Messages

Unless any of Blueisland,6thSam or indeed any others sit on county board we are all wasting out keyboard time on something that we have no control over. Potential Down team for Sat night,anyone?

No idea.

Apart from the papers writing that Laverty and Benny McArdle are unavailable, who else is injured?
Are any more old heads in?
Are the Sigerson lads playing?
Any new faces getting a chance?
Will it rain?
Will a player do an interview with the Irish News before Saturday "stating that Down need to start winning things and that the spirit is better than ever"?

F$ck knows, but at least the proper football is back. I have missed the torture

It looks like the next Down Senior Football Manager will be Eamon Burns lads.

Today's Irish News reporting that Paddy O'Rourke is going to take the job along with Mickey Linden and Conor Deegan.

I'd be happy if Paddy got the job. He has good experience and hasn't been a disaster anywhere - even Armagh people will tell you now in hindsight that he did a good job there.

He would steady the ship, knows Down football inside out, isn't in it for "expenses" and will have learned from past experiences. He also in his previous stint put together a squad of big physical players, something we need now. No doubt some people will argue that the county was full of big strong players back then. 

Hoganstand report from 2009 Under 21 Final. Probably stolen by Hoganstand from another media source!

Cork 1-13
Down 2-9

The fine line between success and failure was firmly evident at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise as a 62nd minute goal from Colm O'Driscoll stole the Cadbury's All-Ireland U21 Football Championship from Down's grasp as the Rebels claimed their eleventh title.

Down were seeking a first success in this competition since 1979 but they were cruelly denied as a resolute Cork claim a last gasp win

The Mournemen managed by former Ireland International Rules manager Peter McGrath had taken the lead on two occasions in the second half thanks to well earned goals, but it was Cork's lone three-pointer which secured the Clarke Cup for the Rebels.

Goals from Eamon Toner and captain Timmy Hanna saw Down take the lead on two occasions in the second half but a resiliant Cork weren't to be denied their second All-Ireland title in three campaigns.

Eager to make a positive start Down settled quickest thanks to an opening minute Paul Devlin pointed free but Cork gained a firm foothold at midfield and dominated possession over the opening quarter.

However it took the Rebels almost seven minutes to get off to a positive footing with captain Colm O'Neill slotting over their opening score.

A brace of David Goold points ensured a 0-3 to 0-1 Cork lead but although dominant at midfield the Rebels leaked two of the next three points, with Paul McComiskey and Paul Devlin on target as Down cut the gap to the minimum.

But a forceful Cork outfit oozed enthusiasm in attack with Gould and O'Neill again to the fore as the Rebels claimed a 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead, but could have been further in front having rued five wides and conceding pointed frees from McComiskey and Devlin.

The Rebels were unsettled on the restart having lost half-forward Ciaran Sheehan through injury as Down made an inspired start.

A McComiskey brace and a inspiring score from midfielder Peter Fitzpatrick cut the gap to the minimum by the 38th minute.

Although a James Fitzpatrick point saw Cork break into a 0-10 to 0-8 lead with 17 minutes remaining, the Ulster champions placed huge pressure on a resolute Cork attack at this stage but were rewarded for their efforts.

A quick burst forward from midfield saw Eamon Toner finished the ball to the Cork net as Down took the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

O'Neill and Goold edged Cork back in front but a gutsy Down bounced back with Toner feeding defender Timmy Hanna as the Mourne captain burst through for the Ulster sides second goal.

Both teams were well matched in the closing stages, but a second point from midfielder Fitzpatrick saw Down take a two-point lead with as many minutes remaining.

Down supporters were sensing a rare All-Ireland crown for their side at this stage, and although their goalkeeper Gavin Joyce pulled off a superb save from an Aidan Walsh shot, O'Driscoll delivered the sucker punch to ensure a Rebel victory.

