Galway team named this evening, shows a couple of changes from the last day:
1 Adrian Faherty
2 Alan Burke
3 Finian Hanley
4 Kieran McGrath
5 Gary ODonnell
6 Colin Forde
7 David Reilly
8 Garreth Bradshaw
9 Eddie Hoare
10 Joe Bergin
11 Cormac Bane
12 Gary Sice
13 Matthew Clancy
14 Cillín De Paor
15 Sean Armstrong
Duine Eile - Can you tell me if Pat O'Hagan (Down All-Ireland winner in 1960 and 1961) has a grandson on the Galway team/panel this year?
So Bergin has been brought in for Higgins, and Forde brought in at CHB for Coyne are the only unforced changes.
Burke has moved to RCB to fill Fitzgerald's retirement, Reilly has come in for Burke's LHB position.
I guess the Reilly move is expected as he came on as sub for Fitzgerald that last time out.
I also guess the move to bring in Bergin is expected. Why did Bergin not start against Monaghan, he is a quality player, but isn't he naturally a Left half forward?
What do Galwegians think of the the moves to bring in Forde?
what age is bergin? he seems to have beena round forever
Ballela angel to be honest I don't know but that story is ringing a bell. You wouldn't have a name? Bergin is about 29 I think, he was 19/20 when Galway won the AI in 2001. He was sick for the Monaghan game as far as I know. Delighted to see Colin Forde included,very talented young player but he's usually fullback so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on at no.6 Having Gary Sice playing wing forward again is ridiculous though and Cillin de Paor is not an inter county player.
Quote from: ballela-angel on February 18, 2011, 01:51:48 AM
Duine Eile - Can you tell me if Pat O'Hagan (Down All-Ireland winner in 1960 and 1961) has a grandson on the Galway team/panel this year?
I thinks its the Reilly lad from Claregalway who is a grandson of O'Hagan the former Down great.
Quote from: PAULD123 on February 18, 2011, 09:21:24 AM
What do Galwegians think of the the moves to bring in Forde?
Forde was fullback on the team that would the minor All-Ireland in 07. He also plays full-back for his club Corofin so asking a lot of him to fill in successfully at centre-back. However with Diarmuid Blake injured and Niall Coleman having just left the panel they were probably scrambling to fill that position.
Big guns obviously still missing so hard to see anything other than a defeat and maybe a bad one.
Quote from: ross matt on February 18, 2011, 11:39:52 AM
Quote from: ballela-angel on February 18, 2011, 01:51:48 AM
Duine Eile - Can you tell me if Pat O'Hagan (Down All-Ireland winner in 1960 and 1961) has a grandson on the Galway team/panel this year?
I thinks its the Reilly lad from Claregalway who is a grandson of O'Hagan the former Down great.
No, 'tis Danny Cummins, indeed a grandson of the late Patsy Hagan who passed away last year (?)
Small bit better shape about this Galway team, De Paor apart, but playing the AI finalists on home ground is a big ask. Still, I backed the draw!!!!!
What's the story with PJ & Michael Meehan are they injured?
Quote from: ross4life on February 18, 2011, 01:01:09 PM
What's the story with PJ & Michael Meehan are they injured?
I expect both will be back, possibly before the end of the league campaign. Meehan had another operation in late Nov so he is still recovering. He will not be risked this year until he is 100% right, unlike last year, but i believe he is progressing well. PJ had a long enough campaign with the club last year, also got married in Oct, so I guess he is just minding himself! He is no spring chicken anymore!
I suppose, sounds like Meehan is having a bad time with injuries? anyways will need both fit & ready for the trip to McHale Park.
Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on February 18, 2011, 01:22:36 PM
Quote from: ross4life on February 18, 2011, 01:01:09 PM
What's the story with PJ & Michael Meehan are they injured?
I expect both will be back, possibly before the end of the league campaign. Meehan had another operation in late Nov so he is still recovering. He will not be risked this year until he is 100% right, unlike last year, but i believe he is progressing well. PJ had a long enough campaign with the club last year, also got married in Oct, so I guess he is just minding himself! He is no spring chicken anymore!
Said in the Tribune today that Meehan probably won't play any part in the league anyway. He came back from injury for the Sligo game last year but you could tell he wasn't right. Probably rushed back ahead of time. PJ may or may not play a game or two towards the end of the league campaign. No sightings of Nicky.
