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Absolutely brutal 2nd half yesterday, so flat and zero leadership out on the pitch. Could see the game slipping away and nobody had the ability under pressure to take the simple score. Subs didnt work out either.

Im not sure if changing the manager is the correct thing to do, (as I think a Down man should be the manager of Down, and there isnt many stand out candidates) but maybe time to change the backroom team and shake things up that way. However the style of play needs sorted, the new rules means the endless running and carrying is gone. Ball needs kicked in, and scorers need left inside. Ryan Magill was left inside for periods yesterday and the same against Fermanagh thats not his game at all. Also cant get away with playing just one Mf (Murdock) most teams playing with 3/4 bigger  men across the middle we are going with 1!

 

Any word on how Down are looking on the injury front for next weekend? McEvoy, Crimmins or Kerr back? Danny Magill must have had a set back? He was named as a reserve for the armagh game but nothing since then.

U20s into All Ireland b final, not exactly where we want them to be but a final nonetheless. Is the full forward from Drumgath out injured for them, and Barra McEvoy?

Did any of the county players line out for their clubs tonight?

Agree. Lav put a target on our back after the Donegal win. Too much talk of screen savers and such nonsense. He should've played it down. Kerry, Donegal and Armagh was too much 3 weeks on the trot. Massive task to lift these lads now for a B competition. We are still top 16 team just unlucky the way its fallen. Hopefully the lads see out the summer and dont go to America where there is always the lure of a few quid.

Good point about the Kerry game aswell. There should hopefully be a few games in the Tailteann cup now that Lav can experiment a bit with, whilst making sure we do enough to get a win (Scullion,Brown,O'Hare,Savage hopefully  all see game time) and I would imagine there will a few others called into the squad also, maybe a few of the u20s and boys standing out in the opening league games for their clubs?

Any idea how the Kerry man is getting on playing for Clann Na Banna?

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.