Messages

Bryansford won a Down Special Junior Hurling Championship in the early to mid 80's. Obviously a defunct competition now, but I'm guessing it was a Junior B Championship type arrangement?

Bryansford started underage hurling up last year. Not sure how it will go but it would be important to have a hurling outlet in a big urban area like Newcastle.

Wonder when the Special Junior Championship was done away with. There a couple clubs who are currently a bit of a junior championship- maybe wouldn't be a bad thing to see it reintroduced.

Mind Bryansford playing a bit. There was also a juvenile team in the 90s called Rosconnor Gaels over around teconnaught area. Eddie 'Tipp' behind it.

I assume this team covered a few clubs and not just Teconnaught?

I suppose St Kevin's camogie club would cover that area now if they ever extend to the men's game.

Idea of McKenna Cup is to balance getting players ready for the league and trying to source new players for the league & Championship.

I would say Lav has a pretty decent idea of what his starting XV will be vs Clare and the lads will be ready to go.

I wouldn't discount anyone based on that performance but I don't think anyone really stood up and made a case for breaking into the expected team anyway. Thought Crimmins put in a good shift, McPolin & Brooks have potential but didn't convince me they're ready starters.


Wanna see more of Loughrin & Brown in FF line. Loughrin started brightly with 2 moves scores but hardly touched ball after.

Think Brooks is probably deserving of starting in the league at least.

Would be good to see Loughran starting this year.

When was the last time an inter county match was held in Newcastle? Is it completely removed from being associated as any type of county grounds?

It would have been a novelty to see the county footballers line out in McKenna Páirc, although I'm not sure who would have been more unhappy- the Ballycran men, or the footballing fraternity.

I understand why the decision was taken, but ultimately it was the wrong decision. It's bad enough to give up home advantage. To give it up to Armagh of all teams, though...

If Antrim can make Corrigan work I'm sure something could have been sorted within Down.

Tullycarnon

Where exactly is Tullycarnon?

A quick search online shows there are two townlands in Down with the name- one in and around Portaferry, the other about Ardglass.

Is Ballyvarley and Banbridge not one and the same thing?

Ballyvarley and Aghaderg are one and the same. It was explained to me before the reasoning for the two names. It's a bit of a convoluted explanation in my opinion when you consider the camogs in the parish go by Aghaderg- although I'm sure those involved could justify it and explain it well enough for me to understand.

Clann na Banna are the team in the town of Banbridge- only a mile or two away on the same stretch of road.

To the best of my knowledge Ballyvarley/Aghaderg more-so encompasses the village of Loughbrickland and the surrounding parish/countryside, as opposed to the town of Banbridge.

A long time ago, late 70s or 80s I think.

There was something of a drive from the county board around that time to promote hurling in non-hurling clubs, with competitions being 11-a-side.

Banbridge was one of those clubs which took part.

I don't know a great deal more about it than that, unfortunately.

There's been some amount of clubs in Down who have dabbled in the small ball over the years at one point or another. Some of them got on very well with it, too.

For one reason or another, a lot of them have disappeared.

If anyone is able to add to the list, please do.

- Kilcoo
- Ardglass
- Rostrevor
- Darragh Cross
- Banbridge
- Saval
- Mayobridge
- Glenn
- Annsborough (Aughlisnafin)
- An Ríocht
- Downpatrick
- Saul
- Clann na Boirce (Bryansford)

To the best of my knowledge St Paul's, Holywood had underage hurling in the not so distant past- but it never took off at senior level.

Out of these former Down hurling clubs, a number have reintroduced hurling at underage in recent years.

From what I know, there was something of a drive in the late 70s/80s to encourage and promote hurling in 'football clubs.'

If anybody knows of any other clubs that used to put out hurling teams, has memories of any defunct hurling teams, or knows anything about them, it would be very interesting to hear.

Anyone know anything about Sean Martin's in the Short Strand?

Been talking about it a bit lately with someone, but there's very little to actually read or look into.

Know a couple lads who played for them years ago- one of them says he remembers playing in County Down. Was the club a Down club or an Antrim club?

