Down v Leitrim Sun 29th June 2pm

[downjim]

Could the Kilcoo lads not have went on holidays at another time. This is madness

[SHEEDY]

Could the Kilcoo lads not have went on holidays at another time. This is madness

a lot of people are saying it doesn't matter they're away, its only Leitrim. would they have been saying the same if we were playing against tyrone or cavan etc? down should win this with something to spare even without the kilcoo lads but it would have been nice to see a full strength team get settled before the tougher tests that lie in wait.

[PAULD123]

I think it shows the failure of the whole Down system to get these lads busting to play for the county. Too many have chosen not to play which smacks of a real lack of belief in their chances of playing/winning.

In addition it seems to me that there is no real sense of enjoyment in the Down camp. I've sat next to the substitutes on many occasions and they do not look like they care very much. Is it because we now play horrible football? Is it the seeming over-loyalty to a clutch of players? Is it that there is a lack of belief in our ability to win? Or a lack of belief in the management?

What ever it is I can only say that Down do not look happy. I don't mean that there is any trouble in the camp (which is how that expression is normally used). I just mean there is no joy in the players, the team or the performances. This has spread to the fans also.

So perhaps the young lads felt they wanted to live their lives a little. And with current evidence saying we have little chance of lifting a Sam, why shouldn't they really? They will be back and training as hard as ever. They will be available for every other game. They will make a lot of sacrifices to wear their county shirt and ultimately are still fairly unlikely to win any silverware.

Jamie Clarke took a whole campaign off because he felt he deserved the right to experience some of the adventures other people his age get to experience, but there was never any question he was coming back to give years of dedication to his county. Is it really unreasonable to allow them one week off to be young fellas and enjoy their youth? To have a lads week in the summer sun in a resort?

[Syferus]

I think it shows the failure of the whole Down system to get these lads busting to play for the county. Too many have chosen not to play which smacks of a real lack of belief in their chances of playing/winning.

In addition it seems to me that there is no real sense of enjoyment in the Down camp. I've sat next to the substitutes on many occasions and they do not look like they care very much. Is it because we now play horrible football? Is it the seeming over-loyalty to a clutch of players? Is it that there is a lack of belief in our ability to win? Or a lack of belief in the management?

What ever it is I can only say that Down do not look happy. I don't mean that there is any trouble in the camp (which is how that expression is normally used). I just mean there is no joy in the players, the team or the performances. This has spread to the fans also.

So perhaps the young lads felt they wanted to live their lives a little. And with current evidence saying we have little chance of lifting a Sam, why shouldn't they really? They will be back and training as hard as ever. They will be available for every other game. They will make a lot of sacrifices to wear their county shirt and ultimately are still fairly unlikely to win any silverware.

Jamie Clarke took a whole campaign off because he felt he deserved the right to experience some of the adventures other people his age get to experience, but there was never any question he was coming back to give years of dedication to his county. Is it really unreasonable to allow them one week off to be young fellas and enjoy their youth? To have a lads week in the summer sun in a resort?

Clarke was back for the championship. He only missed Armagh's league campaign, itself coming straight after Cross' never-ending tour of duty was closed out by the loss to Brigids in February of last year.

Never heard of lads taking a week off for a sun holiday in the middle of the championship and coming back expecting to be part of the set-up again. They usually leave for good for the summer or they don't go at all.

[rodney trotter]

Would they have went  as quick if it was a stronger team Down were playing , doubt it. Leitrim seem to be missing lots through injury and players in America so no chance of an upset

[Brick Tamlin]

They wouldn't have went if there were a Kilcoo game on.

[PAULD123]

They wouldn't have went if there were a Kilcoo game on.

I guess that si teh point. They have scheduled their holiday to ensure they don't miss club matches in preference to county matches. Otherwise they may not get a holiday at all. In some ways I applaud them for showing such dedication to their club. It si up to the county management and board to make the county team as rewarding and as enticing as their club.

Like I said, I don't see a lot of joy in the county team these days.

And isn't it a perennial grip that county players forget about their club. Don't we often say that they should put club first as that is the foundation of the GAA?

