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How many clubs are actually in need of a manager for the forthcoming season.  Has anyone a breakdown.  We usually get it at this stage. 

[The fourth member of the Management Team is Professor Niall Moyna of DCU.]

Down GAA are delighted to be able to announce that both the Senior Football Team Manager James McCartan and the Senior Hurling Team Manager Gerard Monan have finalised their backroom teams as Down prepare for the 2013 season.

James will have once again Kilcoo man Jerome Johnston on board, Jerome has been a member of the backroom team since James took up the post in 2010 and is highly regarded for his knowledge of the game inside and outside of Down

Joining Jerome will be former Down All Ireland Medal winner of 1991 and 94 Eamon Burns who in the recent past has been in charge in Ballymartin, Darragh Cross and Bryansford and Eamon is looking forward to his first taste of Inter County Management.

The fourth member of the Management Team is Professor Niall Moyna of DCU. He was manager of the Irish U-17 International Rules team that toured Australia in 2006. In recent years he has managed the DCU senior football team to 3 Sigerson cups, 2 O'Byrne cups and a Ryan Cup. In addition, he was a selector on the St Vincent's team that won the All-Ireland club football championship in 2008, and has been part of the Dublin senior football backroom team that has won 3 Leinster senior football championships and the All-Ireland senior football title in 2011.

On the Hurling Front Gerard Monan will once again be joined by Martin McCusker from Ballela and Ballycran Clubman Stephen McAree with a new addition of Paul Flynn the former Waterford Hurler as Team Coach.

Paul Flynn the Ballygunner man has recently been Coach to the Carlow Senior hurling team and as a player won won three Munster winners' medals, one National League winners' medal and one All-Star award. Paul Flynn is Waterford's top championship scorer of all-time. The addition of Paul Flynn to the Management Team is an indication of Manager Gerard Monan's intent to improve the fortunes of Down hurling in 2013.

Told ya so.... Interesting appoointment... Will be good to see what he brings to the set up.  Strange that mc elkennon doesn get in caus of finance and this man does..... strange..

what a shambles our county is...  The burren captain gets presented with the cup on the pitch, the bridge players walk off before he makes his speech and he lifts the cup aloft to a whimper from a poor crowd.  Surely this has to end.  The playoffs are not working.. Oh and Niall Moyna is the new trainer apparently... Poacher still with u21s...

The county board have been saying for years that the play offs have been designed to allow county players to play a certain number of games for their club.  Would it not be a nice gesture for the county board to open the gates tonight for the league final and not charge in???  The gaels of down have paid in to their own respective games all season and this would be a great way for the county board to show thier gratitude...

Shane Mulholland is apparently in as a coach in the new look backroom team.... Interesting to say the least!!!

Apparently an announcement is imminent on the new coach for the year ahead.. Think by early next week we will all be put out of our misery...

Rumour has it today that Mc Elkennon has turned down the chance to be part of the Down set up... Selectors are being touted flat out but That leaves the door open for a trainer.  Interesting vacancy to fill.  Is there anybody out there!!!!!

The interview with destination Newry yesterday didn reveal anything really about whether James is staying on or not... Wonder did he interview Poacher for the job of trainer after the cameras stopped rolling.... Names being touted as selectors include: Gary Mason, Gregory Mc Cartan and Liam Hardy... If we just had an inkling as to whether he is staying or not it would help.....

Mayobridge 1.14 Ballyholland 0.10
Downpatrick 1.6 Burren 0.8

What happened to the mighty Burren tonight?? Went to bridge game - dirty night for football.  Can they not start the games at 6.45 at this stage - the evenings are really closing in....

It was closer to a Burren second string that they had out tonight. No Gerard McCartan, Dan McCartan, Donal O'Hare, Eoin McCartan, Declan Rooney or Anton McArdle to name but a few.

For me, Peter Turley was the man of the match at midfield.

That makes a little more sense then about burren... Those guys would get in all club teams in division 1.....  Is Peter Turley worth a slot on the county team in youir opinion??

Mayobridge 1.14 Ballyholland 0.10
Downpatrick 1.6 Burren 0.8

What happened to the mighty Burren tonight?? Went to bridge game - dirty night for football.  Can they not start the games at 6.45 at this stage - the evenings are really closing in....

Ballyholland 0.9 Downpatrick 2.12
Saval 1.13 Castlewellan 0.10
Longstone 3.8 Clonduff 2.12
Kilcoo 1.10 Bryansford 2.10
Burren 1.12 Mayobridge 0.9

Based on recent form - there are a couple of shocks in here.  Any reports on the games.  Was at the Ford v Kilcoo game and it was poor enough quality at times.  Bryansford were very good in possession and took some very good scores.  When they get their Stateside lads back in the fold they will surely give the championship a rattle...

All games in club championship going as expected so far and with a clonduff win tomorrow night - the top four clubs in the county are into the quarter finals automatically.  Is there any real need for this new system? The cream always rises anyhow.

Even though i did not attend the game yesterday - i watched it very closely on the television and have listened to a lot of people in the last 24 hours about different aspects of the game.  the most notable point coming out of every ones mouths is that its time for a change of management.  Could someone please suggest to me who they feel would do as good a job as James has in the last 3 years? We got to 3 finals in his tenure - maintained our division one status for the last two seasons with a semi final appearance this season and lost quite a few players due to injury, retirements and emigration.  The fatigue of the 6 day turnaround may have hampered the performance yesterday.  The lads looked very flat especially when a turnover went against them - they couldnt get into defence quick enough.
So my questions are:
Who coulde replace James?
Are there any players out there who have not been given a shot at it that could make a difference?
Who will win the club c'ship now?

McVeigh
O'Hagan
Gordon
Garvey
McParland
McKernan
McArdle
Rodgers
King
Carr
Poland
Maginn
Coulter
Laverty
McCartan

The named team anyhow, probably be at least one change as per usual!

No major surprises in the team this week..... Mc Kernan back in half back is a good call - he is big player for the big day.... Surprised that Brannigan aint included tho. But as already stated - he may start yet!!!
Big game tonight in Bridge v Bryansford.  Should be a good indicator how both panels will cope with upcoming championship.  Both Missing key players but should be good enough game.

Any suggestions for the team on sat?  A fully fit panel at this time of the year is fantastic news - it leaves serious options for all positions.  As Mourne rover predicts there are a number of viable options for each position and each a class player. Certs have to be Mc Veigh, O'Hagan, Big Dan, Mc Ardle, Ambrose, Kallum, Poland, Laverty, Coulter, Garvey, Maginn, Brannigan - that only leaves 3 positions up for grabs... 1 in defence between, Dan Mc Cartan, Gerard Mc Cartan, Mc Parland, Mc Kernan - and two up front between Eoin Mc Cartan, Donal O'Hare, Duffin, Carr, Mc Conville...