Down Club Hurling & Football

[AnDúnAbú94]

Down should win this today considering last year. But our record in finals is cause for concern and I don't think it'll be straightforward. I'd also be absolutely shocked if there aren't at least 3 changes from the named team. My guess is Doherty, McElroy and McGovern for Flynn, J Guinness and McCrickard. I hope Kerr starts at least.

[Johnnysboys]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

[Lloyd p]

Finals are all about winning and nothing else. Not the best performance for sure but they'll take it all day and good progress made with division 2 and Sam Maguire football to look forward too. Fair play to the lads and all involved!

On another note Armagh in the all Ireland final and only beat Down by a point in Ulster semi final. Maybe not just as far away as people think...

[Mikhailov]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

By the way, it was Laois you beat. They are Division 4 FFS

[downtothecore]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

By the way, it was Laois you beat. They are Division 4 FFS

We are currently 1 level higher in duv 3 so no big difference and laois are progressing in the right direction with good management.

[snoopdog]

Finals are all about winning and nothing else. Not the best performance for sure but they'll take it all day and good progress made with division 2 and Sam Maguire football to look forward too. Fair play to the lads and all involved!

On another note Armagh in the all Ireland final and only beat Down by a point in Ulster semi final. Maybe not just as far away as people think...

Down were nervous at stages. Better team today buy gifted Laois 1.01 in 1st half kept them in the game. Great goal at death by laois to make it a nervous finish. Down delighted to get over that line.
Fantastic all ireland semi and our neighbours very deserving winners and all ireland finalists. Well done to both Down and Armagh today. Donegal to complete ulster sweep tomorrow.

[Mourne Red]

Unbelievable display. I can't wait for Sam Maguire football next year. We are back..

By the way, it was Laois you beat. They are Division 4 FFS

Pretty sure Johnny is being sarcastic

[PAULD123]

It's not just about who you have playing but how they play.  We could learn so much from Armagh. Their energy, positive aggression, direct attacking, and speed, bring them to a level above the sum of their parts. We are too slow in build up. Too hesitant on shooting. We get a break and turn back to recycle,  Armagh break and drive for the danger zone.

I honestly believe that we have enough good players to equal Armagh. But we don't have an approach or attitude that brings us to their level.  Yet???

[snoopdog]

Down have a massive learning curve for next year. Div 2 won't be easy. We kicked some poor wides yesterday. And while we never looked like losing, croke pk seems to hold a fear factor for us. That goal line scramble at thr end could've ended up disastrously for Down. A game that shouldve been won a lot easier could also have been lost very easily.
Final won, move on and I'm sure Laverty has already begun planning for next year.

[downtothecore]

Down have a massive learning curve for next year. Div 2 won't be easy. We kicked some poor wides yesterday. And while we never looked like losing, croke pk seems to hold a fear factor for us. That goal line scramble at thr end could've ended up disastrously for Down. A game that shouldve been won a lot easier could also have been lost very easily.
Final won, move on and I'm sure Laverty has already begun planning for next year.

It's good to win to end the year in a positive. The main focus going forward is to stay in div 2 and get the team accustomed to challenging in the sam maguire. Hopefully the management team can find more quality players to bolster the current team and squad because we are still lacking in some areas of the team ro really have a go at winning sam maguire in next few years.

[Sheedy]

Yesterday was all about winning and getting a bit of silverware after a long long wait. People knock the tailteann cup but I think it's been good for this Down team over last couple of years, got them games in croke park and playing in front of bigger crowds.
Promotion from division 3 and Sam Maguire football were the aims at the start of the year both were achieved, heading in the right direction

[Dubh driocht]

Yesterday was all about winning and getting a bit of silverware after a long long wait. People knock the tailteann cup but I think it's been good for this Down team over last couple of years, got them games in croke park and playing in front of bigger crowds.
Promotion from division 3 and Sam Maguire football were the aims at the start of the year both were achieved, heading in the right direction

That's it in a nutshell.
Well done players, management and county board; the culmination of a lot of hard work.
It's been an enjoyable season overall; apart from a disappointing performance in D3 final and a disappointing result in Clones against the All Ireland finalists.
The spine of the team is there, with strong leaders, and the manager rightly expects full commitment. One player whose work often goes unseen is Johny Flynn;delighted he got a point and a full game yesterday.
Looking forward to the 3 championships now and players will want to put themselves in the shop window for selection to represent their county in serious competition next year.

[johnnycool]

Down have a massive learning curve for next year. Div 2 won't be easy. We kicked some poor wides yesterday. And while we never looked like losing, croke pk seems to hold a fear factor for us. That goal line scramble at thr end could've ended up disastrously for Down. A game that shouldve been won a lot easier could also have been lost very easily.
Final won, move on and I'm sure Laverty has already begun planning for next year.

Not an expert on football, but Downs in game superiority never seems to be reflected on the scoreboard, Sligo was very much proof of that and yesterday going into the final few minutes with a five point lead looked to be enough and ultimately was, but that goal at the end made it a more nervous wait than it needed to be.

There'll be a lot less possession for Down next year in Div2 and in the Sam Maguire, so whatever possession we do get needs to count.

[OgraAnDun]

Down have a massive learning curve for next year. Div 2 won't be easy. We kicked some poor wides yesterday. And while we never looked like losing, croke pk seems to hold a fear factor for us. That goal line scramble at thr end could've ended up disastrously for Down. A game that shouldve been won a lot easier could also have been lost very easily.
Final won, move on and I'm sure Laverty has already begun planning for next year.

Not an expert on football, but Downs in game superiority never seems to be reflected on the scoreboard, Sligo was very much proof of that and yesterday going into the final few minutes with a five point lead looked to be enough and ultimately was, but that goal at the end made it a more nervous wait than it needed to be.

There'll be a lot less possession for Down next year in Div2 and in the Sam Maguire, so whatever possession we do get needs to count.

I think Down are so error prone in part because they're mostly not punished for it in Div 3/Tailteann Cup as they're considerably stronger than most other teams. They'll have to tighten up next year or the Division 2 & Sam stay might be a short one.

[Ed Hardy]

Now the dust has settled, glad for this current Down team to finally have won a trophy. Wasn't pretty at all but I think Down were good value for the win, psychologically it should give them a decent boost going forward. Be interesting what new players can force there way into Lavertys plan for the 2025 season. I'm sure he'll be looking to add more power and strength to the team.