Messages

[I am all for supporting the underdog]

thewobbler do you honestly think that Down will be within an asses roar of Kerry tomorrow? I am all for supporting the underdog, but I am expecting a very one sided game tomorrow. I am hoping the second game tomorrow will be a bit closer.

I was supporting Louth against Meath  , anything can happen on the day .

You couldn't beat armagh in CP this year. Having seen how poor armagh are I know who my money is on tomorrow. Kerry will be more up for this game then people realise having never beaten Down before. I don't think people realise at times how good this kerry side are. The clap trap emanating from the North is that because they haven't beaten tyrone (yet) that their legacy is somehow tarnished.The fact is tyrone have lost to teams in the championship kerry wouldn't lose to if they tried
When the shit hits the fan there is no side in the country better at digging a result out.
Down have had a decent year and have a good manager in my view. But the gap between tier one and two is grand canyon esque in my opinion.

Come on Indiana , we can all have a bad day out (Meath) one game does not define a team . We also beat Armagh this year so it is 1-1 on that front . To tell you the truth I could care less what Tyrone do, so I don't see what relevance your comments about Tyrone have to this thread .
The gap between tier 1 and 2 remains to be seen , I just cant understand how you know for certain that the gap is as big as you think .

[Down have no good defenders]

You're mad in the head Indiana.

Kerry have three exceptional fowards and in Marc O Se, one outstanding defender.

The rest of them are no better or worse than 90% of county players.

Kerry had 9 top class players last summer and were an exceptional team for it. But this is a different vintage. Some people just see green and gold then go google eyed.

Down have no good defenders , an average midfield and 3 good forwards. And you think that will beat kerry? Ther eis only one person mad in the head mate and it ain't me. This isn't 1991 or 1968. You'd want to fast forward a bit.

Who was telling ye this ? Pat Spillane or Martin McHugh ? our defence has come on alot this year , have a look at our scores against tally in the league . An average midfield ? Ambrose would get onto any team in the country and Kalum King has had a brilliant first year and will only get better . I have no worries about our forwards if they click there are as good as most . How many times have you seen Down play Indiana ? or is your opinion based on what you read in the papers . Anyway hope the lads do themselves justice tomorrow ,  go out and give it everything . James's first year can only go down as a success .

Down are tier 2. Tomorrow they are playing a tier one side and will lose. By 7-8 points in my view. It doesn't take much for down fans to lose the run of themselves. Big wins over Sligo mean nothing at this level.

Your right Down are a tier 2 team but an improving one at that . I don't think anyone is running away with themselves we know Kerry in a massive ask but not one that this team will shrink from . I'm sure the lads will give it everything and that's all that the Down fans will expect from them .

I have never seen Down concede 5 goals in a championship game , I have seen them score five though .

[Down have no good defenders]

You're mad in the head Indiana.

Kerry have three exceptional fowards and in Marc O Se, one outstanding defender.

The rest of them are no better or worse than 90% of county players.

Kerry had 9 top class players last summer and were an exceptional team for it. But this is a different vintage. Some people just see green and gold then go google eyed.

Down have no good defenders , an average midfield and 3 good forwards. And you think that will beat kerry? Ther eis only one person mad in the head mate and it ain't me. This isn't 1991 or 1968. You'd want to fast forward a bit.

Who was telling ye this ? Pat Spillane or Martin McHugh ? our defence has come on alot this year , have a look at our scores against tally in the league . An average midfield ? Ambrose would get onto any team in the country and Kalum King has had a brilliant first year and will only get better . I have no worries about our forwards if they click there are as good as most . How many times have you seen Down play Indiana ? or is your opinion based on what you read in the papers . Anyway hope the lads do themselves justice tomorrow ,  go out and give it everything . James's first year can only go down as a success .

Well done Longford , delighted they got the win . Met some sound Longford men in McCoys prior to the the game last night . One of which played with Paddy Docherty in London many years ago . A busy weekend for the Longford faithful and they brought a brave crowd with them to Newry and I'm sure they were out again today .

Raining off and on all day here in Dublin - I'm sure it's not much different in Newry . Wet ball is not our favorite but hopefully we have enough to get by Longford . Would like to see a big game from Dan Gordan and Ambrose , if they click we will be hard to beat .

Down boss James McCartan has opted to make no changes to the side which lost to Tyrone in last month's Ulster SFC semi-final for tomorrow's clash with Longford at Pairc Elser.



