Down Club Hurling & Football

[Truth hurts]

That was a poor county final—one of the worst in living memory. I do not know where Burren will go from here. They also had 7 current intercounty players on.

[mauricemoss]

Can't blame Jim McCorry this year.

[ck]

Burren have got to be one of the most under performing teams in Ulster. The wealth of talent at their disposal yet they stagger and stutter every year and win nothing. Surely Burren people have to be asking deeper questions.
A 4 point return in a match with that talent is shocking.

[bcarrier]

I thought the referee yesterday was shocking.

For the first forty minutes virtually every marginal call went Kilcoo's way. A point here or there makes a real difference when things are tight.

For whatever reason he then spent about 10 minutes giving Burren the marginal ones before pulling out the two reds and killing the game altogether. Maybe Kilcoo just played him better and he punished Burren for the back chat but the game needs more consistency from refs than this.

[Sheedy]

I thought the referee yesterday was shocking.

For the first forty minutes virtually every marginal call went Kilcoo's way. A point here or there makes a real difference when things are tight.

For whatever reason he then spent about 10 minutes giving Burren the marginal ones before pulling out the two reds and killing the game altogether. Maybe Kilcoo just played him better and he punished Burren for the back chat but the game needs more consistency from refs than this.

ffs wise up, the match was over long before the red cards.

[befair]

Sure, blame the ref......

[Mournenan82]

Thought the referee was fine yesterday. Missed a D brannigan black card I thought which was the only clear mistake I seen but generally took no nonsense and had no impact on the game which is all you can ask I suppose

[Gaelforce123]

I actually agree that he was shocking by way of consistency. Burren did back chat etc all around scoring area which is brainless but I also saw R McEvoy, McCusker and N Branagan back chatting and no punishment. The Dads foot out was a clear card. However, in the same breath, no matter what referee took charge Burren where poor to rubbish and their 'county men' where nowhere to be seen. Some really poor attacking football from them. These boys appear to get all they need at juvenile level but something isn't working when they get to senior. Best team won regardless of anything else simple as that

[snoopdog]

I thought the referee yesterday was shocking.

For the first forty minutes virtually every marginal call went Kilcoo's way. A point here or there makes a real difference when things are tight.

For whatever reason he then spent about 10 minutes giving Burren the marginal ones before pulling out the two reds and killing the game altogether. Maybe Kilcoo just played him better and he punished Burren for the back chat but the game needs more consistency from refs than this.

Apart from 1st 10 minutes things weren't tight in that game.
Kilcoo controlled it from 5 minutes on.

[downtothecore]

A great day of drinking and chatting before tomorrow's turning point in the Kilcoo onslaught of Down football. Talking to a few stalwarts of Down football and they're all agreed that Burren win this by 5+ points. Kilcoo will get a red card early and hopefully Moore from CPN will do us a favour the way Darren did for them a couple of years ago. Not that we'll need a favour. Would just turn a 1/2pt win in to a more comfortable watch! Odhran player of the match and Ronan McGrath x Ryan Treanor to be close behind him. The torch is about to be passed. Burren for Ulster in my opinion. Magpies aren't what they were, heard it here first folks.

Let's hear u now...

carlsberg don't do silence but if they did....

[ciaron08]

It's mad how Burren people think they lost the game because of the ref, think they need to look a bit closer to home

[Hard2Listen2]

It is strange how a team with so many talented individuals could put up such a poor performance.
Not a one of either as they weren't great in last year's final either.
There has been a change in management so can't really blame them.
Is it something in the players psyche?

[thewobbler]

It is strange how a team with so many talented individuals could put up such a poor performance.
Not a one of either as they weren't great in last year's final either.
There has been a change in management so can't really blame them.
Is it something in the players psyche?

I wouldn't call it strange anymore. Across the county we are all pretty much resigned to defeat once we draw Kilcoo in championship football.

Burren actually had a wee flurry of 4-5 chances in a row as we entered the final quarter on Sunday, including a couple of very scoreable ones. They fluffed their lines on each of them, and it wasn't because they were trying to gain an extra yard or two, or to open up a goal chance. It was just poor execution.

And we all do it against the magpies. Every club in Down. Not only can nobody wrestle any semblance of momentum from them, but we no longer even seem to try. They conceded one goal in 300 mins of the Down SFC last season. One goal. Then they only went and did the same again in 2024.

Some team the Magpies all the same.

[supersub]

Let's just clear it up - the referee had zero impact on the outcome of the match. Zero. 0. None.

[Gaelforce123]

Correct Supersub, 100% agree.

However, In my opinion, he is not a strong enough referee for a county final. I did think he was poor and I have no links to either club. I dont believe every referee deserves a county final etc. Some are not strong enough for it. In my opinion if the same referee has to do it a few times then thats how it has got to be but it must be a strong ref that doesn't be influenced and makes own decision and is a strong character. Not easy find but I do give mentions to

Brendan Rice
Colm Gribben
Paul Faloon
Kevin McGrath
Darren Ohare
Ciaran Branagan

As the only referees in the county I see fit for finals. Yes they all have faults and may make mistakes as they are human but I don't believe anyone outside this list are strong enough characters for big games.

In this case though the ref was not the issue and Burren have only got themselves to blame