Down Club Hurling & Football

[befair]

"The first round of games in the All County Senior Football League Div 1 & 2 have been postponed due to Down's involvement in the National Football League Final on 26th April in Croke Park."
Club football suffers again, no wonder so many players prefer soccer, where they are guaranteed regular games.

[ApresMatch]

This is some msg to be sending the club players of Down: It's more important that county players get to rest than it is for club players to play! The officials that made this decision clearly have no regard for the clubs or their players. I wouldn't even star the first round of club games; if international rugby players can play two games in a week then why can't county players. If the county lads aren't playin for their clubs sure they'll be busting a gut in training to stay sharp or get in the team! Clubs need to stand up here.

[snoopdog]

This is some msg to be sending the club players of Down: It's more important that county players get to rest than it is for club players to play! The officials that made this decision clearly have no regard for the clubs or their players. I wouldn't even star the first round of club games; if international rugby players can play two games in a week then why can't county players. If the county lads aren't playin for their clubs sure they'll be busting a gut in training to stay sharp or get in the team! Clubs need to stand up here.

`

If the same clowns had postponed the Club Championship in 2010 then we may have had a fit Ambrose and may have won the all Ireland.

[SamFever]

  Sure the players have been training on consecutive nights so I wouldn't
be worried too much about player welfare in this case.

[Line Ball]

  Sure the players have been training on consecutive nights so I wouldn't
be worried too much about player welfare in this case.

You seriously think that teams have been training on the field two nights running in preparation for the start of the league, I don't think so.  Player welfare would dictate putting the game after the league final off to avoid injury but this game is going ahead, clowns isn't the word.  Club teams have been preparing for weeks for the start of the league but now hundreds of players are left wondering why they even bother when games will be changed willy nilly.

Our County Board didn't even have the belief in our team to factor in the possibility of reaching the final into our masters fixture list, shows you how much faith the had in the new management and current players.  These tubes are an absolute joke.

The full statement from DCB is below:

A Chara

A request has been made to CCC by the Management and Players of the Down Senior Football Panel to assist their preparations for the Allianz Division Two League Final by postponing Round 1 of Division One and Two of the O Neills All County Football League. CCC have considered the request and are opposed to starring the fixtures and would therefore propose that Round 1 be moved in it's entirety to Sunday 10th May. County Team management have agreed that there will be no further deviation from the All County Football League programme as outlined in the fixture calendar. We appreciate the support of the Clubs in this instance as the County Team prepares for a National Final. With all the Gaels in Down we wish players and management every success in the League Final on April 26th.

Is Mise
Seán Óg Mac an tSaoir

I would love to know if (1) The county management will stick to this, (2) not the county management but the CCC may see further deviation from the League programme (3) the reasons why CCC are opposed to starring this round of fixtures..

They may appreciate the support of clubs in this instance but I don't think they will get it.

[sdg]

The last league game off last season was the 29th Aug and the 1st game is the 27th April a full 8 months with no game for most team's that didn't reach the knockout stage's off last years championship!! No wonder lads go till soccer where u get a game every week from Aug till May

[turkey+ham]

What do we actually want here? When the county team don't do well, we're always moaning about how far behind we are , etc...

Now we're in a final in HQ, chance for a wee trophy. It's not ideal, but the fellas who play on that panel have made plenty of sacrifices to get to this stage - can we as club players not make some extra sacrifices as well? The season last year was much too short - when we were playing into October or November years ago, it was much better!

[Line Ball]

County players rarely train with their clubs, they may turn up the odd time to training session to watch but seldom take part until released for a few sessions before the league begins, they then get a few weeks between being knocked out of the Championship and qualifiers but there is little crossover between the club/county season.

Many club players train equally as hard, train equally as often and make equally as many sacrifices as any county player so don't spout that shite.  The club season is dictated by the decision makers, the Down County Board.  They are the ones who determine when the league/championships start and end,so it is their fault that our club players will have had no football for 8 months between leagues ending and starting again.  Certain clubs who have many players on the county panel also exert too much influence.  It was different for some clubs last year when they didn't have as many on the county panel but then they lost their manager!

[gaamann]

Fact the County Board have no real interest in club football or club footballers its a box ticking exercise 2 weeks to prepare for a div 2 final while club players will be forced to play 3 games in a week.The first round games are going to be played on a Sunday cant be played on a Monday night because of county training.Do club players not suffer from burnout or does that only effect the county man.

[redandblackareback]

This is some msg to be sending the club players of Down: It's more important that county players get to rest than it is for club players to play! The officials that made this decision clearly have no regard for the clubs or their players. I wouldn't even star the first round of club games; if international rugby players can play two games in a week then why can't county players. If the county lads aren't playin for their clubs sure they'll be busting a gut in training to stay sharp or get in the team! Clubs need to stand up here.

