Down Club Hurling & Football

[Dayman]

The reason to get up for the Tailteann is very simple. We need that cup in our pockets because relegation is a realistic prospect. We absolutely need the guarantee from the Tailteann.

You're right, and on the face of it we should be favourites. I just fear after last week and then today it would be hard for the lads to get up for another Tailteann Cup run. Still think even now the main priority is staying up next year.

[ranch]

As an Armagh man, it was just one of those days where everything went right. As nice as it is to get such a comprehensive win over your biggest rivals, I don't think anybody truly believes that Down gave a fair reflection of themselves. I recall Armagh getting a humbling from Tyrone in the 2017 AI QF and it's a pretty empty feeling that eradicates the positivity from the weeks beforehand.

I'd still fancy Down strongly for the Tailteann - they need to make sure it's their last foray into it however for the foreseeable future, otherwise any signs of apparent progress over the past couple of years will be questioned, and rightly so.
Down can take comfort in the journey Armagh have gone on over the past 12 years however. A division 3 title in 2015, relegation in 2016 and another division 3 in 2018. No significant win in Ulster for many years during that era, including defeats to Down in 2017 and Fermanagh in 2018 - albeit a few good performances in the qualifiers and a tough  loss to Mayo in 2019 showed there was potential for progress. Down appear to be a similar journey at the moment and probably need to be patient over the next few years while Laverty continues to build his squad.

[APM]

As an Armagh man, it was just one of those days where everything went right. As nice as it is to get such a comprehensive win over your biggest rivals, I don't think anybody truly believes that Down gave a fair reflection of themselves. I recall Armagh getting a humbling from Tyrone in the 2017 AI QF and it's a pretty empty feeling that eradicates the positivity from the weeks beforehand.

I'd still fancy Down strongly for the Tailteann - they need to make sure it's their last foray into it however for the foreseeable future, otherwise any signs of apparent progress over the past couple of years will be questioned, and rightly so.
Down can take comfort in the journey Armagh have gone on over the past 12 years however. A division 3 title in 2015, relegation in 2016 and another division 3 in 2018. No significant win in Ulster for many years during that era, including defeats to Down in 2017 and Fermanagh in 2018 - albeit a few good performances in the qualifiers and a tough  loss to Mayo in 2019 showed there was potential for progress. Down appear to be a similar journey at the moment and probably need to be patient over the next few years while Laverty continues to build his squad.

As an Armagh man, it was just one of those days where everything went right. As nice as it is to get such a comprehensive win over your biggest rivals, I don't think anybody truly believes that Down gave a fair reflection of themselves. I recall Armagh getting a humbling from Tyrone in the 2017 AI QF and it's a pretty empty feeling that eradicates the positivity from the weeks beforehand.

I'd still fancy Down strongly for the Tailteann - they need to make sure it's their last foray into it however for the foreseeable future, otherwise any signs of apparent progress over the past couple of years will be questioned, and rightly so.
Down can take comfort in the journey Armagh have gone on over the past 12 years however. A division 3 title in 2015, relegation in 2016 and another division 3 in 2018. No significant win in Ulster for many years during that era, including defeats to Down in 2017 and Fermanagh in 2018 - albeit a few good performances in the qualifiers and a tough  loss to Mayo in 2019 showed there was potential for progress. Down appear to be a similar journey at the moment and probably need to be patient over the next few years while Laverty continues to build his squad.

Came in here to say just that! Yesterday's game not a proper reflection of where either team are at.

[ardtole]

The reason to get up for the Tailteann is very simple. We need that cup in our pockets because relegation is a realistic prospect. We absolutely need the guarantee from the Tailteann.

You're right, and on the face of it we should be favourites. I just fear after last week and then today it would be hard for the lads to get up for another Tailteann Cup run. Still think even now the main priority is staying up next year.

Winning the Tailteann Cup would take the pressure of to a degree next year because we would be automatically qualified for Sam Maguire.

Staying up next year is certainly the priority but a major flaw with the nfl is one year we have 4 home games and 3 the following year.

