Down Club Hurling & Football

[western exile]

   so presumably the two lads pulled up with injuries at training last night?

[mournerambler]

Heard G McCartan in for Doyle and McComiskey for Maginn?

Yes that is correct. Team Is:

1.   Brendan McVeigh   (An Ríocht)
24. Gerard Mc Cartan ( Boireann )
3.   Dan Gordon   (Loch an Oileáin)
4.   Luke Howard   (Áth Bhriain)
2. Aidan Brannigan ( Cill Chua
6.   Kevin McKernan   (Boireann)
7.   Paul McPolin   (Cluain Dáimh)
8.   Peter Fitzpatrick   (Baile Mhairtín)
9   Kalum King   (Áth Bhriain)
10.   Daniel Hughes   (Sabhaill)
11.   Mark Poland   (Cloch Fhada)
12.   Martin Clarke   (An Ríocht)
17. Paul Mc Comiskey (Dun Dromara )14.   John Clarke   (An Ríocht)
15.   Brendan Coulter   (Droichead Mhaigh Éo)

Have Dundrum & Dromara amalgamated MDG

[Mid Down Gael]

Heard G McCartan in for Doyle and McComiskey for Maginn?

Yes that is correct. Team Is:

1.   Brendan McVeigh   (An Ríocht)
24. Gerard Mc Cartan ( Boireann )
3.   Dan Gordon   (Loch an Oileáin)
4.   Luke Howard   (Áth Bhriain)
2. Aidan Brannigan ( Cill Chua
6.   Kevin McKernan   (Boireann)
7.   Paul McPolin   (Cluain Dáimh)
8.   Peter Fitzpatrick   (Baile Mhairtín)
9   Kalum King   (Áth Bhriain)
10.   Daniel Hughes   (Sabhaill)
11.   Mark Poland   (Cloch Fhada)
12.   Martin Clarke   (An Ríocht)
17. Paul Mc Comiskey (Dun Dromara )14.   John Clarke   (An Ríocht)
15.   Brendan Coulter   (Droichead Mhaigh Éo)

Have Dundrum & Dromara amalgamated MDG

The county website thinks so anyway.

[Mourne Rover]

Tomorrow is a relatively big game for us, as realistically it is one of the fixtures we need to target if we are going to stay in division one. If we lose in Castlebar, it will be hard to pick up any more points on the road in Cork, Kerry and Dublin. That would mean probably getting three wins out of three at home to avoid the drop, which is asking a lot.

It is all set up for Mayo, with a new manager taking over a talented squad which has underachieved over recent seasons and will be bursting to get at the AI finalists, who are not yet anywhere close to hitting top gear.

We are capable of both conceding and scoring a few goals tomorrow, although the forecast of rain does not help us, so we fortunate that our half forwards are all able to drop deep and push forward on the break.

It should be a decent match, and in other circumstances the performance might be more important than the result, but we could really do with getting at least a point on the board.   

[Pangurban]

Dont think a Point will be enough to win it Mourne Rover, Mayo are capable of scoring

[Lecale2]

Dont think a Point will be enough to win it Mourne Rover, Mayo are capable of scoring

[Highlander3]

We ended up lucky to get a draw in a game that for a long time looked like we would win easily.

Still it is good to get a point to start of the league.

I thought we got cleaned out in MF, bit like the All Ireland again.

Thought we were weak at the back with only Dan and Luke Howard impressing.

Up front they all had there moments, but still think that John Clarke is missing a bit of pace for this level.

Still not a bad start as i think our team will get better as the summer goes on and we are playing on harder pitches.

Of the new guys compared to last year, i would say only L Howard really helped himself today.

[Leo]

We ended up lucky to get a draw in a game that for a long time looked like we would win easily.

Still it is good to get a point to start of the league.

I thought we got cleaned out in MF, bit like the All Ireland again.

Thought we were weak at the back with only Dan and Luke Howard impressing.

Up front they all had there moments, but still think that John Clarke is missing a bit of pace for this level.

Still not a bad start as i think our team will get better as the summer goes on and we are playing on harder pitches.

Of the new guys compared to last year, i would say only L Howard really helped himself today.

