Messages

2 poor enough semi finals. Very disappointing as a neutral. 
 

To cut even at Croke park, they used to talk about having to get it half full.

Back in the noughties it was something like 31,000 people to break even.

What is the cost though. Surely they only open bars and areas needed as per the crowd. So I assume they cover it whatever the crowd.
For small games thry only open lower hogan.

Banbridge has gone very international. Any red white and blue country flag has been given a lamppost. Norway, USA, then the obvious ones like Holland, Australia and New Zealand. Very welcoming.
Funny though more GAA jerseys walking the towns streets that rangers and norn iron tops.

If 6k seats cost 24 million then someone is taking a serious wedge out of Louth GAA.
Rte are muppets maybe they're costing it on their terms.

It's too early to talk about All-Stars. Winners and runners up usually get 11. Louth will get one. That leaves 3. 3 from Armagh Monaghan or Galway is deluded

Would Odhran Murdock be in with a shout?

Are Galway not top 5?? I'd like to hear the 5 ahead of them.

Brilliant comment 😆


Told ya Galway weren't top 5. That adds to frustration for Down!!
[/quote]
By your reckoning then neither would Armagh. But you can have you  your childish argument.
Down are still on the up whether you like it or not.   

Any chance the Minor final will get moved for a curtain raiser to this one. ??

Meath deserved that. Better team overall.
Galway midfield weren't up to the task. Galway were out muscled all over the pitch. Bar Comer coming on Meath would've won that alot more comfortably.
Had meaths keeper been better at frees it would've been double scores.
Galway looked beatable last week, Meath had the height and strength to do what Down couldn't.
Are Galway fast becoming Mayo.

Another poor game.

Much better the last 20 mins.

Another poor game.

The Johnston brothers were flying in that game too. They weren't involved with Down this year. Lose interst? Liam Kerr also. Is Barry O Hagan back playing? Done the ACL twice.

Shealan Johnston and Kerr both travelling apparently. I doubt O'Hagan will be back playing for Down unfortunately, just too tough on the body. He'll be lucky to play for Clonduff. It's a real shame because he's probably the inside forward that Laverty's been looking for. Not sure what the story is with Ryan Johnston but he would be on the older side, so could be that.

Ryan played on those hogan cup teams with mooney so uo there in that age bracket. Early 30s. Saw him at game on Sunday.
I'd say he may be back next year.

At present I wouldn't have Galway top 5. If they get their strongest 15 out then maybe. Armagh, donegal, kerry, Dublin, Tyrone.

You could argue that strongest 15 point for a good few of those mentioned above. Particularly Kerry and Dublin.

At the risk of disappointing Urbangael, we are not demoted to the Tailteann just yet. If we make an Ulster decider next year, we will be back in the All Ireland series with the other seven provincial finalists. Even if we don't, we have a real prospect of qualifying via the NFL. Kildare will be big favourites to win this year's Tailteann and go through to the AI in 2026. The Munster championship is reportedly going to be seeded, meaning a likely Kerry/Cork final, with lower division sides like Clare and Limerick probably eliminated. All that means that the D3 winners can go through ahead of the the bottom two in D2, unless the rules get changed. Galway have been in two of the last three AI finals, and the idea that they are not serious title contenders is as ludicrous as the suggestion that this has been an unsuccessful season for Down. This team has put the pride back in Down football and we are not finished yet.

I wouldn't be disappointed in we are back competing for Sam next year. Galway missing their keeper and Comer. Walsh not fully fit and still had huge influence. I just think we come unstuck against top 10 teams... top 5 teams would wipe us out. Great to see the buzz back in Newry but playing the Sligos and wexfords etc would dampen enthusiasm unfortunately. Hopefully the squad sticks together add few new faces and kick on to the next level.

Are Galway not top 5?? I'd like to hear the 5 ahead of them.

For the 1st 5 league games, the ridiculous 12 v 11 rule was in place, and we had no suitable keeper to take advantage of it. It's no coincidence when the rule was amended we won our final two games.

actually more of a coincidence that the final 2 league games were against  already promoted and relegated teams.
Down were relegated due to failing to deal with a physically dominant Meath side in Newry and/or the narrow loss in  Drogheda.

The 2 pointer Havern scored to equalise in Breffni at the death that wasn't given.
Ardtole is right about the ridiculous 12 v 11. Meath used it to brilliant effect against Down even when they had a man black carded the idiotic rule of the team with the man black carded being allowed to only keep 2 back while Down had to keep 3 back led to that defeat. No coincidence Meath lost their last 2 games when they couldn't use the 12 v 11.
Westmeath weren't already relegated when Down beat them. And Monaghan were not 100% guaranteed promotion before thry played Down.
But as a Down fan you would know that, right?

In 2010 Down were playing in Tullamore, the bus driver brought Down to Mullingar. Down missed a warmup and but for the base of the post there would've been no All Ireland final appearance that year.