Down Club Hurling & Football

[No1]

By the way NP, you're over 35 right? Would you have enough players at Ballyholland to form a team for an over 35s challenge match?

There are at least 2 boys on here who could grace that team, one a free taking specialist and the other a tenacious corner back.  Both probably lacking a wee bit of pace these days.   

[DownFanatic]

PROPOSALS FOR DOWN ALL COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUES AND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE PERIOD 2013-2018


All County Leagues 2013-2018

The Down All County Football League 2013-2018 would consist of Three Divisions.

Division One consisting of 16 Teams that being the 10 teams in Division One at the end of 2012 plus the top six teams in Division Two in 2012.

Division Two would consist of the bottom four teams in Division Two at the end of 2012 plus the top ten teams in Division Three in 2012 plus the top two teams in Division Four in 2012.

Division Three would consist of the remaining nine teams in Division 4 plus the two relegated teams from Division 3 in 2012 with the target being to identify the return of Clubs to Adult Football, i.e. Killyleagh,The Ards Clubs and Annsborough.

Division One would be a one round league, the top finishing team would automatically contest the League Final whilst the team(s) in second and third place would meet with the winner contesting the league final.

The two bottom finishing teams would be automatically relegated whilst the team finishing third from bottom in Division One would play the team finishing third in Division Two with the winner of that game gaining first division status for the following year.

Starred games would not affect the outcome of the Leagues.

Division Two would be also a One Round League and the team finishing top would win the league, they would then be joined in Division One by the team that finished second. The team finishing third in Division Two would as stated meet the third from bottom team in Division One in a promotion play off.

The two bottom finishing teams would be automatically relegated whilst the team finishing third from bottom in Division Two would play the team finishing third in Division Three with the winner of that game gaining Second division status for the following year.

Division Three would be a two round league with the top two teams gaining automatic promotion to Division Two, the third place team in the Division Three would then play the third from bottom team in Division Two.

The rationale behind the league proposals is to raise the standards of Club Football within the County. Your league position would affect your Championship status and as such it was the feeling of the workgroup that as such the Leagues cannot be addressed in isolation. We are therefore proposing changes to the format of the Championship for the same period 2013-2018.


Championship Proposals

The 16 teams in Division One in 2013 would then constitute the teams competing in the Senior Football Championship, in the case of the winners of the Intermediate Championship of 2012 not been one of those teams then they would take the place of the 6th Team promoted from Division 2 in 2012.

In the case of future years if the Intermediate Winners were not one of the teams promoted to Division One then they would by virtue of winning the Intermediate Championship replace the team in the Senior Championship who won the right to either stay in Division One or were promoted from Division two by way of the third place play off.

In summation the Intermediate Championship winners will always be guaranteed the opportunity to play in the following years Senior Football Championship.

This same principle will apply in the case of the winners of the Junior Championship who will always be guaranteed the right to play in the Intermediate Championship

The league position of a Club would determine its Championship status for the year ahead.

The Intermediate Championship of 2013 would then consist of all of the teams in Division Two also taking into account the position of the Junior Championship winners.

The Junior Championship of 2013 would consist of all of those teams in Division Three.

The three Championships would then be structured on a 31 game principle.

The Senior Championship for 2013 would be based on the format as currently used in the Minor Football Championship. There would be Four Pots designated as follows:

Pot One: Teams 1-4 in league placing

Pot Two: Teams 5-8 in league placing

Pot Three Teams 9-12 in league placing

Pot Four Teams 13-16 in league placing or intermediate Championship winners

A draw would take place with the 4 groups been made up of one team from each Pot.

At Quarter Final Stage then the top two teams from each group would meet with the winners of the group in one pot and the runners up in Pot Two, this would then be an open draw.
In the event of there been a tie between two teams in the group stages, final placing will be decided in accordance with Rule 6.22 of the Official Guide.

This same principle would operate for the Intermediate Championship.

All games would be played at neutral venues.

In relation to the Junior Football Championship there would be Three Groups of Four Teams, the top team in each group would reach the semi finals and be joined by the best placed loser.

This would be decided in accordance with the criteria used by Ulster Council in relation to deciding semi finalists for the Dr McKenna Cup.


Finance

As Clubs would be losing two home fixtures in the proposed league changes and are been asked to play more Championship games the work group looked at a means of creating a financial incentive to Clubs.

The gates for all games in the Group series in the Senior and Intermediate Championships which takes us up to Quarter Final stage would be pooled and divided then on a 50/50 basis.

50% would be retained by the County and 50%created into a pool for Senior and Intermediate participants.

