Messages

Once again, Cavanagh completely and totally not at the races or the pace of the game.

The hill stare back

What a ball from O' Neill - Mulligan goal

Cavanagh missed open goal

Mc Cullough - sweet

Cavanagh looking in the wing mirrors before getting his free?

Need to see it again

Typical Dubs - swigging from the beer cans on the hill !!!!!!!!!!!

[Pete McGrady]

The men in charge in division 1
  Date : 30/01/2009 22:25 
Taken from the Down Democrat Website

http://www.downdemocrat.com/tabId/290/itemId/481/The-men-in-charge.aspx

Some new and more familiar faces have been installed as managers throughout the county. It may only be January but in Division One the manager merry-go-round is already in full swing.

KILCOO: 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' seems to be the mantra that the League Champions are adopting for the coming season. Jim McCorry guided Kilcoo to their first league title since 2004 and understandably he will remain in charge in 2009. The superb team ethic prevalent at the club was a major reason for last year's success. If that can be replicated Kilcoo may fancy their chances of retaining their league title.

MAYOBRIDGE: Paul Carroll managed Mayobridge for a spell in the 1990s and returns to the club in 2009 to take charge of the Sky Blues again.

The appointment was a surprise to many outside of the club but those in the know are confident that he can keep the good times rolling at Mayobridge. The Sky Blues are seeking their sixth successive county championship title. If they can secure that the onus will be on Carroll to put together an extended run in Ulster.

ROSTREVOR: The south Down side have named one of the most high profile names as their new manager. John Rafferty famously brought success to St. Galls of Antrim. The Armagh man will also be coaching his native Poyntzpass who play their football in Division Four of the Armagh league in conjunction with the Rostrevor job. His rigorous training and scientific approach have yielded impressive results. Whether he can bring success to St Bronagh's remains to be seen.

CASTLEWELLAN: Liam Hardy is the newly appointed Castlewellan manager. Barney Cunningham and 'Harpo' McKibben will assist the new man as selectors. Last year the Town made it to the play-offs in the league before being eliminated by Mayobridge.

They suffered a disappointing early exit in the Championship at the hands of rivals Bryansford. Hardy's hopes will include a better showing in the Championship as well as maintaining their good league form.

BURREN: Damian Barton retains control of the former All-Ireland winning club for the second successive season. Burren were the nearly men of 2008 reaching the Championship semi-final and finishing just outside the play-off places in the league. If Barton can improve on last year's performance expect Burren to challenge on both fronts.

CLONDUFF: Benny Corrigan was in charge at the Hilltown club last year. Never in danger of relegation but just ever so slightly off the pace at the upper end of the spectrum they were also eliminated by eventual winners Mayobridge in the Championship.

Clonduff will be seeking an improved performance in both league and championship in 2009.

LONGSTONE: Frank Dawson will be in charge at the 'Stone for his third season as manager. He will be assisted by Tony Burden and John Poland. He guided the Mourne men to the Championship final in 2007 and helped the club finish 8th in the league last season. After an arguably average season last year Dawson will be hoping to re-ignite the form that saw his side push Mayobridge to a replay in the Championship final in 2007.

LOUGHINISLAND: Gerard Colgan will stay on at Loughinisland after a successful first season. The former An Ríocht man steered the Blues to a Championship final and will be hoping for a similar run in 2009. On the touch-line with Colgan will be Paul Rice and Stephen Molloy. The trio will aim to sustain more of a challenge in the league with a view to making the play-offs.

SAVAL: Declan Morgan remains in charge at Nan Sands Declan and will be charged with the task of keeping Saval in the top tier of football once again. With the number of teams in Division One being reduced at the end of this season Morgan faces a battle to avoid relegation once again. If Saval can pull that feat off it will be viewed as a successful season.

LIATROIM: Having narrowly avoided relegation last year the Fontenoys' Rusty McCaulfield could reflect on a job well done. In that regard Leitrim will be hoping for the same again. Liam Doily is still nursing a long-term injury. The Fontenoys will be hoping to have their talisman back sooner rather than later. In the fight to stay in the top division they may well need him.

WARRENPOINT: The 'Point were promoted as Champions of Division Two under the stewardship of Emmett Thomas McGivern. ET brought what was a very young squad up to the top flight against the odds. Gerry Boil is the side's primary selector. The management will have their sights set on maintaining their Division One status.

BRYANSFORD: Two-time All-Ireland winning manager Pete McGrady takes the helm at the newly promoted club. Bryansford were dominant in Division Two last season before falling at the final hurdle in the Play-offs. The former Down tactician has a habit of bringing success wherever he goes. If he can continue that trend this season Bryansford will be more than happy.