To the best of my knowledge the club colours were maroon and white.

Think I'm right in saying the club finished up sometime in the 90s? What were the reasons which led to the disappearance of the club?

I know St Malachy's would be the local team nowadays, but a lad from the Strand told me there would be people in the area play for Davitts, Ardoyone, and the like.

Where did the club play out of?

East Belfast never really took off in the Strand to the best of my knowledge.

Interesting to think about the club when discussing the GAA in Belfast.

Somebody showed me Rostrevor's 5 Year Development Plan.

An interesting read- well, I suppose if you're into that kind of thing- but there was one thing in particular that stood out to me.

Strategic Goal # 3.7:
Explore expansion into other codes.

I was very pleased to read that.

Before the plan, there is an article about the history of the GAA in Rostrevor. There are several mentions of hurling, camoige, and handball in the parish. It does not only make a reference to the ghosts of the small ball, but it talks about the hurling and camogie success of previous years with great fondness, and talks about Rostrevor's reputation as "a thriving, multicode GAA club" with great pride.

Again, I was very pleased to read that.

The plan does not promise to restore hurling by 2030.

Instead, it sets out that they intend to 'examine the feasibility of the reintroduction of hurling and camogie' and 'survey the interest to offer handball and rounders.' All subject to facility enhancements. Of course.

I think this is a great approach from Rostrevor. I don't know if hurling will return to Rostrevor as soon as that. I hope so. But I can appreciate the challenges it will face. But I do think this is a great, pragmatic, sensible approach from a 'football club' who seem to be willing to engage with the other codes.

Too often I hear in football clubs 'sure no one would want to play that.' An insufferable argument.

According to the article, Rostrevor has 841 playing members. I'd say they could get 15 for a junior hurling/camogie team.

Rostrevor last won a hurling championship in 1994- well within living memory for many people. There is a tradition. Perhaps not the tradition of Portaferry or Ballycran; but there is a tradition nonetheless.

If every club was at least open to the possibility of providing hurling and camogie like Rostrevor seem to be, it would be a huge step in the right direction.

Best of luck to Rostrevor. Let's hope we see the small ball back at the foot of the Mournes before too long.

Regarding the handball and rounders- I know nothing about them. But I do think as part of Irish culture they deserve to be preserved and promoted in their own right.

Surely every club- hurling, football, or dual- could offer handball?

I'm not having any issues understanding how it happened, but by that logic, would it not be apt to argue that Loughgiel or Ballygalget should enter Ulster Intermediate as they're the second best teams in their respective counties? Or that Dunloy and Ballycran should be entering the Ulster Junior Championship as the third best teams in Antrim and Down?

Best of luck to Down Senior hurler, Oisín MacManus in the Ulster Hurling Final this evening.

An Armagh fella told me when he transferred across the Clanrye the biggest change he noticed was the physicality in Down hurling compared to that of Armagh hurling.

I know though that some of the Down fellas say the same when they hop over the Lagan and head up into Antrim.

I would agree- Down have been physically dominated at times in the Joe McDonagh, and it'll be tough dealing with what is coming in the likes of Clare and Dublin in Div 1.

Hopefully it will be a learning curve and will stand in good stead in the long run as Down try to cement themselves in Division 1 in the coming years.

It's been spoken about to death- but I wonder why Down players are, on average, across both hurling and football, typically on the smaller side? It's not as though there are many giants of players in the county just not making the cut. It just seems on average players in Down are of smaller stature.

With clubs seemingly doing all their business early, whats the managememt landscape looking like for 2026? Please update the list if I am wrong

Bredagh - D Bunting
Carryduff - ?
Glenn - ?
Kilcoo - M Corey & J McMahon
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
CPN - P Feeney
RGU - ?
Clonduff - G Adams
Burren - C Holmes
Mayobridge - ?

