Messages

U20s suffered a serious beating tonight at the hands of Tyrone, although its not a shock because this has happened regularly at underage level for guts of 10/15 years now bar the two u20 teams of Murdock, Magill and that group played on. How can we be so far behind at underage level? And is there anything being done to help us catch up?

Last game of the league against Antrim this evening in Newry.

Think if we beat them, and Dublin beat Carlow, we can mathematically stay up if Down beat Antrim by enough, but in all likelihood Down will be relegated to Division 2.

The Dublin game was a disaster, but there's plenty of lessons to be taken from playing who were one of the top 4 teams in Ireland last year.

Some people from Antrim I have spoken to seem to think Antrim will win this easily, and it would be great to give them something to think about.

Whilst Antrim look like they have improved in recent weeks, I don't think there is much between them and Down, and they are certainly there for the taking.

Great that it's in Newry- wish a lot more games were held there.

Im sure your a happy man tonight Splash! Get win that, and well deserved. Delighted for Ronan, he's put some effort into Down hurling.

Minors took another awful trimming today, hard to believe we are so far behind at u17 level.

Any team news yet? Would definitely like to see some boys get a rest.

Burns
Murdock
Laverty
McEvoy
Brooks
McCarthy
Rogers
Guinness
Murdock
Rooney
Doherty
Scullion
O Hagan
Havern
O Hare

Any word on the Down u20s panel for this evenings game?

Any word on the minor panel for the season ahead?

See Mooney back in with Down, good option of the bench with 15/20mins to go! Any word on either Eugene Branagan or Anthony Morgan are going to be involved at any stage this year?

Disgusting and pathetic letter that, wait til the locals find out that a few miles out the road our 'centre of excellence' is to be built!

There has a been a string of players given a chance at Full forward over last 3 or 4 years - and there is certainly a slot for someone to grab.

Gilmore, Oisin Savage, Conor McCrickard, Eamon Brown, Seamie Loughran and now Donal Scullion & Jamie Doran...

All seem to have the ability and perform at club level but none seem to have really grabbed the jersey or been given a long enough run.

Is this because they aren't good enough or just not built for inter-county football yet?

The only thing I would say is that a brave few of them, only got 20mins here and there, or started 1 game and then benched the next and its very hard to get any sort of form, although at same time I understand the management have never really been a strong enough position to experiment in many league games.

Just wondering if Owen McCabe is back with the county squad this year? He has had an awful run with injuries ever since that Mayo game in Newry 4 years ago. Always had plenty of potential I thought.

Andrew Gilmore involved currently? I know he too has had an awful run with injuries.

Any word on new or returning players called into the Down football panel for the new season?

Has there been many new faces called into the Down panel for next season?

Just seen the Saul line up, was wondering does Ruairi O'Hare not play for them now? Or out injured. He looked a good prospect at u20 level few years ago.

Maybe I'm becoming old and grumpy, but the championships have been of such a low calibre that there hasn't been much to discuss thus far.

100% spot on! Its been absolute rubbish, only gets anyway worth watching once it straight knockout, so that only leaves 3 rounds qtr, semi and finals. Sooner they go back to open draw, straight knockout the better. Doesnt seem to be benefiting the county team, with groups or back door championships anyhow so waste of time imo.

Has Meenagh left his job with Down?