Down Club Hurling & Football

[Splash]

Portaferry and Ballycran have booked their places in the Betsy Gray Shield final.

Defending champions Carryduff knocked out in convincing fashion by Ballycran.

Carryduff reserves have been a stark contrast to their firsts counterparts. Whereas the firsts seem to be going from strength to strength, the reserves had another bad league campaign and failed to reach a Betsy Gray final, let alone win back to back titles. Nonetheless, hurling seems to be in a good place in the club.

You would at times wonder about the state of the Betsy Gray. Yes, it's great to give lads the opportunity, and it's good to keep Ards reserve teams out of the junior championship, but when only a few teams enter it, and most of those teams are getting well beaten and you end up with another portaferry/ballycrsn final, you can see where the questions may arise.

Not to take away from ballycran and portaferry; their lads are clearly the best at that level and are well within their right to go out and beat anyone by as much as they can. Two great teams, not just in the SHC, but the Betsy Gray. We're lucky to have teams of that standard in Down.

Something has to be done, though, in my opinion, about lads dropping down from higher squads to line out and play in the Betsy Gray. Across all teams. Not even due to the fact that it's unfair on other teams, but because it is unfair on fellas who's only opportunity to play hurling this year may be the Betsy Gray, and they are getting left on the bench because senior players are being used to improve the squad.
I understand that the main priority is to win, but it seems unfair for lads who train and want to play, and aren't quite at the standard of making the club's first team, and then aren't getting to start and a lad who is in the first squad is coming down and taking his jersey. It's important to give lads the game time they need to develop, too.
I would imagine that would have been the point of the Betsy Gray in the first place; to ensure lads who aren't getting to play for the firsts in the championship have a chance to play competitive hurling every year.

[bannside]

What's the name of that reserve competition?

[johnnycool]

What's the name of that reserve competition?

Betsy Gray.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_Gray


The Betsy Gray Cup (2nds) and the Shield (3rds) was really put in place after the Ulster Intermediate and Junior club competitions came into being as up to that point the Ards teams 2nds and 3rds team played in the Down Intermediate and Junior championships. These 2nds and 3rds teams was skewing these competitions and something had to be done.
Initially we'd the Joe McCrickard (intermediate) and Betsy Gray (junior) as an end of year competition where the Ards 2nd and 3rd strings played the 1st strings of the various other teams in Down just as before in the old competitions but the weather and pitch availability didn't help to get them played.

We've only a 2nds team, Bredagh and Carryduff's second string are junior level and that's why there's only 4 teams in the shield and then there'll probably only be the three Ards teams in the Betsy Gray Cup later on in the year.

[5times5times]

Some shambles went on in Mayobridge last night.. Next thing you'll be asking players to bring headtorches in case more games go to pens.

[terrifictommy]

There's a notice up from Down Gaa now that all games are moved forward to 6:45. Last night wasn't thought through, if at a time where light will be an issue then the club hosting needs to have lights

[manwithnoplan]

Was at Saul v RGU

But no players team sheets or programme ? This was always part and parcel of championship

What going on

There might not have been a printed programme, but in my opinion the game itself was worth the £6 in as it was quite entertaining. Saul maybe should have tried another one or two balls in to O'Hare, as his fielding was superb at times.
Bell was excellent for RGU in the middle.

[Truth hurts]

The Fin will be demoted to Junior IMO once more. They should be commended much for their rise under Mark Copeland, but in 2024 they will struggle in the third division. Shamrock's are getting better and no team in that championship will scare them.

[Johnnysboys]

Loughinisland v Harps a good old fashioned game this evening. Loughinisland will take a lot of scalps this season and absolutely no one will want the Harps in round 2.
No shocks to date.

[County Star]

Was at Saul v RGU

But no players team sheets or programme ? This was always part and parcel of championship

What going on

There might not have been a printed programme, but in my opinion the game itself was worth the £6 in as it was quite entertaining. Saul maybe should have tried another one or two balls in to O'Hare, as his fielding was superb at times.
Bell was excellent for RGU in the middle.

Caught that game also it was a close game. Great start from Saul but a strong finish to the first half from RGU. Peter Turley still doing the business at his age too

[Godsown]

Was at Saul v RGU

But no players team sheets or programme ? This was always part and parcel of championship

What going on

There might not have been a printed programme, but in my opinion the game itself was worth the £6 in as it was quite entertaining. Saul maybe should have tried another one or two balls in to O'Hare, as his fielding was superb at times.
Bell was excellent for RGU in the middle.

Caught that game also it was a close game. Great start from Saul but a strong finish to the first half from RGU. Peter Turley still doing the business at his age too

Turley some player. Must be 45 years of age but he really looks after himself. Teetotal celibate non smoker. A veritable Saint!

[Hard2Listen2]

Good to read in the Irish News that Stevie Poacher has the bridge playing positive good football.

Bryansford supporters will be relieved that the bridge win wasn't down to their team being crap.

😉😜

[Mourne Red]

Eventful match between Glenn and Saval

[Nanderson]

Some finish to Stone and Castlewellan game. Stone score a goal 6 and half minutes into injury time to send game to extra time. Was only meant to be a minimum of 3 added minutes so unsure where McGrath found another 3 and half minutes.

EDIT: Longstone started extra time well with a goal and point to lead by 4 at ht. Castlewellan rallied in 2nd half to level the game and send to the game to penalties

Result: Stone win in sudden death penalties

[befair]

Eventful match between Glenn and Saval

"Eventful" can have a host of meanings....

[Splash]

Eventful match between Glenn and Saval

Was some craic.