Down Club Hurling & Football

[Mike Tyson]

In fairness there is a massive difference in winning the McCrory with the equivalent of Kerry and bringing Kilkeel single handedly to the final more suited to a Sligo.

Ordinarily I'd agree with you.

But Clarke weren't alone. It was a freakish time for St Louis football.

Over those couple of seasons he'd teammates of the calibre of James Colgan, Joe Ireland and Pete Fitzpatrick, three of the best players in Ireland for their age group.

Then Gavin Joyce, Eamon McConville, Hugh Magee, Gerard McCartan, who won AI minor medals in 2005.

Luke Howard was involved too, a fine player who I think played in an u21 Ai final.

And something in my head says the O'Reilly brothers were St Louis men too around that time.

Marty was fabulous.

But this wasn't just the Marty show.

This is true, they did have a great group. However you take one of those named players out and they still get to the finals. You take Clarke out and they don't. He was still very very much the main man, despite the others around him. The same can be said of the AI Minor team, a great group, but without Clarke, wouldn't have done what they did. In my opinion.

I'd have the same opinion. The second MacRory year, the game plan seemed to be give him the ball and hope for the best. That year it very much was the Marty Show. His fifth year he was also prolific in St Louis McLarnon & All Ireland B campaign's, man of the match in both finals?

Jamie O'Reilly never was near St Louis and Ben joined the year after Clarke left.

[downtothecore]

Mc rory is donminated these days by Tyrone and Derry teams. St colmans, Abbey, St Louis and red high downpatrick well of the pace.

[Hard2Listen2]

Mc rory is donminated these days by Tyrone and Derry teams. St colmans, Abbey, St Louis and red high downpatrick well of the pace.

Red High very rarely compete in McRory even when they have had teams with several county minors.
They seem to value competing in a B competition more than testing themselves in an A competition.

[johnnycool]

Mc rory is donminated these days by Tyrone and Derry teams. St colmans, Abbey, St Louis and red high downpatrick well of the pace.

Red High very rarely compete in McRory even when they have had teams with several county minors.
They seem to value competing in a B competition more than testing themselves in an A competition.

Maybe with the impending bigger pick as "Lecale" next year they'll do a St Ronans of Lurgan and make bigger in-roads.

[Truth hurts]

The Red High should be playing at a higher level with the pick they have

[manwithnoplan]

Mc rory is donminated these days by Tyrone and Derry teams. St colmans, Abbey, St Louis and red high downpatrick well of the pace.

Red High very rarely compete in McRory even when they have had teams with several county minors.
They seem to value competing in a B competition more than testing themselves in an A competition.

It would seem that the B competition has been an adequate test for the Red High given their record in the competition. They usually have a selection of good players from a variety of clubs but have never looked like dominating that level of competition.

Might change a little with upcoming changes to the school, though I suppose it depends on how the sporting department is reorganised and what the competitive priority is for the younger age groups coming up through the school.

[Hard2Listen2]

Why do you think they aren't?

They'd generally be one of the stronger teams in the B competitions but I don't think they win them very often.

They underachieve. They should be competitive at McRory but usually aren't even competitive in McLarnon.

[Johnnysboys]

Despite the Red High - St Colmans and Abbey are massively underachieving in A grade football. 11 years without winning a title on the field of play and almost 20 years for Abbey.
Every school in every area can't be complaining they are not getting quality players. St Joes and St Marks have won a few lesser titles in recent times - maybe it comes down to coaching?? Do we need more coaching officer roles in the county to visit the schools?? What are St Louis at? Since their school amalgamation they have gone backwards.. Let's hope that doesn't happen in Downpatrick..

[ardtole]

Mc rory is donminated these days by Tyrone and Derry teams. St colmans, Abbey, St Louis and red high downpatrick well of the pace.

Red High very rarely compete in McRory even when they have had teams with several county minors.
They seem to value competing in a B competition more than testing themselves in an A competition.

Maybe with the impending bigger pick as "Lecale" next year they'll do a St Ronans of Lurgan and make bigger in-roads.

I thought the same, but I was talking to someone last weekend and he said that the Castlewellan and Bryansford students who would have formed the backbone of the team most years, are probably more likely to go to St Malachys Castlewellan now.

[Sandstorm]

There is quite a number going to the green high who would normally have gone to the red high and this may be a factor. Will be interesting to see how the amalgamation works in terms of success on the field.
On another matter, what is the position on tickets for the Antrim game on Sunday given the very low capacity in Corrigan Park?

[Truth hurts]

Despite the Red High - St Colmans and Abbey are massively underachieving in A grade football. 11 years without winning a title on the field of play and almost 20 years for Abbey.
Every school in every area can't be complaining they are not getting quality players. St Joes and St Marks have won a few lesser titles in recent times - maybe it comes down to coaching?? Do we need more coaching officer roles in the county to visit the schools?? What are St Louis at? Since their school amalgamation they have gone backwards.. Let's hope that doesn't happen in Downpatrick..

Without a doubt, our coaches need to be working with our secondary school football teams.The new school in Downpatrick first on the list.

[johnnycool]

Despite the Red High - St Colmans and Abbey are massively underachieving in A grade football. 11 years without winning a title on the field of play and almost 20 years for Abbey.
Every school in every area can't be complaining they are not getting quality players. St Joes and St Marks have won a few lesser titles in recent times - maybe it comes down to coaching?? Do we need more coaching officer roles in the county to visit the schools?? What are St Louis at? Since their school amalgamation they have gone backwards.. Let's hope that doesn't happen in Downpatrick..

Without a doubt, our coaches need to be working with our secondary school football teams.The new school in Downpatrick first on the list.

It would be interesting to see what our existing GDO's are doing for a start!

[Lloyd p]

Numbers is a massive factor also.. Heard on gaa social podcast, Omagh CBS manager saying he had 95 boys out at trials at start of the year and the squad was cut down to 39.. Not sure this would be anywhere near the case in the likes of red high.

[RadioGAAGAA]

so it's not as if there is no GAA drive or ambition in the school.

Maybe things have changed, but there wasn't much application when I was going through.

A bit of enthusiasm, but no direction to it. Even back when there was men that clearly could coach, the actual standard of training was abysmal.

[marty34]

Numbers is a massive factor also.. Heard on gaa social podcast, Omagh CBS manager saying he had 95 boys out at trials at start of the year and the squad was cut down to 39.. Not sure this would be anywhere near the case in the likes of red high.

Maybe a lot of 5th years going for a trial also.  That'd boost the numbers big time.