Down Club Hurling & Football

[NP 76]

Everything went right for Armagh that night against Down and gave them a false illusion that they were better than they really were wheras nothing went right for us . If Donaghy had of got his yellow card as early as he did yesterday he would of had to be moved of Benny who gave him a horrid time . They all got cards yesterday which they didnt get against Down which i think would of helped our boys . Donaghy couldnt afford to do his push on Benny for the goal chance if he was on a yellow . Everyone one of them played well that night were we relly that bad or were they that good .Dont think we are that far away

[snoopdog]

Lads anyone know how much it is in to Ennis on Saturday? id say there will be a very poor crowd at it.

[5 Sams]

10 yos yos into the terrace and 12 into the seats afaik.

[naomhmiceal]

Benny fit would have destroyed donaghy or Mckeever, mckeever got completely roasted yesterday and it was great to see! I think that Derry team would have beat Down theyre physically very big and powerful dont know if Down would have coped with that

[whitegoodman]

Everything went right for Armagh that night against Down and gave them a false illusion that they were better than they really were wheras nothing went right for us . If Donaghy had of got his yellow card as early as he did yesterday he would of had to be moved of Benny who gave him a horrid time . They all got cards yesterday which they didnt get against Down which i think would of helped our boys . Donaghy couldnt afford to do his push on Benny for the goal chance if he was on a yellow . Everyone one of them played well that night were we relly that bad or were they that good .Dont think we are that far away

Couldnt agree with this.  Donaghy was destroyed yesterday, didnt think he was destroyed against Benny.  Fair enough Benny wasnt near fit but on the night i felt Donaghy got the better of firstly John Clarke and then Benny.  On another day when benny is 100% it may be a different story but on the night it wasnt the case imo.

If Down were to meet Armagh again in the qualifers, it will still be a 50/50 game.  Dont think Down are as good or Armagh as bad as many on here think.

[downredblack]

MARTIN Clarke may not necessarily return to Aussie Rules next year, despite travelling Down Under in recent weeks on a mid-season trip which immediately sparked speculation that he was set to rejoin AFL side Collingwood.

The Melbourne club have since played down the rumours, saying Clarke was just returning for a short visit to sort out some financial matters locally before the end of the Australian financial year.

The An Riocht star, who played such a key role in helping Down to the All-Ireland final last year where they eventually lost to Cork, has not revealed his long-term plans yet.

But it is now believed that his return to Aussie Rules football is far from a fait accompli, which would be good news for county football fans and for the Down County Board, for whom he works as a coach.

Clarke did spend a week in Australia in the wake of the Mournes' surprise Ulster quarter-final defeat to Armagh but he has since returned to county training and lined out for his club in a championship game last week.

County team-mate Benny Coulter was an injury doubt for this weekend's qualifier trip to Ennis to take on Clare but, coincidentally, proved his fitness in the same game when Mayobridge introduced him to midfield at half-time, specifically to do a marking job on Clarke.

Down manager James McCartan has added Gerard McCartan, who started at wing-back against Armagh, to an injury list that already includes Damien Rafferty and Conor Garvey.

And Ambrose Rodgers' long-awaited return from a cruciate injury, which had to be postponed when he picked up a bug before Down's last game, is also still on hold, though he is expected to test his fitness by lining out for club Longstone on Friday night.

One interesting addition to McCartan's squad since the Armagh debacle is county minor Caolan Mooney, who has already been recruited by Collingwood and is heading to Australia soon on a rookie contract.

McCartan caused a surprise by calling him up for the county seniors and he is expected to make his senior debut off the bench next Saturday.

- Cliona Foley

Irish Independent

[EagleLord]

Benny? Specifically doing a marking job??

[pauly2]

Any word of the team for the Clare game???

[PAULD123]

Any word of the team for the Clare game???

Any word on if we even have enough players fit enough to make up a team?

Seriously, I would be surprised if we see an official teamsheet before late tomorrow evening

[PAULD123]

From BBC news:

Danny Hughes has been ruled out of Down's All-Ireland Football qualifier against Clare after suffering an injury in training on Wednesday night.

The news will come as a blow to manager James McCartan who has injury doubts over a number of other key players.

Caolan Mooney has been included in the Mournemen's squad of 26 for the match.

Mooney is still a Down minor but his performances in training and challenge games have obviously impressed the Down management team.

Benny Coulter and Conor Maginn are both hoping to have overcome hamstring injuries in time to be fit for the game.

The Mourne boss has already ruled out Damien Rafferty, Conor Garvey, Gerard McCartan and Darren O'Hagan.

Long-term casualty Ambrose Rogers is making good progress from a knee injury but is unlikely to face Clare in Ennis.

James Colgan (dead leg) and Paul Murphy (quad) have also missed several training sessions since the county's Ulster Championship defeat to Armagh on 28 May.

The Down manager has also suffered the setback of John Clarke announcing his retirement from inter-county football.

[goldenyears]

No maginn, murtagh, hughes,  mooney + doyle will start in forwards, marty to start midfield! Interesting stuff

[Mid Down Gael]

ACFL Division 2

Loughinisland 0-4 Liatriom 1-15

[Mid Down Gael]

No maginn, murtagh, hughes,  mooney + doyle will start in forwards, marty to start midfield! Interesting stuff

Any official Line up Goldenyears?

[Mourne Rover]

It will be fascinating to see if Goldenyears has got it right, but Marty apparently did play at midfield for An Riocht in his last club game. He would bring extra mobility to the position, and free up either KK or Fitzpatrick as possible full forwards. If Doyle is anywhere near fit, it would be an ideal match for his comeback in either defence or attacK.

Mooney was released to play for Rostrevor minors in a league fixture on Tuesday night, which would suggest that he was not initially intended to start on Saturday. He was in and out of the game against Bredagh, but scored 2-7 of their total of 2-8 and had a penalty saved. It could be that the injury to Hughes has pushed him up the list, but it would still represent quite a gamble.

If John Clarke could be pursuaded back, even at such a late stage, he would be a certainty at no 14. As it stands, McCumiskey and Laverty will probably be in the full forward line with a possible half forward line of Poland, Doyler and Benny.

The defence is hard to call due to the injuries, but bringing in either Murphy or Colgan or both would make sense.

[whitegoodman]

Given the injuries that is in the forward line at the minute i would find it very strange if we were to further weaken it by taken marty out to midfield considering fitzpatrick, king, colgen and murphy are all options. 

If Doyle is to start Id be happier to see him in the forward line than the defence due to issues regarding his pace.

Considering the injuries I would go for the following

McVeigh
D McCartan
Gordon
Brannigan
McKernan
Colgen
Rooney
King
Murphy
McGinn ( If fit )
Poland
McCumisky
Lavery
Coulter ( If fit )
Clarke

Dont no if there are any options left for corner back other than brannigan??  Cant see him starting murphy either but it would be a good game to bring him in.

Small half forward line but not much choice unless he brings Doyle or Mooney into it