Down Club Hurling & Football

[Splash]

Some good intermediate hurling coming up.

Warrenpoint face their toughest test in a long time when they host Carryduff. It was said to me in recent weeks that there are no intermediate teams in Down, only senior and junior. Could be a tough day for the Point.
In saying that, once upon a time Carryduff were new to intermediate hurling too, and have taken their fair share of beatings. The Point have taken plenty of beatings over the years, and look at them now. It's a period of growth for hurling in the club and great to see them competing at such a level.
Argument to be made that CPN are second best club in the intermediate, and this will be a learning day either way.
Fully expect Carryduff to go on a good Ulster, if not All Ireland run, and will come away with the win. At the same time, Warrenpoint will be no pushover. Have incredibly dangerous forwards in the form of John O'Kane, and the team is not of a poor standard. A great opportunity to test themselves and gauche where they are, and figure out what the next steps are for hurling in the club.
Great to see two teams from opposite ends of the county meet in a hurling match. Shows hurling is growing across the county, and hopefully both teams continue to promote hurling within their respective towns.

Ballers v Clonduff will be an interesting game.
Clonduff the most Jekyll and Hyde team in the county atm. Inclined to lose to Ballela before turning things around beating the Point out the gate. You just don't know which Clonduff team will turn up. Played Castlewellen a few weeks ago and were by miles the better team, before salvaging a draw against East Belfast not long after that.
Expect Clonduff to win in the end. But wouldn't be too surprised if they find themselves back in the Junior Championship.
2 of the most physical teams in Down, so will be interesting to see who dominates. Clonduff seem to have better level of fitness than Ballela which may play a massive factor.
Ballela will sense this is a massive opportunity to prove they haven't gone away. Johnny McCusker really changes the team when he is playing. The last time these teams met, the Clonduff defence couldn't handle him. However, one man can't win a game, and other lads in Ballela will need to step up if they are to seriously rattle Clonduff.

A couple weeks ago, I'd have said clonduff May have had it in them to give Carryduff a bloody nose, so will be interesting to see if they can bring that level to Ballela. 

Should be a good, old fashioned sort of game. Mightn't bring the flair that'll be happening in the senior championship, but will be no less enjoyable.

Hopefully we will have a less eventful affair than last years championship meeting between the two, and manage to get through the game without anyone getting their ear sliced off this time! 

[Square Ball]

The game in Kilcoo tonight was crap. This was notlhing to do with modern coaching but the reality was one team was superior to l the other. Are you trying to tell me this did not happen in the last 50 years? Of course it did. Memories are short, we all think summers were filled with sunshine, not true.

For the decade or so I was involved with Ballyholland senior football, we were routinely slapped in the SFC. So I'm not trying to tell you hidings are a new phenomenon.

But I'm absolutely sure it was never as boring as what we now have.

This is where we are at now. Players in the gym all year round. Group training getting underway before Christmas, running around with the utter nonsense that is GPS strapped to their back ever since. Days of video analysis per season. Pushing out holidays, lads weekends, weddings, summers abroad.

All of these measures in place, and not one of them doing a single thing to improve the game. It's just teams losing by more than they ever did, except absolutely shit scared to compete at midfield, or to kick the ball forwards.

Our game is fucked.

I feel your pain

[befair]

You are right wobbler; football is a hobby and shouldn't require SAS type training. But once one team hires and expensive manager, a fitness trainer, gymwork over the winter etc, every team has to do it; we are running to stand still. Is it practical for a married man with kids to play senior football any more? Numbers getting fewer and fewer, I'd guess. Same for any young person who needs to advance his career  by travelling

[guevara]

It's not necessarily the commitment levels that need to change, moreso effort vs reward balance.
Tonight in Newry two teams so negative they looked like they had forgot how to attack. Players in space turning to go bakward & under no pressure. Sweepers dropping back  for the sake of it.

I honestly think the only way it changes is a rule change. People paying in to watch the negative football on display & nearly every Team in the country setting up.the same way. It's pure shite on display!

Something has to give.

[upandwin]

You could pick the best 15 of Mayobridge and CPN and they still wouldn't beat Burren or Kilcoo. Was like watching an intermediate game this eve, two teams that have no identity. Mayobridge will get hammered by whoever they play next unless they draw Glenn. You could tell a mile off that Warrenpoint have had no manager all year, look like they're winging it with zero plan. No shape, their best players in their own half at all times, like watching an U-12 team that. Down football is in a bad place, Burren then Kilcoo then the rest this year I suspect.

[toby47]

When is the draw for the next round?

[ardtole]

After tonight's game usually.

[Truth hurts]

You could pick the best 15 of Mayobridge and CPN and they still wouldn't beat Burren or Kilcoo. Was like watching an intermediate game this eve, two teams that have no identity. Mayobridge will get hammered by whoever they play next unless they draw Glenn. You could tell a mile off that Warrenpoint have had no manager all year, look like they're winging it with zero plan. No shape, their best players in their own half at all times, like watching an U-12 team that. Down football is in a bad place, Burren then Kilcoo then the rest this year I suspect.