Agree with the overall tone of what you say but there were some plus points as well as some telling deficiencies:

McVeigh (7 out of 10) Generally solid but lack of variation in kivckouts is an issue
GMcCartan (7) Thought he did well, especially in first half.
D Gordon (6) He is not comfortable at full back and we badly need him at midfield.
L Hoawrd ( An impressive return to the team
A Brannigan (7) Doubts about him at this level but did OK and had to foul his man which led to booking as the house was down
K McKernan (4) A shocker - all over the house - cleaned out by two different players - much of his passing was awful. Can't be this bad again. Not his position as he's just too loose.
P McPolin (6) A game debut, didn't shirk some tough challenges, but went to sleep a number of times. Looks to have potential.
K King (4) Nightmare, looked well off the pace, lacked nothing in spirit bt against a classy midfield we were obliterated.
Fitzpatrick (6) Played in fits and starts but looked unfit.
Hughes ( A very big effort from start to finish, pity he spent so much of the second half too deep to be a scoring threat.
Poland ( Very industrious and positive. His awful sideline back pass that led to the equlaiser appeared to have come about when Tally directed him to back pass when he was clearly looking to find Murtagh who was in a great forward position - silly option. (Come to think of it Tally was on the pitch so much he should have had a number on his back - why do we need this?)
M Clarke ( Loads of class, covered the pitch from goal to goal and keen in the contest - balanced by some slack and wayward shooting.
McComiskey (7) A very good return to the team, looked a little slow to the ball dropped by the goalkeeper that could have yielded a goal and bad wide near the end but in the team to stay.
J Clarke (5) A poor mark for someone who scored 1-1 but Benny made the goal and while he started well John just looked too slow for most of the match.
Coulter (9) Our star man again, involved in everything positive, although less effective when put into midfield in the second half - he's needed on the 40.
Subs
C Maginn (6) A good contribution and a very good and important point.
R Murtagh (6) Pushing for a starting place after today.
C Murney - not on long enough.

But.... D McCartan, D Rafferty, D Rooney, Colgan, Ambrose, Doyle, O'Hagan,  - all options later in the season to give us plenty of hope.

[Leo]

Some glitch in previous post so hope this corrects it:

L Hoaward (7) An impressive return to the team
A Brannigan (7) Doubts about him at this level but did OK and had to foul his man which led to booking as the house was down
K McKernan (4) A shocker - all over the house - cleaned out by two different players - much of his passing was awful. Can't be this bad again. Not his position as he's just too loose.
P McPolin (6) A game debut, didn't shirk some tough challenges, but went to sleep a number of times. Looks to have potential.
K King (4) Nightmare, looked well off the pace, lacked nothing in spirit bt against a classy midfield we were obliterated.
Fitzpatrick (6) Played in fits and starts but looked unfit.
Hughes ( A very big effort from start to finish, pity he spent so much of the second half too deep to be a scoring threat.
Poland ( Very industrious and positive. His awful sideline back pass that led to the equlaiser appeared to have come about when Tally directed him to back pass when he was clearly looking to find Murtagh who was in a great forward position - silly option. (Come to think of it Tally was on the pitch so much he should have had a number on his back - why do we need this?)
M Clarke ( Loads of class, covered the pitch from goal to goal and keen in the contest - balanced by some slack and wayward shooting.

[whitegoodman]

Agree with a lot of what u say there leo, thought that was the worst mckernan ever played for down, kicked numerous placed balls to the opposition and gave alot of free kicks away, he is a classy player but were do u play him as he struggles to mark, tackle and concentrate, 3 things that are essential for a CHB.

Also thought  midfield were destroyed and whole team seemed to run out of steam in second half which isnt something i would be too worried about at this time of year.  Think J Clarke is going to come under serious pressure from murtagh who seems far more direct than dangerous.  It seems harsh to criticise a man who score 1 1 but thats the way it is.

Disagree with u on dan gordon, thought he had o'shea in his pocket and is growing into the position but as u say until ambrose is fit he may need to be drafted out to midfield as we are struggling there at the min.

Also was mcpolin not on andy moran, who was outstanding, baptism of fire for the lad but hopefully he will learn from the experience.

