USFC - 2/6/27 - Derry v Down

theticklemister · January 09, 2013, 05:33:24 PM

Might as well get the first championship game thread up and running.............................

The GAA's Ulster Council has been urged to rethink Derry's Championship clash with Down amid fears of traffic chaos.

The match is to take place on June 2 - the same day as the Walled city marathon which will see Foyle Road, a section of Lonemoor Road and the lower deck of the Craigavon Bridge closed as around 1,200 runners take to the streets. Upwards of 15,000 spectators are expected to attend the Celtic Park clash, prompting fears that many fans will be caught up in traffic gridlock in the city.

A spokesman for the Ulster Council told the Journal that it was "aware" of the matter and that a final decision will be made on January 17 at a meeting of the Competitions Control Committee. He said that a venue change would not a be possibility but that a date or time change was being considered to avoid the clash. However, the TV schedule has already been agreed and the decision may depend on that.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, who plans to run the marathon, has called on the Ulster Council to address the concerns. "The clash with the Championship match is unfortunate as the huge additional volume of traffic that it will generate is sure to create headaches for runners, marshals, police and Roads Service.

"It will also be difficult for matchgoers to find parking spaces.

"These are concerns I will be raising with the Ulster Council.

"I would like to think that common sense can prevail and the Derry v Down match can be played on a different date or even the throw-in be put back by a couple of hours."

Meanwhile, the marathon organisers have reopened the event for new entries having filled the initial limit of 1,000 places.

Race Director Noel McMonagle said: "It's great news for any runners out there who thought the gate was firmly shut. Despite reaching the original entry target last week, the significant ongoing demand has persuaded the event organisers to offer a small number of additional places for the eagerly anticipated City of Culture event."

Limited additional entries will now be accepted on a first come first served basis until Friday at 4pm via www.athleticsni.org or at Foyle Hospice, 61 Culmore Road.

Wildweasel74 · January 10, 2013, 12:25:28 AM

No its only January, lets get the league out of the way first

PAULD123 · January 10, 2013, 08:40:41 AM

It's not fair for the game to be in Derry in the first place. The Ulster championship used to have a home advantage cycle where every team was guaranteed a first round home match at least every other year. The open draw leaves teams the possibility of being unlucky but more importantly puts a possible unfair burden on some spectators in terms of travel costs. Down are certainly in that category:

2013 - Away to Derry
2012 - Away to Fermanagh
2011 - Away to Armagh
2010 - Away to Donegal
2009 - Away to Fermanagh
2008 - Away to Tyrone
2007 - Away to Cavan (prelim round)
2006 - Home to Cavan

We have had to play away for seven years in a row. I know it is the luck of the draw but it is an unfair system and does not consider the travelling fans. At least 3 of those games should have been at home and that could have saved Down families travelling to games several hundred pounds each in terms of petrol/food.

mackers · January 10, 2013, 10:36:13 AM

Quote from: PAULD123 on January 10, 2013, 08:40:41 AM
It's not fair for the game to be in Derry in the first place. The Ulster championship used to have a home advantage cycle where every team was guaranteed a first round home match at least every other year. The open draw leaves teams the possibility of being unlucky but more importantly puts a possible unfair burden on some spectators in terms of travel costs. Down are certainly in that category:

2013 - Away to Derry
2012 - Away to Fermanagh
2011 - Away to Armagh
2010 - Away to Donegal
2009 - Away to Fermanagh
2008 - Away to Tyrone
2007 - Away to Cavan (prelim round)
2006 - Home to Cavan

We have had to play away for seven years in a row. I know it is the luck of the draw but it is an unfair system and does not consider the travelling fans. At least 3 of those games should have been at home and that could have saved Down families travelling to games several hundred pounds each in terms of petrol/food.

Sure didn't a load of ye save money and stay at home to watch United in the Champion's League the night of the Armagh match. Any that did travel probably wish that they did the same.

Lazer · January 10, 2013, 03:58:36 PM

Quote from: PAULD123 on January 10, 2013, 08:40:41 AM
It's not fair for the game to be in Derry in the first place. The Ulster championship used to have a home advantage cycle where every team was guaranteed a first round home match at least every other year. The open draw leaves teams the possibility of being unlucky but more importantly puts a possible unfair burden on some spectators in terms of travel costs. Down are certainly in that category:

2013 - Away to Derry
2012 - Away to Fermanagh
2011 - Away to Armagh
2010 - Away to Donegal
2009 - Away to Fermanagh
2008 - Away to Tyrone
2007 - Away to Cavan (prelim round)
2006 - Home to Cavan

We have had to play away for seven years in a row. I know it is the luck of the draw but it is an unfair system and does not consider the travelling fans. At least 3 of those games should have been at home and that could have saved Down families travelling to games several hundred pounds each in terms of petrol/food.

As much as would like to agree with you I can't - none of those places should cost more than around £30/£40 in fuel to get too - some like Armagh cost peanuts depending on where in Dwon you live. Food - take a picnic - no additional cost - sandwiches from the boot are part of the experience!

