Down Club Hurling & Football

[ardtole]

Laverty might well have more Burren men starting than Kilcoo men come championship. I'd expect Liam Kerr and Odhran Murdock to be nailed on and likely at least one of the Magills.

McEvoy could well start but there are not too many more you would have as certainties to start. Rooney as mentioned above would certainly be a strong option.

[extra time]

Is it online ticketing for the match on Sunday or can you pay at the gate?

[OgraAnDun]

A really positive performance last night, we wer strong in defence, dominated midfield and should have scored a whole lot more. Donegal will be another good test but to make a McKenna semi final would be unreal.

Ffs it's the McKenna cup.

[snoopdog]

Is it online ticketing for the match on Sunday or can you pay at the gate?

Id say you need to buy online.

[Truth hurts]

You wont be turned away with cash at the gate

[Lecale Gael]

Is it online ticketing for the match on Sunday or can you pay at the gate?

No cash as it's Ulster gaa taking the money not Down GAA. No cash at gate unfortunately.

[redandblackareback]

Curious to see how many changes we make today especially with so many lads involved in Sigerson action in two days time. Have heard we will see at least 5 changes from Wednesdays team. Donegal are in a very similar predicament to ourselves this time last year with a late appointment and a late start. Our 3 month head start should see us win comfortably and into our first McKenna Cup semi final in a few years. Also, "Wee Doc" is in line for the captaincy for the year ahead.

[ardtole]

I had a suspicion that Liam Kerr might get the captaincy. Guaranteed starter, probably our best player, bit of an olive branch to the Burren contingent. No more than a hunch though.

[Smurfy123]

The best Down performance in 2 or 3 years
A serious team gathering pace
Havern was brilliant

[downtothecore]

Good performance from down. Pat haven, liam kerr and pat haven all excellent. Donegal aare a good bit of the pace though t present and apparently they have over 40 players in their county involved  in sigerson next weekend so they will be very different outfit come championship.

[Sheedy]

It's only McKenna cup etc etc but winning breeds confidence. Another very good performance from Down, top performances from Havern, Conor Francis and Barry OHagan among others. Still a big panel and competition for places is good to see. Good to get to McKenna semis and get at least one more competitive game before the league starts

[Mourne Rover]

While McKenna Cup performances will soon be forgotten, it is still the first time in a decade that we have managed to make the semi finals of the competition. Havern and Francis were excellent throughout, and we looked solid at midfield as well. Even if there are no further additions to the squad from Kilcoo, we should be in decent shape for the start of the league.

[urbangael]

Mckenna cup is obviously not much more than a friendly but 2 wins in a row is always welcome. Serious pace in the team with Liam Kerr the quickest of the lot but is also pace with a purpose. McEvoy round the middle was welcome to see interesting to see if he stays there as he is a quality full back too. Big Donnelly worked hard and Havern was on fine form. OHagan will get fitter and sharper. Green shoots of optimism I'd expect promotion from Div 3. Seems to be a large squad with probably 10 or 15 players not even named on the match day panel. Massive competition for players will only help.

[Smurfy123]

Tyrone beat Down in the semi final of the McKenna cup in Armagh 2-3 years ago
The squad seems to be very united
That's what happens when everyone pulls the one way
That wasn't happening last year and players were calling the shots
Thankfully those players are now off the panel

[Mourne Rover]

Smurfy is correct and and I had forgotten that we did make the McKenna semis in 2020. However, we came out of a group with Fermanagh and Antrim that year before getting hammered by Tyrone and our record in the competition has been generally dreadful over the last decade. Getting an extra game against decent opposition next weekend is a big help and should give us a fair idea about our league prospects.