Quote from: mouview on February 18, 2011, 12:42:34 PM
Quote from: ross matt on February 18, 2011, 11:39:52 AM
Quote from: ballela-angel on February 18, 2011, 01:51:48 AM
Duine Eile - Can you tell me if Pat O'Hagan (Down All-Ireland winner in 1960 and 1961) has a grandson on the Galway team/panel this year?
I thinks its the Reilly lad from Claregalway who is a grandson of O'Hagan the former Down great.
No, 'tis Danny Cummins, indeed a grandson of the late Patsy Hagan who passed away last year (?)
Small bit better shape about this Galway team, De Paor apart, but playing the AI finalists on home ground is a big ask. Still, I backed the draw!!!!!
Soory Mouview you're right. Is the Cummins lad from Claregalway or have I that wrong too?
Yeah Cummins plays for Claregalway alright. Forde plays for Killererin not Corofin.
Meehan was rushed back to play against Sligo after a knee injury and actually ended up breaking his ankle so that's why he has been out for so long.
Quote from: galwayman on February 18, 2011, 05:32:53 PM
Yeah Cummins plays for Claregalway alright. Forde plays for Killererin not Corofin.
Yeah got Forde mixed up alright.
For 3 years in a row in the mid noughties I was convinced Galway were AI material and as a result I played my small part in helping the share price of P Power.My belief was based primarily on their 2005 AI winning U21 team which had as good a midfield and forward line ( especially Armstrong and Meehan) as I have seen .Potential didn't turn into reality. I respect Joe Kernan but his appointment was a knee-jerk reaction and I'm not sure about O'Flaherta either. A bad defeat to Monaghan, discord in the camp and up against 3 All-Star forwards seems like a tall order. However, I expect this to be tight. There is a bit of quality in the Galway team and we are still on an upward curve.The discord can work both ways and the visitors will know that if they lose ,their division one status will be in jeopardy. So I expect a fired-up Galway team to hit Down hard from the start. Luckily, Down have been good starters this year ( credit to Tally) and should ride out the storm. If the right decisions are made in the second half on playing the Down way i.e. going forward and keeping the men on form on the pitch ( no credit to Tally), we'll win.
Team for Sunday:
Brendan McVeigh
Gerald McCartan
Dan Gordon
Luke Howard
Aidan Branagan
Kevin McKernan
Declan Rooney
Peter Fitzpatrick
Kalum King
Daniel Hughes
Mark Poland
Conor Maginn
Conor Laverty
Brendan Coulter
Martin Clarke
So Decky Rooney's back. I think that's good. Interesting to see Maginn and Laverty getting a start. And Benny ia pushed to the square. I'm surprised Murtagh didn't get a chance. Maginn has looked very promising when he's come on as sub I'm glad to see him in. Best of all it's great to see that largely speaking we have a settled team that know who will be playing week in week out and can develop as a unit.
It's a reasonable looking Down side, although McPolin is a little unlucky to be dropped and Colgan, assuming his suspension is up, might also have been in contention. Rooney's return is welcome and big King needs plenty of game time to get himself fit again. Rotating the forwards makes sense, even through McComiskey was excellent in Mayo and John Clarke also had a decent match.
While there has obviously been some upheaval in the Galway camp, they still have some fine forwards if they can get off to a decent start. The last time they came to Down in the league, at Newcastle in the spring of 06, they gave us an awful hiding. It was during the period when everything started to go wrong for big Paddy, the rain lashed down from the mountains and we were shocking. We lost by 0-4 to 1-12, and my recollection is that our entire forward line, including the subs, contributed one point from play and one from a free, so we probably owe them one on Sunday.
I wouldnt say McComiskey was excellent against Mayo Mourne Rover. He failed to score and kept trying to chip the ball up and it didnt work on the bad surface. I think it was very unfair to start McComiskey as he had only trained for one week prior to the fixture and was rusty. Class act on his day as he proved in last years all ireland, but no player is going to be at their best only having a weeks training behind them. Laverty deserves his chance after impressing against Antrim in McKenna cup and his understanding inside with Benny could cause the Galway defence some problems. Maginn is in to try and improve in winning break ball around the middle, surprised Carr didnt get the opportunity after his exceptional performance against Armagh in Newry where he won numerous break balls.
