Messages

yes, it would be a very bad day.  But sometimes luck, or the flow of the game can go against you.  If the first 2 attempts went wide, the team may be reluctant to attempt another one, never mind three !
But lisdoons point is will made,   a 0-14 to 0-13 game would be a closer scoreline.

But, I agree, let us keep positive and look forward to a potentially good game on Saturday.

It is a long time since I have enjoyed a Down win so much.

I know we need to keep it in perspective. January football, McKenna Cup, weakened Donegal, etc. etc. etc.     But hell, it was good to see Down notch up 5-14 with relative ease. And with a man less for most of the second half.

It would be nice to see it backed up on Saturday evening against the students.

Only negative note, is that we again conceded 13 points.  That has been a pattern for too long.

I would not worry too much about our forwards at this stage, as, apart from the lack of an obvious no 11, the talent is there. If James Colgan can prove that he wants to be a senior county footballer, there should be a place for him somewhere as well.

I couldn't agree more than with both of those  statements........

It is the silly season

It may be!   

But has it been tried and proven to fail?   Is that not the purpose of challenge games, McKenna Cup, and (dare I say it) div 3 NFL ?

And, and an earlier poster noted that there are no immediate worries regarding the forwards.  I have to agree with them, we have a lopsided balance of ability in the squad/county,  tipping the scales in favour of the forwards....

So we can afford to try Benny out at full back.    Or, given our immediate need to fix the full back problem, can we afford NOT to try him out there?

We all agree that we need to find someone for full back.  And that problem has been around for a number of seasons now.
And most posters are in favour of pulling Benny out of full forward.   So why not play our best player at full back?
Benny has a) great ball winning ability,  b) good distributional stills, and c) a great reader of the game. All skills required at fullback.
The way county football has gone in recent years, the role of the full back is less about tackling and more about ball winning. i.e. winning the ball before the full forward.   Monaghan were not afraid to try out something radical like that last season, successfully.

And I agree, Liam Doyle at centre back.

beautiful indeed.   I wish I had been around to have seen them in action...

I agree with you Leo.

Also, Islandboy...   the highest scoring total previously held by Paddy Doherty was indeed overtaken recently.  But players are playing more games for their county in the modern game.  Paddy Doherty still holds the highest average score per game record.

I have only just found this gaa board discussion place.  I am pleased to find a place with knowledgeable comments. I have now bookmarked it for future  use!

To add something to the current discussion of Down's greatest,  how about John O'Hare?   Who? some people will ask, but that is only because he was pre 1960.  Played for Castlewellan, Down and Ulster.

I am not old enough to remember him playing, but then again I am not old enough to remember the teams of the 60's either.  My  grandfather used to rave about him, and my father still does.  As far as I know, he still holds the record for the number of Railway cup winners medals for a Down player. Perhaps someone else can verify?

here are a couple of links:
http://hoganstand.com/Down/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=8643 
http://www.irishnews.com/gaaworld/ulster/Down/Castlewellan/johnohare.html

perhaps it might answer the goalkeeper question