Down Club Hurling & Football

[DownFanatic]

Down IFC Final
Warrenpoint 1-08  Bosco 0-08

Poor enough game.

Down SFC Final
Kilcoo 2-08  Mayobridge 1-08

Kilcoo the stronger team in my eyes. The Bridge's bigger players didn't really come into the game.

Well done to Kilcoo and Mid Down Gael who completed a memorable double by bringing home the coveted GAA Board Down Championship Prediction Championship!

[dundrumite]

Congrats to MDG and Kilcoo on a fine victory. Hard luck to the Bridge, just wasn't there day.
Really hope Kilcoo can do well in Ulster, Down clubs at all levels have a poor record in Ulster. Hopefully this year can change it

[SHEEDY]

well done to kilcoo and warrenpoint. both victories well deserved. hopefully both can go well in ulster.

[guevara]

Both games were very  poor today and littered with mistakes. In the Warrenpoint v Bosco game The Point made very hard work of it and seemed destined to lose it.
In the Senior Final Mayobridge shot themselves in the foot after a couple of minutes with a dreadful error and and after that proceeded to be happy to play the game sideways and backwards causing Kilcoo very little trouble. Conor Lavery was the best player on the park and made four or five scores for the Magpies. The Bridge might regret not starting Kevin O'Rourke as he was one of their better players when he came on.

One final point. What a c**k up the County Board made in making the stand all ticket. The teams lifting the trophies done so in front of a stand that was one third full if lucky? Surely the option to pay at the turnstile shouldve been offered?

[Dubh driocht]

Kilcoo were worthy winners of the Senior Championship although the Bridge conceded two very soft goals- the first an absolute disaster. Kilcoo close down options so well that in probably the second minute Brendan Rooney was forced to handpass to the goalie Strain- either he wasn'y expecting it or didn't want it but an unforced fumble presented a gift to my MoM Conor Laverty. After that the Bridge were always playing catch-up and weren't helped by an ankle injury to their sweeper Adrian Barry which forced him off before half-time. It was a poor enough game and Kilcoo were always more likely to come out on top in such a situation. Mc Corry also read it better than Poland/Poacher and beyond Keith Quinn, Ronan Sexton and Benny in parts, the Bridge were limited. Brannigan did a good job on Magee while Niall Mc Evoy helped out all over the field. Paul Devlin got MoM and his free-taking was good but I'm not sure they are strong enough to make an impression in Ulster.
The Point were always the better team in the IFC although a fully fit Duggan may have made a difference for Bosco.
As usual the organisation was good ( once you had negotiated your way past the three sets of collections with a further one among the seats) and the programme was excellent with a fine tribute to Matt Fitzpatrick and a minute's silence respectfully observed.You could pay at the gate for the stand- we did.

[5 Sams]

Best two teams won today. Pluggy going off was a big blow to the bridge...upset their game plan and they didnt seem to be able to adapt after that. Would wee James have seen anything to impress him today? Mallon from the point was impressive. Anyone else?

[dundrumite]

Thought number 6 from the point had a great game also

[guevara]

Signs at every turnstile entrance to the stand read "Prepaid stand tickets only"

[5 Sams]

Thought number 6 from the point had a great game also

McCartan.. excellent player...future looks bright for the point.

[Dubh driocht]

Signs at every turnstile entrance to the stand read "Prepaid stand tickets only"

Apart from the ones that said Admission £12

[pauly2]

Its painful to say - but well done to Kilcoo.  They were the sharper from the start and really did deserve thier vicory in the end.  I honestly thought at one stage they were going to wipe the floor with the bridge.  they were the first team i seen in the championship that dealt effectively with the pluggy barry situation.  Dropping Darragh o hanlon as sweeper at the other end worked a treat.  when he drove at the bridge they had no real answers as pluggy was consumed with watching laverty.  Jerome Johnston took some wonderful catches in the first half and hit the score of the game in the second.  Paul Devlin was good in patches - his free kicks were good when needed.  One of the main players for Kilcoo was big Mcgreevy who got their second goal.  He is a big physical presence and caught some good ball in the middle of the park as well as getting the poachers goal.  What now for the bridge though? Will that defeat end a ffew careers for them.  Big Woods - who did rightly - will probably go now, the two sextons, Walsh, Benny, Barry - 6 players in their 30s with plenty of miles on the clock... this could have been their last hurrah.... On another note - i heard a rumour in the crowd that Poacher is to be named in the backroom team for the county this week....

[Mourne Rover]

James McCartan got a presentation at half time as part of the minor team who won the AI 25 years ago, but probably went away with little else to remember from the county final.

While Kilcoo were the better side by a distance, they have an enormous work ethic but have few others who might be capable of joining the outstanding Conor Laverty in a Down jersey.

Paul Devlin and Jerome Johnston have huge ability but may not be physically strong enough for county football. Although Niall McEvoy had a fine game, 27 is probably on the old side to step up a grade. All three Branagans did well, without looking anything exceptional.

Mayobridge were a considerable disappointment, and could not really get Benny into the match. Keith Quinn, as we know, has potential, and Cathal Magee may be worth another look, but Ryan Brady was not at the races.

Overall, it was a poor enough final which was effectively decided by a freak goal after barely a minute. Kilcoo will test anyone on their day, but their captain's prediction of an Ulster title this year after receiving the cup was more than a little surprising. 
 

[DaisyCutter]

Why has no one mentioned the outstanding catch from the Kilcoo Goalkeeper in the last 30 seconds??? Truly outstanding with the brilliant Benny Coulter at full height to palm
Her to the net! Well Done Stevey Kane and Kilcoo from a fellow East Down Gael! He should be in McCartans McKenna Cup Panel!

[Bitta-Banter]

Has anyone heard the Down u21 club football groups? First game is in the next 2 weeks & still no word of the fixtures.

[thebar]

Congratulations to Kilcoo - Over the 60 mins they were the better team if even only slightly but the right team in the end won. Although no one ever goes on the field to play bad or make mistakes the error made by the Bridge keeper cost them. It wasn't a great ball he was given for the 1st goal though he still should have dealt with it while he also failed to deal with the 2nd. Still the bridge had the full match to recover which they never did or weren't allowed to by a motivated Kilcoo outfit. Hope Kilcoo can know give Ulster a real rattle for all Down Gaels.