A win is a must tomorrow to boost our survival chances and to build up confidince ahead of the Armagh tie in a weeks time. Having Rooney at centre half will add stability and will allow McKernan to attack from wing back. Our bench also is very strong with McComiskey, Murtagh, John Clarke and Carr serious options in attack, Colgan could come in and replace Kalum when he starts tiring while Garvey and Doyle are good options if the defence needs tweaked at any stage.The Down Subs bench for tomorrow is; Cathal Murdock (Boireann), Conor Garvey (Droichead Mhaigh Éo), Liam Doyle (Liatroim), Paul McPolin (Cluain Daimh), Ronan Murtagh (Baile Cholmáin), John Clarke (An Ríocht), James Colgan (An Ríocht), Mark Doran (Cloch Fhada), Aidan Carr (Cluain Daimh), Ronan Sexton (Droichead Mhaigh Éo) and Paul McComiskey (Dun Droma).
It's fair to point out that McComiskey did not score in Castlebar, but he won every ball on his wing and was involved in most of our best moments on a very difficult pitch. We are fortunate to have strength in depth among the forwards in our squad, and we could do with similar options further back. The trick will be to keep experimenting in the league while at the same time getting enough points to stay in the top division.
Quote from: Mourne Rover on February 18, 2011, 10:02:35 PM
It's a reasonable looking Down side, although McPolin is a little unlucky to be dropped and Colgan, assuming his suspension is up, might also have been in contention. Rooney's return is welcome and big King needs plenty of game time to get himself fit again. Rotating the forwards makes sense, even through McComiskey was excellent in Mayo and John Clarke also had a decent match.
While there has obviously been some upheaval in the Galway camp, they still have some fine forwards if they can get off to a decent start. The last time they came to Down in the league, at Newcastle in the spring of 06, they gave us an awful hiding. It was during the period when everything started to go wrong for big Paddy, the rain lashed down from the mountains and we were shocking. We lost by 0-4 to 1-12, and my recollection is that our entire forward line, including the subs, contributed one point from play and one from a free, so we probably owe them one on Sunday.
It never ceases to amaze me how long a stereotypical view can be applied to a team in Gaelic Football years after it stops having any bearing on reality - e.g Galway forwards all have some kind of magic radar attached to their feet which only ever finds the black spot in the centre of the crossbar.
There is, at the very most, one fine forward on that Galway team. They were desperate up front against Monaghan.
Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on February 19, 2011, 02:56:09 PM
Quote from: Mourne Rover on February 18, 2011, 10:02:35 PM
It's a reasonable looking Down side, although McPolin is a little unlucky to be dropped and Colgan, assuming his suspension is up, might also have been in contention. Rooney's return is welcome and big King needs plenty of game time to get himself fit again. Rotating the forwards makes sense, even through McComiskey was excellent in Mayo and John Clarke also had a decent match.
While there has obviously been some upheaval in the Galway camp, they still have some fine forwards if they can get off to a decent start. The last time they came to Down in the league, at Newcastle in the spring of 06, they gave us an awful hiding. It was during the period when everything started to go wrong for big Paddy, the rain lashed down from the mountains and we were shocking. We lost by 0-4 to 1-12, and my recollection is that our entire forward line, including the subs, contributed one point from play and one from a free, so we probably owe them one on Sunday.
It never ceases to amaze me how long a stereotypical view can be applied to a team in Gaelic Football years after it stops having any bearing on reality - e.g Galway forwards all have some kind of magic radar attached to their feet which only ever finds the black spot in the centre of the crossbar.
There is, at the very most, one fine forward on that Galway team. They were desperate up front against Monaghan.
You do know of course cosmo that our 3 best forwards were not playing that day? There is not many teams in the country that could lose their 3 best forwards are not somewhat suffer. I do agree that they cannot be compared to the Galway forwards when Padraig Joyce was in his prime alongside Donnellan, Fallon, Paul Clancy, etc.
I think most unbiased observers would agree that both Meehan and even PJ at his advanced age are still "fine forwards".
And while Nicky Joyce and Sean Armstrong are more hot and cold they are both still good intercounty forwards on their day.
Even most of the remaining forwards while not prolific are all well capable of taking the odd score. Granted there are a couple of non-scorers in there as well once you go down enough.
