Down Club Hurling & Football

[Johnnysboys]

One week to go until start of football league, still a few players missing from last year's team Ryan and Sheelan Johnson, Branagan, McAleenan, Fitzpatrick (I'm sure I've missed a few) are they injured for next weekend or just rested for the McKenna? Is Ruairi McCrickard involved? Definitely thought he would have been given a chance.

Mcaleenan is off panel and travelling at present.
Fitzpatrick off panel and I hear a whisper is going travelling too
Johnston's are training away - prob ready this week now that the league starts..
Eugene is off panel with work commitments.
Mccrickard not on panel. Conor just..

Hard not to be envious of Glen Maghera today. Some group of players and an excellent manager.

[Splash]

Disappointing defeat to Kildare for the hurlers yesterday in the Kehoe Cup. No pre-season silverware this year.

Close enough game in the end. Ultimately you have to be happy enough with the pre-season. Beat Meath, and have the potential to beat Kildare. At the end of the day, when we play these teams later in the year, they will be, in all likelihood, must-win games to avoid relegation in the league and championship, let alone gain promotion. Hopefully we finish this preseason off well with a good performance over Wicklow in the next round.

Have to say, Kildare's Hurling Action Plan has been quite remarkable over the past few years, and would be great to see us implement something similar in Down.

[Splash]

One week to go until start of football league, still a few players missing from last year's team Ryan and Sheelan Johnson, Branagan, McAleenan, Fitzpatrick (I'm sure I've missed a few) are they injured for next weekend or just rested for the McKenna? Is Ruairi McCrickard involved? Definitely thought he would have been given a chance.

Mcaleenan is off panel and travelling at present.
Fitzpatrick off panel and I hear a whisper is going travelling too
Johnston's are training away - prob ready this week now that the league starts..
Eugene is off panel with work commitments.
Mccrickard not on panel. Conor just..

Hard not to be envious of Glen Maghera today. Some group of players and an excellent manager.

Would assume Ruairi McCrickard is probably still involved with the hurlers this year. Thought he would have been involved with the footballers, too.

Wonder will we see any dual county players this year? Conor McCrickard was involved with the hurlers last year as well as the footballers I think. Very hard to commit to both, but fair play to any man that can manage it.

[downtothecore]

I expect the footballers to progress on this year. They have a decent management setup and some good talented players. Oran Murdock is the key man. Hopefully we can find a few more good big physical players to support him.

[Truth hurts]

Disappointing defeat to Kildare for the hurlers yesterday in the Kehoe Cup. No pre-season silverware this year.

Close enough game in the end. Ultimately you have to be happy enough with the pre-season. Beat Meath, and have the potential to beat Kildare. At the end of the day, when we play these teams later in the year, they will be, in all likelihood, must-win games to avoid relegation in the league and championship, let alone gain promotion. Hopefully we finish this preseason off well with a good performance over Wicklow in the next round.

Have to say, Kildare's Hurling Action Plan has been quite remarkable over the past few years, and would be great to see us implement something similar in Down.

How would you improve hurling in the county?

[DuffGael]

The only way to improve hurling in Down is to get more clubs playing, we punch way above where we should and produce hurlers of real quality but just dont have the critical mass to be a top tier team. Some of the bigger football only clubs should start hurling.

[Truth hurts]

The only way to improve hurling in Down is to get more clubs playing, we punch way above where we should and produce hurlers of real quality but just dont have the critical mass to be a top tier team. Some of the bigger football only clubs should start hurling.

Could it be that larger football teams would not be affiliated with a hurling club? Would the young men from Kilcoo not play for Liatroim? Kilcoo had a few talented players in the 80s.

[johnnycool]

The only way to improve hurling in Down is to get more clubs playing, we punch way above where we should and produce hurlers of real quality but just dont have the critical mass to be a top tier team. Some of the bigger football only clubs should start hurling.

Could it be that larger football teams would not be affiliated with a hurling club? Would the young men from Kilcoo not play for Liatroim? Kilcoo had a few talented players in the 80s.

Some have done at underage, but nothing to sustain a standalone adult team, but rather than lump in with Liatroim who are already serious senior contenders maybe work with the likes of Ballela, Ballyvarley instead to bring their player bases up.

I'm expecting Castlewellan to start pushing up the ranks at adult, but it'll take a few more years for their work at underage to come good.

If only we could get Ballybeen, Kilcooley and the Westwinds to take up the hurling we'd make inroads.. 

[Truth hurts]

Areas that could be targeted are Newcastle and Downpatrick. Is there a hurling GPO?

[skat man]

football clubs probably dont see it in their best interest to promote hurling and it is probably the same in reverese in ards . Are there many succesful senior dual clubs except slaughtneil ?

[johnnycool]

Areas that could be targeted are Newcastle and Downpatrick. Is there a hurling GPO?

If there is then they hide themselves well.

[johnnycool]

football clubs probably dont see it in their best interest to promote hurling and it is probably the same in reverese in ards . Are there many succesful senior dual clubs except slaughtneil ?

The level of success achieved by the likes of Slaughtneil is unprecedented in terms of dual success at provincial level and indeed camogie, but I'd counter that the likes of Bredagh, Carryduff and Liatroim do a fine job in promoting all codes with honourable mentions to Clonduff and Castlewellan also.

It helps to have big numbers

[Johnnysboys]

The only way to improve hurling in Down is to get more clubs playing, we punch way above where we should and produce hurlers of real quality but just dont have the critical mass to be a top tier team. Some of the bigger football only clubs should start hurling.

Should start hurling - I'm not sure that would sit well with their footballing committees. Some see it as a major distraction in clubs with dual players not able to commit to anything really by giving 50% to both. I love the fact we have it in our club but have been to very few games in any season.
Not being able to field, only playing 13 aside etc is frustrating. Lads are full of empty promises in January about the commitment they will give to hurling and then take the easy option when they are needed for games. That's how I see it in our club anyhow.

[marty34]

Every club in Ireland should have a hurling team.

Great advantage.  So many cross over skills but the 'football people' in clubs thinks it a disadvantage.  It's an advantage.

Look at the top Dublin clubs, all dual clubs. Throw in Sleacht Néil, Loughmore Castleiney, Dunloy, Naas and a few Clare clubs etc.  These are just a few.

It's a bit like learning two languages - they complement each other and are of benefit, not, as people think, a disadvantage.

[Hard2Listen2]

The only way to improve hurling in Down is to get more clubs playing, we punch way above where we should and produce hurlers of real quality but just dont have the critical mass to be a top tier team. Some of the bigger football only clubs should start hurling.

Not much football played at the strongest hurling clubs either!