Bad news for Down ahead of championship

[EagleLord]

Aye I'd say hes 29 or 30. Takes a brave while to recover from that kind of thing. Could be his county season over full stop.

[5 Sams]

Big blow for Down. They are on the soft side of the draw and may not come through now with their one class forward now ruled out.

WUM

Not at all. Just stating my opinion. I think Fermanagh could be a banana skin, you obviously beg to differ.

It's the "one class forward" comment that got me. Hughes, Poland and McComiskey might beg to differ with that statement.

[yellowcard]

Big blow for Down. They are on the soft side of the draw and may not come through now with their one class forward now ruled out.

WUM

Not at all. Just stating my opinion. I think Fermanagh could be a banana skin, you obviously beg to differ.

It's the "one class forward" comment that got me. Hughes, Poland and McComiskey might beg to differ with that statement.

Hughes would be the only player that might come close to being considered one of the top forwards in the country and I think even that would be pushing it. He had an exceptional year in 2010 and his high energy levels and workrate made him an essential part of that team. In footballing terms though I would considee him more Brian Dooher than Peter Canavan and 'class' would be the wrong term.

In terms of mcComiskey and Poland, both of them are decent county players on their day but certainly nothing more than that. They would not be nailed on certainties to start/complete games so I don't need to elaborate.

Coulter has been one of the best forwards in Ulster/Ireland for the best part of a decade. Hughes is a diffeent type of player who has had a good 4/5 years but the others don't even come close.

[Leo]

Coulter has been one of the best forwards in Ulster/Ireland for the best part of a decade. Hughes is a diffeent type of player who has had a good 4/5 years but the others don't even come close.
[/quote]

And that's the raeson this is a story.

[No. 6]

i agree coulter has served well for Down as has Hughes, Poland, & Mc Comiskey. however, look over the past 5 years how many talented players down have lost:
liam Doyle - injury;
Martin Clark - Aussie Rules;
Dan Gordon - injury;
there are other too.
when one is injured or off the panel it allows new blood to be put in the deep end. I can't see down winning an all ireland within the next 5 years - as a minimum - as every time they seem to find a solution to a problem another one opens up.

[Orchardman]

Big blow for Down. They are on the soft side of the draw and may not come through now with their one class forward now ruled out.

WUM

Not at all. Just stating my opinion. I think Fermanagh could be a banana skin, you obviously beg to differ.

It's the "one class forward" comment that got me. Hughes, Poland and McComiskey might beg to differ with that statement.

Hughes would be the only player that might come close to being considered one of the top forwards in the country and I think even that would be pushing it. He had an exceptional year in 2010 and his high energy levels and workrate made him an essential part of that team. In footballing terms though I would considee him more Brian Dooher than Peter Canavan and 'class' would be the wrong term.

In terms of mcComiskey and Poland, both of them are decent county players on their day but certainly nothing more than that. They would not be nailed on certainties to start/complete games so I don't need to elaborate.

Coulter has been one of the best forwards in Ulster/Ireland for the best part of a decade. Hughes is a diffeent type of player who has had a good 4/5 years but the others don't even come close.

Ur right, mccomiskey has an awful lot to do in order to be called a top class forward. Poland has good days surely i'm sure a decent defender could deal with him. Hughes is a runner, and is now starting to get found out. He showed up well in 2010, but when the high energy levels desert fella's like him then their goosed.

Pity for benny though, i know him and stevie Mc are big pals and it would have been great to see them play another ulster championship this summer. Hopefully for him he'll return at some stage this summer