Unfortunately for us, next year we will have 3 home games in a tougher league where every point is vital. Only having 3 home games cost us dearly last year in d2. The away games v Louth and Cavan in particular were narrow 1 point losses and the repercussions are still in effect today.

Even the Roscommon game last year when the 12 v 11 farce was in play, we acquitted ourselves well. Our best performance was beating Monaghan in Clones and we will need similar results to stay up.

The 7 game league im not sure is long enough to give a true reflection of a teams ability. Meath needed a late, last kick of the game  2 pointer v Louth and Cavan this year and it got them promotion, if they had of tailed wide they would have been in the relegation mix on the last day.

I think we were very unfortunate last year to go Down and il be hoping one of our 4 away games is against Wexford, but with Dublin,  Derry, Monaghan, Louth, Tyrone and Cavan making up the rest of d2 I think we can certainly stay up.

We played Monaghan, Louth and Cavan away last year, if we had them as our 3 home games next year it would certainly favour us. Im not sure if that is how it works though.

[snoopdog]

Veey tough result to take. I knew going to Clones yesterday it would be hard. We started well but as said above the wheels came off after the 2 gifts of goals. Armagh were magnificent fairplay to them no one will want to play Armagh. Im sure they will be there or there abouts come mid july.
The management and players will be devastated. A defeat that size is very hard to take. To experience such a high and a low in 7 days.
There is no doubt Laverty is the man for the job,no one that sees Down regularly would disagree with that i dont think.
The issue lies further down at underage. No way do Down produce worse players than the Armaghs Donegals or Tyrones. But what is done at a coaching level needs to be seriously looked at. Bar Lavertys U20 teams we have consistently been dreadful at underage. The minors were hammerred in donegal although they got a reprieve with the weather. The U20s are only good enough for B competitions.
I assume Laverty will go all out for Tailteann but maybe a break for some of the players would do them good and try to develope a few more squad players.

[Mourne Red]

Felt we gave Armagh too much respect on the kickouts, didn't push up and have that blanket of 4 then 3 behind like we did vs Donegal. But bad day at the office move on and get up for the next game.

May or may not be a blessing that our next game is vs Leitrim, Poachers bound to have annoyed enough of them while he was over Ballyholland that they'll have that in the back of their minds to dust themselves off and show what they can actually do in 2 weeks time

[downtothecore]

Veey tough result to take. I knew going to Clones yesterday it would be hard. We started well but as said above the wheels came off after the 2 gifts of goals. Armagh were magnificent fairplay to them no one will want to play Armagh. Im sure they will be there or there abouts come mid july.
The management and players will be devastated. A defeat that size is very hard to take. To experience such a high and a low in 7 days.
There is no doubt Laverty is the man for the job,no one that sees Down regularly would disagree with that i dont think.
The issue lies further down at underage. No way do Down produce worse players than the Armaghs Donegals or Tyrones. But what is done at a coaching level needs to be seriously looked at. Bar Lavertys U20 teams we have consistently been dreadful at underage. The minors were hammerred in donegal although they got a reprieve with the weather. The U20s are only good enough for B competitions.
I assume Laverty will go all out for Tailteann but maybe a break for some of the players would do them good and try to develope a few more squad players.

Agree.. the squad needs developed and become Less dependent on 3 or 4 individuals to play well to win these games. The underage also has to do better. We cant expect the senior team to win at A grade if the grope coming is not competing strongly at A Grade. 

[ck]

A shocking performance and scoreline. I thought Armagh would win narrowly but I didn't see an annialation coming.
It was a cruel representation of Down who are better than they showed.

In Tailteann Cup now, this competition is beneath them. Very unlucky to be in it and really shouldn't be if truth be told. Winning it again will not advance this team, maybe developing fringe players for next year would be the best approach.

