Down Club Hurling & Football

[thewobbler]

WGM, one was a free, but it was more or less from the car park and should have counted double.

Delighted for Murph that he's got the call up. I don't mean to disrespect Choc Brannigan at all, but I think just about everyone in Down would have preferred to see Murphy come onto the field as the defensive sub instead of him. He's just got that bit more about him.

I'd echo the sentiments about not wasting time with him at FB. His game is about motion, not control, and he just doesn't fit there. Where he should hopefully play a big role for Down is against the constant motion wing forwards, who are a bit too energetic for Garvey or Rooney.

[NP 76]

Just a reply to the Wobbler and WGM i mentioned that i thiught he could do a job at full back  back but that was at a time we didnt have a full back and were trying everyman and his dog . Not like now where James has worked on Dan and Benny Mc Ardle but neither of these men were full backs and this is where the system that James applies helps them out not like Ross when there was no cover for any of the defenders . to be honest Paul will do whats asked of him wheter its impact sub or starting role in half back mid field or as another option at half forward because as i have said before he has a great engine to get up and down the field no probelm . Would have to say there wasnt many days he let us down before just ask Dooher

[Mourne Rover]

Murphy is well worth a place in the squad and adds to the competition for places in the half back line. Brannigan is a strong, physical player but he gives away too many frees and has almost no creativity about him. It was very surprising that he was thrown in at midfield in the second half of the AI final, and appeared there again early in the league game against Kerry. Murphy gives us another option at midfield if anything happens to King or Fitzpatrick. He is not as good in the air as Colgan but has much more pace and can be excellent at winning the breaking ball. It is depressing that Ambrose has not yet had a run out at club level, and his recovery is looking like a long-term project, but it would be much worse if he came back too soon and broke down again. The one debate we can hopefully put to bed is about full back. Dan may not be a natural in the position, but the number of goals we concede has dropped dramatically since he switched there and the sense of panic we used to display over a big thump of a ball down the midde has almost entirely disappeared. Moving him out the field would be crazy, and it is fairly clear that James has made up his mind on this one. 

[NP 76]

Have to agree Mourne rover would be mad to move Dan out now doing a good job, great presence at the back but what james now has is options in most positions which we havent had for along time

[general]

Glenn 2.14 darragh cross 0.12

[dundrumite]

Dundrum 2-14 Atticall 0-08

[Mid Down Gael]

Mayobridge 1-9 Kilcoo 2-12

[Mid Down Gael]

Bryansford beat Burren.
Kingdom beat Longstone by 3.

[5 Sams]

Murphy is well worth a place in the squad and adds to the competition for places in the half back line. Brannigan is a strong, physical player but he gives away too many frees and has almost no creativity about him. It was very surprising that he was thrown in at midfield in the second half of the AI final, and appeared there again early in the league game against Kerry. Murphy gives us another option at midfield if anything happens to King or Fitzpatrick. He is not as good in the air as Colgan but has much more pace and can be excellent at winning the breaking ball. It is depressing that Ambrose has not yet had a run out at club level, and his recovery is looking like a long-term project, but it would be much worse if he came back too soon and broke down again. The one debate we can hopefully put to bed is about full back. Dan may not be a natural in the position, but the number of goals we concede has dropped dramatically since he switched there and the sense of panic we used to display over a big thump of a ball down the midde has almost entirely disappered. Moving him out the field would be crazy, and it is fairly clear that James has made up his mind on this one.

We all rave about Murph running the legs of Dooher that year...but he's a better player now by far...delighted he's back...he deserves another chance

[Mid Down Gael]

Thursday 28th April, 2011

ACFL Division 2 2011
Annaclone  2 - 13 vs 2 - 11 Warrenpoint 
Liatroim  0 - 7 vs 2 - 6 Castlewellan 
Ballymartin  0 - 12 vs 1 - 6 Downpatrick 

ACFL Division 1 2011

Saval  2 - 13 vs 3 - 12 Clonduff 
Bryansford  1 - 17 vs 0 - 9 Burren 
Mayobridge  1 - 9 vs 2 - 12 Kilcoo 
Longstone  1 - 12 vs 2 - 12 An Riocht 

[knockitdown]

Loughinisland beat Drumgath by 2 points

[No1]

Kilclief beat Bosco by 5. 

[Dubh driocht]

Bredagh beat Dromara by 4 or 5

[Leo]

At the Bridge game - very poor crowd for a top game on a beautiful spring evening.
Garvey went off early with what looked like a hamstring - strengthens the Murphy argument even more.
Kilcoo by far better team - Bridge's usual  best players were poor - Ronan Sexton very poor - only McClorey & Noel Sexton seemed up for it. Niall McEvoy, McGreevy at midfield & Daragh O'Hanlon (some wonderful points from frees and play) best for Kilcoo.
Looks like Mayobridge are on the slide and will be in trouble until Benny comes back.
Kilcoo have  a huge squad and not afraid to use subs - including clever immediate substitiution that saved a likely red card for one on-the-edge defender.
Game played in better spirit than some of the constant unnecessary abusive language from a couple of "magpies" on the terrace.

[sebastion]

Loughinisland 0-14     1-9 Drumgath