Scoring generally isn't the problem with us. Even 0-14 against Monaghan is a decent score to put up in winter considering who was missing. The fact that 0-19 went in at the other end is perhaps more indicative of our problems. An inability to win enough possession around the middle putting increasing and unyielding pressure on an already wobbly defence. And of course if you are not winning possession it means the forwards are seeing less ball also.
If there is one problem I have with the Galway forwards it is that neither N Joyce or Armstrong have been able to take the step up to the level that Meehan and PJ are at. Both are talented but too inconsistent.
Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on February 19, 2011, 02:56:09 PM
Quote from: Mourne Rover on February 18, 2011, 10:02:35 PM
It's a reasonable looking Down side, although McPolin is a little unlucky to be dropped and Colgan, assuming his suspension is up, might also have been in contention. Rooney's return is welcome and big King needs plenty of game time to get himself fit again. Rotating the forwards makes sense, even through McComiskey was excellent in Mayo and John Clarke also had a decent match.
While there has obviously been some upheaval in the Galway camp, they still have some fine forwards if they can get off to a decent start. The last time they came to Down in the league, at Newcastle in the spring of 06, they gave us an awful hiding. It was during the period when everything started to go wrong for big Paddy, the rain lashed down from the mountains and we were shocking. We lost by 0-4 to 1-12, and my recollection is that our entire forward line, including the subs, contributed one point from play and one from a free, so we probably owe them one on Sunday.
It never ceases to amaze me how long a stereotypical view can be applied to a team in Gaelic Football years after it stops having any bearing on reality - e.g Galway forwards all have some kind of magic radar attached to their feet which only ever finds the black spot in the centre of the crossbar.
There is, at the very most, one fine forward on that Galway team. They were desperate up front against Monaghan.
Absolutely agree here but to be fair we've been saying in Galway for a long time that the players are overrated, I think it's easier to apply a stereotype to a team that you might see only once or twice in the summer without an in depth knowledge of how the current county players are going.
It is amazing though how these stereotypes seem to almost become a truism at times in football matches, like the Kerry jersey being worth a few extra points to them regardless of the quality of the men wearing it, Meath never being beaten until the final whistle, Limerick coming close but always falling short in Munster finals, Mayo losing big matches from seemingly unassailable positions etc.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on February 19, 2011, 03:27:01 PM
Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on February 19, 2011, 02:56:09 PM
Quote from: Mourne Rover on February 18, 2011, 10:02:35 PM
It's a reasonable looking Down side, although McPolin is a little unlucky to be dropped and Colgan, assuming his suspension is up, might also have been in contention. Rooney's return is welcome and big King needs plenty of game time to get himself fit again. Rotating the forwards makes sense, even through McComiskey was excellent in Mayo and John Clarke also had a decent match.
While there has obviously been some upheaval in the Galway camp, they still have some fine forwards if they can get off to a decent start. The last time they came to Down in the league, at Newcastle in the spring of 06, they gave us an awful hiding. It was during the period when everything started to go wrong for big Paddy, the rain lashed down from the mountains and we were shocking. We lost by 0-4 to 1-12, and my recollection is that our entire forward line, including the subs, contributed one point from play and one from a free, so we probably owe them one on Sunday.
It never ceases to amaze me how long a stereotypical view can be applied to a team in Gaelic Football years after it stops having any bearing on reality - e.g Galway forwards all have some kind of magic radar attached to their feet which only ever finds the black spot in the centre of the crossbar.
There is, at the very most, one fine forward on that Galway team. They were desperate up front against Monaghan.
You do know of course cosmo that our 3 best forwards were not playing that day? There is not many teams in the country that could lose their 3 best forwards are not somewhat suffer. I do agree that they cannot be compared to the Galway forwards when Padraig Joyce was in his prime alongside Donnellan, Fallon, Paul Clancy, etc.
I think most unbiased observers would agree that both Meehan and even PJ at his advanced age are still "fine forwards".
And while Nicky Joyce and Sean Armstrong are more hot and cold they are both still good intercounty forwards on their day.
Even most of the remaining forwards while not prolific are all well capable of taking the odd score. Granted there are a couple of non-scorers in there as well once you go down enough.
