Down Club Hurling & Football

[downtothecore]

Referees have a very difficult job and we have a severe shortage of them.. when a referee asks management to calm their players down and the players don't react appropriately  - he is dead right to walk off the pitch. It's called having respect and the teams clearly had very little to none for each other and for the person in charge of officiating the game..

Agree

[johnnycool]

Referees have a very difficult job and we have a severe shortage of them.. when a referee asks management to calm their players down and the players don't react appropriately  - he is dead right to walk off the pitch. It's called having respect and the teams clearly had very little to none for each other and for the person in charge of officiating the game..

Referees have the powers to send off individuals for fighting, contributing to a melee etc etc so do that rather than walk off the pitch.

I'm old school, back in the day you'd have gotten a 1 month or maybe a 3 month ban across all codes and grades for fighting, throwing a punch or hitting with the hurl. A headbutt was 6 months FFS.

Now most players are only looking at 1 or 2 game bans for similar, the punishment needs to fit the crime and I'd suggest the leniency of these suspensions really does need looked at as there needs to be a deterrent.

[Sheedy]

Quiet build up on here to tomorrow's match. Hopefully the team can get the job done after disappointing days in croke park recently against Meath and Westmeath. For me, going by the team named it would be a surprise if Ceilium Doherty doesn't start and maybe also Finn McElroy.

Hopefully a big Down support travelling down, good luck to players and management

[ardtole]

I heard Celium Doherty was injured, not sure how serious or accurate that information is though.

[ardtole]

I could see McGovern starting in place of McCrickard.

[AnDúnAbú94]

Down should win this today considering last year. But our record in finals is cause for concern and I don't think it'll be straightforward. I'd also be absolutely shocked if there aren't at least 3 changes from the named team. My guess is Doherty, McElroy and McGovern for Flynn, J Guinness and McCrickard. I hope Kerr starts at least.

[Johnnysboys]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

[Lloyd p]

Finals are all about winning and nothing else. Not the best performance for sure but they'll take it all day and good progress made with division 2 and Sam Maguire football to look forward too. Fair play to the lads and all involved!

On another note Armagh in the all Ireland final and only beat Down by a point in Ulster semi final. Maybe not just as far away as people think...

[Mikhailov]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

By the way, it was Laois you beat. They are Division 4 FFS

[downtothecore]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

By the way, it was Laois you beat. They are Division 4 FFS

We are currently 1 level higher in duv 3 so no big difference and laois are progressing in the right direction with good management.

[snoopdog]

Finals are all about winning and nothing else. Not the best performance for sure but they'll take it all day and good progress made with division 2 and Sam Maguire football to look forward too. Fair play to the lads and all involved!

On another note Armagh in the all Ireland final and only beat Down by a point in Ulster semi final. Maybe not just as far away as people think...

Down were nervous at stages. Better team today buy gifted Laois 1.01 in 1st half kept them in the game. Great goal at death by laois to make it a nervous finish. Down delighted to get over that line.
Fantastic all ireland semi and our neighbours very deserving winners and all ireland finalists. Well done to both Down and Armagh today. Donegal to complete ulster sweep tomorrow.

[Mourne Red]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

By the way, it was Laois you beat. They are Division 4 FFS

Pretty sure Johnny is being sarcastic

[PAULD123]

It's not just about who you have playing but how they play.  We could learn so much from Armagh. Their energy, positive aggression, direct attacking, and speed, bring them to a level above the sum of their parts. We are too slow in build up. Too hesitant on shooting. We get a break and turn back to recycle,  Armagh break and drive for the danger zone.

I honestly believe that we have enough good players to equal Armagh. But we don't have an approach or attitude that brings us to their level.  Yet???

[snoopdog]

Down have a massive learning curve for next year. Div 2 won't be easy. We kicked some poor wides yesterday. And while we never looked like losing, croke pk seems to hold a fear factor for us. That goal line scramble at thr end could've ended up disastrously for Down. A game that shouldve been won a lot easier could also have been lost very easily.
Final won, move on and I'm sure Laverty has already begun planning for next year.

[downtothecore]

Down have a massive learning curve for next year. Div 2 won't be easy. We kicked some poor wides yesterday. And while we never looked like losing, croke pk seems to hold a fear factor for us. That goal line scramble at thr end could've ended up disastrously for Down. A game that shouldve been won a lot easier could also have been lost very easily.
Final won, move on and I'm sure Laverty has already begun planning for next year.

It's good to win to end the year in a positive. The main focus going forward is to stay in div 2 and get the team accustomed to challenging in the sam maguire. Hopefully the management team can find more quality players to bolster the current team and squad because we are still lacking in some areas of the team ro really have a go at winning sam maguire in next few years.