Messages

Next year I think it's time to let seconds teams into Div 4. There are teams in Down who would be well capable of fielding two squads every Friday night.  Kilcoo, Bridge, Ford, Clonduff and ourselves would definitely be able to. I think teams would embrace the challenges. The Premier reserve league has only 11 games this year.

I think in principal it is a good idea, it certainly allows players to get more games. However how do a few things work:

• Would it ever be allowed to have two teams from one club in the same division? Cos that would be wrong

• would there be a restriction on players playing for both teams? Like the whole first team winning Division 4 AND Division 1.

• How would the logistics work of having multiple teams playing but not enough pitches? Would teams need two pitches to play two home games at the same time?

Name me another prominent County GAA player who has signed for an Irish League or League of Ireland club,in recent times? The only one I can think of is Eoin Bradley who has not played for Derry since

Not hugely prominent but Warrenpoint's John Boyle plays for Warrenpoint Town in the Irish Premier League. Decided to play for them when he was in the county squad and therefore gave up a county career. He also missed this year's club championship because the soccer had started back. Generally we get him for a bit when the soccer is off-season and the club scene is just starting.

The 4 day turnaround is not a disaster as it is the same for both teams.

But would I not be right in saying that it is actually a 4 day turn around followed by another 4 day turn around immediately?

The winners will be expected to play the following weekend won't they in a quarter final?

If so then three matches in a week is a bit unfair on players who are not training for such output. It imbalances the quarter final a bit.

Maybe my posts are a bit rise tinted and I'must fooling myself but I do think we have a good chance at this team challenging in the future.

I don't think it is the third quarter we have a problem with specifically. I think it is teams taking a decent lead against us that is the problem. It just so happens that in the last two games this has happened in the third quarter. I would worry that if it happens in the 2nd or final quarter with would discover that it is being behind that is the problem not just energy lacking during minutes 45-60.

A team that can develop a "never beaten" mentality will always be a challenger. Think of Meath in the 90's, Mayo right now, our own county champions Kilcoo. That's what we are lacking. That never give in, never lie down, never stop believing attitude that drives teams on during periods when the opposition are having a purple patch and allows us a chance to turn it around.

If only we could see some Kilcoo style spirit in our county team then I think we would beat Monaghan and seriously be knocking on the door of an Ulster title.

Gutted, yes. But for the first time in about 5 years at least I see hope.

The lads have a psychology pproblem. They need to take their talent and become winners. Division 2 is the ideal platform for that. A chance to build consecutive victories, to become ruthless and start to believe in themselves.

When within 2 points of Tyrone or Monaghan our boys showed plenty of belief and were well in it. But in both games the opposition hit a purple patch scoring 4-5 quick points and stretching the lead, both times our lads looked beat. Heads dropped and confidence sapped. They simply didn't look llike they believed they could turn it around.

That will only come from winning, and Division 2 is certainly a great opportnity to build those victories.

Apart from that the defence needs to learn to work together better to close down opposition without silly little fouls. Those are killing us.

Buut there was a bit of bad luck too. Twice in the last ten minutes Harrison had goal chances that could have gone anywhere, luck just didn't fall our way, ball went a little high and in the other boounced wide. But either or both could easily have sneaked in.

Some things worked well other things need work. But I think we do have some very good raw ingredients.

[There was no one on the bench, in the squad or hiding in a wee room at Lennoxtown.]

Holy eff! We don't have a another first team striker, that is why Rogic was played there. There was no one on the bench, in the squad or hiding in a wee room at Lennoxtown. Sinclair might be the least bad choice as the front man but he still isnt great there.

I don'the agree with this. Jack Aitchison should have been there. He is very young at only 17 but has already played 3 times for the first team and has scored. I wouldn't expect him to be playing 90 minutes but sometimes it's worth giving a young player a chance. Plenty have played at that age before. Having the option to bring him off the bench to shake things up and allow him that experience should have been an option.

We had a striker at Lennoxtown, he should have been on the  bench at Parkhead

Give me a break Dave.
Just because he is arrogant doesn't lessen his achievements.

Would far rather we put him on a pedestal (for his acheievements) than boast about being gracious losers and the best supporters at a tournament.

Why do the Irish have to be humble about their achievements?

Not often I agree with this man but think this post is spot on.

