Down Club Hurling & Football

[PAULD123]

If Armagh draw then we are more or less safe ........

On a more optimistic note than yesterday it has to be said that we should win. We are certainly more than capable of winning. Focusing on the positive and looking at what happens next if we win then we would be in the semi-finals.

Assuming we beat Laois:

• If Mayo fail to win and Dublin win then we finish 2nd and play Dublin in the semi-final

• If Mayo fail to win and Dublin fail to win then we finish 3rd and play Cork in the semi-final

• If Mayo win then we will finish 4th and play Kerry in the semi-final

[Student Dissertation]

Pauld123,

Many thanks! 

[here comes 6]

Leaving for casement shortly. Very little talk about it

[Mid Down Gael]

Half time in Casement
Down 0-4 Tyrone 0-9.

[SHEEDY]

down beaten tonight in casement in u21 semi final. down 1-8  tyrone 0-16 final score

[Mourne Rover]

Disappointing display at Casement tonight from management and players, and we were probably flattered by a five point defeat. We were amazingly only two behind with ten minutes left, and had a couple of chances to get even closer, but Tyrone finally woke up and pulled away fairly convincingly in the end.

It was very surprising that Keith Quinn was left on the bench when we looked lightweight at the back and big Gough was out of sorts and seemed to be carrying an injury at midfield. Quinn appeared after about 15 minutes, which was telling, but Gough switched to full forward and we mainly stayed without an extra defender when we were getting overrun by the Tyrone attack.

Gough did not return after the break, but it made little difference as Tyrone were yards faster all over the field and led 0-13 to 0-05 at one stage. Quinn and McParland finally began to get a grip at midfield going into the final quarter, and with McKibben  an increasing influence at wing half back, we suddenly found a bit of space and managed 1-3 without reply. Donal O'Hare had not really got into the game but pulled off a great catch before scrambling in the goal.

However, a couple of misplaced passes and a lack of general belief allowed Tyrone to get back into their stride and we could have no complaints about the margin of defeat.  Given that our minor side of three years ago got to an AI semi final, and we also had many of the St Colman's team which won two Hogan Cups in a row, we might have expected better. At the same time, the loss of Caolan Mooney and Shea McMcCartan plainly hit us badly.

[Dubh driocht]

Tyrone superior all over the field.They had a good spine -McNally,Warnock, Donnelly, Canavan and McAliskey looked like senior players while Keith Quinn and Davy Mc Kibbin towards the end were the only Down players with a bit of drive. Down didn't read the game at all in the first half which doesn't say a lot about our management- first time I ever remember a Down team coming out to a second half to no applause. TBF they showed a bit of balls in the third quarter but there was only one winner of this game after the first five minutes.The Tyrone machine rumbles on while our underage teams are consistently less than the sum of the parts.

[here comes 6]

In a nutshell brutal by all.  Alot of the boys playing for Down now dont seem to have pride in the Jersey

[DownFanatic]

Disappointed for the lads tonight. Some of them battled gamely. Never easy on young lads losing a Championship game after putting in months of hard work. However, I very rarely critiscise Down teams on this board but that tonight was woeful.

It was very clear from the outset that Down had no strategy. Even if we had of had one, it would be hard to fathom if we could of actually adhered to it.

Tyrone trundled along in 3rd gear for the majority of the game. They generally looked comfortable and assured on the ball. Our boys seemed to lack any sort of belief in what they were doing. We ran down blind alleys, continually took the ball into the tackle and failed to get any sort of proper ball into the forward line.

Physically Tyrone were immense. They had big players all over the pitch while the Down side lacked any serious physical presence. It would be interesting to see what Tyrone are doing with their top prospects in the 18 - 20 age range. They were in supreme condition.

As has been pointed out, this group got within a whisker of an AI Minor Final three years ago and we also have the pick of two very talented Hogan Cup winning teams. We should have been a lot closer to Tyrone.

It is clearly time for new management. One win in three years says it all.

[lucan]

 :-[pete mc grath was picked out of sentement rather than sense. he is yessterd;s hero.

[alba2]

Disappointed for the lads tonight. Some of them battled gamely. Never easy on young lads losing a Championship game after putting in months of hard work. However, I very rarely critiscise Down teams on this board but that tonight was woeful.

It was very clear from the outset that Down had no strategy. Even if we had of had one, it would be hard to fathom if we could of actually adhered to it.

Tyrone trundled along in 3rd gear for the majority of the game. They generally looked comfortable and assured on the ball. Our boys seemed to lack any sort of belief in what they were doing. We ran down blind alleys, continually took the ball into the tackle and failed to get any sort of proper ball into the forward line.

Physically Tyrone were immense. They had big players all over the pitch while the Down side lacked any serious physical presence. It would be interesting to see what Tyrone are doing with their top prospects in the 18 - 20 age range. They were in supreme condition.

As has been pointed out, this group got within a whisker of an AI Minor Final three years ago and we also have the pick of two very talented Hogan Cup winning teams. We should have been a lot closer to Tyrone.

It is clearly time for new management. One win in three years says it all.

I totally agree with you here.  Other management set ups would not be allowed to stay as long with as little success.  I dont think we can harp on bout minor team and st colmans teams here - lads mature at different rates and some never mature into footballers we see at underage - there are countless people i could mention here who ripped up shit at underage but cant produce it beyone minor.  Down have no structure in place for underage, the development squads are a joke and there are at least 6 minors playing club football this year who have not made the county team for reasons beyond me.  The u21s is cut throat - one beating - out.  no back door - no second chances.  the management have had few players with the seniors - but thats fine - this is what we expect and its a good thing in many respects. But its how they handle the lads they have at their disposal.  taking back Quinn, Gough, Mc Parland into the fold from seniors should have been easy.  The management are simply not up to it.  But then again - they gave their time and we have to respect them for that - who is out there we could get that will do a better job??

[Mourne Rover]

The Down u21 management team - which, despite the strange previous post, does not include Pete McGrath - has completed three seasons in charge. They were unlucky not to beat Tyrone 12 months ago, which would have been quite an achievement, but their first and last years did not work out and they will be expecting to move on. It is perfectly reasonable to mention the colleges and minor players who were available to them while also highlighting the stars who have gone overseas. Unfortunately, with a couple of exceptions, our general record at Ulster underage level has been in decline for some time.

[Leo]

Wasn't at Casement but after seeing a good U21 squad struggle against a  very limted Antrim team in Newry I had as much expecttation as our so-called "management" Jaysus they must love us in Tyrone.

[PAULD123]

:-[pete mc grath was picked out of sentement rather than sense. he is yessterd;s hero.

Pete has nothing to do with the U21s!!!!!!

As for the management I think the comments about the 2009 minors and Hogan cup teams success are very valid. It shows the difference a good manager makes and it appears we do not have one. Cathal Murray is as much responsible for the St Colman's success as Mooney, McCartan, Gough...... It is a pity Murray is not involved in the county setup.

It shows that it is not simply having a good set of players but also being able to form a team out of them. Sadly that has not been the result for the last few years.

[general]

Cathal Murray is taking saul this year, ha got them very very fit and do look like a decent side!

Iv heard from a very reliable source that the former minor management of desi kennedy, mark turley and martin mcgarry are waiting in the wings if the under21 management comes available