But mostly I just think they should be given a chance to enjoy their lives at least a little in the way all their friends get to do. Is it fair to say that they only get to go on holiday at the end of the season when things are quiet and all the main holiday buzz has started to faded. Live is about balance. With all the sacrafices they have made and indeed will make I think missing one first round qualifier is a reasonable balance.

[Mid Down Gael]

Well said PAULD123. Good to see someone on here talking sence. The lads will have missed two training sessions! The 3 in question have trained and played the whole year round for the past 3 seasons without a break and this included county seniors, under 21s, ulster club and Down with Kilcoo and Ryan, McKenna and sigerson cups with their university's. And for people to say they are not committed. Catch a grip. Management knew about their holiday and didn't hold them back so no need to slate them in media or on here. They understood the amount of football they have played in recent times and understood a break is maybe what they need to keep them fresh. Same with Pete Fitz who went on weeks holiday at Tyrone replay, dan Gordon choosing when it suited him to come back. The list goes on. If the lads Wernt from kilcoo there wouldn't have been a mention in Irish news. Fact.

[NP 76]

Down team named for Sunday with a few new faces aboard if it stays the same
Michael Cunningham
Benny Mc Ardle
Niall Donnelly
Darren o Hagan
Conor Garvey
Aidan carr
Kevin Mc Kernan
Dan Gordon
Peter Turley
Benny coulter
Conor Maginn
Mark Poland
Donal o hare
Niall Madine
Conor Laverty

[extra time]

Cant understand why they went to Magaluf. Gaa heads usually go to Santa Ponsa .

[whitegoodman]

Well said PAULD123. Good to see someone on here talking sence. The lads will have missed two training sessions! The 3 in question have trained and played the whole year round for the past 3 seasons without a break and this included county seniors, under 21s, ulster club and Down with Kilcoo and Ryan, McKenna and sigerson cups with their university's. And for people to say they are not committed. Catch a grip. Management knew about their holiday and didn't hold them back so no need to slate them in media or on here. They understood the amount of football they have played in recent times and understood a break is maybe what they need to keep them fresh. Same with Pete Fitz who went on weeks holiday at Tyrone replay, dan Gordon choosing when it suited him to come back. The list goes on. If the lads Wernt from kilcoo there wouldn't have been a mention in Irish news. Fact.

I heard James lost the plot when he found out so not sure about the management team understanding.  If the lads need a break and are sick of the county fair enough go on the holiday and enjoy themselves like most lads that age would be.  However how anyone can think they should be back on the panels after going on holiday the week of a championship match is beyond me.  That should be it for the year for them.  It not as if they thought they wouldn't have a match this week, they were either in a ulster semi final or in a qualifier match.

Thats whether they are from Kilcoo, Burren, Mayobridge or Ballykinlar !!!!

[Mid Down Gael]

If James was so mad then why didn't he road them from the panel??? Because he knows there missing one week in the year. And it's not as if they are clearing for the summer to America. So it's ok for Gordon to suit himself and walk onto team and Pete Fitz to go on holiday but when 3 young lads from kilcoo do it's a big problem.  I think they showed how committed they are to down by the way they played in Omagh so to question that is also mad. Give the lads a break.

[whitegoodman]

Why didn't they wait until Down we are out of championship? Even the most optimistic down supporter wouldn't think that we will still be in the championship come late August. Is that too late in summer to go anywhere or would it be that the club championship will be on then and they would prefer to miss a Down match instead of a Kilcoo match?

You say they are missing one week of the year but if the whole panel thought that where would we be.  I have nothing against the lads and think they are super talents but I just don't understand how anyone thinks this is fair game.

[SHEEDY]

this shows how far standards in down have fallen imo. cant see any players from Donegal, Dublin or tyrone heading off on holidays in the week before a championship match. not everyone on the panel seems to have the required desire to get us back to somewhere near the top again.

[whitegoodman]

Dan Gordon has also given 12 years of service to Down, has suffered serious injuries for two years and wanted to play some club football before deciding whether he was capable of still playing at the required level.  These lads have been on the county panel a wet wkend, not comparing like with like.