Messages

Christy Cooney done a tour of a few schools in Down this morning. He went to St Dallan's, Warrenpoint, St Malachy's, Castlewellan, St Joseph's, Ballykinlar and Sacred Heart, Dundrum. I think then he was heading on to Stormont for 3.30pm.

He seems a very affable man and he spoke really well to the children.

Hope he hits that bollix Wells a kick in the nuts for what he has been trying to do to our neighbours just a mile from here

Feel sorry for Neil Lennon. He surely will not be considered for the post now on a permanent basis, yet this wasn't his team at all.

Such is life, I suppose, but who th fcuk in their right mind, of any calibre, will be interested in the job now

Paddy O'Rourke could be available in May

In South Belfast, going on the 2007 assembly results, the combined nationalist vote is around 40%, so a joint unionist candidate here would unfortunately gain election.

my vote is in S Down but wont cast it unless there is single nationalist in FST
I appreciate it is back to green/Orange scenario but all integrity is out the window with that carry on in FST. How can Tories stand over that decision

I thought Donegal wans were hard to listen to with the whole 'Sam's coming home' talk because they won the NFL in 2007.  Fair play to them though, they partied like it was 1999, but in the end nothing was produced come the business end of the season, and personally, I never enjoyed a win as much as a did when Tyrone hammered them that summer.  Down fans are getting near as bad regarding their championship chances this summer and in particular how great Marty Clarke is, when in reality, the best Down can hope for is a wee run to the last 12 in the Qualifiers.

I've yet to hear a Down fan say anything about championship success this year. There has been a turnaround in fortune and that is there for all to see, but we would be hopeful of progressing further this year than last. I think that is a reasonable aspiration for a county who have done as well as they have in the league.
Championship is a different scenario and you can be dumped out on your arse very quickly but we can only hope.
Marty Clarke is a very  good player but is only 21/22 and we would have great expectations of him in years to come but it really has been the press who have hyped him.

Have it on good authority that Dan is back training with the panel

Yes heard he returned last night.

Must be something coming up....

now now

Oh I know I have been at the end of some bad decisions myself...mainly due to one person in my county but I won't name any names.......

So Killyclogher sang the same songs as least year?? I wouldn't have expected that.  Perhaps they didn't have the heart to change them because they knew they could sing them well???  What were the group from Letterkenny like?  Are there any videos from the Ulster final or anything up on youtube?  I can't find any myself.

I dont think Saul really have any axes to grind with scoring in Down. We tend to get the rub of the green more than others!

Ah lads. Hughton did a great job in a big year for the 'Toon, but it's a bit early to be annointing him just yet. Keane and McCarthy did similar jobs in the Championship, as did Phil Brown and Ian Dowie.

Keane did a fantastic job in the Cahmpionship given where Sunderland were when he took over. With the squad that Hughton had automatic promotion was the least expected but never the less no mean achievement. Looks like Roy has begun to turn things around at Ipswich so expect them to be challenging for promotion next year

MON has spent £85m in 3.5 years and you could argue that he still has a aged and shallow squad for that layout.

Not saying he's bad or brillant but has still some length to go to be a top manager.

If fergie goes in the morning is he your first choice?

Couldn't see Fergie going to Anfield when he leaves OT

It makes you wonder just how much more the media will produce between now and the election!

From what I hear there is loads more of this type of stuff to come out of Castlereagh. The Beeb are bombarding them with FOI questions

How many teams have switched their game to Saturday instead? Just curious as to what div2 games still going ahead on Monday, thanks

Think the Kilclief/Downpatrick game is going ahead on Monday as Strangford failed to make the Harry Clarke cup this year!

Refereed a minor game of ours two years ago and had a dispute with one of our players then who also played today, seemed to have remembered him and ignored the said player being struck in the face right infront of him, as well as being pulled to the ground off the ball before that. Also gave a line ball that was not out resulting in a vital Downpatrick score.
Why did they decide to change the rule on rolling subs today, given it had been in place for the whole competition?

In fairness Downpatrick were the much better side today and 13 scores to 7 says it all really with a dodgy penalty thrown in
There's no love lost with this particular ref and the Hoops and one of their guys was saying to me that they cant remember the last time they won a championship game with him in charge
their free takers were very good when it mattered but John Connolly and Seam Bell were immense.
Connolly wins some unwinnable ball and draws a fantastic amount of fouls.
Nice to be able to call on a keeper of Nathan Curran's ability as a reserve at U 20 level

The corner forward was clearly fouled and it was a penalty. What about the foot block that nothing was done about when Bredagh shot for goal in the first half? Would you deny that Downpatrick deserved (under the rules of the game) to have a man sent off for striking? Downpatrick are a very good side but to say they were "much better" than Bredagh today is laughable.

I'm not from Downpatrick and have no intention in getting involved in whataboutery. Just giving a neutral opinion.
Don't recall the strike you refer to but am not saying it dodn't happen, but equally there was ahead thrown by Bredagh no 7 mid 2nd half.
Connolly being constantly fouled never got  one yellow against the defenders.
Bredagh scored 3 times with a;stronger second half breeze and one of those was a penalty.
Downpatrick scored 7 against and 6 with the breeze
End off

Refereed a minor game of ours two years ago and had a dispute with one of our players then who also played today, seemed to have remembered him and ignored the said player being struck in the face right infront of him, as well as being pulled to the ground off the ball before that. Also gave a line ball that was not out resulting in a vital Downpatrick score.
Why did they decide to change the rule on rolling subs today, given it had been in place for the whole competition?

In fairness Downpatrick were the much better side today and 13 scores to 7 says it all really with a dodgy penalty thrown in
There's no love lost with this particular ref and the Hoops and one of their guys was saying to me that they cant remember the last time they won a championship game with him in charge
their free takers were very good when it mattered but John Connolly and Seam Bell were immense.
Connolly wins some unwinnable ball and draws a fantastic amount of fouls.
Nice to be able to call on a keeper of Nathan Curran's ability as a reserve at U 20 level

Lucky all right- Giggs 11- Gerrard 0

My thoughts exactly

at last i feel like a united fan because this happens for them P***ks week in week out!

Aye for 18 years now. Really lucky shower!!!

[Would you have done your civic duty if they were sporting Armagh jerseys and clodding at a Protestant church? I suspect I know the answer to that one.]

What irked you more, the Northern Ireland jersey, the fact that the wearer was certainly a Protestant, or the fact that they were throwing snowballs at a church?

Would you have done your civic duty if they were sporting Armagh jerseys and clodding at a Protestant church? I suspect I know the answer to that one.

They probably would have missed