Down Club Hurling & Football

[Lotto]

It actually makes me laugh when people talk about NMCA taking our club to a new level - he did no such thing. Won absolutely f**k all in his tenure and that's what success is based on. Not taking s**t from players is one thing - but players not being allowed to play for their own club teams because a blow in getting £££ (and a very hefty back room team) is dictating is completely wrong.
At same time I feel Mulholland made mistake this year letting players who trained only a month play championship. Setting those type standards is not what wins year in year out.
If we want to compete - we need to compete at top level at all underage teams, we need to freshen up the senior team every year with 2-4 players putting themselves forward for consideration. But these players need a chance to play. No point playing the same old every year especially when they have proven on the championship stage they can't cut it..

That's a bit harsh Johnny, what do you mean? I'm not talking about the money as he was supposedly looking £1000 a week from Clonduff for his management team. As for playing players only back, they were recognised seniors and had helped get the Point close to the top in Down, whey would he not play them?

Bringing underage players through is the lifeblood to any senior team but if the Point are playing lower level stuff then the chances of having 2/3 younger players into the senior set up every year is slim. That's not going to help them in the long term and if they don't win a championship very soon then it's never gonna in the next 10 - 15 years.

[RadioGAAGAA]

we need to compete at top level at all underage teams,

Totally correct.

Even if you get a single brilliant team coming through the underage - that'll be very unlikely to carry a club to senior glory unless the support cast are of the standard.

Unless by fluke, no club comes to the top of the pile overnight.


So instead of throwing money at a new senior boss - committees around the county might well do better by throwing a bit more money at their underage teams instead. Be that even just footballs, or coaching courses for the coaches, or a bit more expensive - better (floodlit) training pitches.

There are no trees or mountaintops on a football pitch. Players can run just as well with a ball as without - so running through forests or Kilbroney is either a coach doing it wrong or a coach that doesn't have a pitch to train on.

[Johnnysboys]

That's a bit harsh Johnny, what do you mean? I'm not talking about the money as he was supposedly looking £1000 a week from Clonduff for his management team. As for playing players only back, they were recognised seniors and had helped get the Point close to the top in Down, whey would he not play them?

Bringing underage players through is the lifeblood to any senior team but if the Point are playing lower level stuff then the chances of having 2/3 younger players into the senior set up every year is slim. That's not going to help them in the long term and if they don't win a championship very soon then it's never gonna in the next 10 - 15 years.
[/quote]

Players that were training around their working life were told to make greater sacrifices or leave - sometimes people shud remember it's an amateur game with people that have to work to pay the bills. Young Gallagher had serious potential as a minor - tough as nails corner back who took no shit.. Told to go. Aaron Magee - told to go.
As for players getting us near the top what a message to send to our younger players - Magee n Davidson can train for a month n play. Thanks for training your ass off since April but the two lads are back now so use can p**s off... Its wrong on so many levels. But typical of paid management looking for a quick fix..

[elk]

Sounds like someone you know had to make way for players the management believed offered more to the clubs needs

[Truth hurts]

I can laugh at the Point ones on this, You are like spoilt children complaining. Both SM and NMcA have taken CPN/Warrenpoint to the closest that they have ever been in my lifetime. Even to be dining at the top table is a credit to you all. There are a lot of clubs in East Down who would be glad of being in your position.

[Mourne Red]

Finn finally going to get their hands on the JFC unless Drumaness pluck some form from a magic hat.. At both JFC games so far and poor enough, Dundrum must have injuries or disagreements in house 6 players who should be starting on bench.

[Sheedy]

Kilcoo always seem to do enough to get the job done, fair play to Carryduff who looked beat in the first half but fought back well. Kilcoo's better bench and experience seen them through in the end.

[Lotto]

Patsy and Dessie are back  , 'great to have you back Dessie, delighted to be here Patsy.'

[befair]

Clonduff impressive today; Darren O'Hagan really is outstanding, ran the game.