Scoring generally isn't the problem with us. Even 0-14 against Monaghan is a decent score to put up in winter considering who was missing. The fact that 0-19 went in at the other end is perhaps more indicative of our problems. An inability to win enough possession around the middle putting increasing and unyielding pressure on an already wobbly defence. And of course if you are not winning possession it means the forwards are seeing less ball also.
If there is one problem I have with the Galway forwards it is that neither N Joyce or Armstrong have been able to take the step up to the level that Meehan and PJ are at. Both are talented but too inconsistent.
Wouldn't disagree with any of that GBB, however Mourne Rover was referring to the starting 15 for tomorrow, as was I. Sean Armstrong is the only one of that 6 that could be considered a 'fine forward' and I was making the point that no matter what 15 Galway have out there always seems to be the view that they have 'a few fine forwards in there' even when they don't.
Of course come the championship they actually will have a decent forward line but that has no bearing on Down's chances tomorrow.
Quote from: An Fhairche Abu on February 19, 2011, 03:31:40 PM
It is amazing though how these stereotypes seem to almost become a truism at times in football matches, like the Kerry jersey being worth a few extra points to them regardless of the quality of the men wearing it, Meath never being beaten until the final whistle, Limerick coming close but always falling short in Munster finals, Mayo losing big matches from seemingly unassailable positions etc.
Are any of those truisms though? I think they're just easy stereotypes for lazy journalists really.
Kerry aren't better because they're wearing Kerry jerseys, when they're better its because they're better, when they're worse they lose.
Meath lose as many close games as they win, but when they win a close one Meath's 'battling spirit' is always noted, when they lose its never mentioned.
Limerick don't lose Munster finals because it is somehow destined to be that way, they get into them in the first place because there are only two other decent teams in the province, and they lose them because the two other decent teams happen to be a bit better than them.
And how many big matches have Mayo lost from seemingly unassailable positions in the last 10 years? I can't think of any anyway, but I can think of a few we won or drew when we ourselves looked dead and buried. Of course we lost one All Ireland in that manner 15 years ago but maybe that was actually because we didn't have good enough forwards at the time to put Meath away when we had the chance.
Again the reality doesn't fit the stereotype at all, in fact the opposite is more likely to be true, but as I said it is difficult to get rid of an outdated or downright incorrect stereotype.
Anyway, Down by 5 tomorrow.
To be fair I was just fishing for an indignant Mayo response with that, all of them are indeed that same old crap that is doled out every year.
Quote from: An Fhairche Abu on February 19, 2011, 05:43:49 PM
To be fair I was just fishing for an indignant Mayo response with that, all of them are indeed that same old crap that is doled out every year.
Yes but its incredible how many people believe them to be true - there was a good article by Eamonn Sweeney on similar lines about it a few weeks back.
I'd say leave the fishing to PSTG, he's in a class of his own in that area!
Agree that it is a total stereotype about our forward line.of tomorrows starting team there are only 2 forwards capable of scoring consistently and that's Armstrong and cormac bane.both can be inconsistent but both are very talented.of the others bergin and sice are not really forwards,Clancy is more of a workhorse while de paor is not the first cousin of a county footballer.far too slow and ponderous for that level of football.I do believe though that a forward line of Conroy,bane,Meehan,Armstrong and the 2 joyces has potential.whether we will see that this year is another matter though.we have a lot of problems all over the field at the moment unfortunately
Quote from: galwayman on February 19, 2011, 05:58:50 PM
de paor is not the first cousin of a county footballer.
Don't suppose he's any relation to Sean Og de Paor?
Quote from: ExiledGael on February 19, 2011, 06:01:58 PM
Quote from: galwayman on February 19, 2011, 05:58:50 PM
de paor is not the first cousin of a county footballer.
Don't suppose he's any relation to Sean Og de Paor?
Assuming your not asking this question rhetorically he's the brother of current selector Sean Og alright, make of that what you will.
Is Fiachra Breathnach still involved ? Last 2 managers gave him plenty of game time.
I think breathnach is still in the squad alright.he actually played well at centre forward in a few league games last year but was then dropped which I thought was strange because his form was good and he is much more suited to playing out there than the inside line where sammon played him.it would be nice to see us put in a performance at least tomorrow as I just can't see us winning.
Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on February 19, 2011, 04:19:56 PM
Anyway, Down by 5 tomorrow.
