Down Club Hurling & Football

[Mourne Rover]

Rosskarr may want to write off the younger players who put in a tough shift against plainly superior opposition yesterday but our rebuilding has to start somewhere. While O'Hare might have taken a couple of wrong options, he also managed to score a goal six minutes into his first competitive appearance. Perhaps we might allow him to complete at least one game before we dismiss him at the age of 20. Lynch may or may not reach inter-county standard but he was one of our steadier performers in a defence which was overrun. Magill, although he was actually better against Monaghan, and Murdoch, have obviously potential, and, together with Gilmore and Kerr, give us some hope that 2023 could represent an improvement on an almost entirely disastrous 2022.

[Nanderson]

Anyone know if we have ever gone a full calendar year without a win before?

[Mourne Rover]

In 2016, we lost all seven league games, Monaghan beat us by 19 points in the USC and we lost our first round qualifier to Longford. We did have a win against in the McKenna Cup against St Mary's, who were obviously not a county team.  Bleak seasons are not unknown for Down in the modern era.

[Back2Winning]

If rumours are true and James has stood down, could Micky Moran be talked into becoming the next Down manager with Conor Laverty on board?

[rosskarr]

Rosskarr may want to write off the younger players who put in a tough shift against plainly superior opposition yesterday but our rebuilding has to start somewhere. While O'Hare might have taken a couple of wrong options, he also managed to score a goal six minutes into his first competitive appearance. Perhaps we might allow him to complete at least one game before we dismiss him at the age of 20. Lynch may or may not reach inter-county standard but he was one of our steadier performers in a defence which was overrun. Magill, although he was actually better against Monaghan, and Murdoch, have obviously potential, and, together with Gilmore and Kerr, give us some hope that 2023 could represent an improvement on an almost entirely disastrous 2022.

A more reflective post today.

[Lotto]

If rumours are true and James has stood down, could Micky Moran be talked into becoming the next Down manager with Conor Laverty on board?

Yeah class, Roger as team liason and Terry as selector, wee Richie looking after the gear, a match made in heaven.

[Sandstorm]

Looks like a winning formula  😂

[African Sunset]

If rumours are true and James has stood down, could Micky Moran be talked into becoming the next Down manager with Conor Laverty on board?

He's pushing seventy and it's an act of desperation to be even thinking of approaching him.

If Laverty is the solution, then what was the question? From a distance he look like somebody who is a divisive figure.

Let's be honest, if Down packed up and left the inter county scene for good, would anyone kick up a fuss over it?

[befair]

Shows what a strong club team can do for their county, if they have the courage to face the challenge and step out of their comfort zone into a higher standard. Delighted to see Chris McKaigue and Brendan Rodgers winning at county level; great players for their club for years, now getting some recognition. Apart from Daryl Brannigan, don't think Kilcoo have anyone as good as those two, but they would still add considerably to the strength of the panel.

[rosskarr]

Shows what a strong club team can do for their county, if they have the courage to face the challenge and step out of their comfort zone into a higher standard. Delighted to see Chris McKaigue and Brendan Rodgers winning at county level; great players for their club for years, now getting some recognition. Apart from Daryl Brannigan, don't think Kilcoo have anyone as good as those two, but they would still add considerably to the strength of the panel.

And add in that Rodgers and and McKaigue play Hurling for at least their Club and it shows you the grit
that they have.This is severely lacking in Down players.

[Truth hurts]

Derry shows what buy-in from clubs can bring to the county. I do think we have every bit as talented as Derry but the commitment shown to Gallagher shows what can happen. For a club with Kilcoos history, it's a shame they have no intercounty All-Ireland Senior football medalists and I think maybe only James Morgan (1971) is their only Ulster intercounty medalist. I do think we have the footballers in this county to challenge for an Ulster title but we can't have anyone outside looking in, we need everyone at the party.

[johnnycool]

Would Lavery be the unifying messiah that evidently is needed?

I'm hearing that he might not be, but you lads are closer to the ground big ball wise than me.

Wee James took on a very poisoned chalice and never let his county down. His star still shines bright for me.

[rosskarr]

Derry shows what buy-in from clubs can bring to the county. I do think we have every bit as talented as Derry but the commitment shown to Gallagher shows what can happen. For a club with Kilcoos history, it's a shame they have no intercounty All-Ireland Senior football medalists and I think maybe only James Morgan (1971) is their only Ulster intercounty medalist. I do think we have the footballers in this county to challenge for an Ulster title but we can't have anyone outside looking in, we need everyone at the party.

What current Down player would get on the Derry team ?

[6th sam]

Derry shows what buy-in from clubs can bring to the county. I do think we have every bit as talented as Derry but the commitment shown to Gallagher shows what can happen. For a club with Kilcoos history, it's a shame they have no intercounty All-Ireland Senior football medalists and I think maybe only James Morgan (1971) is their only Ulster intercounty medalist. I do think we have the footballers in this county to challenge for an Ulster title but we can't have anyone outside looking in, we need everyone at the party.

Interesting points. It's ok saying we are every bit as talented as Derry but in reality , when they were dipping down to division 4, they developed a serious underage production line , during an era when we only qualified for 1 underage final in 13 years.they also struggled at senior level when sleachtnéil were focussed on club. Now when the sleachtnéil men are able to  concentrate on county , look what's happening. Down can mirror this approach , I'd be confident Kilcoo will help lead Down out of the doldrums , but the focus must be serious work and resources put into underage , whilst trying to harness those senior players in this county with the attitude and humility to realise there's serious work to be done. In the midst of that environment, marquee players will emerge but the approach must be:
1. Underage development
2. Resource optimisation
3. Humility to realise how low we are
4. "Winning" Character development amongst existing and future players
5. Athletic optimisation

Slagging off players , management and county board isn't part of that plan. Derry turned it around through unity not bickering .

We can do the same

[Mourne Red]

Derry shows what buy-in from clubs can bring to the county. I do think we have every bit as talented as Derry but the commitment shown to Gallagher shows what can happen. For a club with Kilcoos history, it's a shame they have no intercounty All-Ireland Senior football medalists and I think maybe only James Morgan (1971) is their only Ulster intercounty medalist. I do think we have the footballers in this county to challenge for an Ulster title but we can't have anyone outside looking in, we need everyone at the party.

Interesting points. It's ok saying we are every bit as talented as Derry but in reality , when they were dipping down to division 4, they developed a serious underage production line , during an era when we only qualified for 1 underage final in 13 years.they also struggled at senior level when sleachtnéil were focussed on club. Now when the sleachtnéil men are able to  concentrate on county , look what's happening. Down can mirror this approach , I'd be confident Kilcoo will help lead Down out of the doldrums , but the focus must be serious work and resources put into underage , whilst trying to harness those senior players in this county with the attitude and humility to realise there's serious work to be done. In the midst of that environment, marquee players will emerge but the approach must be:
1. Underage development
2. Resource optimisation
3. Humility to realise how low we are
4. "Winning" Character development amongst existing and future players
5. Athletic optimisation

Slagging off players , management and county board isn't part of that plan. Derry turned it around through unity not bickering .

We can do the same

Derry bickered and get rid of most of their county board did they not?