Messages

We were beat by Dunloy by a point.

Hard luck. Heard it was a tight game that went down to the wire.

Great year for yous all the same. Some very good development going on around the club.

[Also think it would have been worth floating the idea of playing the match in Ballela/Castlewellen/Liatroim etc.]

Also think it would have been worth floating the idea of playing the match in Ballela/Castlewellen/Liatroim etc.

Whilst it would be great to see the fixture taking place in any of these venues and I no doubt these clubs and others have been approached with a view to hosting but clubs nowadays are more protective of their pitches and and given the recent weather who could blame them. During the Club off season Clubs undertake pitch renovations to prepare for the season ahead. It is probably the case that Club venues are not currently in a position to host.
Our County Squads are like Nomads roaming the County in search of somewhere to train and if Clubs facilitate training sessions the reason and desire for a COE to be constructed diminishes and the CB do not have to maintain a facility which is money hungry.

Makes sense logistically given the opponent (as opposed to Downpatrick) and would have done no harm for the hurling in  those clubs. South Down used to play out Ballela if I'm correct, and Liatroim have hosted Down camogs I believe. So it's not unreasonable.

Why should Down make it easier for the opposition, let's give any advantage we have to our teams. Do we get many Home games in the Kehoe Cup ? No we don't!  Why did you not suggest the likes of Clonduff, Warrenpoint or some other venue in that locality as a venue to make Louth's travel arrangements a bit easier but I would say that they have closed their pitches also 
With no disrespect to Ballela but the dressing rooms are not suitable for County panels where there could be 30+ players and backroom staff

Liatroim have hosted Down Camogie fixtures as have Castlewellan but not in January/February and they have also hosted NHL games when Ballycran and Pairc Esler have not been playable. As the match venue was initially fixed for Cherryvale at the start of the week you would have to ask what was the reason for the change?
Have Belfast CC closed the pitch? Was it double booked or not booked at all! As for BCC they don't seem to take much care of the surface on their Gaelic Games pitches at any of the venues I have been at.

The facility at Downpatrick is a commercial enterprise outside of school hours and is not as widely used during the summer whereas Club pitches are at their peak in terms of usage. During the summer the School can carry out repairs to the pitches during peak growing season where as Clubs cannot. This allows the School to use them in a better condition during term time after all it was constructed primarily for their use. 

Down Hurlers and Down Camogs trained in Belfast last year due to the lack of suitable facilities in Down. Clubs that did have suitable facilities were unwilling to give access to them as it probably meant that their own teams were loosing out on pitch time. Most teams want to train on a Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm whether it is U8s or Senior Inter County Teams and it is just not possible for it to happen to everyone's satisfaction . The availability of suitable pitches is at a premium during the pre season period

Splash it is not a personal criticism on yourself and your contributions on hurling matters are both excellent and welcome. Just pointing out there are a lot of considerations and work required in order to facilitate fixtures and training which the majority of people are not aware off especially at this time of the year where the weather is a major factor and dictates a lot of what is possible.

Let's hope both our Senior Teams today have a winning start to their campaigns and a successful 2024 season and we see movement on our COE even one pitch would be a start!     

Completely agree with you on the COE.

Fair point on the quality of pitches at this time of year and whether or not clubs would be happy for them to be used.

My point was fundamentally it was an opportunity to host an intercounty hurling match in an area that typically we wouldn't. 

Suggested those clubs as opposed to Clonduff/Point just because they were the first ones that came to mind to be honest.

Wouldn't have bothered me where we played Louth- home advantage is home advantage. Don't think playing the game at the Abbey or at St Pat's in Banbridge would have made it any easier for Louth.

St Pat's in Downpatrick is a perfectly good facility to host games, but so is the Abbey, Aquinas, St Pat's BB, etc.

I wouldn't know what the situation is regarding these schools, though. Perhaps it's not feasible. Perhaps Downpatrick simply suited better (which is fair considering where the bulk of players are travelling from).

In regards to the situation in Cherryvale, I wouldn't have a notion what happened.

Walt, I completely agree with you on the situation surrounding the COE. It is at this time of year especially , you realise the value in having such a facility, particularly given external factors such as weather. Some excellent points there, especially the point you raised about the lack of suitable facilities for our hurlers and camogs to train on.

Hopefully in the future our teams are able to train regularly at great facilities within their own county.

No word on any squad for the McGurk Cup anyroad.

Hear Sheehan is considering playing a lot of young, up and coming players.

Good time for a debut, but imo, it would have been worth calling in players from outside the Senior Championship. There are hurlers playing in the Junior and Intermediate Championship, who, granted, aren't performing at the standard of some players in the senior championship, but given a bit of game time and exposure, could become useful to the county squad.

Playing Div 3 Louth would have been a good opportunity to bring in such players. (No disrespect to Louth, just think it would be better than trying to introduce players against Laois, Offaly, etc.)