Castlewellan - T Wilson & S Ward
Bryansford - M Copeland
An Riocht - P Shields
Longstone - ?
CNB - J Boyle
Annaclone - D Morgan
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Saul - J Magorrian
Rostrevor - T Franklin & M Farrell
Saval - M O'Rourke

Drumgath - D O'Hanlon
St Johns - J Lynch
Dromara - E Toner & R Brady
Attical - B Coulter
East Belfast - ?
Darragh Cross - B Mason
Teconnaught - J Clarke
Bosco - L Howlett & A Murray
Liatroim - S Curran
Shamrocks - A Rogers

Ballymartin - T Bagnall & A Carr
Kilclief - A Burns
Tullylish - ?
St Michaels - ?
Aghaderg - ?
Drumaness - ?
Glasdrumman - ?
Ardglass - ?
St Pauls - ?
Dundrum - M Fitzsimons & J Hurley
Aughlisnafin - C O'Neill
Bright - ?

Mayobridge - barry dillon
downpatrick - micheal walsh
tullylish- davy corbett

Bredagh - D Bunting
Carryduff - ?
Glenn - ?
Kilcoo - M Corey & J McMahon
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
CPN - P Feeney
RGU - M Walsh
Clonduff - G Adams
Burren - C Holmes
Mayobridge - B Dillon

Castlewellan - T Wilson & S Ward
Bryansford - M Copeland
An Riocht - P Shields
Longstone - ?
CNB - J Boyle
Annaclone - D Morgan
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Saul - J Magorrian
Rostrevor - T Franklin & M Farrell
Saval - M O'Rourke

Drumgath - D O'Hanlon
St Johns - J Lynch
Dromara - E Toner & R Brady
Attical - B Coulter
East Belfast - ?
Darragh Cross - B Mason
Teconnaught - J Clarke
Bosco - L Howlett & A Murray
Liatroim - S Curran
Shamrocks - A Rogers

Ballymartin - T Bagnall & A Carr
Kilclief - A Burns
Tullylish - D Corbett
St Michaels - ?
Aghaderg - ?
Drumaness - ?
Glasdrumman - ?
Ardglass - ?
St Pauls - ?
Dundrum - M Fitzsimons & J Hurley
Aughlisnafin - C O'Neill
Bright - ?

Bredagh - D Bunting
Carryduff - ?
Glenn - ?
Kilcoo - M Corey & J McMahon
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
CPN - P Feeney
RGU - M Walsh
Clonduff - G Adams
Burren - C Holmes
Mayobridge - B Dillon

Castlewellan - T Wilson & S Ward
Bryansford - M Copeland
An Riocht - P Shields
Longstone - ?
CNB - J Boyle
Annaclone - D Morgan
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Saul - J Magorrian
Rostrevor - T Franklin & M Farrell
Saval - M O'Rourke

Drumgath - D O'Hanlon
St Johns - J Lynch
Dromara - E Toner & R Brady
Attical - B Coulter
East Belfast - ?
Darragh Cross - B Mason
Teconnaught - J Clarke
Bosco - L Howlett & A Murray
Liatroim - S Curran
Shamrocks - A Rogers

Ballymartin - T Bagnall & A Carr
Kilclief - A Burns
Tullylish - D Corbett
St Michaels - ?
Aghaderg - ?
Drumaness - G Burden & C Morgan
Glasdrumman - K Trainor & A McCartan
Ardglass - ?
St Pauls - ?
Dundrum - M Fitzsimons & J Hurley
Aughlisnafin - C O'Neill
Bright - P Turley/A Robinson/K Gracey



I believe S Clarke is remaining with Glenn but needs a coach and P O'Shea will likely stay at Ardglass although these are not confirmed, just what I've heard

J Kelly- East Belfast.

To the best of my knowledge are Clarke and O'Shea not staying with Glenn and Ardglass respectively?

[I think it's very hard though to say their physicality doesn't play a role in their game though.]

Sleacht Néill are without doubt one of the most technically skilful teams in Ulster- if not Ireland. Their touch, their striking, their decision making, their reading of the game; are all phenomenal. There's a great slowed down video going about at the moment of McKaigue taking a touch on the outside heel of the hurl and putting the sliotar over the bar, for example.

I don't think it's right to say that commentary on their physicality is lazy.

Perhaps some of it is. Perhaps some of it is people saying their dual status gives them 'double the results,' or something to that effect. But with any serious interest will know SN are where they are due to playing hurling very well.

