Down Club Hurling & Football

[Gala head]

Oilean Blues, Blue Island & Cut The Crap.

Loughinisland have really dropped the ball on this one. Did they really want promotion ? or are they content to bask in Intermediate glory/level. Conceding matches has been an ugly trend within this rudderless club for some time, with numerous senior reserve games conceded this year.

Tuesday night was the perfect chance for the blues to beat the Kingdom - with loughinsland poor record at home this year the wide spaces at Owen Roe park would have suited their new style of play. Conceding 17 points at home to Darragh Cross, Losing to Carryduff at home and the humilation by the RGU at home are just three recent examples of the implosion taken place at the historic club.

With Martin Clarke  and 5 other regulars ruled out for last Tuesdays fixture The Island should took the game and  especially with their opponents just having failed in capturing the IFC title. I believe the score difference they needed to achieve was 16 points - this was a realistic goal.

With a porous defence and a lack of steel in attitude the blues have no one to blame but themselves. The RGU game was a must win - They haven't beaten the RGU in 10 years!!!

If they couldn't go to Kilcoo and beat the kingdom on a sunny October evening whats their chances of turning up in Burren on a Friday night next year for a league fixture.

[Smurfy123]

I'm all for Loughinisland on this one but reading the above post you would have to wonder did they really want promoted?It had been a disastrous season for them and would probably go straight back down again next year if they went up.Any of the posters shade some light into why it been such a poor season?

[Mike Tyson]

I can assure we aren't content to bask in intermediate glory and stay in division 2.

Of the starting 15 from last years all Ireland semi final, 2 had season ending injuries, 2 went to America for the summer, 1 is in England for work and Dan was missing for 6weeks due to surgery and probably came back too early and evidently isn't fully fit since.weve also had a few regular starters who have had injuries ruling them out for 4+ weeks (broken jaw being one).

I'd say that's the main reason we've had a disasterous season. We simply don't have the strength in depth to cope with such injuries.

[Gala head]

I'm sure like other clubs you would have utilised around 40 players during the season. Yet you continue to concede matches at senior reserve and senior level. How you manage your resources is an internal issue you must address.

No one fears travelling to Loughinisland anymore. Not even Carryduff!
When was the last time you had a defender shoulder an opponent to the floor or dive and block a ball! Joseph Doran probably the last player to do so ! And that's going back a bit!

The writing was on the wall when you were conceding reserve games during the year - denying senior squad members games - shame on you.

Therefore some of these 19, 20 21 year olds play 5 or 6 games per season !! Foundations built of sand !!

[Smurfy123]

Gala are you from Loughinisland ?
Tell us more?

[outinfront]

Wee bit harsh there. Loughinisland did win an Ulster and represent the county in all Ireland series last year. Ok it's not senior but still a great achievement.

[cut the crap]

I have to say that i am disappointed by the smug attitude of some posters on this forum, it shows a fundamental lack of fair play within this county and shows a bias towards south down clubs, Galahead you are right in one respect we have a problem regarding numbers and that has caused us problems,your pick is from the greater warrenpoint/newry area and has been for some time,however occasionally we get a team who can compete and has competed with your club and fecking beat yous ,now when our rudderless club next beats you i hope you are there, in the meantime concentrate on your own demise.

[Mike Tyson]

I'm sure like other clubs you would have utilised around 40 players during the season. Yet you continue to concede matches at senior reserve and senior level. How you manage your resources is an internal issue you must address.

No one fears travelling to Loughinisland anymore. Not even Carryduff!
When was the last time you had a defender shoulder an opponent to the floor or dive and block a ball! Joseph Doran probably the last player to do so ! And that's going back a bit!

The writing was on the wall when you were conceding reserve games during the year - denying senior squad members games - shame on you.

Therefore some of these 19, 20 21 year olds play 5 or 6 games per season !! Foundations built of sand !!

Come on down our way then and give us a hand. Steer us in the right direction.

[Gala head]

#cutthecrap. Numbers are not your problem. The willingness of your a vast number of your players to play games twice a week is questionable. Did you not have a thirds team some time ago?

You concede goals nearly every game for the last 5/6 years. Despite the fact that you have very talented midfield and forwards. Where has the grittiness and steel gone from a club once renowned for making it difficult for the opposition - where defending in packs was as natural as kicking a ball - long before Tyrones puke football was even a thought!
As for our club we are just coming up against a Kilcoo era of dominance

[washed_up]

went to the football replay last night between Drumgath and Tyconnaught,  much like the senior final the match was all but over at half time.Drumgath  replaced last weeks lethargy with a lot more intensity and concentration.Tyconnaught simply could not get a foothold in the game and three first half goals sealed their fate.A word here for the Tyconnaught player stretchered off in the first half- the injury meant that  10 minutes injury- time was added in the first half, so a speedy recovery to that player - congratulations to Drumgath and well done to manager Ronan Sexton.Last nights Junior Final replay was preceded by the u16 county final between Ballyholland and Warrenpoint.Words can barely describe this fantastic spectacle of all that is so good about Gaelic football.Congratulations to both teams, managers and both sets of supporters on what easily could be described as "The Game of The Year". Skill, passion, hunger,desire,pace, accuracy,cuteness,this match had everything.Congratulations to Warrenpoint,but dont dare take anything from Ballyholland after this epic encounter.I heard someone  in recent years in Down coin the phrase -"The Down Way"-- i think we might replace that with "The Ballyholland/Warrenpoint u16 Way"-brilliant exhibition-thank you.

[SHEEDY]

going by some of the results in todays final round of league fixtures i think its safe to say a lot of clubs have stopped caring weeks ago.

castlewellan 6-18 longstone 0-7
burren 3-16 kilcoo 0-2
mayobridge 5-15 clonduff 1-13
loughinisland 7-10 annaclone 1-5

[Gala head]

Another goal conceded at home by the island! 

[Mourne Red]

Another goal conceded at home by the island! 

Rather that than another Championship game conceded to Kilcoo by Burren

[OgraAnDun]

Another goal conceded at home by the island! 

Rather that than another Championship game conceded to Kilcoo by Burren

Nobody else has beaten Kilcoo over the past half decade in the county either, so the same statement can be leveled at your own club.

[Smurfy123]

Nobody else has the talent at their disposal that Burren clearly have.Or have spent the £££££££ they have either.For whatever reason or another they just collapse when they play Kilcoo.
Ward,Monaghan,Copeland and Venney all on they payroll this year.Expensive set up