Down Club Hurling & Football

[urbangael]

Who would actually want the down job. Limited ability in terms of talent and the 2 semi finals on Sunday would evidence that. The 40 or 50k a year is the real motivation and there in lies the problem whereby a mercenary will have no problem filling his pockets and moving on.

[Smurfy123]

PTC you go to games to watch quality players and some good football
What we were served on Sunday was terrible
2 terrible games
Don't get me started on that intermediate football
The Down manager has a job on his plate
Just over 8 weeks until the McKenna cup starts
News reports suggest Mickey Moran and Conleth Gilligan to be announced

[Truth hurts]

It has been a poor championship thus far at all levels. Probably the worst in a number of years. I really hope the county boar go back to intermediate and senior double header next year as they always increase the atmosphere. Apart from Oran Murdock there has been a poor emergence of midfielders in the championship too. No big men around.

[manwithnoplan]

Who would actually want the down job. Limited ability in terms of talent and the 2 semi finals on Sunday would evidence that. The 40 or 50k a year is the real motivation and there in lies the problem whereby a mercenary will have no problem filling his pockets and moving on.

Similar to most other county managers then. Any man taking the money will want to show something in return and enhance their reputation along the way, or at the very least, not damage it.

[lumpitin]

there is no mckenna cup this year.

[manwithnoplan]

Possibly the lack of a 'proper' league has led to a slightly lackluster championship. Many teams with nothing to play for, for most of the year then trying to step up and hit championship pace just hasn't happened for the most part unfortunately. Hard to fault the players and management as most teams know they aren't going to win their respective championships, and so getting the motivation levels and in turn the standard of preparation from the players to where it usually is has maybe been more difficult. Usually these teams have had a relegation/promotion battle and look to the championship to maybe take a scalp and finish the year having rocked someone's boat a little. Plus the odd bit of covid disruption to league games and training sessions may have had an impact. I wouldn't panic and see it as the death of football in Down, maybe just a result of the times we are currently in. Just my thoughts on it anyway....

[Truth hurts]

Our county board needs to be announcing this week, most other counties are back in the gym and our boys have not even met yet. It's a shambles with around 10 weeks left to the return of the intercounty season. How can the new management select a good panel in that timeframe, it's becoming really frustrating as a Down fan to see this drawn-out crap and silence from our hierarchy?
Yes, fair play to the selection committee for not releasing any information but come on people this is getting worrying. It cannot take this long to get someone in place and what is worrying me now is that they do not have anyone good enough interested in the role. It is looking like that. I fear for us in next years league.

[lumpitin]

Rostrevor announced pete mcgrath gone. Rumours that he could be going to saul. Heard Niall mcaleenan linked with rostrevor job. John Kennedy is supposedly heading back to glenn to partner in with there setup.

[manwithnoplan]

Our county board needs to be announcing this week, most other counties are back in the gym and our boys have not even met yet. It's a shambles with around 10 weeks left to the return of the intercounty season. How can the new management select a good panel in that timeframe, it's becoming really frustrating as a Down fan to see this drawn-out crap and silence from our hierarchy?
Yes, fair play to the selection committee for not releasing any information but come on people this is getting worrying. It cannot take this long to get someone in place and what is worrying me now is that they do not have anyone good enough interested in the role. It is looking like that. I fear for us in next years league.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect any player who has been on the panel this last few years, or who plays division 1 club football, to be fit to go to the gym and figure out what to do himself for a couple of weeks. Hardly the end of the world.

[terrifictommy]

But if that chosen manager is involved still in club championship it would be remiss of anyone to announce it. It wouldn't be fair on that club.
And I don't think it'll be Mickey Moran, I thought he is retiring.

[Truth hurts]

I don't care who it is but they should be announced asap, there should be a core panel but I am sure there will be a few trials to see who are close enough. Who do you think will be making the step up who was not involved in Tallys squad.
Jerome, Ryan, Shealan Johnston, Micheal Rooney
Oran Murdock, Paddy McCarthy
Campbell from Ballyholand
Eamon Brown, Tom Brown, Jamie O'Hagan
Adam Lynch, Donach McAleenan
Shane Annett,  Smyth
Ronan Beatty
McKibben from the town
Rory Mason
Ruari O'Hare
Daniel Eastwood

[Smurfy123]

With all due respect to those lads bar Annett and McAleenan the rest are not up to it
When are we going to stop beating the Kilcoo drum
Those lads don't want to play
Will the new manager run trials??

[SamFever]

With all due respect to those lads bar Annett and McAleenan the rest are not up to it
When are we going to stop beating the Kilcoo drum
Those lads don't want to play
Will the new manager run trials??

Good man Smurfy,put those East Down ones
in their box!

[Smurfy123]

Sorry young Murdock a great player also
No disrespect to the others but not at that level
I see All Ireland champions Tyrone back training.
We haven't even got a manager
This delay will have some affect on Downs year I have no doubt about that
I would be shocked if all intercounty teams are not doing something already
What way does that new cup competition work next year? The Taltiean cup?

[Johnnysboys]

I don't care who it is but they should be announced asap, there should be a core panel but I am sure there will be a few trials to see who are close enough. Who do you think will be making the step up who was not involved in Tallys squad.
Jerome, Ryan, Shealan Johnston, Micheal Rooney
Oran Murdock, Paddy McCarthy
Campbell from Ballyholand
Eamon Brown, Tom Brown, Jamie O'Hagan
Adam Lynch, Donach McAleenan
Shane Annett,  Smyth
Ronan Beatty
McKibben from the town
Rory Mason
Ruari O'Hare
Daniel Eastwood

Kilcoo  players - completely disagree
Burren players are both 18 years old.. they have another 2 years playing u20 before starting to think about seniors..
which Campbell - there are 3 of them!!!
Eamon Brown - no chance - very poor in last two games - stakes are higher he was nowhere to be seen - I take it u mean Tom Close - worth taking to try and develop over nxt few years - O'Hagan - surely u are taking the piss here?? At present we have Peter Fegan, Daniel Guinness, Darren O'Hagan, Gearard McGovern, Gerard Collins, Pearse Laverty, Cormac McCartan on the panel amongst others - Jamie may be a decent club player for the next ten years but he is no where near county standard.
Neither CpN player is county standard
Shane Annett yes - Smyth - no chance.
Beatty good player If he can stay fit
Mc Kibben - no chance
Mason - seriously you are having a laugh
O'Hare - good player
Eastwood???

From what I have seen of championship in last two seasons - U may have missed Stevie Fegan, Ross carr, murdock from Rostrevor, Conor Clarke, Ruairi McCormick, Connor Fitzpatrick (Bridge), Shea Byrne, Oisin mcConvey, Josh Connery, Seamus Loughran, Tiarnan Rushe, darragh Fegan, Jack McCartan, Brendan Gallen - probably missing a few here!!