[brokencrossbar1]

This whole business that the TC is below Down is a weird one. Down haven't won an Ulster or AI since 1994, they haven't won a minor title since 2005 and have the 2 recent u20s wins which are the bedrock of this current team. They haven't won yo-yoed between Division 2 & 3 but have never consolidated themselves in division 2. Themselves,  Westmeath, Kildare,  they are perfect teams for using the TC to develop because they are just a step below the consistency required for top end football. They are not as bad as yesterday in a consistent basis but they are also not as good as they were against Donegal on a consistent basis.

Yesterday was a beautiful aberration of a game and will live long in memory but for Down to really push on from Donegal they should guarantee their spot in next years Sam by winning the TC and then give Division 2 a real rattle from a position of strength 

[guevara]

The lack of physicality was worrying. Armagh get awsy with a lot in their tackling but they push the boundaries and got rewarded.

The amount of times an Armagh player received the ball under no pressure and was able to know no contact was coming.

The errors for the goals killed us and our lack of killer instinct showed our naievity.
Armagh would never concede them goals. They would take the foul and go again.

We went almost thirty minutes without a score because we kept trying to go for goals and not take 1 pointers to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Armagh were excellent and wanted to put down a marker.

[knowbetter]

Now that the football has settled a bit. How do we think the hurlers will fair this weekend against Joe McDonagh favorite's Carlow?

Already played once this year but not exactly under ideal condition for either team.

With the team on form and at home in Ballycran it should be a much closer encounter. In recent years down vs Carlow has been a toss up but Carlow have push on a bit much like kildare. Hopefully we are on the same path.

[snoopdog]

I dont thonk anyone said the TC was below Down. We are where we are becuase of years of poor management of underage structures. Laveety is doing his best with what he has at his disposal. And Down have certainly improved over the last 4 years. Not massively but sunday was the 1st time i would say they gave up under Lav. For me i think Armagh will win the All Ireland. McGeeney is as driven as ive seen, Kildare got rid of him too soon they didnt know what they had and are paying for that now.
It will take a long time to get over that defeat. Winnin gthe Tailteann cup doesnt seem like much of a consolation but it will guarantee what thry need for next summer. Ulsters a minefield and the luck of the draw. We dont want to lose it but an all ireland series from the start would be amuch fairer route.
Lavs biggest challenge now is to keep that grouo together and try and strengthen for next year. A few notable absentees from his own club would be a good addition for next year. Go put and go full tilt at the TC.
 

[APM]

Laverty is liable to cop a bit of criticism for how open he was about their preparation after the Donegal win, which now looks like a mistake.

However, he has Down going in the right general direction and their journey may not be too dissimilar to Armagh's under McGeeney.

Thinking back to 2017 and the 18 point hammering (in old money) at the hands of Tyrone which was equally traumatising and things looked hopeless for Armagh at that stage, such was the gap to the top teams.

The biggest challenge Lavery has after this weekend is to keep that group together and to gradually add to it, building squad depth.

[urbangael]

Agree. Lav put a target on our back after the Donegal win. Too much talk of screen savers and such nonsense. He should've played it down. Kerry, Donegal and Armagh was too much 3 weeks on the trot. Massive task to lift these lads now for a B competition. We are still top 16 team just unlucky the way its fallen. Hopefully the lads see out the summer and dont go to America where there is always the lure of a few quid.

[Ed Hardy]

Agree. Lav put a target on our back after the Donegal win. Too much talk of screen savers and such nonsense. He should've played it down. Kerry, Donegal and Armagh was too much 3 weeks on the trot. Massive task to lift these lads now for a B competition. We are still top 16 team just unlucky the way its fallen. Hopefully the lads see out the summer and dont go to America where there is always the lure of a few quid.

Good point about the Kerry game aswell. There should hopefully be a few games in the Tailteann cup now that Lav can experiment a bit with, whilst making sure we do enough to get a win (Scullion,Brown,O'Hare,Savage hopefully  all see game time) and I would imagine there will a few others called into the squad also, maybe a few of the u20s and boys standing out in the opening league games for their clubs?

Any idea how the Kerry man is getting on playing for Clann Na Banna?