DOWN V LOUTH Div 3

[pedro]

I actually thought it was a quite entertaining game myself. I would't be too despondent about the loss as the performance gave a bit of encouragement. However, we badly need to start picking up points and Leitrim in two weeks need to be caned big time to really kickstart our season.

I thought McGuinness, although i had high hopes for him this year, looked way out of depth at centre half, McKernan picked up a lot of ball in dangerous positions.
Ronan Carroll played his best game in a long time IMO, competing a lot better in the air, although Jack Lynch got forward unmarked a few times and only for fumbling the ball could have caused problems.
Jimmy Murray, i thought, had an excellent game and seems to have got stronger this year. Caught Hughes with a lovely soulder to rgain possession.
Jamie carr should why we need someone of his class.
Lennon was very good. Constantly caused problems in the Down defence, who looked dodgy under the long, high ball. Although he didn't win it every time, he often caused havoc. Must have scored 1-2
The 2 Finnegans showed up well on their introduction.
Although the Down posters say Doyle played well (which is true) Aaron Hoey also had a good game, being the focal point for a lot of our attacks.

Has Clarke fallen out of favour somewhat? He hasn't really got a long run this year so far or last year. I know he was injured for periods last year. Judge seems to be ahead of him in the picking order

[amallon]

It was good to get the win but god we made hard work of it and needed a bit sorry a lot of good fortune to get it.  We have to be starting out strongest team against Wexford because if they get a 5 point lead Down will never pull it back.  If Ambrose, Benny, McComiskey are all fit for the 70 mins then they need to be started. 

What about the penalty decision?  It was obstruction and it was just inside the small square.  Is obstruction a technical foul?  If so I thought only a free can be given for a technical foul??  Down were dam glad of it penalty or not.

From a Louth point of view it must have been very disappointing to loose this one.  You got to be critical of those defenders who kept on complaining to the ref and getting difficult frees made into fairly handy ones. 

[Dubh driocht]

Interesting game in perfect conditions.I had the misfortune to be stuck beside one of those Down fans who dislikes virtually every player and has even less time for management. We disdagreed about everything bar Kevin Mc Kernan - he was very good in a hard-working half-forward line- my friend was blind to the ground covered by the two wing half forwards.
From last year only Ronan Murtagh survived out of the back 7.He scored an excellent point but while agreeing with Pedro that Liam Doyle's marking can be loose, and his wait for the dropping ball led to their second ball.he is the class act in a defence that is work in progress.Think 5ive times is a bit harsh- they all had good and bad moments - just need consistency and confidence as they are not going to get much bigger before Omagh.
Dan was Dan and Jackie was jackie- even a rusty Ambrose is a better bet than the latter.
I thought Magee was an excellent target man and finds space better than any other option but confidence to shoot and distribution need work.The two corner men were excellent, as (nearly) always.Everyone expected Down to win when Benny and Mc Comiskey came on but it took a little longer than we needed.That said, Louth can feel hard done by- your man Jamie Carr is excellent and Shane Lennon is a handful for any full back.Four of the six forward that started last year are no longer in the panel so when only four players of the starting 15 last year were in the starting 15 this year you can see that Ross and DJ have built a new team. Onwards and upwards !

[downredblack]

I think loyalty to the Mcknena cup team has been repaid and its now time to start with our best 15 ,  Bye bye DJ into the stands for a while now I'd say after yesterday  Good to get the win but we got out of jail big time .

[amallon]

Imagine sitting beside DJ in the stand!   

[Double Cross]

What did DJ do now 

[amallon]

He seemed to loose the plot on the line and gave the linesman and ref a piece of his mind.  The ref sent him to the dug out but he didn't go with out giving the ref the rest of his mind.  A very angry man. 

[Louth Exile]

Louth put in a good performance on Sunday and deserved to get a draw out of it but not to be!! It was an entertaining game, despite the fussy ref. In relation to ref, it would be interesting to see the free stats, I would say that Down got a lot more frees than Louth.

Sean Conor had a very dodgy first half and I think that we will see snitchy back between the posts shortly. The penalty was a mess completely of his own making, he unnecessarily caught a ball that he could have shepherded wide and then worst than that he brought the ball back across the face of goal. I read it that it was a third man tackle was the reason for the free and I would in no way blame Page for it, as any back would have done the same!

I thought that not one of the Cooley men had a good day. John O'Brien wasn't up to the pace of the game and was given a very tough assignment, which I don't think that he committed to. Apart from that there are a lot of positives to be taken from the game. Great to see Jamie back (I assume you are disappointed that he scored the goal ML, given that he is back  )

Down can be very impressive in the middle and we could have done with Paddy. Hoey was my man of the match and I was very impressed with several aspects of Jimmy Murray's play. Judge and Lennon again combined well in the full forward line. I really can't see White making the championship team at this point and would expect to see Clarke back in the starting 15 (unless there is something I don't know).

There is no doubt that Down are on a great run at the moment and Carr has brought them on this year (saw the Mc Kenna cup final and was impressed with them that night as well). Louth have been slow to get going and still have key men to come back from injury, so no need for concern in my book, just yet. Great to see the first signs of a performance from them this year and they will hopefully build it up as they go along

[off the laces]

Louth put in a good performance on Sunday and deserved to get a draw out of it but not to be!! It was an entertaining game, despite the fussy ref. In relation to  ref, it would be interesting to see the free stats, I would say that Down got a lot more frees than Louth.

Down 1-14. 9 Wides. 35 Frees. 0 45s.

Louth 2-10. 6 Wides. 21 Frees. 1 45s.

Five times you really do have little to do