Down Club Hurling & Football

[LosDodgers]

New rules are not gonna suit this Down team at all.

Same old problems:

- Can't win a kick out

- can't penetrate a low block defense, even with 12v11

- when opposition press high we struggled to get out.

- no kicking option on the transition.

Easy two pointers from Havern gave us a bit of a false 7 point lead with a very strong wind, but Rossies cut thru us with ease at times. The goal into the empty net killed the game off but reality is it was an uphill struggle by that stage. Can't really blame O'Hare for that one as that's what he is being told to do, but when he has possession he can't do anything with it, it's literally just an extra body in attack, I feel if you wanna bring the keeper up like that you need to have a keeper who can create - look at Reape's pass for Mayo goal yesterday for example.

2 big home games coming up against cork & meath. Need to win at least 1 of them to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

[snoopdog]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 

[Ed Hardy]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 
Sheelan is away to Australia, and Jerome isnt on the panel (same as last year). Only leaves Ryan.

[johnnycool]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 

The 3rd goal in the second half wasn't great either, shot blocked at one end, Roscommon break at pace and lad slots it in from 30 yards with not a keeper in sight.

[snoopdog]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 

The 3rd goal in the second half wasn't great either, shot blocked at one end, Roscommon break at pace and lad slots it in from 30 yards with not a keeper in sight.

Agree it was a poor goal to concede. The block on Murdocks shot and they were away, basically a 4 pt turnaround from that block.  It's pointless bringing the keeper up if it only increases sideways passing. If he is going to run at defences as an extra man then yes. But not for what was happening yesterday.

[ardtole]

OHare was totally ineffective yesterday when he came out to join the attack, other players seemed reluctant to get him involved and even in the crowd you could sense his anxiety.

In contrast the Roscommon keeper was very assured in possession, created an overlap, particularly on the right hand side of their attack and although he never threatened the scoreboard he did give our defenders something to think about.

[ck]

Rory Gallagher going in with Lacey at Kilcoo

Lacey got the bullet from Kilcoo

[LosDodgers]

I would be amazed if O'Hare is still No.1 by end of the league.

It's not really his fault, he is being asked to play a game he isn't comfortable with.

So you have 2 choices:

1 - just play a traditional keeper IF they are an exceptional keeper in terms of shot stopping, kick outs, high balls etc.

2 - play a roaming keeper who adds to the attack.

Since I don't think O'Hare is untouchable in terms of traditional goalkeeping (he struggles under high ball for example). Better better with Niall Kane in that aspect.  I think we will go with No.2 and could we'll see an outfield player take over - they out Magill in there for last few mins but would want that to be the solution but  would someone like Caolan Mooney fit this role?

[Splash]

For the first league game of the year, against a team that came down from Div 1 last year it wasn't the worst.

Lots to work on, but most people you spoke to thought Roscommon would run riot.

Could have very easily come back up the road with the points. Sickening to let a lead slip but it is what it is.

Down were well fit to live with Roscommon for most of the game. I remember sitting in Newry a few years ago when Roscommon gave Down an awful hiding. Still a long way to go yet, but you can't tell me that Down haven't improved since then.

General consensus is that's the toughest opponent out of the way. There'll be no easy games this year but I think Down have shown they'll be able to stand their ground.

Can't blame O'Hare. Only doing what he was told I'm sure. There were alot of other things that goal went in. Why were Down turned over? Why were the Roscommon forwards not being tighter marked? Leaving an empty net like that is never a pretty sight, but O'Hare didn't actually do anything wrong that lead to the goal. Yes he was up the field, but I'd be fairly confident that any keeper would have been.

Down need a couple more scoring forwards.

It's early days yet. Give them a chance.

[Ed Hardy]

Is Donal Scullion or Jack McCartan involved with the county this year?

[utb]

What's going on in Mayobridge? Saw the post the club put up on Twitter.

[LosDodgers]

Would not surprise me to see Roscommon in an All Ireland Semi Final - think they will be strongest team in D2 by a comfortable distance! The fact we went 7 points up shows there are a lot of positives for Down.

2 very winnable games coming up in Newry against Cork and Meath - these games will give us a better understanding about where we are at!

[snoopdog]

O hare save a penalty, roscommon got through the Down defence very easily a few times, twice in 1st half forn2 goals and then in 2nd when the frame of the goal was rattled. 

[ardtole]

There were positives to take from the game, I thought McEvoy and Havern did well and Rooney when he came on. One cause of concern would be how few goal opportunities Down created.

When the new rules came out, I thought they would suit someone like Rory Mason who would be a threat from the 2 point range.It will be interesting to see what changes are made for the Cork game.

[snoopdog]

Have the Johnsons not joined up with Down panel yet this year??