Down Club Hurling & Football

[Splash]

With the Red High winning the Mageean a few years back, has the core of that team emerged as yet with the Ards teams in the SHC?

Short answer is no.

Those lads would all still be 20/21, only Turpin to my mind has shown his mettle at senior club level on a consistent basis. Ciaran Savage is holding his own in fairness to him and starts for the Ports most days.
McGrattan has went a bit back this year, it'll take him a while to get going, Mallon may be a bit slow over the ground at the highest end of senior hurling club wise, Ports haven't really trusted him in a game of consequence as yet, O'Neill also from Portaferry has been blighted by injuries in fairness to him,  but for us Michael O'g Dorrian starts more often than not, but can do one good thing then do nothing for 20 minutes, his workrate just isn't there for me and evidently our management. The others in Ballygalget aren't putting in the required effort, get the odd 10 minutes here and there. Sadly one of the best man markers on that Red High team packed in the hurling, he's still about our place but doesn't play, but there's hope yet.

One of the Cunninghams from Castlewellan was as good as anyone on that team, not sure how he's getting on with their seniors.

Any idea how the An Dún squad that won Mageen a few years before are getting on now, Johnny? There were some good hurlers in that squad that would be of an age they could have broken into the senior squad now I'd have thought.

Pity that An Dún sort of disappeared. Suppose the success of the Red High made up for it, but was good to give lads an opportunity to win something with their county that, something they may not have had the chance to do otherwise. Believe the An Dún squad had players from Shamrocks, Castlewellen, Ballyvarley, etc.

Something we probably don't talk enough about in Down is the problem we face with our schools. This probably goes for football, too, although it's definitely not as much as problem considering St Colman's dominance of the Hogan Cup and the Abbey having had their moments, too.

Schools can act as a stepping stone between club scene and county scene. It's a chance for lads to get their first exposure to that next level.

The Red High obviously have won a Mageen, and Knock seem to be making progress.

But what is the situation in the College, the Abbey, Aquinas, etc.? Schools are a good opportunity to introduce hurling to lads who come from footballing parishes.

It is no secret how many Kilkenny men have developed their skills in St Ciaran's. Obviously, we are a long, long way off that, but fundamentally, we want to be moving in that direction.

Perhaps talking about schools' competition in such a manner makes it seem very intense and driven. This isn't the intention. Whilst we should want to see hurlers develop across the county to the best of their abilities, we should remember the primary reason anybody starts hurling is for the enjoyment of it.

It is worth saying, that university is another level and the next stepping stone, and ideally, we should want the universities in Belfast competing at the Fitzgibbon level, but no doubt that's a discussion for us to have a couple of weeks down the line 

[Splash]

Quick word on the International Rules with the Scots tomorrow.

A wild strong Irish Squad. Peter Duggan, Padraig Walsh, Neil McManus, etc. David Fitzgerald (who I think at one point, people were saying was a potential player of the year candidate). Didn't realise so many players from McCarthy Cup teams would be playing.

The likes of Eoghan Cahill of Offaly and Paddy Purcell of Laois are as good of players as anyone else in Ireland, and make the Irish team look incredibly formidable.

Also great to see players from counties like Monaghan, Roscommon, and Fermanagh represented.

My only grievance would be the lack of Down men. Given our poor year, though, this is understandable. Calaon Taggart was meant to be involved- is he still, or has he focused on Portaferry?

No reason Ireland shouldn't win. The shinty men will probably be as uncomfortable with the rules as the Irish lads.

Will have to brush up on the rules before it. Obviously not being allowed to handle the ball is the big one, but I don't think you're allowed to kick the ball in shinty?  If I was playing that would be a headache.

Seen a photo of Peter Duggan and one of the Scottish players stood side by side. Mad the size difference. Will Ireland physically deal with Scotland?

I don't know much about Shinty, would love to give it a go. Will be interesting. Not expecting the most gracious of games, but should be some good old fashioned 'pull on it.'

Great honour for any man to play for Ireland. May as well win this seeing as the rugby's out of the question. 

Not a Down man, but great to see Neil McManus the captain. Every little bit for Ulster hurling is a good thing.

I would imagine, given the nature of the game, the field will be destroyed. By the time of the senior game on Sunday, there may be no field left. All adds to the drama, sure.

Wonder why Newry was chosen to host it? Assuming it's because it's easy reached from all over Ireland, and isn't that far a travel from the docks or the airport? Assuming the size of the crowd in Newry will be more flattering than a crowd in Thurles or Cork would have been?