`

If the same clowns had postponed the Club Championship in 2010 then we may have had a fit Ambrose and may have won the all Ireland.

There are no clowns making these decisions it's singular,one clown.

You are very wrong, no one makes decisions in Down other than the senior football manager and that's always been the way, Jim has those puppets comfortably on a string be under no illusions about that.

I can see both sides of the argument here to be honest, if I was county manager I would want the players fresh for a rare final appearance which after all this we better win. On the other hand, its not a great advert for our club games which is ultimately the heart and soul of our association and is sure to just continually piss the clubs off.

Either way I don't really give a f**k what happens because as a county in general we are going absolutely nowhere and have been since 2010.

[Brick Tamlin]

The Down Way

[Aristo 60]

We are going absolutely somewhere - Division 1 (and Croke Park).

redandblackareback - you do give a f#ck. That's why your post is, for want of a better word, 'emotional'.

[SamFever]

  Sure the players have been training on consecutive nights so I wouldn't
be worried too much about player welfare in this case.

You seriously think that teams have been training on the field two nights running in preparation for the start of the league, I don't think so.  Player welfare would dictate putting the game after the league final off to avoid injury but this game is going ahead, clowns isn't the word.  Club teams have been preparing for weeks for the start of the league but now hundreds of players are left wondering why they even bother when games will be changed willy nilly.

Our County Board didn't even have the belief in our team to factor in the possibility of reaching the final into our masters fixture list, shows you how much faith the had in the new management and current players.  These tubes are an absolute joke.

The full statement from DCB is below:

A Chara

A request has been made to CCC by the Management and Players of the Down Senior Football Panel to assist their preparations for the Allianz Division Two League Final by postponing Round 1 of Division One and Two of the O Neills All County Football League. CCC have considered the request and are opposed to starring the fixtures and would therefore propose that Round 1 be moved in it's entirety to Sunday 10th May. County Team management have agreed that there will be no further deviation from the All County Football League programme as outlined in the fixture calendar. We appreciate the support of the Clubs in this instance as the County Team prepares for a National Final. With all the Gaels in Down we wish players and management every success in the League Final on April 26th.

Is Mise
Seán Óg Mac an tSaoir

I would love to know if (1) The county management will stick to this, (2) not the county management but the CCC may see further deviation from the League programme (3) the reasons why CCC are opposed to starring this round of fixtures..

They may appreciate the support of clubs in this instance but I don't think they will get it.

What I mean is the County players are used to activity two days in a row. I wasn't talking about Club players

[supersub]

  Sure the players have been training on consecutive nights so I wouldn't
be worried too much about player welfare in this case.

You seriously think that teams have been training on the field two nights running in preparation for the start of the league, I don't think so.  Player welfare would dictate putting the game after the league final off to avoid injury but this game is going ahead, clowns isn't the word.  Club teams have been preparing for weeks for the start of the league but now hundreds of players are left wondering why they even bother when games will be changed willy nilly.

Our County Board didn't even have the belief in our team to factor in the possibility of reaching the final into our masters fixture list, shows you how much faith the had in the new management and current players.  These tubes are an absolute joke.

The full statement from DCB is below:

A Chara

A request has been made to CCC by the Management and Players of the Down Senior Football Panel to assist their preparations for the Allianz Division Two League Final by postponing Round 1 of Division One and Two of the O Neills All County Football League. CCC have considered the request and are opposed to starring the fixtures and would therefore propose that Round 1 be moved in it's entirety to Sunday 10th May. County Team management have agreed that there will be no further deviation from the All County Football League programme as outlined in the fixture calendar. We appreciate the support of the Clubs in this instance as the County Team prepares for a National Final. With all the Gaels in Down we wish players and management every success in the League Final on April 26th.

Is Mise
Seán Óg Mac an tSaoir

I would love to know if (1) The county management will stick to this, (2) not the county management but the CCC may see further deviation from the League programme (3) the reasons why CCC are opposed to starring this round of fixtures..

They may appreciate the support of clubs in this instance but I don't think they will get it.

What I mean is the County players are used to activity two days in a row. I wasn't talking about Club players

Activity, yes, but two competitive matches with possible consumption of celebratory liquid in-between, no.

[Down Follower]

I am all for supporting the County team, as we all are and I can understand why Jim doesnt want his boys playing the first round of club games.  However, it doesnt make sense to me that a club game, 1 week before the league final should be called off while club games, 1 DAY after the league final are to be played.  Will county players play on the Monday night after having a game in Croke Park the day before?
Really the mistake was made when the fixtures were announced when this wasnt factored into the equation.  Once we did, there was always going to be someone unhappy one way or the other.  There was an article recently about county players in Kerry and how they play at least 20 club games a year.  Doesnt harm them!!