[Leftmidfield]

Some difference between the performances of Darren and his Down vice captain today

[upandwin]

What a result for Saul today...outstanding achievement to see them win their first senior game in a long long time. What in the name of god has happened Rostrevor though? What an absolute shambles of a year for them...only a matter of time before they're relegated as well. Pete McGrath surely won't stick around next year? Well done Saul...great to see it

[manwithnoplan]

Rostrevor or Bryansford playing intermediate next year then, as division 1 clubs whichever one it is will surely be looking a run in Ulster IFC.
The difference in intensity and quality in the L'Island v B'Ford compared to RGU v Clonduff seemed vast, though that's harder to judge when watching a (dodgy) stream.
Clonduff played some nice football, the O'Hagans and Arthur McConville all excellent. Arthur the top 'traditional' full forward in Down maybe? RGU were good too, a year in division 1 should see them even more competitive in next year's SFC.
Great result for Saul, getting another go at senior football next year will bring them on.
Great win for Drumgath too, Liatriom well fancied so will Drumgath be the dark horses and make up for last year's defeat?
Kilcoo doing what they do, but maybe looking slightly more vulnerable and the remaining teams will be boosted by how Carryduff pushed them.
Enjoyable stuff anyway, credit to all the teams and players for the efforts and skill on show. And still more to come....

[Lloyd p]

Hearing reports Castlewellan, Rostrevor and Loughinisland could all be in the hunt for new managers for next year already..

[upandwin]

Castlewellan not happy at getting promoted and winning a SFC game? Or is that management team moving on of their own accord? Seemed a fairly successful year for them...

L'Island have wasted a good group of players IMO over the last number of years. Makings of a really good team but always flopped on the bigger days. For a string of a few years they had Quarter Finals done and dusted but seemed to conspire to mess it up...now their team is ageing. Flynn and Mason entering the latter stages of their careers and Dan hasn't loads of time left either I wouldn't think...have the got anything coming through at Minor or 21 level?

Rostrevor are in real trouble...they just seem to be going from bad to worse. Have a few good lads who want to give everything for the jersey and then they have a vast majority who don't seem to care one bit what happens the club. From what I've seen this year they have shown no heart, no passion and no leadership on or off the field. The great Pete McGrath surely won't stay on another year but who will take them? Can't see anyone massively dying to take them other than the allure of an Intermediate championship and Ulster run, they'll be getting spanked every week in Div1 and with 12 teams in the league next year they would do very very well to finish 3rd bottom...sad times for the Super Reds

[Mourne Red]

Castlewellan not happy at getting promoted and winning a SFC game? Or is that management team moving on of their own accord? Seemed a fairly successful year for them...

L'Island have wasted a good group of players IMO over the last number of years. Makings of a really good team but always flopped on the bigger days. For a string of a few years they had Quarter Finals done and dusted but seemed to conspire to mess it up...now their team is ageing. Flynn and Mason entering the latter stages of their careers and Dan hasn't loads of time left either I wouldn't think...have the got anything coming through at Minor or 21 level?

Rostrevor are in real trouble...they just seem to be going from bad to worse. Have a few good lads who want to give everything for the jersey and then they have a vast majority who don't seem to care one bit what happens the club. From what I've seen this year they have shown no heart, no passion and no leadership on or off the field. The great Pete McGrath surely won't stay on another year but who will take them? Can't see anyone massively dying to take them other than the allure of an Intermediate championship and Ulster run, they'll be getting spanked every week in Div1 and with 12 teams in the league next year they would do very very well to finish 3rd bottom...sad times for the Super Reds

Completely off the mark about Loughinisland.. We had 3 players over 30 playing in championship hardly an ageing team and Flynn and Mason are both only 28 so just coming into their Prime as footballers both physically and experience wise.. We've good young players coming through who will need to fill out physically over the winter, been hard for them to do with gyms being closed for near a full 18months with COVID so expecting 18-20 year olds  to take the team forward is a bit much..  but if they get in it over the winter period we will be in good stead for next season