Damian Rafferty and Benny McArdle have both overcome injury to take their places in the Mourne full-back line, while Dan Gordon again starts with 14 on his back as Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King continue their midfield partnership.

Elsewhere up front, Benny Coulter is on the left wing, while Gordon is flanked by Conor Maginn and Marty Clarke on the wings, with the latter again expected to drift out the field.

Notably, neither Ronan Murtagh nor Stephen Kearney have been named among the substitutes by McCartan, fuelling speculation that they've quit the panel.

Down (All-Ireland SFC v Longford): B McVeigh; D Rooney, McArdle, D Rafferty; K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey; A Rogers, K King; D Hughes, M Poland, B Coulter; C Maginn, D Gordon, M Clarke.




©2010 Lynn Publications

Wish Dee Raferty all the best and hopefully the injury isn't too bad . Best player for Down this year .

I was there when The Specials played Dublin on their 30th Anniversary tour . 

[As I look after U12 in my own club I know exactly the problems with being used as a baby sitting service and lack of any interest from parents. But in truth I dint care less if the parents see it like that. I am more interested in encouraging the child to want to come to training every week and developing future club members whether they end up as club players intercounty players, referees, groundsmen or administrators. The club needs them all.]

If you were to compare the price of membership with what a parent would pay to have their child taught how to swim or play the piano, would it still seem so unreasonable?

No offence meant Tacadoir but that is exactly the train of thought which I think has led to this particular club looking for €100 for juvenile membership. The difference being that a piano teacher or swim teacher will essentially be in the business of maling money.
The business a GAA Club should be in wining the hearts and souls of as many kids as they can find. Not presenting bariers to participation.

Personally I think juvenile membership should be free at least up until minor and no one will convince me that it is right or productive to expect a €100 fee from a ten year olds parents.

As I look after U12 in my own club I know exactly the problems with being used as a baby sitting service and lack of any interest from parents. But in truth I dint care less if the parents see it like that. I am more interested in encouraging the child to want to come to training  every week and developing future club members whether they end up as club players intercounty players, referees, groundsmen or administrators. The club needs them all.

Well said , agree 100% .

Do you know how much it is to Join the local soccer / rugby club in your area ? and how do the facilities compare ?

Our mutt is creaking now...legs are wobbling...typical Lab problems...thinking of gettin a pup to keep him company....anyone any experience of bringing a pup into the house with an older dog already there??

Sams ,
Only going on my own experience but I wouldn't do it . We had an Irish setter for 15yrs in the parents house and a better dog I have never met , when I moved out I got one of my own and when I brought the new buck round to the parents he never gave the the aul dog a minutes peace . No malice just to much energy for the aul boy . Maybe if they were under the same roof it might be different but if you are after having your dog for a lock of years maybe he needs his peace and a change to the norm might not be the best thing for him .

Was / Am into Ska , still wear Bennies , Fred Perry's , Harrington , don't do boots anymore but would wear loakes with a suit (Tonic of course ) .

Bennies? Loakes?

I still wear Fred Perry's, Harrington, Loafers and was very tempted with a Crombie a while back. I wouldn't wear the Harrington all the time, sometimes to work with a Ben Sherman and sometimes when I am out for the night... though that doesn't happen these days with a new born and a 17 month old

Bennies = Ben Sherman
Loakes = Loafers , oxblood . Check them out . Quality .

Was / Am into Ska , still wear Bennies , Fred Perry's , Harrington , don't do boots anymore but would wear loakes with a suit (Tonic of course ) .

Put on some old Jamaican SKA / REGGAE full whack , drink beer and dance .

Fair play to Aaron Kernan ,


Aaron Kernan has pleaded with the CCCC to show leniency towards Down's Daniel McCartan, who is facing an eight-week suspension.

McCartan was sent off for allegedly stamping on the Armagh star during the NFL Division 2 final last Sunday week and an eight-week ban was subsequently proposed for the Burren clubman, which would see him miss the Ulster SFC opener against Donegal on May 30 and a possible semi-final against Tyrone or Antrim
Kernan, who is expected to appear before disciplinary chiefs on McCartan's behalf, said yesterday: "I don't like getting involved in these things but I didn't make much of it at all.

"I'd say if you look at it on TV, it looks like there's more to it, but he hardly touched me to be honest. Genuinely, I don't feel he meant to do what happened, I wouldn't see it as a stamp.

"It wouldn't like to see any man miss two or three months at the busiest time of the year over something like it."