Also think it would have been worth floating the idea of playing the match in Ballela/Castlewellen/Liatroim etc.

Makes sense logistically given the opponent (as opposed to Downpatrick) and would have done no harm for the hurling in  those clubs. South Down used to play out Ballela if I'm correct, and Liatroim have hosted Down camogs I believe. So it's not unreasonable.

No reason we can't win the McGurk Cup. We have the talent, and Antrim will be the weakest they've been in a little while. Would be a good chance to win something.

The Kehoe Cup will be interesting. We play both Meath and Kildare this year. They will be must win games. Hopefully we get good showings against them. Also, we realistically want to be competitive with Leinster counties soon, such as Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Westmeath etc. Doing well here is another step towards that.

Would be great to see our hurlers win an Ulster and a Leinster preseason double 

Good to see John O'Hare named for tomorrow. Well worth giving him a crack in the league this year imo.

Great to see Conor McCrickard in the squad,too.


Couple lads thought would be involved which were not named, but it's very early days yet.

Would be great to get a scalp over Derry tomorrow. Regardless of McKenna Cup or not, beating the Ulster Champions is never a bad thing. Beating Donegal and Monaghan last year set a good standard for the year.

Bredagh minor hurlers into the Ulster final where we will play Dunloy. Beat Lavey 1-19 to 1-3 this afternoon. Bredagh Abu.

Fair play to Bredagh. Some Scoreline. Also held Lavey scoreless in the second half?

Dunloy should be a big step up, but I doubt Bredagh fear anybody.

Great example of what a club can do when they put the work in.

See Paul Sheehan has stepped away from the county set up. Will be a big miss for Down.  Great hurler. Was great to see a South Down player be well capable of making a name for themselves amongst the Ardsmen. Hopefully South Down continues to regularly produce inter-county level hurlers.

Hear there's a good few lads away travelling, living abroad etc., but a good few lads who weren't available last year should be back this season. Donal Hughes being back and the Sands brothers being available in particular is a great boost.

Good article in the Irish News about the current lay of the land heading into the 2024 season. Glad to see a bit of optimism around the county scene.

Given the restructuring of the leagues for 2025, our goal this season realistically should be to get promoted to Division One, and retain Joe McDonagh status. There's no-one in Div 2A Down can't beat, and given two teams go up this year, it's a great opportunity. Playing the top counties regularly would be the next step to improving the standard of hurling in Down.

Glad to see Diarmuid O'Sullivan staying with Down. Trevor Fletcher should also be a good addition to the management team given his success at club level recently.

Down hurling seems to be in a good place for this year. Given last year was, on the whole, disappointing, despite the fact Down retained Div 2A and McDonagh Cup status, speaks volumes. A couple of years ago that would have been the dream.

Down Hurling is definitely going in the right direction. Let's hope we've another good year.

My own club has no real hurling background and it's not particularly strong in this area in general, however I have to say I love reading your posts and finding out bits of information about the county hurling team. Keep them coming in 2024! Thanks

Glad to hear, Ed 

[/quote]

Who's Down's manager now?
[/quote]

Ronan Sheehan from Shamrocks staying on.

Diarmuid 'The Rock' O'Sullivan from Cork, and Barry Mullane and Trevor Fletcher from Tipperary all involved with the management team.

See Paul Sheehan has stepped away from the county set up. Will be a big miss for Down.  Great hurler. Was great to see a South Down player be well capable of making a name for themselves amongst the Ardsmen. Hopefully South Down continues to regularly produce inter-county level hurlers.

Hear there's a good few lads away travelling, living abroad etc., but a good few lads who weren't available last year should be back this season. Donal Hughes being back and the Sands brothers being available in particular is a great boost.

Good article in the Irish News about the current lay of the land heading into the 2024 season. Glad to see a bit of optimism around the county scene.

Given the restructuring of the leagues for 2025, our goal this season realistically should be to get promoted to Division One, and retain Joe McDonagh status. There's no-one in Div 2A Down can't beat, and given two teams go up this year, it's a great opportunity. Playing the top counties regularly would be the next step to improving the standard of hurling in Down.

Glad to see Diarmuid O'Sullivan staying with Down. Trevor Fletcher should also be a good addition to the management team given his success at club level recently.

Down hurling seems to be in a good place for this year. Given last year was, on the whole, disappointing, despite the fact Down retained Div 2A and McDonagh Cup status, speaks volumes. A couple of years ago that would have been the dream.

Down Hurling is definitely going in the right direction. Let's hope we've another good year.

Bryansford definitely not the team they were, but on their day I'd say they're well fit for anyone in Div 2. But then again, on their day, most of the teams in Div 2 could beat them.

Clarke confirmed to stay with Glenn (to clear up any question marks above).

Mitchells and Ballykinlar both definitely not fielding this season then? 

If Darragh Cross do go down to Div 4, the leagues are looking decided already.