Last nights game was better than the Town v RGU. Castlewellen will need a few more players if they are to compete in the top division. Warrenpoint have regressed dramatically since last year and the Bridge never looked in trouble last night and if they had their shooting boots it would have been a hammering.
Its Kilcoo' s title to lose. But the standard has been really poor across the board.

[Gaelforce123]

The crowds at games are really poor for championship football, I know some will say its the quality on show but I dont believe it is. The same style of football is played all across the province. I would like to know how successful DownTv is, as it is a great service etc and especially great for those who physically cannot make games, but is it causing a significant detriment to attendances at games? The format of championship also means little neutrals attend games until knockout, crowds will hopefully increase next weekend but a good championship requires a good atmosphere and I think either keep games out of Newry until later stages, host double headers again or go back to knockout format.

[Truth hurts]

The game in Kilcoo tonight was crap. This was notlhing to do with modern coaching but the reality was one team was superior to l the other. Are you trying to tell me this did not happen in the last 50 years? Of course it did. Memories are short, we all think summers were filled with sunshine, not true.

For the decade or so I was involved with Ballyholland senior football, we were routinely slapped in the SFC. So I'm not trying to tell you hidings are a new phenomenon.

But I'm absolutely sure it was never as boring as what we now have.

This is where we are at now. Players in the gym all year round. Group training getting underway before Christmas, running around with the utter nonsense that is GPS strapped to their back ever since. Days of video analysis per season. Pushing out holidays, lads weekends, weddings, summers abroad.

All of these measures in place, and not one of them doing a single thing to improve the game. It's just teams losing by more than they ever did, except absolutely shit scared to compete at midfield, or to kick the ball forwards.

Our game is fucked.

That first half on Friday was the worst quality in the championship this year.
I agree that the game needs changed, all the coaches play the same style, the rules needs changed.

[elk]

You could pick the best 15 of Mayobridge and CPN and they still wouldn't beat Burren or Kilcoo. Was like watching an intermediate game this eve, two teams that have no identity. Mayobridge will get hammered by whoever they play next unless they draw Glenn. You could tell a mile off that Warrenpoint have had no manager all year, look like they're winging it with zero plan. No shape, their best players in their own half at all times, like watching an U-12 team that. Down football is in a bad place, Burren then Kilcoo then the rest this year I suspect.

Last nights game was better than the Town v RGU. Castlewellan will need a few more players if they are to compete in the top division. Warrenpoint have regressed dramatically since last year and the Bridge never looked in trouble last night and if they had their shooting boots it would have been a hammering.
Its Kilcoo' s title to lose. But the standard has been really poor across the board.

Unfortunately this is true, over the past 2-3 years Warrenpoint have gone from a fast free flowing football team under Niall Mc Aleenan who were a match for any team in the county and good to watch, to a very static team with a negative approach to the game and terrible to watch. People in Warrenpoint may say this is because a few of their better players have moved on and a few are the wrong side of thirty plus Murdock and Lynch are injured ( I'm sure most clubs have the same issues ). But to me the next generation they have coming through either are being coached differently or they just haven't the same quality/ability as the men they are expected to replace . The next year or two could difficult ones for the Point.

I agree the standard has been poor.

[Gaelforce123]

Truth Hurts, Rule changes do not work. Football will continue to change. It is more scientific now with the stats dictating what is the best way to beat a team whether it be playing everyone behind the ball or whether it be kicking etc etc, rules wont change that, if you change a rule any coach or coaches will work around it. Tell us a rule that could change the so called negative football. 40,000 a week go
To every stadium in England to watch soccer stand and pass sideways and back ways and walk with the ball for some small glimpse of excitement when a break is on. It is no different, tactical game that is about results and not conceding.

[Truth hurts]

Last night, Loughinisland threw it away, but Carryduff showed grit to win. Although their match against Kilcoo will be interesting, Kilcoo will win and cruise to yet another county championship.

[Hard2Listen2]

Last night, Loughinisland threw it away, but Carryduff showed grit to win. Although their match against Kilcoo will be interesting, Kilcoo will win and cruise to yet another county championship.

In what way did  Loughinisland throw it away?

Carryduff outscored them in the second half & to most people they would have been favourites as they have a better panel of players.

[Truth hurts]

Last night, Loughinisland threw it away, but Carryduff showed grit to win. Although their match against Kilcoo will be interesting, Kilcoo will win and cruise to yet another county championship.

In what way did  Loughinisland throw it away?

Carryduff outscored them in the second half & to most people they would have been favourites as they have a better panel of players.

I felt they missed a few easy scores and will be disappointed they lost control of the game early in the second half.
Carryduff would have wanted an easier draw than Kilcoo but that's the championship and there are no easy games from the quarters onwards.