Down Club Hurling & Football

[bridgegael]

i'll prob not get the highlights for a few days yet,  AMALLON is the man to be getting it up.  i think he was away this weekend though.

Really!!!!!!!!

thats if he didn't have too much drink over there!!

[maldini]

were shamrocks poor or did darragh not just outplay them?
i thought darragh's defence were brilliant and they didnt allow shamrocks any room, it was a job well done on Darragh's part

[umpire]

Latest prediction league with one outstanding game on Thurs night.

7   BRIDGE LAD
7   dundrumite
7   off the laces
6   Aristotle Flynn
6   Bridgegael
6   Blue Island
6   D45
6   downfanatic
6   General
6   Islandboy
6   Maiden 1
6   Niall Quinn
6   thewobbler
5   Amallon
5   Stiff Breeze
5   Umpire
4   Minus15
4   Passedit
4   Statto-gael
3   Brick Tamlin
3   Square Ball

[amallon]

Still here lads.  My flight was delayed on the way home and I missed the first 20 of the Bridge game.  I still think the Bridge are playing well within themselves but we have improved probably 20% on the Clonduff game.  Loosing Michael Walsh will be a big blow to us going forward, I think he has some sort of hamstring problem.  I hope he isn't out too long.

[Maiden1]

Aghaderg definitely beat St Michaels Umpire.

"You have to wonder what kind of work is being done in Newry regarding the promotion of GAA. Shamrocks, who are generally regarded as Newry's flagship club were very poor."

I agree, Shamrocks are going well enough in the league in division 2 but the other 2 teams in Newry, Bosco and Mitchels are proping up division 3.  Same with Downpatrick struggling in division 2.  You would think being such big catchment areas these teams would do a lot better.  Is it just that there is a lot of soccer in these towns?

[dodgy umpire]

Am i mistaken in thinking that newry generally produce strong underage teams?

[thewobbler]

Dodgy - Not overly strong.

Bosco and Shamrocks are normally competitive, and occasionally very good, but you can almost guarantee that underage teams at the likes of Burren, Mayobridge and Rostrevor will progress as they go through the juvenile ranks, whereas the Newry teams will stall.

There is any number of reasons for this, but I'd say it's the sheer catchment size of the clubs is actually the problem. Fellas joining Shamrocks at a young age come from the four corners of Newry. They come from different schools, different backgrounds. The only thing they have in common is a green jersey. Which is fine at under-12 level when young minds can be controlled, but at under 16 and minor level it must be nearly impossible to coach team spirit into these fellas.

[dundrumite]

Am i mistaken in thinking that newry generally produce strong underage teams?

Bosco won a minor championship in 2002 yet now find themselves struggling at the bottom of division 3. Think other sports, the disco and transfers may have contributed to this.

[dodgy umpire]

Dodgy - Not overly strong.

Bosco and Shamrocks are normally competitive, and occasionally very good, but you can almost guarantee that underage teams at the likes of Burren, Mayobridge and Rostrevor will progress as they go through the juvenile ranks, whereas the Newry teams will stall.

There is any number of reasons for this, but I'd say it's the sheer catchment size of the clubs is actually the problem. Fellas joining Shamrocks at a young age come from the four corners of Newry. They come from different schools, different backgrounds. The only thing they have in common is a green jersey. Which is fine at under-12 level when young minds can be controlled, but at under 16 and minor level it must be nearly impossible to coach team spirit into these fellas.

i think you have made a very valid point. tight communities will produce better teams. if a bunch of lads socialise in different circles their chemistry on the pitch will suffer. most people would rather play alongside their best friends who they no well than a lad they see once a week at training

[Super Dupe]

Dodgy - Not overly strong.

Bosco and Shamrocks are normally competitive, and occasionally very good, but you can almost guarantee that underage teams at the likes of Burren, Mayobridge and Rostrevor will progress as they go through the juvenile ranks, whereas the Newry teams will stall.

There is any number of reasons for this, but I'd say it's the sheer catchment size of the clubs is actually the problem. Fellas joining Shamrocks at a young age come from the four corners of Newry. They come from different schools, different backgrounds. The only thing they have in common is a green jersey. Which is fine at under-12 level when young minds can be controlled, but at under 16 and minor level it must be nearly impossible to coach team spirit into these fellas.