The 50% pooled would then be sub divided on a ratio of 70% to Senior Clubs and 30% to Intermediate Clubs.

For Example
If the net gates are £60,000.00 the allocation is £30,000.00 to County, £21,000.00 to Senior Clubs and £9,000.00 to Intermediate Clubs. This leaves County with same level of income as under the present Championship system.

Each Pool is then further divided as follows:

Group Winners get 40% of the pool divided between them, runners up get 30% divided between them, third placed team 20% divided between them and fourth placed team 10% between them.

On the basis of £30,000.00 this gives Group Senior Winners £2100, runners up £1575, third placed £1050.00 and fourth placed £525.00 each.

In the Intermediate the figures would be Winners £900.00 Runners Up £675.00, Third £450.00 and Fourth £225.00

Junior Championship participants are guaranteed minimum £100.00.

Normal Championship Finalists grants will still apply.


In Summary


There would be no promotion or relegation in 2012; instead your final placing would determine your Championship placing for 2013 and ultimately your league position in 2013.

Clubs would have a total of at least 18 games in a season including Championship for those in Division One and Two and at least 25 games in Division Three.

Where Clubs would be losing out on 2/3 home league games in the season we feel that the potential revenue loss would be compensated out of the Championship Pool.

The overall standard of Club Football would improve as all of our Clubs will be playing at a higher level.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any views?

[here comes 6]

PROPOSALS FOR DOWN ALL COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUES AND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE PERIOD 2013-2018


All County Leagues 2013-2018

The Down All County Football League 2013-2018 would consist of Three Divisions.

Division One consisting of 16 Teams that being the 10 teams in Division One at the end of 2012 plus the top six teams in Division Two in 2012.

Division Two would consist of the bottom four teams in Division Two at the end of 2012 plus the top ten teams in Division Three in 2012 plus the top two teams in Division Four in 2012.

Division Three would consist of the remaining nine teams in Division 4 plus the two relegated teams from Division 3 in 2012 with the target being to identify the return of Clubs to Adult Football, i.e. Killyleagh,The Ards Clubs and Annsborough.

Division One would be a one round league, the top finishing team would automatically contest the League Final whilst the team(s) in second and third place would meet with the winner contesting the league final.

The two bottom finishing teams would be automatically relegated whilst the team finishing third from bottom in Division One would play the team finishing third in Division Two with the winner of that game gaining first division status for the following year.

Starred games would not affect the outcome of the Leagues.

Division Two would be also a One Round League and the team finishing top would win the league, they would then be joined in Division One by the team that finished second. The team finishing third in Division Two would as stated meet the third from bottom team in Division One in a promotion play off.

The two bottom finishing teams would be automatically relegated whilst the team finishing third from bottom in Division Two would play the team finishing third in Division Three with the winner of that game gaining Second division status for the following year.

Division Three would be a two round league with the top two teams gaining automatic promotion to Division Two, the third place team in the Division Three would then play the third from bottom team in Division Two.

The rationale behind the league proposals is to raise the standards of Club Football within the County. Your league position would affect your Championship status and as such it was the feeling of the workgroup that as such the Leagues cannot be addressed in isolation. We are therefore proposing changes to the format of the Championship for the same period 2013-2018.


Championship Proposals

The 16 teams in Division One in 2013 would then constitute the teams competing in the Senior Football Championship, in the case of the winners of the Intermediate Championship of 2012 not been one of those teams then they would take the place of the 6th Team promoted from Division 2 in 2012.

In the case of future years if the Intermediate Winners were not one of the teams promoted to Division One then they would by virtue of winning the Intermediate Championship replace the team in the Senior Championship who won the right to either stay in Division One or were promoted from Division two by way of the third place play off.

In summation the Intermediate Championship winners will always be guaranteed the opportunity to play in the following years Senior Football Championship.

This same principle will apply in the case of the winners of the Junior Championship who will always be guaranteed the right to play in the Intermediate Championship

The league position of a Club would determine its Championship status for the year ahead.

The Intermediate Championship of 2013 would then consist of all of the teams in Division Two also taking into account the position of the Junior Championship winners.

The Junior Championship of 2013 would consist of all of those teams in Division Three.

The three Championships would then be structured on a 31 game principle.

The Senior Championship for 2013 would be based on the format as currently used in the Minor Football Championship. There would be Four Pots designated as follows:

Pot One: Teams 1-4 in league placing

Pot Two: Teams 5-8 in league placing

Pot Three Teams 9-12 in league placing

Pot Four Teams 13-16 in league placing or intermediate Championship winners

A draw would take place with the 4 groups been made up of one team from each Pot.

