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Really great game today, played in good conditions with high standard of football from both teams.
Down players deserve a lot of credit, they shipped a lot of abuse after Armagh game, but showed today they have the abilty to compete at a high level. Far and away better team on the day and fully deserved their win.
Credit has to go to management team as well, the players are clearly well coached and are committed to the cause.
After watching Cavan beat Down 4 times on trot when we could or should have won 2 of those games it was great to see us finally get over the line today.
Thought the defence were excellent, special mentions for Mason, Magill, and Guinness. Also have a real abilty as a team to counter at pace, Armagh dealt effectively with that threat by constantly fouling in the Down half, Cavan thankfully didn't follow their example.
One concern would still be kickout, if Cavan had pushed up from outset then might have been different outcome, they will probably regret that in hindsight. Also wonder how this team would deal against a team which doesn't allow them space they had today.
Lastly very strange to hear boos from albeit minority of Cavan fans at both the Down team and the officials, disappointing to say the least.

anyone know the attendance?

.Sligo were well up for it and outnumbered the Down support by about 4 or 5 to 1.

A crowd of 8,000 I believe so about 1,500 Down followers.
Ought to be plenty of spare tickets around Sunday so.

Thought the crowd was about 50/50 for that match point remains a valid one though about the spare tickets.

The Trout won't be watching the final in any event he'll be glued to repeats of the x-factor on itv2.

Have you seen some of his posts the man is obsessed with Simon Cowell maybe that's who he gets his knowledge of GAA from.

Twat

As expected heard there have been lots of rows and arguments about tickets for final in different clubs.

One senior club in East Down got 120 tickets 250 paid up members there is going to be open draw for the game with the 200 or so members who requested a ticket going into raffle.

Senior player today told me if he didn't get a ticket he wouldn't play for the club again!

Don't think he was joking.

Down 15-8 to win this match with some bookmakers does anyone else think these odds are generous or am I missing something?

Superb match yesterday neither team deserved to lose.

Special mention to the Kildare supporters who were very gracious in defeat didn't hear any griping about the decisions that went against them.

As much a credit to the county as the players whose commitment and work rate was incredible.

If your talking about the most physically strong Kalum King of Down left football for 4 years to pursue a career in ultimate fighting!

Big man who is a strong as the come on the pitch.

As a Tyrone fan, Down fans were not really supporting Tyrone around me but they weren't shouting for the Dubs either which is kind of understandable having trounced them in recent times.

I was sitting amongst about 100 Down fans in the Hogan stand and only two were supporting Dublin the rest were not particularly vocal in supporting Tyrone but were generally applauding when tyrone scored.

After the Dublin goal the two down fans who were supporting Dublin got up and began to cheer,
a 'lady' from tyrone sitting behind me said we were all a shower of b astards and that she would never support down again, so much for ulster unity.

I tried to reason with her but to no avail, incidentally I didn't hear a peep out of her during the Down match.

I'm delghted with this draw as its the ultimate acid test for this Down team

They are capable of playing great football and they can also be abysmal thats the story of the last 8 years, i hope for the players sake they dont choke and if they dont i really believe they will give kerry a game.

Down have currently the best midfield in living memory Ambrose is getting better with every game and king is an absolute lion. If we win 60% pos and take our chances then we are in with a shout. Kerry may be complacent and we can use that to our advantage.

Benny is due a good game and he will be really up for this match,

If we avoid bad weather and the team clicks I see us winning this one if not we could be beat by twenty/

Really annoyed this match is in Brefni.

Not quite half way between Sligo and Down.

Looking at another six hour round trip this wkd.

And why oh why has it been fixed for 7pm which means anyone from Down will be struggling to get home before midnight.

As for the match itself a great chance for Down to get to first all-ireland qf however if they play like they did last saturday they will not be in the draw come Sunday.

Couldn't understand some of the subs last Saturday Murtagh and Sexton have had their chance in the past and haven't proved themselves. Also the selcetion of John Clarke suprises he has never had a good game against strong opposition McCartan should be pushing the younger players like Fitzpatrick, Maginn, Hanna and Howard (who has recovered from injury) and give them a chance to show if they have what it takes.