Imagine Darragh Cross should win Div 4 no bother.
Imagine Glenn should win Div 3 no bother.
Imagine Bryansford (if they get their house in order) should win Div 2.

What clubs actually field teams in 4 codes at senior level? To my knowledge Bredagh, Castlewellen, Warrenpoint, and East Belfast, and am I right in saying Liatroim have a senior women's football team?

I know plenty of clubs (Carryduff, Clonduff, Ballyvarley/Aghaderg, etc.) have introduced ladies football at some level, but not sure if they field senior teams.

Great that Newry's hosting the Ulster Senior Hurling Final tomorrow.

Good to see County Down being chosen for a couple big hurling occasions now (just a pity it's a neutral venue and there's no Down team in the final).

Should hopefully give the hurling scene in the county a bit of a boost. Not too often we get games of that level.

Would encourage anyone who is curious as to what the story is with this hurling craic to have a look tomorrow when it's on our doorstep.

Given the location of Newry, and how many more games are played now in a season, would Páirc Esler be likely to host more games in the future?

Curious.... How would this give hurling a boost?

Exposure to high quality games will always provoke a bit more interest in something.

It won't magically solve Down's hurling problem or inspire a sudden influx of players to the game, and tbh when I read that back I can see I really should have worded that better perhaps.

It won't fix our hurling woes, but hosting good games won't do any harm.

Could have phrased that better.

would it be better to put all senior hurling clubs in ulster into one competition.

As an Ulsterman, I personally would like to see it, as I think it would be great to see a proper Ulster Championship with clubs from all counties in the province being represented.

There's no point hiding the fact that there would be some awful beatings dished out. This is probably the principle reason it won't happen for the foreseeable future.

For example, the Cavan SHC Champions go into the Ulster Junior Championship. This year, the Cavan Senior Champions got beat well by the Monaghan Junior Champions.

Genuinely can't even begin to imagine what the score would have looked like if Cootehill (Cavan Champions) had have met Slaughtneil or Cushendall in a competitive championship game.

Would like to make it clear, I'm not trying to say anything negative about Cootehill or Cavan Hurling. As great hurling people you will meet anywhere in Ireland. But the point is it wouldn't be fair to have them playing these teams.

Ideally, Ulster GAA put the resources and funding into hurling into the counties, and we do some day get a fully competitive, nine team championship.

Given how the GAA has treated hurling in small counties recently though, we may have to wait a while...

I do think there is an argument, though, that the Armagh Senior Champions and Donegal Senior Champions, and potentially, Tyrone Senior Champions, get added in.

The Armagh Champions played in it until relatively recently. Past ten years I think? In all likelihood, no team in Armagh is anywhere near the level of Slaughtneil/Cushendall/Portaferry, but they're not a million miles away from causing the odd upset in a semi-final if someone has an off day.

Donegal have been putting a lot of work in to their hurling scene so I'm told. Donegal Champions won the Intermediate Championship. I believe if they go on to win the Intermediate All Ireland they'll be playing in the Senior Championship, in the same way Naas went on to represent Kildare in the Senior Leinster Championship after they won the Intermediate All Ireland? May be wrong on that front, though.

Considering how close the Tyrone Champions came to winning the Intermediate Championship I would say they should be given a chance at Senior.

The fact of the matter is though, unfortunately, it's incredibly unlikely these teams would be competitive in the Senior Championship.

Whoever comes out of Antrim (which, in all likelihood, will be Cushendall, Dunloy, or Loughgiel), will, imo, dominate Ulster for the next few years.

Slaughtneil will continue to win Derry, and could very well win Ulster again, but their best days may be behind them, and imo, are no longer the favourites to win Ulster. Getting beat by two different Antrim teams, in 2 finals in a row, solidifies that for me.

Down Champions will be competitive and whilst probably a wee bit off the Antrim teams and Slaughtneil, have it in them to win an Ulster.

Everyone else is a good bit off.

I personally would love to see the Ulster Championship expanded. It would help hurling in the province. But I'd like it to be competitive.

Ulster GAA would really need to do a lot to support and promote hurling, especially in the smaller counties, for it to be successful though.

Will be interesting to see how Slaughtneil fare next year playing Antrim Champions in the first round.

Have no idea what they do to try and get back to where they were. Don't think the underage is as dominant in Derry as the senior squad.

Still some great hurlers and at the end of the day were only a few scores away from an Ulster Championship, but just weren't performing the same way they had been over the past few years.

Difficult for Slaughtneil when they are so far ahead of the rest of the county to prepare for the likes of Dunloy or Cushendall. Probably best for the Derry hurling scene in the long run if other teams manage to catch up, though.

Cushendall were on the ball (literally and metaphorically)- fair play to them. Wonder how they'll cope with OLG.

Cushendall just better everywhere that Slaughtneil today.

As cliché as it is, Cushendall definitely looked like they wanted it more.

Fair play to them.