And next weeks lotto numbers will be...
A 5 pont win but it could have finished a draw or we could have won by 15 !Galway settled well and Armstrong caused problems, We steadied the ship and had 2 golden goal opportunuties either side of an excellent Maginn goal but were still 4 up at half time. For a while in the second half I thought Down were so much better that they had too much time and started arsing about. The Galway goal from Gary O'Donnell brought them back to 2 and it needed some class from the top man Marty to help Down stay ahead - was very unlucky to have a goal disallowed by the fussy Eddie Kinsella following great work by the wee man from Kilcoo. Mc Comiskey is a class act to bring from the bench and his free and unselfish play ( following a great block by Colgan) set up Pete Fitz to finish to the net with the last touch. Galway have a strong spine and I think they will be OK. We are nicely set up for Armagh next Saturday in what promises to be a cracker.
Sounds like we were a bit better this week at least with Down getting that injury time goal to finally finish the contest. Still came away empty handed though. Have to win next week now to have any small chance to survive as we still have Kerry, Cork and Dublin to play after that.
It's fairly clear that this Down team is going to drive us round the bend by mixing the flawed and the fantastic in equal amounts. We could have won by double scores today but we might also have lost it in the end. Galway played with a lot more sprit than some of their critics have been suggesting, and it they can tighten up at midfield they are capable of getting off the mark against Mayo next week.
McVeigh's kick-outs were a big improvement on Castlebar, apart from one howler in the second half, and his handling was first class throughout. Howard's luck is not getting any better, and he lasted barely five minutes after an accidental collision, but Garvey was fairly steady when he came on. While Gerard McCartan did very little wrong in the other corner, Dan was our most impressive defender. He was first to every high ball and and had the confidence to push forward as wel.
Brannigan had a decent night against Mayo, but, after starting reasonably well, he struggled noticably in the second half, gave away a series of frees and might have been replaced sooner. McKernan is not at his best, and his shooting has declined alarmingly, but his quality will come through again before long. Rooney was particularly good going forward, and took a couple of fine scores.
King was far better than the last day, and - apart from one yellow which could have been a red - competed well until he was replaced. Fitzpatrick can pop up and fade out, but his late run for the last goal showed hunger and stamina.
Poland had a bit of an off-day by his standards, but Maginn and Hughes were both excellent. Maginn is always available for a pass and took his goal well, while Hughes has the pace to trouble any defence in the country.
Laverty took a couple of wrong options but is a brilliiant ball-winner and if anythiing is thinking almost too fast for his colleagues. Benny does not look particularly fit, but was always a threat without ever getting into his stride. Marty was a joy to watch, and his passing gets better and better.
Of the other subs, Colgan definitely made a difference and may start ahead of Brannigan next week, Carr was patchy, it was great to see Doyle back even for a few minutes, and McComiskey's two touches in injury time produced a pointed free and Fiitzpatrick's goal.
anyone know the attendance?
5 points flattered Galway, Down were superior in every respect in Newry, bar some really sloppy play and horrific shooting in the 2nd half from Down this would have been a hockeying.
The pace of the game was a world away from the cut of two top teams going at it, to be honest I'd say Galway dragged Down's performance down if anything, t'was nearly too easy for them in the 2nd half, they got away with bad wides and over elaboration that a better side then Galway would have punished. The amount of unforced errors from both sides in the 2nd half was comical at times, Down had plenty in reserve to wrap the game up and as soon as Galway got near again they managed to get the goal that had eluded them throughout the half.
Despite what some Galway followers on Hoganshite might write I think the Galway team is definitely putting the effort in on the pitch, you really couldn't fault them in this respect and it'd be worse if they were really talented but lacking heart and guts, the quality just isn't there.
Nothing much learned from a Galway point of view that wasn't already known really, had a fast start just as in the Monaghan game but once the opposition got their bearings it was Monaghan take two for the rest of the match.
Conroy played instead of Bradshaw, any Galway lads know if he is injured or what?
Hanley and Forde swapped positions at the start of the game, Forde played well at times although he needs to let the ball go quicker from the FB line once possession is won, got caught a couple of times fluting around with it.
Great finish from O'Donnell for the goal, he was alright in general play.
Burke done alright on Coulter but I'd don't think he was facing a "championship pace" Coulter either.