Cork - A Seymour; S McLoughlan, L Jennings, N Galvin; C O'Driscoll, A Walsh, B Daly; C O'Donovan, K O'Driscoll; C Sheehan, M Collins (0-2), C O'Driscoll (1-0); C O'Neill (0-5, 2f), D Goold (0-5, 3f), P Honahan. Subs: J Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Sheehan (32-inj); B Lombard for Jennings (49); B O'Driscoll for Honahan (62); L McLoughlin for K O'Driscoll (62)

Down - G Joyce; M Digney, C Murney, D Turley; T Hanna (1-0), J Fitzpatrick, J Murphy; M Magee, P Fitzpatrick (0-2); E Toner (1-0), C Maginn, J O'Reilly; P Devlin (0-3, 3f), P McComiskey (0-4, 2f), C Poland. Subs: N Higgins for Digney (46)

Ref - Cormac Reilly (Meath)

This may sound disrespectful to Wexford but Down should never ever be beaten by Wexford (a hurling county) at any level in football. It happened in Ross and DJ's time when everything was chaotic, is there chaos in the ranks now, with all the organisation and 'commitment' than has gone into the current regime, surely not?

I believe McCorry is the best candidate for the job but watching Down this year has been as frustrating as ever and if I'm honest there was much less optimism before this years championship than usual. To be dumped out by Wexford is a shock.

The Down senior football team do not have:


A Full back

A Centre half back

A Midfield Partnership

A Full forward line

Leaders on the pitch (apart from McKernan & Laverty)

And most importantly a match winner. For the first time in about 30 years we no longer have somebody to get excited about who can make something out of nothing, someone with the brain to match his ability (ie) a  Benny Coulter, a Mickey Linden, A James McCartan.


And before people start yapping about my criticisms I still do believe that most of the current squad are good enough to be there but for example, Luke Howard is a very good man marking corner back not a full back, not someone to mark full forwards 4&5 inches taller, Peter Fitzpatrick is a fine midfielder (as is Peter Turley) but surely we can find another competitive midfielder from somewhere? Apart from Liam Doyle and Aidan Carr in flashes we hav'nt had a presence at centre half back in many years, the same can be said of full back apart from when Big Dan excelled in there.

The point I'm making is that (in my opinion) concessions should have been made for the recently retired/dropped/uncommitted or whatever status they have.

Its the same issues year in year out, I'm sure Jim has a long term plan in place for success but Saturday night was certainly a step back in the process.


On another note, Antrim travelled to Laois last week for a 2.30 throw in. Offaly tavelled to Waterford for a 2.30 throw in. On Saturday Wicklow went to Armagh for a 2.30 throw in whilst Limerick travelled to Omagh for a 4pm throw in.

WHY DID DOWN HAVE A 6.30 THROW IN FOR A TRIP TO WEXFORD???

Somebody somewhere should have dug their heals in.


Rant over

Donegal were a joy to watch yesterday...... actually so were Armagh.

Well then, I know its early days but is anyone excited about the qualifiers yet?

I'm not.

Anyway, watched the match back last night and boys a dear it wasn't any easier the 2nd time. We should have won being the completely dominant team in the 2nd half. Theres a certain irony that the best player on the pitch was facilitated by his manager all year so that he could make some kind of difference on the day. and he did, he was the difference. O'Hagan did well on him though as did most of our defenders on their men but Bradley just always looked a threat in the inside forward line which unfortunately we did'nt have.

I loathe to criticise our players they gave everything, 110% as they have all year, but they are small and light as we all know but surely theres a better gameplan?. An interesting point I noticed was that in the 2nd half down to 14 men the boys looked dangerous when kicking some fine balls into the Derry backline, most of which produced scoring opportunities or scorable frees. The sideways handpassing was abandoned for a time (I know unbelievable). Its very disheartening that we go another year without an Ulster but we have at least a decent draw for the qualifiers even though its a joke that its another away fixture.

But the question are, is it only delaying the inevitable ? or will our team of wee men with their fighting spirit punch above their weight and do some damage during the summer?

