Down Club Hurling & Football

[pauly2]

Why has our u21 teams performed so badly in recent times.
In 2008 - 2009 we won two Ulster championships on the trot - our record since then is very poor.

2010 beat by Cavan in first game
2011 beat by Tyrone in first game (2 replays but still no victory)
2012 Beat Antrim then beat by Tyrone in Semi final
2013 Beat Armagh then beat by Cavan in Semi Final
2014 beat by Monaghan in first round
2015 beat by Derry in first round.

Son in the last 6 championship campaigns - we have won 2 games and got beaten in the round straight after that.

I thought at start of the season that the u21 management was as strong as is out there as noone can deny Dawson is a top man at club level.  But then i read this and seen some of the players not playing, not on the panel and then phoning them to come in and them saying no - that speaks volumes to me.

Where to now?

[Mourne Rover]

It's difficult to argue with the team McCorry has picked for Sunday, and the way in which he is ensuring that a range of players get starting places while maintaining strong line-ups is very impressive.

Collins and Mallon fully deserve their chances, as does McConville, although there may be a suspicion that he is still most effective as an impact sub. Garvey, if he is fit, is unlucky to lose out and Carr will be expecting to make the cut before long, but we have a pretty decent bench to call on as well.

Mullingar is never an easy place to go, but we are in reasonable shape and there is a fair chance that three points from our last three games will get us promoted.

[PAULD123]

I would argue a little with the team selection. We have two half backs who are actually half forwards in Devlin and Maginn. This despite the fact that in every game our half back line has been easily penetrated.

Also I would rather see McConville a bit closer to the midfield where his height and fielding could be made use of to help solve our midfield weaknesses

[5 Sams]

It's difficult to argue with the team McCorry has picked for Sunday, and the way in which he is ensuring that a range of players get starting places while maintaining strong line-ups is very impressive.

Collins and Mallon fully deserve their chances, as does McConville, although there may be a suspicion that he is still most effective as an impact sub. Garvey, if he is fit, is unlucky to lose out and Carr will be expecting to make the cut before long, but we have a pretty decent bench to call on as well.

Mullingar is never an easy place to go, but we are in reasonable shape and there is a fair chance that three points from our last three games will get us promoted.

Have to agree with this. I have never seen a Down team as fit at this stage of the year. Kildare, Galway and Cavan couldn't stay with them in the last 10 in each of those games.

[Mourne Rover]

PaulD, Devlin has been named at half back for our last three games but has spent most of his time at half forward. Maginn can play in either line, and McGovern and McKernan are likely to drop back into our half, so there should be plenty of cover available. Our defence certainly did struggle for long periods against Galway, and O'Hanlon and Boyle have found themselves left out as a result. We are very much a work in progress, but very few Down fans would have expected us to take six points from our first eight.

[umpire]

2015 Championship draws
SFC
Clonduff v Bryansford
Saval v Mayobridge
Ballyholland v Warrenpoint
Clann na Banna v Castlewellan
Glenn v Longstone
Burren v Kilcoo
Rostrevor v Downpatrick
Annaclone v Liatriom

IFC
Dromara v Bredagh
Darragh Cross v Kilclief
Carryduff v Ballymartin
St John Bosco v Loughinisland
Newry Shamrocks v Drumaness
Tullylish v An Riocht
St Johns v Atticall
Saul v Drumgath

JFC
Gruup A
Game 1    Teconnaught v Killyleagh
Game 2   Winner game I v Bright
Game 3   Loser game 1 v Bright

Group B
Game 1   Aughlisnafin v Mitchels
Game 2   Winner game 1 v Ballykinler
Game 3   Loser game 1 v Ballykinlar

Group C
Game 1    St Pauls v Aghaderg
Game 2   Winner game 1 v Ardglass
Game 3    Loser game 1 v Ardglass

Group D
Game 1    Glasdrumman v Dundrum
Game 2   Winner game 1 v St Michaels
Game 3   Loser game 1 v St Michaels

Top 2 teams from each group quality for Quarter Finals
If teams draw in game 1 – toss coin to see which team plays in Game 2

[whitegoodman]

Is it back to the back door system in the senior championship?