Could be wrong but don't believe Shinty is really all that popular in Scotland outside of a few, niche areas? Wouldn't be on par with hurling in Ireland I don't think?

Should be a good days craic. Went over to play against a crowd in Glasgow once. Great experience.

If anybody asks tomorrow, the Home of Hurling isn't Thurles- it's Newry!

[skat man]

I like hurling as much as the next person splash . The essays you are writing not so much

[manwithnoplan]

I like hurling as much as the next person splash . The essays you are writing not so much

Then don't read them. Plenty others on here enjoy the bit of a narrative and info.

[Splash]

I like hurling as much as the next person splash . The essays you are writing not so much

Feel free to not read them.

I think a couple of posts about the lay of the land in the hurling world breaks up the constant bickering about the state of the football scene and the 'what to do about Kilcoo' posts, personally. 

[KeyboardWman]

Any names of players who have been asked into the county training panel?

[Milltown Row2]

[/quote]

Noticed big Anton along the line for Carryduff, who's with Bredagh? I thought it was one of their own lads I see at a lot of juvenile games.

Also noticed Liatroim camogs had big Donal Nugent with them on Sunday, must be plenty of money generated from the Festival for all those outgoings!


[/quote]

My good friend/club mate/coach/manager over the years

Donal Sheehan

Donal has plenty pedigree and his young lad on the team also..

From seeing both teams I'd say Carryduff had the better games in the Antrim divisions, Bredagh have missed a few players this year for various reasons. Will be close but someone from Naomh Gall will manage the winners

[Square Ball]

Noticed big Anton along the line for Carryduff, who's with Bredagh? I thought it was one of their own lads I see at a lot of juvenile games.

Also noticed Liatroim camogs had big Donal Nugent with them on Sunday, must be plenty of money generated from the Festival for all those outgoings!


[/quote]

My good friend/club mate/coach/manager over the years

Donal Sheehan

Donal has plenty pedigree and his young lad on the team also..

From seeing both teams I'd say Carryduff had the better games in the Antrim divisions, Bredagh have missed a few players this year for various reasons. Will be close but someone from Naomh Gall will manage the winners
[/quot h
Noticed big Anton along the line for Carryduff, who's with Bredagh? I thought it was one of their own lads I see at a lot of juvenile games.

Also noticed Liatroim camogs had big Donal Nugent with them on Sunday, must be plenty of money generated from the Festival for all those outgoings!


[/quote]

My good friend/club mate/coach/manager over the years

Donal Sheehan

Donal has plenty pedigree and his young lad on the team also..

From seeing both teams I'd say Carryduff had the better games in the Antrim divisions, Bredagh have missed a few players this year for various reasons. Will be close but someone from Naomh Gall will manage the winners
[/quote]
A sound bloke to boot MR.

[TakeYourGoals88]

Is there a list of Div 3 and Div 4 Vacancies?? An Dún Abú

[skat man]

I like hurling as much as the next person splash . The essays you are writing not so much

Then don't read them. Plenty others on here enjoy the bit of a narrative and info.

Maybe starting a hurling topic on main page might be an idea instead of having to scroll past essays and quotes of essays

[Mourne Red]

Thread is called Down Club HURLING and Football for a reason. Keep them coming Splash

[manwithnoplan]

I like hurling as much as the next person splash . The essays you are writing not so much

Then don't read them. Plenty others on here enjoy the bit of a narrative and info.

Maybe starting a hurling topic on main page might be an idea instead of having to scroll past essays and quotes of essays

Maybe start a thread called "division 1 Down club football" if that's all you want to read about. That should save you a huge amount of time each day moving your thumb slightly to scroll past a few posts.

[ardtole]

I've enjoyed the hurling contributions recently. Definitely a welcome addition.

[thewobbler]

I've enjoyed the hurling contributions recently. Definitely a welcome addition.

Me too.

I don't have much of an interest in hurling matters but these "essays" keep me kind of up to date

[Splash]

I like hurling as much as the next person splash . The essays you are writing not so much

Then don't read them. Plenty others on here enjoy the bit of a narrative and info.

Maybe starting a hurling topic on main page might be an idea instead of having to scroll past essays and quotes of essays

Why on earth would anyone do that when there is a thread dedicated to hurling and football already?

Nobody is forcing you to read this thread.