In saying that it should be fairer - if 2 teams are drawn in the 1st round, and one was at home last year, and was was away last year, then the team that played away should be given home advantage, otherwise first out gets home advantage.
In this case it wouldn't make a difference as Derry's first round game was against Donegal in Ballybofey last year.

Roll on June - can't wait to the start of the championship!

theticklemister · January 10, 2013, 07:18:33 PM

Top of the head here, derry had only two home ties for years in ulster championship. Home to fermanagh and armagh in recent years. Before that maybe armagh around 96/97

Mourne Rover · January 10, 2013, 10:15:14 PM

It is of course all to do with the luck of the draw, but, taking into account that Down played almost every home championship matches at Casement Park or Clones before the Marshes was rebuilt, we have only staged one first round USC game on our own ground in the last 20 years.

The 2006 match against Cavan whcih PaulD mentions was in Belfast, in 2005 we were away to Tyrone, in 2004 it was Cavan in Belfast, in 2003 Monaghan in Belfast, in 2002 away to Donegal, in 2001 Cavan in Belfast, in 2000 away to Antrim and 1999 was our last first round game in Newry against Antrim.

Before that, it was away to Tyrone in 1998, Tyrone in Clones in 1997, Donegal in Clones in 1996, Donegal in Clones in 1995 and unforgetably away to Derry in 1994. We were at home to Derry in Newry the previous year, but we have forgotten about that one.

theticklemister · May 02, 2013, 02:57:22 PM

There ye go!

orangeman · May 02, 2013, 03:01:39 PM

Derry 10/11 Down 11/10

Derry division 2 league champions.

Derry on the way up. Down in division 2.

Fortress Celtic Park.

Brian working his magic with Derry after having worked his magic and taken Down to almost the holy grail in 2010.

Wee James under pressure - big entourage incl. Dr Moyna of DCU fame, trying to impart their vast array of knowledge.

Fascinating contest.

Derry for me.

imtommygunn · May 02, 2013, 03:03:59 PM

Tickle you played monaghan at celtic park in the last 5 or 6 years.

theticklemister · May 02, 2013, 03:46:15 PM

Quote from: imtommygunn on May 02, 2013, 03:03:59 PM
Tickle you played monaghan at celtic park in the last 5 or 6 years.

Aye forgot. Thats a kind of game you want to forget. Knocked the hole out of each other.

Wildweasel74 · May 02, 2013, 10:07:06 PM

Fortress celtic park, dont make me laugh, we went from 1994 to 2010 losing only 1 game there after down beating us in 94. Since 2010 (lost 4 there out of 5 in a row), and a number of loses since. maybe between 8-10 in total since 2010. We actually play better away from home these days and are not too hot at celtic park any more.

T Fearon · May 03, 2013, 04:52:54 AM

Will the preceding minor match between Derry and Down be marketed the clash of the Apprentice Boys?

tbrick18 · May 03, 2013, 11:49:00 AM

Quote from: Wildweasel74 on May 02, 2013, 10:07:06 PM
Fortress celtic park, dont make me laugh, we went from 1994 to 2010 losing only 1 game there after down beating us in 94. Since 2010 (lost 4 there out of 5 in a row), and a number of loses since. maybe between 8-10 in total since 2010. We actually play better away from home these days and are not too at at celtic park any more.

+1
The Fortress Celtic park was just a propaganda stunt by the City Gaels to try to ensure continued use of the Celtic park for all senior football games. It worked too.

It's hard to predict this game. I think we are capable of beating Down, but a lot of things need to go in our favour. We would need the bulk of our injured players back, particularly McBride and PJ McCloskey. Morale will be high in the Derry camp with promotion and winning the Div2 league title, and perhaps morale in the Down camp wont be so good with the demotion, Dan Gordon injury and the loss of some of their most talented players. But Down have a lot more experience than us and have been playing at a higher level in Div1 so it's really a 50/50 call.
It has the makings of a good game though. Looking forward to it.

theticklemister · May 03, 2013, 12:31:49 PM

Quote from: tbrick18 on May 03, 2013, 11:49:00 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on May 02, 2013, 10:07:06 PM
Fortress celtic park, dont make me laugh, we went from 1994 to 2010 losing only 1 game there after down beating us in 94. Since 2010 (lost 4 there out of 5 in a row), and a number of loses since. maybe between 8-10 in total since 2010. We actually play better away from home these days and are not too at at celtic park any more.

+1
The Fortress Celtic park was just a propaganda stunt by the City Gaels to try to ensure continued use of the Celtic park for all senior football games. It worked too.

It's hard to predict this game. I think we are capable of beating Down, but a lot of things need to go in our favour. We would need the bulk of our injured players back, particularly McBride and PJ McCloskey. Morale will be high in the Derry camp with promotion and winning the Div2 league title, and perhaps morale in the Down camp wont be so good with the demotion, Dan Gordon injury and the loss of some of their most talented players. But Down have a lot more experience than us and have been playing at a higher level in Div1 so it's really a 50/50 call.
It has the makings of a good game though. Looking forward to it.

That first piece sounds like something from the showtrials in Russia under Stalins rule. Trying to make scapegoats out of city gaels wont work.

The second piece linking Dan Gordon's abscence to a poor Down set up means you know f**k all about football.
Dan Gordon is shit.