it this time?

Heard the following are included in the panel at present as well as those from last years panel..

Adam Lynch - CPN
Gary McMahon -CPN
Tiarnan Rushe - Ballyholland
Charlie Smith - Mayobridge
Tom Close - Clonduff
Oisin McConvey - Darragh Cross
Conor Clarke - An Riocht
Oran Murdock - Burren
Cathal Foy - Burren
Pearse Og McCrickard - Liatroim
Anthony Doherty - Downpatrick
Tom Smith - Downpatrick
Big Rice - Rostrevor
Conor Doyle - Rostrevor
Pat Havern - Saval
Declan McClements - Loughinisland
Andrew Gilmore - St Johns
Shay Croskery - Fin

Must be some size of squad