Down Club Hurling & Football

[LosDodgers]

Good bounce-back game today, gets the Armagh game out of his system.

McCormick impressive again off the bench. Finn McElroy adds a bit of strength to the back line and Eamon Brown looked sharper off the bench, he's the one we really need to develop, good size and accurate

[snoopdog]

What an abysmal performance by Down. Missed loads of chances, not one player could say they did well. Is there a forward in the county.
The kickouts were very poor.
Dreadful from start to finish.
U20s qere demolised very easily by Sligo.
Down will go nowhere until they sort out the disaster that is underage.

[Dayman]

I think if Mooney or Havern had buried either of those goal chances we get through that. Or if guys just took easy points instead of forcing a goal every time. Not sure I'd agree it was dreadful from start to finish, the lads won plenty of posession and the chances were there, just some very poor shooting. Concerning we only got one 2 pointer with the wind with us in the second half while Offaly were able to create and convert plenty.

Just don't think that the desire is really there for a Tailteann Cup run (even if it is more or less our level) and a Offaly or Wexford or Wicklow will see it as a real target.

[5times5times]

How the F did we beat donegal???

[Minus15]

Just home from Tullamore. Down are hungover.
They weren't at the races at all. Last week against Leitrim they were in 2nd gear throughout.
They sleepwalked into this one also and only came alive when they went 9 points down in first half. They were back level again half way through the second maybe even a point up but spurned a good few chances.
Never got to grips with Offaly's two point threat and paid the price as they finished stronger.
I think they will now face either Longford, Wicklow or probably Sligo next week for a place in the QF.

[snoopdog]

Just home from Tullamore. Down are hungover.
They weren't at the races at all. Last week against Leitrim they were in 2nd gear throughout.
They sleepwalked into this one also and only came alive when they went 9 points down in first half. They were back level again half way through the second maybe even a point up but spurned a good few chances.
Never got to grips with Offaly's two point threat and paid the price as they finished stronger.
I think they will now face either Longford, Wicklow or probably Sligo next week for a place in the QF.

And any of those 3 teams will give Down problems. They need to get over themselves or thry will be back in this comp again next year.
We are a B level county, all our teams are in that tier.
Have a few walked away from the panel for the yesr?
Down keep talking about wanting to play Sam Magulre football. They make themselves look stupid by not performing. 

[marty34]

Just home from Tullamore. Down are hungover.
They weren't at the races at all. Last week against Leitrim they were in 2nd gear throughout.
They sleepwalked into this one also and only came alive when they went 9 points down in first half. They were back level again half way through the second maybe even a point up but spurned a good few chances.
Never got to grips with Offaly's two point threat and paid the price as they finished stronger.
I think they will now face either Longford, Wicklow or probably Sligo next week for a place in the QF.

And any of those 3 teams will give Down problems. They need to get over themselves or thry will be back in this comp again next year.
We are a B level county, all our teams are in that tier.
Have a few walked away from the panel for the yesr?
Down keep talking about wanting to play Sam Magulre football. They make themselves look stupid by not performing. 

They talked on 'The Saturday Game' last night about teams doing well in Tailltean Cup are teams who have embracd the competition. That seems to be the case every year. Certain counties know their level and want to try and win it.

I don't think, for whatever reason, that Down are in that bracket. Maybe they put too much energy into he Donegal game. The wheels came off at the final whistle.

[LosDodgers]

Terrible results obvs. Big miss by Mooney when two points down.

I think there was always a fair chance of us getting caught out in this competition. However if you're going to lose, this is the time to do it.

Hopefully get a home draw next week. And we can bounce back, Offaly won't beat us twice (hopefully)

If we win next week, which we should, we will face a difficult away 1/4 against the likes of Laois

[clonian]

I didn't get to the games in Tullamore so I can't comment on the performances but 2 bad results either way. Minors got over the line but shipped a lot of goals on the way.

Laverty has a hard job on his hands to keep Down going in the right direction now, a hard trip way to Longford to face now.

[Ed Hardy]

Any word on how Down are looking on the injury front for next weekend? McEvoy, Crimmins or Kerr back? Danny Magill must have had a set back? He was named as a reserve for the armagh game but nothing since then.

[snoopdog]

Any word on how Down are looking on the injury front for next weekend? McEvoy, Crimmins or Kerr back? Danny Magill must have had a set back? He was named as a reserve for the armagh game but nothing since then.

Id say those guys have gone back to the clubs, any point risking them for next year. Shoukd be looking at squad and new players.
If they play like they did in Offaly they couod be gone tomorrow night. Cant keep sleepwalking through games.

[statto]

Any word on how Down are looking on the injury front for next weekend? McEvoy, Crimmins or Kerr back? Danny Magill must have had a set back? He was named as a reserve for the armagh game but nothing since then.

Id say those guys have gone back to the clubs, any point risking them for next year. Shoukd be looking at squad and new players.
If they play like they did in Offaly they couod be gone tomorrow night. Cant keep sleepwalking through games.

Down should be going all out to win the TC again so they are assured of playing in AI series next year. They will have a McKenna cup and league next year to find a few players.

Division 2 is a mindfield next year, by winning the TC Down have their destiny in own hands if play AI football, this year got caught short with an extremely difficult draw within Ulster and then having to rely on others to do them a favour which did not transpire as they would like.

Laverty needs to wrestle back the momentum they had after winning Division three and beating Donegal, if they fail to win TC looks like one step forward and two back. 

I don't see what sending some of their better players back to the clubs will achieve longer term. What does that say to the rest of the panel?  Magill is coming back after a serious injury, understand that his minutes would need managed. Sending him back to Burren for the rest of the year wouldn't be the right thing to do imo. 

[ck]

Watched some of the Longford game. Down look like a team who don't want to be in Tailteann Cup and are waiting for the year to be over? If they are not on their game Laois will take them.

[snoopdog]

Ive been to all 3 games in Tailtean to date and theyre going through the motions. Sat win wasnt impressive either, longford were poor. Whole Down controlled the game the soft goals kept them ahead. Somme poor wides. Granted the beeeze was cross field. Laois beat them in the dead rubber league game in Newry so Down will need to up theyre game. Mooney should start his direct running tore through Longford.

[Baile na Faiche]

Ive been to all 3 games in Tailtean to date and theyre going through the motions. Sat win wasnt impressive either, longford were poor. Whole Down controlled the game the soft goals kept them ahead. Somme poor wides. Granted the beeeze was cross field. Laois beat them in the dead rubber league game in Newry so Down will need to up theyre game. Mooney should start his direct running tore through Longford.

Entirely understandable under the circumstances. Down are plainly above the Tailteann cup, and the players know it. Expect another comfortable victory on Saturday in what should be this squads last year in the tournament.