Down v Cork, Park Esler, Newry Sunday 3rd March 2013

[Aristo 60]

Redemption awaits  - Down by 3 points - !

[Pangurban]

What are you on

[DaisyCutter]

+1 Pangurban

[Syferus]

Down, down, down? The way the league is shaping up this could end up being a relegation decider for both teams.

I have to imagine Down will be motivated by the trap door and being at home so they should get closer to Cork than they have at any time since the 2010 AI final. Still very hard to see them winning, but it is set up to be a game that goes against the form book.

[JUst retired]

 They will only get closer because Parc Esler is a smaller pitch.

[theticklemister]

Down can never hack cork's pace and prescence. cork at 4/9; easy money.

[snoopdog]

Cork should win this one. Down will need to win one of their next 2 games both at home as they have away trips to Kerry and Dublin before a home game to Kildare to finish up. Cant see us staying up but to be honest would be more interested to see if we are developing any sort of a system for championship. We finished in the top four of Div 1 for last 2 years and thought we were in decent shape for championship when we clearly werent.

[Donnellys Hollow]

Cork appeared fairly clueless against Kildare. I was surprised at how tactically naive they were. If Down adopt a defensive approach Cork might struggle.

[Farrandeelin]

Cork appeared fairly clueless against Kildare. I was surprised at how tactically naive they were. If Down adopt a defensive approach Cork might struggle.

Next thing somebody will say Down can't defend. Or something to that extent.

[Mourne Rover]

Down team
1 Michael Cunningham
2 Daniel McCartan
3 Brendan McArdle
4 Ryan Boyle
5 Ryan Mallon
6 Aidan Carr
7 Keith Quinn
8 Kalum King
9 Kevin McKernan
10 Damian Turley
11 Mark Poland
12 Donal O'Hare
13 Conor Laverty
14 Benny Coulter
15 Connaire Harrison

Benny comes in for Paul McComiskey, but, apart from a couple of positional switches, it is almost the same side which started against Donegal. After our second half display in Ballybofey,  that is a little surprising. However, Cork's form has also been patchy and they are not always great travellers in the league. At 5/2, particularly in Newry, we may be over-priced,

[Dubh driocht]

Really hard defeat to take. Some fantastic individual performances, sound tactics and management, bravery in the line of duty but the only stat that will be remembered is our third league defeat and another loss to Cork.
It was like a death in the last 20 seconds and cruel for a committed group of players. Our usual good first half, no respect for reputations and only a comedy of errors prevented a 5 point lead at the interval. Rather we went in leading by 2, had our traditional 3rd quarter collapse but regrouped and really really should have seen the game out. A moment's lapse by the otherwise excellent Mc Comiskey, just like Harrison at the end of the first half,reminded us that Division 1 requires 100% concentration. Donal O'Hare has arrived-as good an hour from a Down player as I've seen. Mc Kernan, Carr, Mallon, Mc Cartan, Coulter and Lavery deserved more than pats on the back. Feckit, sport is cruel but we have no choice but to bounce back.

[5 Sams]

Real excellent performance as Dubh Driocht points out. Stars all over the field. Coulter destroyed Shields and anyone else they tried on him. O'Hare was top class. It was real smash and grab by Cork. First and last goals were scrambled affairs and the second was a bad mistake by Cunningham who looked jittery all day. Down by far the better team against a nearly full strength cynical Cork who tried without success to take Benny out of it in the second half. Green shoots of spring for wee James I hope.

[fingerbob]

The destination newry commentary would have suggested that the ref was very one sided in favour of cork. Would that have been the reality?

[5 Sams]

The destination newry commentary would have suggested that the ref was very one sided in favour of cork. Would that have been the reality?

A few strange decisions alright but he didn't beat us.

[5 Sams]

Sorry should also have mentioned Harrison's goal. Watch out for it tonight on RTE. Screamer!