[Highlander3]

Leo agree with nearly everything you say

Thou did think you scored Gordon a bit low, his height means that we dont panic under every high ball that goes in, but i do agree we badly need him in MF as well.

I would like to see A Carr get a run out over the next few games, i think he can give us some options

[Mike Tyson]

Can't understand why Dan wasn't moved out to the middle yesterday or in the AIF. He's the best midfielder in the county so would make sense to play him there. McPolin was on Moran yea, but thought he did fine for someone used to playing CHF for his club

[Mourne Rover]

It's a long way to Castlebar and the journey home would have been a nightmare if we had lost - which looked a certainty with ten minutes left - after dominating two thirds of the game. However, the whole match showed the appeal of a team with talent and flaws in almost equal measure.

Our early goal was extremely fortunate, but they followed up with a first point which was at least a yard wide and a second which came when Benny was pushed in the back and the ref gave a free against him for what was presumably a handball as he fell to the ground.   

Our passing was a joy to watch at times, although we will have to learn how to mix short and long balls if we are to trouble top class opposition. We really should have had four goals by the break, and the points in the bag, but McComiskey's flick across goal after a brilliant run was intercepted, while Benny was right through after shrugging off a rugby tackle only for the ref to insist on giving the free.

The second half collapse was a huge concern, and proved that we need a fully fit Ambrose if we are going to push on this summer, but we still had the better chances in the dying minutes.

We have to assume that McVeigh was under instructions to hit his kick-outs down the middle, but Mayo must have won about ten of them in a row and we really need to look at finding men on the wing or taking the odd short one. McVeigh's handling was impressive and he also punched a brilliant clearance under huge pressure.

McCartan was very steady in the corner without getting centrally involved in the play, while Howard, after missing two years with a cruciate, got better and better as his confidence returned. Dan was generally commanding, apart from one horror pass to a Mayo forward whcih led to a point, and, despite the debacle at midfield, must stay put.

McKernan, as several people have mentioned, had a very ropey first half, hitting three consecutive frees straight to Mayo players, and never managing his forward runs, although his positional play improved later. McPolin has ability, and made one outstanding block before the break, but is on the small side for a defender. The big surprise for many of us was Brannigan, who, apart from his booking, never put a foot wrong and had his best game for Down by some distance.

Either big Kalum was wearing the wrong size of shorts or a few pounds may have slipped on over the winter. He was way off the pace throughout, although we know what he is capable of doing when his fitness returns. Fitzpatrick worked hard, and made a couple of effective runs in the closing stages, but did not seem to take a single clean catch all night.

Marty was breath-taking in parts, and is the best kick passer in the country, but occasionally takes the wrong option, such as the long range shot at the end which drifted wide when a run or a pass could hardly have failed to get a point. Poland is a brilliant all-round footballer, apart from the late sideline ball backwards, on Paddy Tally's instructions, which led to a vital Mayo score. Hughes was probably the man of the match, getting up and down tirelessly and hitting two fantastic points, and he has much more in the tank.

John Clarke is also a workhorse, even if he was caught for pace by Higgins, and 1-1 from play was a decent return. The other two full forwards, Benny and McComiskey, did not score but tortured their opponents throughout and were thinking a step ahead from start to finish.

Maginn looked good as good as ever when he came on, while Murtagh was unfortunate that our midfield wipe-out meant that he saw very little of the ball. Murney was a very late sub, and, even if he did not get a run, it was great to see Doyle actively involved in the warm-up.


   

[Leo]

Good post Mourne Rover - at least you clearly were at the game.

[NedFlanders]

McVeigh (7 out of 10) Generally solid but lack of variation in kivckouts is an issue
Criticising an Allstar Goalkeeper,who more than did enough sat night! Not Mcveighs fault if the midfield isn't up to it!

J Clarke (5) A poor mark for someone who scored 1-1 but Benny made the goal and while he started well John just looked too slow for most of the match.
I don't seem to understand posters problems with JC, 1-1 is a great return for a forward that "lacks pace" coulter may have made th goal, but did it not have to be finished?
   
A Brannigan (7) Doubts about him at this level but did OK and had to foul his man which led to booking as the house was down
7? this a joke, consistent fouling led to many frees in dangerous areas, too rash in th tackle, not up to county standard