Down Club Hurling & Football

[thewobbler]

Personally, I'd be worried about the mental state of any man who really wants to win D1 this year.

In fact I'd be worried about it most years. League titles don't matter a damn unless there's promotion attached to it. But especially this year, D1 really doesn't matter a damn. It's a high standard of friendly match, nothing else.

[Truth hurts]

Personally, I'd be worried about the mental state of any man who really wants to win D1 this year.

In fact I'd be worried about it most years. League titles don't matter a damn unless there's promotion attached to it. But especially this year, D1 really doesn't matter a damn. It's a high standard of friendly match, nothing else.

That's a strange comment, I would think that any team who wins a division one title who be delighted with it.

Will John McGovern be allowed to play for the Harps in the championship?

[elk]

CPN missing John Boyle
McMahon not in nets for some reason
Ryan McAleenan is "long term" injury if you want to include him
Apart from that full team imo

If CPN have nothing else to come in besides the above they may forget about the championship after last nights performance. Ballyholland actually played some decent football last night instead of the usual defensive blueprint they stick to and were well worth their win. I agree with other posters CPN would definitely be trying to win the league

[Truth hurts]

Could the Harps be dark horses for the SFC, they could have made the final last season.

[upandwin]

Having chatted to people at the game last night I think there was a big stag at the weekend which also wouldn't have helped matters :/

Clonduff had a similar situation last week after a wedding and took a hammering at the hands of Carryduff...Ballyholland looked good last night but I seriously doubt they can win a SFC with that team. Kilcoo will win it at a canter again by the looks of it.

[Truth hurts]

Is there an expected announcement due on the county senior football management?

[whitegoodman]

Personally, I’d be worried about the mental state of any man who really wants to win D1 this year.

In fact I’d be worried about it most years. League titles don’t matter a damn unless there’s promotion attached to it. But especially this year, D1 really doesn’t matter a damn. It’s a high standard of friendly match, nothing else.

This is exactly the point this year.  You just have to look at the strange look of the league table and the fact that no one team is dominant and teams are getting beat by teams that wouldn't usually be beat by.  Sure CPN or Clonduff may be pushing for a league but I really don't think Mickey Moran or Jim McCorry give one fiddlers f**k about the league.

I may be wrong but I will be surprised if its not the usual suspects in the championship final unless they meet each other prior to it.

[Truth hurts]

Personally, I'd be worried about the mental state of any man who really wants to win D1 this year.

In fact I'd be worried about it most years. League titles don't matter a damn unless there's promotion attached to it. But especially this year, D1 really doesn't matter a damn. It's a high standard of friendly match, nothing else.

This is exactly the point this year.  You just have to look at the strange look of the league table and the fact that no one team is dominant and teams are getting beat by teams that wouldn't usually be beat by.  Sure CPN or Clonduff may be pushing for a league but I really don't think Mickey Moran or Jim McCorry give one fiddlers f**k about the league.

I may be wrong but I will be surprised if its not the usual suspects in the championship final unless they meet each other prior to it.

You think it will be a Kilcoo/CPN final then?

[Smurfy123]

The big clubs have no interest in the league
Carryduff Ballyholland Rostrevor Loughinisland and maybe the Ford would celebrate it
Who remembers how many Kilcoo have won or the great Burren teams of the 80s or the great bridge team of the noughties
Teams are gauged on championships
Lower divisions with promotion this year is different

[Truth hurts]

The big clubs have no interest in the league
Carryduff Ballyholland Rostrevor Loughinisland and maybe the Ford would celebrate it
Who remembers how many Kilcoo have won or the great Burren teams of the 80s or the great bridge team of the noughties
Teams are gauged on championships
Lower divisions with promotion this year is different

You have won nothing at senior level since the early 50s, ffs it would be celebrated as big as anything.

It's easy for people to come on writing with 2 games to go in the league that teams don't care about the league. Every manager would be delighted with a league title. Jesus, it grins my gears about clubs dissing the league. Thats an easy cop out when you are not going well. Only one team can win the Frank O'Hare cup and a senior team divion 1 title would take pride of place on a club wall.

[Centre 3/4]

There's two competitions up for grabs one of which has been won almost exclusively by one club the last number of years. Most senior players have zero medals. Most managers have won sweet nothing. Winning a trophy is still an achievement especially for clubs who've won sweet fa. Catch yourselves on

[thewobbler]

It's all about perspective.

Footballers want to win games.

But if a key player from league contenders like Clonduff, CPN or Kilcoo has a leg strain next week, he won't be playing in the final league match(es). He will stay on ice until the championship.

Him playing might secure the win. And if it was a championship final this week, he would find a way. If it was a relegation league playoff he'd find a way too.

That's the league summed up. It's great to play in. It's nice to win. But in the grand scheme, winning a league title doesn't matter so much.

[stiff breeze]

Any league title for anyone outside of burren and kilcoo would be massively celebrated and a fantastic achievement . Winning anything at senior level is a fantastic achievement for anyone given the vice like grip the above mentioned two have had on things for years

[Truth hurts]

Correct me if I am wrong but since the turn of the Millenium there have been 20 champs and league trophies presented (40 in total), only Kilcoo, Mayobridge, Burren, Ford, Castlewellan, The kingdom and Clonduff have collected any titles, Maybe Rostrevor won one league title?? But for clubs to say they don't care about a league is crap, yes if there is an injury you won't risk your player but clubs should be disrespecting a Down division one league, as the teams down below would lose a limb for it. Its easy to say you don't care when you had a shit campaign.

[thewobbler]

See I think you're confusing the situation by putting D1 in with the lower divisions.

When in D2 or D3, the focus of the season is in either getting promoted, or staying up.... depending on how suited you are to that division. Championship is important but, particularly if you've had recent IFC /JFC success, for many clubs maybe not as important as progressing upwards in the league (if stronger) or solidifying league position (if weaker).

As all games at both ends of the table matter, it tends to produce a very fair league, where almost every result matters to everyone involved. Therefore winning a D2 or D3 title is of great significance to a club.

D1 doesn't have the same thing going at both ends. For simply put, the season goal of the top 5-6 teams will be to win Frank O'Hare (or further, if Kilcoo) and has nothing to do with the league. The season goal of the bottom 4-5 times will be initially about retaining league position ie not getting relegated, and an extended championship run.

This situation means that winning a D1 league is just not as prestigious as you want it be. This is just simply what happens when a number of teams involved have eyes on other prizes, and could take or leave winning it. The prestige of a competition is defined not by its name or it's status, but by how much players want to win it.

——

By the way, when it's a 10 team D1 with 2 teams down, it's still a great league, for only the very top couple of sides won't be looking over shoulder all season long.

When it's a 12 team league, a lot of this pressure is alleviated from the bigger 5-6 clubs.

When it's a 15 team league like a few years ago, it's a shit show.

When it's a 10 team league with no relegation, it's also a shit show.