Messages

4-11 to 0-08

How many times do Down have to be hammered by Cork.
McCartan has been destroyed and humiliated 3 times against Cork and still hasnt a clue what to do to defend against them. Maybe forget about your brother in the team for a start. Relegation is likely.
The Down fans that travelled to that game should be given their money back. disgrace.
Final score 4-11 to 0-10 according to Cork radio

Catch a grip, far too easy to blame Dan for this defeat.. Obviously changes are needed but to single him out is a joke.

1. B Mc Veigh

2. G Mc Cartan
3. C Garvey
4. D O'Hagan

5. D Rooney
6. L Doyle
7. T Hanna

8. P Turley
9. A Rodgers

10. D Hughes
11. D Gordan
12. K Mc Kernan

13. B Coulter
14. D O'Hare
15. M Poland

Team would be a brave bit different if everyone was available like clarke, mooney, d rafferty, l howard..

Two MOM performances in a row  from Dan in midfield.
How tiresome now are my posts about the folly of shifting him to full back?
He has his mojo back and we can go places.

he wasn't playing midfield today, he was hf. but I agree that he shouldn't be moved back into full back line... Good few options for defence still to come back into the team.. rooney, garvey, o'hagan, mc kernan, g mc cartan, hanna and fingers crossed d. rafferty. Id like to see garvey given a run at no.3, great footballer, very strong, reasonable quick and good under the high ball.... i know he would be a big loss from the half back line but there is plenty of cover for there.....

Im with DD on the Dan debate, its a very contentious issue with decent arguments on both sides.

I wouldnt agree that Dan was one of our greatest midfielders, long from it actually.  He would often take off great catches only to be smothered out of it when he came back to ground because of a lack of aggression.  He often flattered to deceive in that position being out of games for long periods yet earning rave reviews for a few great fetches. I actually think a fully fit Ambrose is a lot better alround midfielder than Dan.  If Ambrose had of been fit against Cork we would have won the all ireland imo.

Also think Dan has turned out to be pretty decent FB, better than any alternatives we have anyway.  Pete Turley mad add to these options this year given he was decent there under Ross.

On Eoin McCartan, very talented but how can he play for Down when he cant complete a full match for Burren??

Don't think anyone expects Eoin to complete a full match, think tomorrow is a rare occasion with him starting.. The reason why he is in the panel is to give an option from the bench, and I don't think there are many better options to play the last 15/20 Min's of a game.

While Ronan Murtagh has been a good servant to Down and has been selfless in his commitment (and certainly doesn't deserve the abuse on here) he didn't strike me as a player that was going to be on the starting 15 of a successful Down team. I think we have had 10 or 11 good county players over the last 5 years but have rarely had them all on the pitch at the same time.Clearly the best performance in that period was the defeat of Kerry yet we had some average players in the 18 or so players in that game.
Anyway, looking forward to the start of the post-MC era tomorrow- if it wasn't so early it would have even more cut to it- and surprised that James has gone for Gough from day one but (without wanting to re-open the FB debate again) I disagree with Leo about Dan- also; is Eoin Mc Cartan fit for an hour's football ?

Id say he will only play the 1st half of the game, then prob be changed... delighted for him to be starting, and hope he shuts a few critics up on this!

Down (Dr McKenna Cup squad):
Brendan McVeigh, Damian Turley, Daniel McCartan,
Dan Gordon, Daniel McCartan, Niall Brannigan,
Kevin Duffin, Conor Garvey, Brendan McArdle,
Mark Doran, Darren O'Hagan, Peter Turley,
Conor Gough, Kalum King, Ambrose Rogers,
Aidan Carr, Daniel Hughes, Niall McParland,
Arthur McConville, Benny Coulter, Conor Laverty,
Eoin McCartan, Paul McComiskey, Marcus Miskelly.

I am a bit disappointed Phillip Bonny isn't there, thought he showed well last year. No sign of the Aiden Brannigan, Polands, Liam Doyle or McGinn. Are they injured or just being rested? Also several defenders missing, Rafferty and McKernan are fit so I guess they are being rested, I don't think Rooney is fit is he?

Interesting.

Either Dan McCartan is that vital that he has to be mentioned twice or one of those should have been Gerrard!!

If Bonny isnt in Australia I would be a bit disappointed myself.  Glad Pete Turley getting another look.

Anton McArdle must be with UUJ as well as Jamie O'Reilly with Queens.  Average enough looking panel but sure McKenna cup is about giving boys a chance.

Any other players that will be playing for the uni. teams?

I think the ideaa of these changes are utter rubbish.. I play for a div 4 club and we are there for a reason, we are simply not good enough for div 3. What enjoyment would there be for players after taking some heavy beatings from some of the bigger clubs in Div 3.