At Quarter Final Stage then the top two teams from each group would meet with the winners of the group in one pot and the runners up in Pot Two, this would then be an open draw.
In the event of there been a tie between two teams in the group stages, final placing will be decided in accordance with Rule 6.22 of the Official Guide.

This same principle would operate for the Intermediate Championship.

All games would be played at neutral venues.

In relation to the Junior Football Championship there would be Three Groups of Four Teams, the top team in each group would reach the semi finals and be joined by the best placed loser.

This would be decided in accordance with the criteria used by Ulster Council in relation to deciding semi finalists for the Dr McKenna Cup.


Finance

As Clubs would be losing two home fixtures in the proposed league changes and are been asked to play more Championship games the work group looked at a means of creating a financial incentive to Clubs.

The gates for all games in the Group series in the Senior and Intermediate Championships which takes us up to Quarter Final stage would be pooled and divided then on a 50/50 basis.

50% would be retained by the County and 50%created into a pool for Senior and Intermediate participants.

The 50% pooled would then be sub divided on a ratio of 70% to Senior Clubs and 30% to Intermediate Clubs.

For Example
If the net gates are £60,000.00 the allocation is £30,000.00 to County, £21,000.00 to Senior Clubs and £9,000.00 to Intermediate Clubs. This leaves County with same level of income as under the present Championship system.

Each Pool is then further divided as follows:

Group Winners get 40% of the pool divided between them, runners up get 30% divided between them, third placed team 20% divided between them and fourth placed team 10% between them.

On the basis of £30,000.00 this gives Group Senior Winners £2100, runners up £1575, third placed £1050.00 and fourth placed £525.00 each.

In the Intermediate the figures would be Winners £900.00 Runners Up £675.00, Third £450.00 and Fourth £225.00

Junior Championship participants are guaranteed minimum £100.00.

Normal Championship Finalists grants will still apply.


In Summary


There would be no promotion or relegation in 2012; instead your final placing would determine your Championship placing for 2013 and ultimately your league position in 2013.

Clubs would have a total of at least 18 games in a season including Championship for those in Division One and Two and at least 25 games in Division Three.

Where Clubs would be losing out on 2/3 home league games in the season we feel that the potential revenue loss would be compensated out of the Championship Pool.

The overall standard of Club Football would improve as all of our Clubs will be playing at a higher level.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any views?

Poor Sean og must have little to do with his time. There is no chance of this getting through unless the County have a vote in it.   We've the best leagues in Ireland so why wouldwe go and change them.

[amallon]

If the clubs think they will get more income I can see a good few being in favour.  Its 3 guaranteed first round championship games for all clubs before we get to knock out football.  I think Louth and maybe Derry operate this system I'd like to know what Clubs there think of it.

[bonzo]

The relegation situation will not be decided by score difference as far as I know. I think it is what team beat who in the fixture between the sides. So Down would need the teams that they have beaten to be in competition with them, should a battle for relegation arise. Basically, it is too early to call as the permutations with results still allow for Down relegation. On the other hand, it is right to say that we can still make the semi finals. There are no 'down and out teams'  in div 1. All to play for yet.

[thewobbler]

The thing I hate most about the GAA is the constant need to revamp.

By all means, we should look at ways for gradually improving the offering. But these complete overhauls do my head in.

If our club and county reps spent more time developing their juvenile systems, and less time trying to find ways to artificially balance things so that everyone somehow has an equal chance, our games would be in a better place.

[here comes 6]

change the championship if they want but dont mess with the leagues

[PAULD123]

The relegation situation will not be decided by score difference as far as I know. I think it is what team beat who in the fixture between the sides. So Down would need the teams that they have beaten to be in competition with them, should a battle for relegation arise. Basically, it is too early to call as the permutations with results still allow for Down relegation. On the other hand, it is right to say that we can still make the semi finals. There are no 'down and out teams'  in div 1. All to play for yet.

Sorry Bonzo, that's only partially correct. If there are two teams left on the same points then it is decided on a head-head basis. So If Down and Mayo finished on exactly the same points then Down will be placed ahead of Mayo because we beat them, regardless of our relative points differences are.

But if three or more teams finish on the same points then the head-head is not used and it comes down to straight points difference. We have a very poor standing on that front and would therefore likely be relegated if we lose both games as it would be likely Down, Laois, Donegal, and Mayo or Dublin will also have 6 points.

Having said that it is more than possible for us to lose both games and two from Armagh (Down & Donegal), Donegal (Dublin & Armagh) or Mayo (Cork, Dublin & Kerry) to have less points than us. Technically Cork could finish on 5 or Dublin on 4, but both those scenarios are unlikely given the quality of those two teams.

