Messages

I would agree that the league and championship format in Down is good. However I would say that if the championship went back to a straight knockout format it could potentially open it up a bit more and give other clubs a better chance of winning it. Anyone is beatable in a one off game especially in the earlier stages. I realise that the revenue the multiple games bring in and giving lads extra games will make this unlikely to happen anytime soon. Would anyone agree?

I agree with the multiple games for players but I think the gates have went down over the years apart from Kilcoo ones. Maybe it's because there were games spread out over other grounds back then and they looked fuller but there seemed to be more people there.

Do you know that the gates are down or is that just opinion? No doubt the gates were down 2020 and possibly 2021 but that would have been down to Covid restrictions in the first instance and covid apprehension in year 2.
But not all counties use straight knock out. I think Donegal and Derry use groups initially though open to correction on that

I am not sure how much they own tbh
There has been no talk of this, underhand meetings if you ask me.

I'd say unless your a Ford member it's none of your business

I see on social media that Bryansford are having an EGM tommorrow. Does anyone know what it is about?

Apparently it's to do with the Protocol

You Saul or Saval Sam?

Klopp the flop!

Do you ever say things and wonder why you said them?

If klopp is a flop, you've a bar so high it can't be crossed.

—-

Screenexile is a bit of a cheerleader for Manchester City. It upset him when someone said Pep Guardiola was a flop for not knocking Real Madrid out.

It's tongue in cheek of course. Klopp is absolutely an exceptional manager I just don't understand why Guardiola gets such a hard time for not winning the CL while winning 4/6 PL's yet Klopp gets a bye ball for winning 1 PL out of 7??

My own opinion is that they are 2 heavyweights and when you have 2 operators like this swimming in the same pool nobody is going to win everything. Both deserve enormous credit for their achievements and the way they play football and both sets of supporters should enjoy this while they can because it 100% will not last forever.

Just look at poor Man Ure... those c***ts certainly thought it would last forever... oh how we laugh at them now!!!

I'm a Man Utd fan. Nothing, and I mean nothing lasts forever. It was nice when it lasted though

No but yer man is a wee bit obsessed. Think the expression is " rent free"

And why not? These young guys have had 2 years ripped from them due to Covid, play for their county and torn asunder on discussion boards like this. Go and enjoy yourselves boys and come back refreshed

You're in earlier than normal this morning, TH. Must be on flexi today

Blame the paid staff who have access to primary schools and run a very very successful 8 weeks summer camps one of the most successful in Ireland

I know Mark Poland came into my kids school and the children absolutely loved it and are playing off the back of it

I could never understand why these coaches never got access to secondary schools

Sean Og touched on this in his report

How do you expect these paid staff to make Down successful?

Do people forget Tally's last year where we won 1 game and got hammered out the gate by Mayo Meath and Donegal

The buy in to our senior squad is just not appealing anymore and lads would rather play for a club

Lads who could be on County panel but for whatever reason choose not to be
But blame everyone else

J Johnstone
S Johnstone
A Branagan
D branagan
R McAleenan
D McAleenan
S Annett
S Dornan
D o Hare
C Toner
G McGovern
J Guinness
A Davidson
R Magill
R O Hare
C Smyth
M Bagnell
E Branaagan
C Francis
C Harrison
S Harrison
S Loughran
Walshe
D Magill

Ffs there's a handful of these guys already on the panel. And playing for Warrenpoint does not automatically make you a suitable candidate for playing Senior inter county football

[The youngest players in Down football with an Ulster minor championship medal, are just turning 40.]

Where was Mooney yesterday? Injured? Didn't see him part of the subs either?

Monaghan will beat us by 20+ points.. Sean Og and CO to blame for this miss. Look at the job Tally is doing in Kerry now. Yet Down being Down, chased another good manager due to county exec idiocy.

County exec idiocy?? How do u work that out? I listened to a podcast last week where Tally said the executive voted him back in but he didn't feel he had the full backing of the clubs when it was put to them. Are players not entitled to a few drinks? It's not professional sport. Plus why train on St Patrick's day when you know there is a chance of this happening.

Players can have a drink when they are not training.

Terry O'Hanlon for county executive ASAP.

That would involve an EGM mid season but get you it sorted and we'll all be fine.

What's Jack Devaney done wrong now?

Well it's like this:

With the current exception of Kilcoo senior footballers, our clubs make no impact in Ulster club circles.

With the occasional exception of St Colman's, our schools make no impact in Ulster schools circles.

We barely manage a representation on UU or Ranch Sigerson, and even our QUB representation is dwindling.

The youngest players in Down football with an Ulster minor championship medal, are just turning 40.

——

The players aren't there. And the ones that are good enough are young fellas who've spent most of the past 2 years indoors like hermits.

You can bet your life that had this been a promotion decider for a team with a strong bench and and a positive future, they'd have continued as hermits for another week or two at least. But that's not us. Currently we are of D3 standard.

But blaming Jack Devaney is an easy out for some. For someone has to be to blame. I blame the clubs and schools myself, but hey ho.

And the youngest players with an Ulster under 20 medal are just turning 21. What's your point here?

Surely it's self-explanatory?

If you think it's possible to compete at adult level, if producing a championship-standard juvenile group only once every 10-15 years, go and have a look at Antrim.

Your point is well made ref AIMFC but it looks like you forgot the team of 2005  Whats  interesting  re 2005 however is number of Mayo players who went on to  play at the higher level in terms of competing for AISFC and top tier NFL over the years

No ratings Sam or just rants today ?

Did anyone listen to Danny Hughes on a load of balls podcast, he said that we should do away with development squads as all money be pumped into coaching in schools. Are development squads good or a waste of time?
An interesting debate indeed

Danny Hughes talks well.

The name of the Podcast sums up Danny's mutterings well

Fair point

No they are going to release the fixtures two weeks after they start

It is indeed time to move forward not back to 19th century and shows of Gombeenism and nepotism. Now hurry on for the school bus and we can pick up again in the morning .

Maybe they see Scor for the outdated nonsense that it is. Perhaps GAA should try and bring the competition into 21st century or maybe just turn off the life support. I think the weekend shows us we have bigger problems in Down