Reilly started well on Clarke but he is a tough station and for Reilly even trying to keep near him at other times during the match was hard.
Danny Hughes gave McGrath the runaround and he was off just before halftime.
Bane and Armstrong kicked some nice scores and look dangerous when in possession, getting them the ball consistently is the issue.
Joe Bergin had an OK game, he just doesn't win enough ball from kickouts for a man of his height and we are still getting killed for most of the game in the middle.
Hoare was anonymous and was subbed off for Blake in the 2nd half.
Breathnach was on as a sub and then off again, I don't see the point of playing Cillian de Paor again in the league as he offers absolutely nothing.
Quote from: Mourne Rover on February 20, 2011, 09:07:53 PM
Benny does not look particularly fit, but was always a threat without ever getting into his stride. Marty was a joy to watch, and his passing gets better and better.
Clarke is a fine player who picks out passes that you wouldn't see from the stand nevermind on pitch with lads pulling and dragging out of you, he was lucky to escape any censure early in the 1st half for kicking Reilly (who had beat him to ball the first 2 or 3 50/50's between them just before this) in the nuts, maybe it was only an accident but it wasn't pleasent either way, he had a decent game besides but I think he should shoot a bit more often when the opportunity arises, took too much out of the ball at times I thought.
Love watching Coulter play, had some really classy touches on the ball today even for a lad that is clearly not at full tilt yet.
Best of luck to Down for the rest of the year, ye have a good football team that is on an upward curve and your supporters are a credit to your county, the fans that I was talking to at the match anyway were sound out and called the game very fairly, which is something that I couldn't say about some places you'd head to for league games.
Galway certainly put the effort in and it looked quiet flattering on the scoreboard and the the fact that they closed to within 2 points near the end. But when they attacked us they left holes behind which our boys ran straight through and scored. Most of the game there were 10-11 Galway players in their own half closing down play and making things tight. Better teams won't be content to sit with 10 men behind the ball and that means in other games Down forwards will have more space to exploit.
But I have to have a rant. I am getting sick of the stupid way the advantage rule is written. And frankly I don't even blame the ref, its the rule that is the problem. The advantage rule in Gaelic is like soccer. The ref sees a foul and decide to award it or play advantage with whatever happens next allowed to happen. In rugby the advantage is signalled and the ref plays on for a short while to determine if it really was an advantage and if it wasn't he goes back to to award the original free.
The first one works in soccer because you can clearly see if there is an advantage or not, you can't in rugby and also you can score much easier from a free in rugby. Gaelic in that respect is closer to rugby, a free anywhere 35 yards out is close to being a certain point and secondly you can not generally predict advantage when the ball is flying through the air. The rule should be like rugby where the ref can play on for 2-3 seconds then call it back. Croke park need to see the sense in this. I was so annoyed at the weekend about it. So many bad calls by the ref but most not his fault. he can not possibly know what will happen next when he signals advantage. As I see it, it is just plain wrong.
I agree totally about the advantage rule . This is the one rule that should have being changed years ago.
McVeigh 7 A solid prformance, great under the high ball, kick outs improved
McCartan 7 Hardly dynamic but put in a decent game
Gordon 8 His best game for a long time both fielding and covering
Howard No rating as he had barely warmed up when injured - bad luck
Brannigan 6 Good in flashes, reckless in others
McKernan 4 Sad to say another shocker - he just cannot defend
Rooney 8 A superb return to the team
King 6 Much better than last time, still not fit but put in huge effort
Fitzpatrick 8 His best game both in midfield and going forward
Hughes 8 After the early Galway onslaught it was his running from deep that got us going
Poland 7 A quieter day fro him, huge height disadvantage with his marker
Maginn 9 At last a performance that confirms his growing stature, break ball winning was tops
Laverty 7 Lively early on, faded a bit, won some good ball
Coulter 7 Double marked throughout yet we still tried to lash high ball in his direction
Clarke 9 Never shirked the physical stuff, mopped up a lot of ball, some lovely passing
Garvey 7 Very steady game, will start on Saturday
Colgan 7 Made a big impression, looks very fit
Carr 6 Plenty of energy going forward
The good the bad and the downright ugly yesterday - hope the basic errors were all left behind in this game or Armagh will take us.