I think it's very hard though to say their physicality doesn't play a role in their game though. At the end of the day, the ability to win ball over their opponents, to break tackles, and to shoot from almost anywhere on the field at times, have all played massive factors in their success.



It is not the reason for their success, but it is no doubt useful to them and has not been a bad thing. Part of the reason that SN have been so competitive with the likes of Ballygunner, Ballyhale, Na Piarsaigh, etc., is becuase they have the physical ability to live with them.

You are spot on though- their primary reason for success is due to the high quality hurling they play, followed by a series of very good managers.


Great year for St John's. Upset the odds time and time again this year. No reason they can't be competitive with Slaughtneil and Loughrea. We will see.

Some valid points but you seem to be agreeing and disagreeing about it.

Hurling is a physical game, moreso than football.

I never hear anybody stating that Na Fianna, Ballyhale or Ballygunnar etc. are physical teams. It's never mentioned.....ever. But always brought up about SN. As I say, it's lazy analysis.

They have fantastic hurlers and this has been proven year after year. I think people need to give them more credit for their hurling ability, moreso than their S&C and strength etc.

I'm not agreeing and disagreeing- I'm thinking about it comprehensively.

The 2 factors are not exclusive and both can be simultaneously correct.

Slaughtneil have talented hurlers. Slaughtneil are a physically dominant team. Both things are true at once. Both factors have contributed to their success.

Their hurling ability obviously is the most fundamental reason for their success. If anyone says otherwise they haven't seen Slaughtneil perform. That doesn't mean their physicality hasn't been an additional component to their game plan.

Are Slaughtneil more skilful than Dunloy? Personally I don't think so, although the two teams play different styles of hurling and it's hard to compare.

Oddly enough, the one team Slaughtneil struggled with for many years was Cushendall- arguably the other most physical team in Ulster.

Were Slaughtneil more skilful than Portaferry in the semis? Maybe. There's certainly an argument for it. Personally, I don't think they necessarily were. I firmly believe Slaughtneil won the right battles; won the right puck outs, broke the right tackles, made the right decisions. An element of that stems from the physicality and that it is simply difficult for Portaferry to curtail certain players.

I obviously can't comment on what you've heard regarding other teams, but I have certainly heard people discuss the physicality of other sides. Ballyhale, not so much. Na Fianna, I've never heard it mentioned at all, but it has certainly been discussed in regards to Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner. It's said regularly in the championship about Ballygunner and their conditioning. Na Piarsaigh it has certainly been said, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall it being said when Na Piarsaigh beat Slaughtneil (ironically enough) about the physical ability of the Limerick men, particularly through the likes of Dowling, O'Donoghue, etc.

Interestingly enough, one of the things that people made comment on after Slaughtneil lost out to Ballygunner was how the Derry men had had the physical ability to compete with them.

Indeed, it was talked about a lot from 2020 until maybe 2022 or 2023 that teams were struggling to match the intensity and physicality of the Limerick Senior Hurling team.

I'm not diminishing the hurling ability of Slaughtneil. An extraordinarily talented team, who have achieved what they have achieved primarily based on their outstanding ability at playing hurling. But you can't pretend that the sheer size of their players, the intensity that they bring, and the fitness that they carry, hasn't helped them become the dominant force in Ulster Hurling.

This isn't why they win. But it is a factor on how they play. And it doesn't always guarantee success. The Ulster Final against Dunloy in 2022 is a prime example of that.

But take their performance in Ulster in 2021, where they swatted away both Dunloy and Ballycran with ease. Was their hurling ability that much more than that of their Antrim and Down counterparts? Maybe it was, but I personally recall in the Ulster Final Brendan Rogers running through the Ballycran defence with players bouncing off him as he scored the goal which put the game to bed.

I don't think it's lazy analysis. Maybe some people do use it as something which can cover all. They probably aren't that interested in the actual hurling.

But you can't deny it hasn't attributed to their success over the years. If the Slaughtneil players were 12 inches shorter and 2 stone lighter would they have had the success they have had.