Very poor journalism indeed.  A few points -

Rusty Mc Aulfield left Leitrim at the end of last year and this was widely known.
Its Liam Doyle and not Liam Doily, you would think they would be able to get the name right of a former DOWN Captain
Gerry Boil?  Don't think this is right.
Pete Mc Grady?  Everyone knows who he is and what he has done.  Maybe he is being confused with that other East Down great, Eddie Mc Grady!!!!!!!!!!

that really is poor journalism!!!  if ya get that name wrong in Down football,  well there is no hope for ya!!

So its acceptable and not poor journalism?
These people get paid to write articles like this.  I would imagine a GAA writer put this piece together or maybe not, judging by these basic mistakes.  You would think he would know the people he is writing about?

The men in charge in division 1
  Date : 30/01/2009 22:25 
Taken from the Down Democrat Website

http://www.downdemocrat.com/tabId/290/itemId/481/The-men-in-charge.aspx

Some new and more familiar faces have been installed as managers throughout the county. It may only be January but in Division One the manager merry-go-round is already in full swing.

KILCOO: 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' seems to be the mantra that the League Champions are adopting for the coming season. Jim McCorry guided Kilcoo to their first league title since 2004 and understandably he will remain in charge in 2009. The superb team ethic prevalent at the club was a major reason for last year's success. If that can be replicated Kilcoo may fancy their chances of retaining their league title.

MAYOBRIDGE: Paul Carroll managed Mayobridge for a spell in the 1990s and returns to the club in 2009 to take charge of the Sky Blues again.

The appointment was a surprise to many outside of the club but those in the know are confident that he can keep the good times rolling at Mayobridge. The Sky Blues are seeking their sixth successive county championship title. If they can secure that the onus will be on Carroll to put together an extended run in Ulster.

ROSTREVOR: The south Down side have named one of the most high profile names as their new manager. John Rafferty famously brought success to St. Galls of Antrim. The Armagh man will also be coaching his native Poyntzpass who play their football in Division Four of the Armagh league in conjunction with the Rostrevor job. His rigorous training and scientific approach have yielded impressive results. Whether he can bring success to St Bronagh's remains to be seen.

CASTLEWELLAN: Liam Hardy is the newly appointed Castlewellan manager. Barney Cunningham and 'Harpo' McKibben will assist the new man as selectors. Last year the Town made it to the play-offs in the league before being eliminated by Mayobridge.

They suffered a disappointing early exit in the Championship at the hands of rivals Bryansford. Hardy's hopes will include a better showing in the Championship as well as maintaining their good league form.

BURREN: Damian Barton retains control of the former All-Ireland winning club for the second successive season. Burren were the nearly men of 2008 reaching the Championship semi-final and finishing just outside the play-off places in the league. If Barton can improve on last year's performance expect Burren to challenge on both fronts.

CLONDUFF: Benny Corrigan was in charge at the Hilltown club last year. Never in danger of relegation but just ever so slightly off the pace at the upper end of the spectrum they were also eliminated by eventual winners Mayobridge in the Championship.

Clonduff will be seeking an improved performance in both league and championship in 2009.

LONGSTONE: Frank Dawson will be in charge at the 'Stone for his third season as manager. He will be assisted by Tony Burden and John Poland. He guided the Mourne men to the Championship final in 2007 and helped the club finish 8th in the league last season. After an arguably average season last year Dawson will be hoping to re-ignite the form that saw his side push Mayobridge to a replay in the Championship final in 2007.

LOUGHINISLAND: Gerard Colgan will stay on at Loughinisland after a successful first season. The former An Ríocht man steered the Blues to a Championship final and will be hoping for a similar run in 2009. On the touch-line with Colgan will be Paul Rice and Stephen Molloy. The trio will aim to sustain more of a challenge in the league with a view to making the play-offs.

SAVAL: Declan Morgan remains in charge at Nan Sands Declan and will be charged with the task of keeping Saval in the top tier of football once again. With the number of teams in Division One being reduced at the end of this season Morgan faces a battle to avoid relegation once again. If Saval can pull that feat off it will be viewed as a successful season.

LIATROIM: Having narrowly avoided relegation last year the Fontenoys' Rusty McCaulfield could reflect on a job well done. In that regard Leitrim will be hoping for the same again. Liam Doily is still nursing a long-term injury. The Fontenoys will be hoping to have their talisman back sooner rather than later. In the fight to stay in the top division they may well need him.

WARRENPOINT: The 'Point were promoted as Champions of Division Two under the stewardship of Emmett Thomas McGivern. ET brought what was a very young squad up to the top flight against the odds. Gerry Boil is the side's primary selector. The management will have their sights set on maintaining their Division One status.

BRYANSFORD: Two-time All-Ireland winning manager Pete McGrady takes the helm at the newly promoted club. Bryansford were dominant in Division Two last season before falling at the final hurdle in the Play-offs. The former Down tactician has a habit of bringing success wherever he goes. If he can continue that trend this season Bryansford will be more than happy.