Have to agree with this comment.  Look at where the underage titles go in Down.  Mayobridge look like they are the ones for the Minors, Kilcoo/Burren for the under 16's, Rostrevor have just won the South Down under 14's, beating Burren in the final.  All small tight knit communities.  This is the same almost every year.  You can almost guarantee that these clubs will win one of the underage titles every year.  The one town team that does consistently produce would be Castlewellan, although they are a small town, not like Newry, Downpatrick etc.

Now take the under 12 teams this year.  The best 2 teams in South Down are Shamrocks and Ballyholland.  By a country mile i can tell you they are the best.  I know a lot can change over the years but generally a strong underage team will stay strong up through the ranks.  It will be interesting to see can the Newry teams follow through in the next few years but i would suspect that come under 14's, or definitely under 16's, you will see Burren/Mayobridge etc at the top of the leagues.

[bridgegael]

would Ballyholland not be considered Newrys flagship club?

[Blue Island]

Dodgy - Not overly strong.

Bosco and Shamrocks are normally competitive, and occasionally very good, but you can almost guarantee that underage teams at the likes of Burren, Mayobridge and Rostrevor will progress as they go through the juvenile ranks, whereas the Newry teams will stall.

There is any number of reasons for this, but I'd say it's the sheer catchment size of the clubs is actually the problem. Fellas joining Shamrocks at a young age come from the four corners of Newry. They come from different schools, different backgrounds. The only thing they have in common is a green jersey. Which is fine at under-12 level when young minds can be controlled, but at under 16 and minor level it must be nearly impossible to coach team spirit into these fellas.

Fair points wobbler and mostly true. However, whilst your point is generally accurate there are some notable exceptions that show that this does not have to be the case. St Galls in Belfast operate on a large catchment area and that has not stopped them. Was in Belfast recently with St Galls man and I asked him if they could define their catchment area within west Belfast, he said that would be difficult and in his street he pointed to different houses and said, thats a St Galls family, that a St John's family, thats a St Paul's house and so on. Different families have close associations with different clubs going back quite a few years and in that fashion they have an affinity with clubs akin to a country club, but in different way. Is there not something similar in Newry.

What is definitely accurate is that it's not good for the County team to have Newry teams and Downpatrick languishing so far down the tables.

On a Final note, would you  consider yourselves to be a Newry team? I am not trying to stir the pot, but I am curious to know. Do many of your players hail from Newry or do you consider yourselves a country team?

[Blue Island]

The one town team that does consistently produce would be Castlewellan, although they are a small town, not like Newry, Downpatrick etc.

I would think you have to add Bryansford to that short list. I recall being told that since 1970 no team has spent more time in division one that Bryansford. Newcastle is not much smaller than Downpatrick,  but they have never suffered the slumps of the Newry teams or Downpatrick.

[thewobbler]

To be honest Blue Island, we're a rural club when it suits us, and an urban club when it suits us too. Which doesn't really answer your question.

We're in the Parish of Newry and because of this (I believe) we are as entitled to players from Newry as any other club in the area is, which is certainly a boost. I'd imagine that without pulling in players from Abbey Yard, Temple Hill Road and Warrenpoint Road areas over the years, we would have struggled to exist. For a lot those people though, we are genuinely the closest club to their front doors. But we don't tend to go approaching players.

Truthfully though, we behave more like a rural club. We stick more or less to what's coming through Ballyholland Primary School, with a bit of help from the Abbey Primary School. Most folk from Ballyholland would describe themselves as being from Ballyholland first, then as "just outside Newry" when the inevitable "where is that?" comes along. The club is the cornerstone of the community, but certain families don't get involved. There is a clique about the place as strong as in any rural club.

[centre 3/4s]

The one town team that does consistently produce would be Castlewellan, although they are a small town, not like Newry, Downpatrick etc.


What exactly do they produce? Certainly isn't players, transfer market seems to be there best recruiting policy and it is closing at 12 tonight so expect some activity from them!
As for us we have been winning underage and adult titles for the last number of years and if we get over Burren on thursday I strongly fancy us for a senior c/ship this year