But you are correct that "There are no 'down and out teams'  in div 1. All to play for yet."

[knockitdown]

U-21 team V Antrim

1 Shane Harrison Glassdrumman
2 Michael Clarke Saval
3 Shane McNamee Mayobridge
4 David McEntee Burren
5 Kevin McClorey Mayobridge
6 Gerard McGovern Burren
7 David McKibben Bryansford
8 Niall McParland Glenn
9 Connor Gough Shamrocks
10 Darragh O Hanlon Kilcoo
11 Chris Clarke Bryansford
12 Mattie Bagnall Glenn
13 Danny Savage Bryansford
14 Ross McGarry Warrenpoint
15 Donal O Hare Burren

[western exile]

HT An Dún 1-7
Antrim 1-3

[western exile]

Ft Down 2-11
Antrim 1-09

[general]

Any match report please?

[Leo]

Disjointed effort from a team that has much promise.
Early ball into full forward line resulted in good scores, then we reverted to backward keep-ball for a while - except that we couldn't keep it and luckily Antrim couldn't shoot.

Baffling substitutions, especially taking off O'Hanlon and O'Hare - although Quinn was a massive difference when he came on.

Sideline shambles led to situation where Gough, already on an unfair yellow from a bizzare refereeing performance, was due to come off  - but not on time... the ref got to him first for something else innocuous and he saw red. The poor sub (who had been "warming up" for a good 5 minutes - i.e. he was standing shivering waiting to come on) had to sheepishly go back to his seat - pure pantomime.

Hard to see how the team was set out to play but the parts were better than the sum. If they progress it will because they  should have the natural ability to do so for it is very hard to see any organisation or pattern based on tonight.

Savage McGarry and O'hare in the forward line can do damge - if we (a) give them early ball and (b) don't substitute the best of them too early.

[western exile]

Any match report please?

The best for Down were in the forwards where Darragh O'Hanlon, Danny Savage, and Donal O'Hare all looked dangerous when on the ball. Mattie Bagnall worked well as a link man covering back in defense when Antrim were in possession and moving the ball forward when Down regained in possession. Ross McGarry did not get much possession early on as most early attacks were from ball directed to the 2 corner forwards, but when he did get more possession as the game went on he made good use of it, including a first half goal.  Chris Clarke had a quiet game and was substituted eventually in the second half by Ryan O'Hare. 

Although Down looked the better team in the first half, Antrim stayed in the hunt with a well made goal that opened up the Down defense completely. Antrim played with a lot of men behind the ball and Down were finding it difficult to break it down until Danny Savage took on, and scored, a great point from 50 metres out. The half time 'wide' count was Down 3 and Antrim 7.  If Antrim had had a better free taker they could have been on level terms at half time.

In midfield, Niall McParland was excellent.  However Conor Gough was missing for most of the first half, with 2 hand passes his only possession of the ball in the first half hour.  He got no better in the second half and his frustration showed as he picked up a yellow card.  What followed looked a bit of a fiasco.  Neil Collins got James McClean ready on the sideline, presumably to replace Conor Gough, but dillydallied so long that Gough picked up a second yellow and was sent off.  McClean eventually came on then for Donal O'Hare instead.  Darragh O'Hanlon was also substituted even though he was playing well, possibly because he was the youngest and tiring. He was replaced by Keith Quinn who made a good impact during the last 20 minutes.

Although during the second half, Down continued to find it hard to keep the score ticking over due to the large numbers of Antrim defenders, they always looked the better team.  The best score of the second half was a goal from Donal O'Hare who managed to find the narrow space between the goalkeeper and the top right corner of the net.

Scorers:
Ross McGarry 1-3 (1f)
Donal O'Hare 1-3 (2f)
McParland, Bagnall, Savage, Ryan O'Hare  ( 0-1  each)

[NP 76]

Lacklusture performance last night from Down some good forward play and movement but should some silly giving away of possession . Antrim if they had of taken a few of the chances they missed at crucial times their confidence would have risen and the out come would of been different . Felt sorry for Niall Mc Parland put in a great shift last night as he did on Sunday and will be expected to do again on Saturday 3 big games in a week . He looked out on his feet and could of been taken off for a break imo . Took an awful long time to get the subs on thus resulting in Gough getting a silly 2nd yellow . Donal very good as Savage but Quinn was the pick of them all even with the short time he was on . Great catches and all round play was excellent . Ross Mc Garry looked good but 2 of his points he had a man free inside if he had of lifted his head . Very small full back line which was under severe pressure everytime a high ball went in there . Where was Niall Donnelly ? Tyrone will give them alot more probelms