Very poor journalism indeed.  A few points -

Rusty Mc Aulfield left Leitrim at the end of last year and this was widely known.
Its Liam Doyle and not Liam Doily, you would think they would be able to get the name right of a former DOWN Captain
Gerry Boil?  Don't think this is right.
Pete Mc Grady?  Everyone knows who he is and what he has done.  Maybe he is being confused with that other East Down great, Eddie Mc Grady!!!!!!!!!!

So just for the record, if you have Setanta package and live in the North, setanta Ireland will be on for the match tonight.

Are you sure about this?

During the International Rules series, the games were blocked to us in the North.  I rang and complained this but was just wasting my breath.  Someone was to look into this and get back to me - they never did.  I emailed as well but never received a reply.  Communication obviously isn't one of their strong points.

I thought the international rules were on RTE.

My understanding is that setanta Ire show wverything in the North bar programmes that have a rights issue. An example being live premiership football on a Sat at 3pm, as there is an embargo from the FA of games being shown live at this time.

I think that the NL games don't have a rights issue i.e. Sentanta own them.

Good stuff - look foward to watching it

So just for the record, if you have Setanta package and live in the North, setanta Ireland will be on for the match tonight.

Are you sure about this?

During the International Rules series, the games were blocked to us in the North.  I rang and complained this but was just wasting my breath.  Someone was to look into this and get back to me - they never did.  I emailed as well but never received a reply.  Communication obviously isn't one of their strong points.

Down team for sunday.

1 B McVeigh
2 C McGovern
3 P Murphy
4 L Howard
5 A Carr
6 K McKernan
7 C Garvey
8 J Lynch
9 S Kearney
10 B McArdle
11 C Maginn
12 J Fegan
13 J ORielly
14 D Hughes
15 B Coulter

Not totally convinced about this team.  We have to get a settled No.3 and No.6 . At the minute both could be decent options.  Mc kernan has to curb the urge to constantly bomb forward but he could do a job here. 

Surprised at Kearney.  Not sure if he has the work rate to play here and I would be surprised to see Mc Ardle play in the middle of the field with Kearney at wing forward.

O' Reilly can be dangerous and unlike the man at No.14 he actually is a team player.  Hughes will probably roam out the field but he must bring others into play and not just do things that suit him.

Interesting team but I suppose it is early days.  A win would be a great lift for a start.

I watched the penalties last night and even though its been a while since I stood between the posts, I reckon I could have saved a few.

WHY?

You have a big 'centre half' coming charging straight on at the ball, now where do you think he is going to put it?  Low, bottom left?  Top right?

NO - ITS GOING STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE CAUSE THATS ALL HE CAN DO.

But what do the keepers do?  Have a guess.  Right?  Left?  It has to be one or the other cause no one ever puts the ball up the middle!!!!!! Yeah right.

I reckon there were more placed centre, or close to centre, last night than were put to the sides.  I may be wrong

[Kennelly will excel at football]

I don't see what Kennelly's decision has to do with giving advise to Coney. Did Coney need Tadhg there to hold his hand or something? Of course he was going to recommend Sydney for him. He's been there ten years, its not as if he's jumping ship after a year. Tyrone boys bending over backwards here to see an anti-Tyrone agenda from a Kerryman.

As for his chances, I've said it before and I'll say it again, Kennelly will excel at football and, if he stays injury free, is a shoo-in for an All Star in his first year. The key for Jack O'Connor is how he brings him in - he can't call him straight in. He might have to play a couple of club games or trial games and then come on stream. The fact that he's coming home now though means he's not flying in for the All-Ireland so it will be easier to assimilate him.

The man is going to be a major success. He stands at 6'2" and having stood beside him when I met him in Sydney, he is a big boy! The thing is he is not used in Aussie Rules as a physical player - they see his strength being his pace, skill, courage and ball carrying. While he mightn't be a giant in Aussie Rules terms, he will be a bigger than normal Gaelic footballer and combined with serious speed and skill (which will come with the round ball quickly enough) will make him a formidable Gaelic footballer.

He'll probably slot in at midfield beside Darragh O Se but will be comfortable anywhere on the half-back line or half-forward line while he has had occasion to play for the Swans in the Aussie Rules equavalent of corner-back. A serious, serious boost for Kerry and I'll be interested to see if they come in in price for winning next year. If they don't, get on! To repeat, the only concern I'd have is the injuries but he's playing a less physical sport and less demanding in terms of energy too..

A lot of assumptions of a guy that hasn't touched a round ball for the best part of a decade.

Jez, he's bound to be bursting for a slash.  

Does anyone know if there were any of the Down U21 management team in attendence at the EDu20 A final yesterday?
And if so was there any displays which would have caught their attention?

Think they were busy waiting their turn.