The manager is the right man for the job and no doubt will stick to his guns but I/ we'd love to see some old faces back, it surely can't do much damage to what Jim is building for the future.

Hard to see too many surprises for the Derry clash then. The squad for the league will no doubt produce the 15 starters apart from Mallon who unfortunately has withdrawn. Its gonna be a case of who plays where for the likes of Mooney, McKernan and Madine and who will get the nod in midfield which could prove vital as Derry have lost more than a couple in this department.

I'm going for a Down win (naturally) as I do think Jim will have prepared the boys well and he will have them competitive. We may not have a squad of big name superstars just now but in this day and age a well drilled team playing for each other and to their strengths can achieve anything.

Marty Clarke despite getting a through some club games this year has definitely ruled himself out until 2016 according to reports yesterday so we'll not be seeing him in Derry. Going by his illness getting back this summer was a always going to be a long shot and by concentrating on playing for his club and getting himself right we'll hopefully reap the benefits next year. Good luck Marty.

Back in the day we used to be flat out at Streetfighter II on the Sega. When it was two player mode the sledging was wild altogether.

[Microphones at county level might work but not at club.]

Jimmy McGuinness writing today and Rory Gallagher crying about the treatment of Michael Murphy yesterday is a wee bit cringeworthy. It was clear to see the Donegal players at it on Sunday as well. I'm sure Gallagher is deflecting the negative attention away from their own players and maybe sowing a seed in referees heads for the games ahead this summer.

The bottom line is that managers actually need to admit that their own players are guilty of it too and actually try and deal with their own offenders rather than lighting the sympathy fires.  At least Sean Cavanagh came out and said that he as well as Michael Murphy were getting the treatment.

There's no place for sledging in our games but its hard to find a solution to it. Microphones at county level might work but not at club.

Can you imagine if microphones were introduced.... think about it.... being tackled etc, where would the microphone be??? Time outs to try and refix them etc. Disaster.

Microphones are so small now you could sew them into the collar or the likes.

Be easy enough you could get your girlfriend/wife to do it, I hear shes an auld.......

Yep the noedies are a right shower. Is it the Noedies from Mullingar we are talking about here?

Jimmy McGuinness writing today and Rory Gallagher crying about the treatment of Michael Murphy yesterday is a wee bit cringeworthy. It was clear to see the Donegal players at it on Sunday as well. I'm sure Gallagher is deflecting the negative attention away from their own players and maybe sowing a seed in referees heads for the games ahead this summer.

The bottom line is that managers actually need to admit that their own players are guilty of it too and actually try and deal with their own offenders rather than lighting the sympathy fires.  At least Sean Cavanagh came out and said that he as well as Michael Murphy were getting the treatment.

There's no place for sledging in our games but its hard to find a solution to it. Microphones at county level might work but not at club.

[Tieran Rush]

The Harps looking very good this year. Would have been most peoples favorites to finish in the bottom 6 and  be playing Division 2 football next year.  Few more wins should see them safe with half the league campaign to go. Looked very fit on Friday night and looked like they had more in the tank. Very impressive.

Was very disappointed in the Bridge, they looked very average and was expecting a lot more from them. Anyone know if they had many missing? Benny must have been carrying an injury as he didn't start the game and wasn't very influential. Showed in patches that he still has that bit of class but not enough over the 40mins or so that he was on the filed.

Joe Murphy had a great game in Midfield, surely must be worth a look for the county team? Also Tieran Rushe is going to be a special player, was excellent again on Friday .

as I said on the Davison thread--once a soccer player always a soccer head.

"soccer head" showing your knowledge there....

If they are good enough and committed well then bring them in.

True, if he had of stayed on we might well have won the game. His dismissal ruined it as a spectacle. Anyways Jim, has used a fair few players during the league but who do we think will play against Derry ?

I go for:

                  Kane

O'Hagan    Howard   Turley

Devlin      McArdle     McGovern

         Madine    Turley


McKernan  Poland     Maginn

O'Hare    Lavery     Mooney