Arrogance is when you are openly proud of yourself for something you cannot justify
Confidence is when you are openly proud of yourself for things you can justify

McGregor has defo gone from confidence to arrogance during this process but as Taylor said that doesn't take away from the things he has indeed earned, and for those things, why should he be humble and deferent about his victories.

Would the fact that Jerome is being marked by better defenders than he faces in Down not be the reason he has not been great this year?It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that players run about more.He has got plenty of ball but he just can't shake off his marker.Someone has asked why we need to freshen things up?Did you not see the Tyrone game?Tirally outplayed all over the field.Our biggest ball carrier Poland not used until the last 10 minutes even though it was clear the long ball game was not going to work?Our midfield were getting destroyed.McKibben needs to start

Well that's definitely going to reduce his impact and a fair point. But I still think that certain players suit certain systems. Mickey Linden was a terrific footballer but became most effective after James McCartan joined the team. James brought great movement and shifted the opposition defence leaving gaps for Mickey to avail off. Mickey did the same for James.

With a defensive line that is able to keep shape a small nimble forward will always struggle. He needs the defence to be moved about to find gaps to get through. Laverty pulled the shape out of defensive lines all day long. If we are not going to have a mobile forward line then probably better with bigger players up front.

But yeah better defenders will of course be a very big part of the equation.

Jerome hasn't looked great this year so far. I wonder if it is due to the mobility of the forward line. Harrsion doesn't exactly run around like a live wire and Ryan has ben played deep. Seems to me that Jerome prospers best when he is in a forward line that is moving teh defensive line around. At the College he had McCaratn and McGreevy running around and for Kilcoo he has Laverty

Maybe the Down fans will stay on and cheer Armagh in the next game, that would be a touching gesture of sporting solidarity, despite their own tribulations.

Maybe the Monaghan fans will, should we win, cheer on Kildare to get a crack at Tyrone? 

Sure it makes no odds. If Down win then we are not allowed to play Tyrone so Tyrone will play the winners of Armagh and KIldare. But if Monaghan win then Tyrone could play any of the three teams so there would be a draw to see who takes on Dublin and who takes on Tyrone.

Would it not still be the case that Kildare would not be allowed play Dublin, so Tyrone would get Monaghan?

D'oh!! yes of course that is correct.

I think a few changes to freshen things uo would be a good thing, and maybe throw Monaghan a bit. O'Hare to start, maybe Mooney pushed up to half forward and K MC K to play his sweeping role from midfield. We would miss big Peter,s strength round the middle but could be used later in the game.

What does freshen things up mean? Surely we are looking for consistency and improvement not radical flip flopping for the craic.

Why O'Hare? Why put in someone that hasn't played all year? O'Hare was basically a free taker, contributed little from play and rarely scored from play. Didn't create chances for other players either.

If McKernan plays sweeper from midfield we automatically move the play further into our half. Why surrender territory?

If you move Mooney up the field who plays half back? Also you have just reduced your fielding ability by taking of Turley. If we lose midfield then what's the point in having Mooney in the forward line?

Maybe the Down fans will stay on and cheer Armagh in the next game, that would be a touching gesture of sporting solidarity, despite their own tribulations.

Maybe the Monaghan fans will, should we win, cheer on Kildare to get a crack at Tyrone? 

Sure it makes no odds. If Down win then we are not allowed to play Tyrone so Tyrone will play the winners of Armagh and KIldare. But if Monaghan win then Tyrone could play any of the three teams so there would be a draw to see who takes on Dublin and who takes on Tyrone.

Monaghan are a good team with plenty of experience. I would imagine they would be likely to win this second chance match. If they get ahead I would worry that Down lads heads will drop like against Tyrone. Also the Ulster final loss will have hurt badly. Maybe it galvanises,   or maybe it crushes.

However Down are a team learning to be confident. We will likely start forcefully as that has been our style this last few games. If we get a few points lead then the confidence could kick in and we could win it. I deeply believe that man for man the natural ability level is about equal. It's experience and confidence that we lack.

The rule is about taking a player out of play. So maybe they judged that McKernan deliberately shunted him but that he wasn't likely to be involved in the next play anyhow. Just offering a possible explanation. Not saying it is what I think cos I missed it at the game and haven't seen a reply since.

I'll probably watch it. But agree this is an entertainment production it is not a serious sporting contest. I want McGregor to win simply because he's Irish. But Mayweather knocking him out would be a more appropriate result for anyone who appreciates the technical skills of boxing. Also Mayweather is such a monumental asshole that its very hard to say anything good about him.