Down Club Hurling & Football

[downtothecore]

Definitely need to use tailteann to develop the squad particularly the physical size aspect of the team. Ross carr, eamon Brown, tom close, and tom gilroy all need to be looked at and developed so they can add to the current set up...

[ranch]

Agree. Lav put a target on our back after the Donegal win. Too much talk of screen savers and such nonsense. He should've played it down. Kerry, Donegal and Armagh was too much 3 weeks on the trot. Massive task to lift these lads now for a B competition. We are still top 16 team just unlucky the way its fallen. Hopefully the lads see out the summer and dont go to America where there is always the lure of a few quid.

That's debatable. At present they're a yo-yo side, anywhere from 14-18 if you were ranking teams.
Yes Down have good players but the drop off outside of your top 2/3 players to the rest is massive. Other counties have had the same issue in recent years (Louth with Mulroy for example) but over time have managed to develop players and create a bit more depth. Laverty's challenge over the next few years will be steadying the ship in division 2, ensuring they actually are a solid top 16 team and that will inevitably lead to players developing quicker and creating that depth they're currently lacking. From there, you can push on to division 1 in a good year. Division 2 next year won't be easy however, but if the key men stay fit Down should probably be ok. If Murdock was to be injured you'd question who would step up in his place.

[LosDodgers]

I think this is a fair point. We have a few stand out players who are top tier and start for pretty much any team in Ireland - Murdock, Guinness & Burns.

After that we have a couple of very good players, Pierce Laverty, Havern, Ceile Doc. (Danny Magill when fit)

The next tier is where we really need to develop - lads like Cummins, Rooney, Fegan, McPolin, Rogers, R.Magill, Annet,  Kerr (unlucky with injuries) have done really well for us but o feel we need these lads to step up to that next level and the more exposure they get to top level football hopefully helps that.

In this Tailteann Cup I would like to see someone get a run at corner forward weather this be Brown,Savage, Scullion and also maybe likes of Ross Carr and Tom Close get more time. What about Rauri Madine who scored well for the 20s? 

[Ed Hardy]

Did any of the county players line out for their clubs tonight?

[seanaglis]

I think this is a fair point. We have a few stand out players who are top tier and start for pretty much any team in Ireland - Murdock, Guinness & Burns.

After that we have a couple of very good players, Pierce Laverty, Havern, Ceile Doc. (Danny Magill when fit)

The next tier is where we really need to develop - lads like Cummins, Rooney, Fegan, McPolin, Rogers, R.Magill, Annet,  Kerr (unlucky with injuries) have done really well for us but o feel we need these lads to step up to that next level and the more exposure they get to top level football hopefully helps that.

In this Tailteann Cup I would like to see someone get a run at corner forward weather this be Brown,Savage, Scullion and also maybe likes of Ross Carr and Tom Close get more time. What about Rauri Madine who scored well for the 20s? 

Agree that Murdock and Guinness are top tier. They are exceptional. Burns badly exposed last week, although performances up to that point were good.

The ones you quoted as very good.... Dont agree. Can be good one day, poor the next. No consistency that you need for the top level.

[Green+Gold]

Did any of the county players line out for their clubs tonight?

Liam Kerr and Ryan Magill played for Burren.

[Ed Hardy]

U20s into All Ireland b final, not exactly where we want them to be but a final nonetheless. Is the full forward from Drumgath out injured for them, and Barra McEvoy?

[LosDodgers]

Good bounce-back game today, gets the Armagh game out of his system.

McCormick impressive again off the bench. Finn McElroy adds a bit of strength to the back line and Eamon Brown looked sharper off the bench, he's the one we really need to develop, good size and accurate

[snoopdog]

What an abysmal performance by Down. Missed loads of chances, not one player could say they did well. Is there a forward in the county.
The kickouts were very poor.
Dreadful from start to finish.
U20s qere demolised very easily by Sligo.
Down will go nowhere until they sort out the disaster that is underage.

[Dayman]

I think if Mooney or Havern had buried either of those goal chances we get through that. Or if guys just took easy points instead of forcing a goal every time. Not sure I'd agree it was dreadful from start to finish, the lads won plenty of posession and the chances were there, just some very poor shooting. Concerning we only got one 2 pointer with the wind with us in the second half while Offaly were able to create and convert plenty.

Just don't think that the desire is really there for a Tailteann Cup run (even if it is more or less our level) and a Offaly or Wexford or Wicklow will see it as a real target.

[5times5times]

How the F did we beat donegal???

[Minus15]

Just home from Tullamore. Down are hungover.
They weren't at the races at all. Last week against Leitrim they were in 2nd gear throughout.
They sleepwalked into this one also and only came alive when they went 9 points down in first half. They were back level again half way through the second maybe even a point up but spurned a good few chances.
Never got to grips with Offaly's two point threat and paid the price as they finished stronger.
I think they will now face either Longford, Wicklow or probably Sligo next week for a place in the QF.

[snoopdog]

Just home from Tullamore. Down are hungover.
They weren't at the races at all. Last week against Leitrim they were in 2nd gear throughout.
They sleepwalked into this one also and only came alive when they went 9 points down in first half. They were back level again half way through the second maybe even a point up but spurned a good few chances.
Never got to grips with Offaly's two point threat and paid the price as they finished stronger.
I think they will now face either Longford, Wicklow or probably Sligo next week for a place in the QF.

And any of those 3 teams will give Down problems. They need to get over themselves or thry will be back in this comp again next year.
We are a B level county, all our teams are in that tier.
Have a few walked away from the panel for the yesr?
Down keep talking about wanting to play Sam Magulre football. They make themselves look stupid by not performing. 

[marty34]

Just home from Tullamore. Down are hungover.
They weren't at the races at all. Last week against Leitrim they were in 2nd gear throughout.
They sleepwalked into this one also and only came alive when they went 9 points down in first half. They were back level again half way through the second maybe even a point up but spurned a good few chances.
Never got to grips with Offaly's two point threat and paid the price as they finished stronger.
I think they will now face either Longford, Wicklow or probably Sligo next week for a place in the QF.

And any of those 3 teams will give Down problems. They need to get over themselves or thry will be back in this comp again next year.
We are a B level county, all our teams are in that tier.
Have a few walked away from the panel for the yesr?
Down keep talking about wanting to play Sam Magulre football. They make themselves look stupid by not performing. 

They talked on 'The Saturday Game' last night about teams doing well in Tailltean Cup are teams who have embracd the competition. That seems to be the case every year. Certain counties know their level and want to try and win it.

I don't think, for whatever reason, that Down are in that bracket. Maybe they put too much energy into he Donegal game. The wheels came off at the final whistle.

[LosDodgers]

Terrible results obvs. Big miss by Mooney when two points down.

I think there was always a fair chance of us getting caught out in this competition. However if you're going to lose, this is the time to do it.

Hopefully get a home draw next week. And we can bounce back, Offaly won't beat us twice (hopefully)

If we win next week, which we should, we will face a difficult away 1/4 against the likes of Laois