Messages

Did someone suggest the current minor management stays on next year, don't think so . It's time for a change , good players don't necessarily  make good coaches/ managers. We seem to lurch from crisis to crisis at juvenile level, why did we get rid of the mourne academy and the east down and south down set up at u 14 level.
Bottom line is we need to look at the county coaches, the connection with the schools and how we get back to competing at minor level.

Although the minor resukta have been disappointing, i think ite unfair to see BC written off as a coach over a handful of results at minor level. Have any of you on this board ever asked a player or their parents opinion of the set up this year? I don't think you have. I think the work particularly with Donal OH on attacking and their physical development will bear fruit at a later date. Less of the short termism please.
Another question, what grade are Down only schools competing at in schools competitions? Thats where some of this stems from.

Lurgan and Newry are two similar size towns. Newry probably bigger and unlike Lurgan is probably 95% Catholic.  But where are the Gaelic footballers?
Yesterday Armagh had
Conor Turbitt
Tiernan Kelly
Barry McCambridge
Stefan Campbell &
Andrew Murnin.  All Lurgan Men.
Down have nobody from Newry and have been under represented in Newry for decades.  Surely this is a big failure by the Co Board.

How many gaa clubs are there in Newry?

Killeavy
Thomas Davis
Saval
Shamrocks
Ballyholland
Bosco
Mitchels
And maybe Burren taking in forest hills?

Id agree.
Danny listed some problems but no solutions. He must have an article like that saved on his desktop as he usually wheels it out when Down are struggling.
Down love to wash their dirty laundry in public.
Those unhapoy with the CB should try and become their club rep and exert influence for change. I don't see that happening as it's easier to blame Sean Og!
Danny conveniently didnt mention his own advisory role to the last Down manager.

the 4 Newry clubs would see a benefit immediately, 20,000 of a poplulation

8 clubs pull players out of newry or just out of it
Shamrocks
Bosco
Mitchels
Ballyholland
Burren (old point road)
Saval (damolly)
Killeavey (dub road)
Thomas Davis (dub road and Barcroft carnagat)

Niall and Barney be a good fit for the u20s?

Benny Coulter has it in the bag.

Wouldn't have a great work ethic as a number 1.

Longstone lads would disagree

Lots of ifs and buts and possibilities fellas but the simple reality is that Down are as good as the league position of the division they are in.
Sure theres probably very little between the teams of both divison 2 and 3 but that does'nt matter a dam if you are stuck in either division. Only the teams in divison one are really good enough these days to win an Ulster title let alone anything else.

Our biggest issue seems to be the inability to produce midfielders. Since the days of Ambrose, Dan, Callum King (almost 10years ago!) only Peter Turley was a consistant proper midfielder. Why is this?

Nearly every county seem to have the standard 6ft 2 plus midfielders that can field a ball and use their physicality around the middle. We simply will not race up through the divisions or win anything continuing to bypass midfield.

And btw I'm not having a go at those who have played there in recent years. Donnelly is a decent midfielder but has had his injury problems and similarly Flynn has'nt played enough. The likes of McKernan, Mooney and Poland are all very good footballers but not tall enough and would probably be the first to say themeselves that they aren't midfielders.

Very valid points regarding midfield ,our current midfield isn't up to it.Big McKay from Burren could be an option if he was back.

Mooney best spot is wing half back ,Kevin McK as sweeper.

Poland has missed too much football over the years.He was a good talent as a minor but hasn't came through.I feel he is at best a squad player and I have been told by guys who know him that his fitness isn't there as an inter-county midfielder - he has missed the boat .He has close to 30 now I'd say 28 / 29.Why Paddy is persisting with him is strange to say the least.He seems like a guy that spends too much time in the gym and has missed out on the vital years as a developing footballer.Football has no place for sediment.

Time Paddy looked out for bigger younger men as midfielders. McCabe possibly.

Still early days but the hardest 3 games over and promotion is within our grasp and Paddy taking us in the right direction overall.

Do you contradict yourself often? You mention Mark McKay who last played for Down in 2016 being an option for midfield. Maybe or maybe not. Im unsure if he has played mich for his club lately.  Then you go onto to say time Paddy looked for younger men as midfielders. Go figure.

We got beaten by a team who took the dubs to the last 10 mins in Croke Park last year by 5 points and but for poor composure and what must've been 10 wides in the last 20 mins could've been right in with a shout. The second half was played man to man no sweepers so a lot of the tripe on here is really hard to read. We have our destiny in our own hands and have our 3 toughest games out of the way. We have more players coming back in now from injury and two weeks to prepare for Longford.

Yes, Down probably better when playing a less restrictive gameplan like in 2nd half v mayo.

Corn what I'm saying is I expected more from him. A bigger bounce but it hasn't happened. I still think Down will gain promotion but the football is dreadful. Did you expect more from him?

I think most accept down aren't a top 8 team consistently at the moment. I think most would accept Down playing a more attractive brand of football and losing than losing playing v conservative football which they are now. I think the current down managers work will benefit the next manager and they atill have a good chance of promotion but mo more room for error.

He won an All Ireland with Tyrone and got Down to a final and also won a Sigerson with St Mary's. That's why I expected more from him. Yes he is a defensive coach but everyone has moved on. Did you not expect more from him or are you happy with what we are getting?

Mickey Harte won 3 all irelands with Tyrone. The current Down manager was coach for the first in 2003 before Mickey dispensed with his services. He also won 1 Sigerson out of at least 15 attempts with an excellent team packed with excellent intercounty players and good club players.

Ah lads. Bit of an over reaction in here about  the abbey. St Pats Armagh aren't exactly minnows of the ulster colleges so it's surely not a huge surprise? Down and Armagh teams havent a good record at underage in recent years so the abbey have no divine right to win that tie today.