[whitegoodman]

It's difficult to argue with the team McCorry has picked for Sunday, and the way in which he is ensuring that a range of players get starting places while maintaining strong line-ups is very impressive.

Collins and Mallon fully deserve their chances, as does McConville, although there may be a suspicion that he is still most effective as an impact sub. Garvey, if he is fit, is unlucky to lose out and Carr will be expecting to make the cut before long, but we have a pretty decent bench to call on as well.

Mullingar is never an easy place to go, but we are in reasonable shape and there is a fair chance that three points from our last three games will get us promoted.

Have to agree with this. I have never seen a Down team as fit at this stage of the year. Kildare, Galway and Cavan couldn't stay with them in the last 10 in each of those games.

Agree with this but will this be the case later in the year when the rest of the teams are just as fit as us? I remember Ross had us flying fit at the start of one year and we won the McKenna Cup but that was the height of the year.

6 points is a great total to date but nobody can tell me we are playing well, developing a pattern of play or getting anywhere near a settled team.  Luck and team spirit have been major players in getting that 6 points.

[whitegoodman]

PaulD, Devlin has been named at half back for our last three games but has spent most of his time at half forward. Maginn can play in either line, and McGovern and McKernan are likely to drop back into our half, so there should be plenty of cover available. Our defence certainly did struggle for long periods against Galway, and O'Hanlon and Boyle have found themselves left out as a result. We are very much a work in progress, but very few Down fans would have expected us to take six points from our first eight.

Very happy with Goalkeeper, happy enough with full back line, issues with half back line, very happy with midfield, happy enough with half and full forward line.

I fear our full back line is due a cleaning one of these days but it is probably as good as we can put out at the minute.

I get Jim wants to attack from the half back line but as Paul has said we are getting cut open by playing forwards in the defence.  Is Benny MCardle actually fit, didnt look like it last week. 

Half forward line looks a bit more balanced and glad to see Conal McGovern in a more recognised position if he plays there.  Is Ryan Johnston injured?

Ross McGarry can count himself unlucky but can understand tha Arthur is due a start.

[Mourne Rover]

WGM, the year we won the McKenna Cup under Ross was 2008. That summer, we went on to memorably beat Tyrone in the USC, won back to back qualifiers for the first time since the introduction of the back door, and played a championship match at Croke Park for the first time in 14 years. Apart from 2010, when we also got off to a good start in the league, it was our best season in the last two decades.

We clearly do not wish to peak too soon, but our problem in other seasons was that we did not peak at all. McCorry has his squad in good shape and the trick will be to keep his key players fresh and injury-free when the championship comes round.

[whitegoodman]

Under wee James we reached the division 2 final as well the division 1 final as well as reaching an all Ireland quarter final and well as the last 12 twice. I'd say all of James years apart from his last were better than anything produced by Ross.

I also think we should be aiming for better than one off performances against the better teams and wining two games in the back door!!

[whitegoodman]

I might be wrong on this one but was James championship record not:

2010 all Ireland Final bt by Cork
2011 last 12 bt by cork
2012 quarter final beat by Mayo
2013 last 12 bt by ? (ulster final as well)
2014 qualifiers bt by Kildare

[interested]

Under wee James we reached the division 2 final as well the division 1 final as well as reaching an all Ireland quarter final and well as the last 12 twice. I'd say all of James years apart from his last were better than anything produced by Ross.

I also think we should be aiming for better than one off performances against the better teams and wining two games in the back door!!

When did we get to a Div 1 Final?

[whitegoodman]

Sorry meant div 1 semi, u are correct

[Gabriel]

2013 we beat Derry in Ulster, lost narrowly to Donegal in the semi final and were then required to go back to Celtic Park and put out by Derry in our first qualifier game.