Down Club Hurling & Football

[Splash]

Hurlers narrowly lose out to Carlow.

Was level with ten minutes to go, and only five points in it at the end. Can't be too  unhappy with that when playing away to a strong Carlow side.

Given the way the other results went, Down  need to beat Meath at home next Saturday, and hope that Carlow beat Kildare in order for us to reach a semi final.

If Down can continue to play like that, they could very well reach promotion yet.

[dingle82]

Down missing 3 key Portaferry players - CT, Barry T and Tom Mcg.
Are they available next weekend? Good chance of pipping Kildare on score difference for a semi final place.

[Granto]

Who are the contenders for the Down All County Leagues this season?

[johnnycool]

Portaferry probably favourites for Div1, East Belfast could be a surprise package in Div2.

[Granto]

Portaferry probably favourites for Div1, East Belfast could be a surprise package in Div2.

That's very interesting, but I meant to say in "Football"!

[downtothecore]

Portaferry probably favourites for Div1, East Belfast could be a surprise package in Div2.

That's very interesting, but I meant to say in "Football"!

Div 1 Burren, Carryduff and kilcoo as  it's hard to see any other clubs making a challenge based on last years form

[DuffGael]

Portaferry probably favourites for Div1, East Belfast could be a surprise package in Div2.

That's very interesting, but I meant to say in "Football"!

Div 1 Burren, Carryduff and kilcoo as  it's hard to see any other clubs making a challenge based on last years form

It's hard to know due to clubs not having county players ATM. Kilcoo always strong but last year it was ourselves and loughinisland in the top 2 but neither had many involved with the county though that's different this year. It's impossible to call

[Splash]

Portaferry probably favourites for Div1, East Belfast could be a surprise package in Div2.

Think Liatroim should have what it takes to win Division One again. Agree on East Belfast, although I suppose there's the argument that they're not really a surprise anymore given their success last year.

Div 2 will be interesting. Could realistically see any team going up. I would say Portaferry or Ballycran will probably be favourites to win it outright.

[johnnycool]

Portaferry probably favourites for Div1, East Belfast could be a surprise package in Div2.

Think Liatroim should have what it takes to win Division One again. Agree on East Belfast, although I suppose there's the argument that they're not really a surprise anymore given their success last year.

Div 2 will be interesting. Could realistically see any team going up. I would say Portaferry or Ballycran will probably be favourites to win it outright.

Liatroim didn't really go all out in the league last year as they came to our place and had a good few starters along the line, but I'm hearing they've lost the Murphy's and McCusker, but that could be lies and more cash appeared from the festival funds 

[Splash]

The craic I heard was McCusker is away, but the Belfast men are staying.

Who knows until the leagues get up and running I suppose.

Liatroim may be the team to watch this year. The Fontenoy men I was speaking to felt last year was some opportunity that got away.

They'll have their eyes on the prize come the championship I'd say.

Of course, that's not to say they'll go hammer and tongs at the league, and things are never as simple as that come the championship.

I expect Bredagh and Carryduff to be stronger than they were last year, and Ballycran will never want a scare like that ever again. Add in trying to balance senior football now alongside senior hurling and who knows what way they'll get on.

Still though. Be an interesting team to watch imo.

[Back2Winning]

Kilcoo - K Lacey
Burren - E McCartan
CPN - J Boyle
Clonduff - G Adams
Mayobridge - B Murray
Carryduff - F Moriarty
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
Bredagh - ?
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Castlewellan - C McCabe

Longstone - C Brannigan
Bryansford - J Magorrian
RGU - K Duffin & C McCrickard
Rostrevor - DJ Morgan
Saval - P Morrison
Saul - D Lynch
Liatroim - P Murray
Shamrocks - DJ Kane
An Riocht  - C Kelly
St John's - S Curran

Glenn - S Clark?
Drumgath - P Hynes
Annaclone- J Clarke
Ballymartin- Barry Cunningham
Attical - M Rafferty
Tullylish - R McShane
Drumaness - L Sloan
Banbridge- P Feeney
Bosco - M McVeigh
Finn - M Copeland


Darragh - B Mason
St Paul's- P Hannigan
Bright - Aidan Clark
Dromara - J Fegan
Teconnaght - C Laverty
Kilclief - S Curran
Ardglass - K Smyth
Dundrum - R McCartan
East Belfast - C O'Neill
Aghaderg - K Blaney
St Michael's - L McAlinden
Glasdrumman - N McKibben


Would this list of Down senior football club managers for 2024 above be correct??

[bannside]

Bredagh - Kieran McGourty / Deaghlan Bunting are both there AFAIK.

[johnnycool]

The craic I heard was McCusker is away, but the Belfast men are staying.

Who knows until the leagues get up and running I suppose.

Liatroim may be the team to watch this year. The Fontenoy men I was speaking to felt last year was some opportunity that got away.

They'll have their eyes on the prize come the championship I'd say.

Of course, that's not to say they'll go hammer and tongs at the league, and things are never as simple as that come the championship.

I expect Bredagh and Carryduff to be stronger than they were last year, and Ballycran will never want a scare like that ever again. Add in trying to balance senior football now alongside senior hurling and who knows what way they'll get on.

Still though. Be an interesting team to watch imo.

Ballycran lads I know are expecting them to drop off a bit this year at senior (not Div1) due to a few retirements and lads off to Australia plus they've very little coming through from underage.
Donal Hughes back is a big plus for Bredagh, he's their main scoring threat and a real pain in the hole for our lads who struggle to get a grips with him and they do have some very good underage hurlers in the pipeline if they commit to hurling. Being relegated to Div 3 in Antrim may give them a chance to bring some of those lads through at an easier pace whereas we might end up throwing some of our lads in at the deep end in Antrim Div1 and that IMO isn't a good thing short term or indeed long term as it's a huge step up.
Liatroim certainly won't be taken lightly by anyone, I think they're still a bit weak defensively and need a dog or two of corner backs to hold out the better forwards around. That was their Achilles heel against us and we left a few sitters of goals behind us that night in Kilclief.

Ports will still be strong favourites come championship but complacency has historically been a problem for them.

[razor]

Kilcoo - K Lacey
Burren - E McCartan
CPN - J Boyle
Clonduff - G Adams
Mayobridge - B Murray
Carryduff - F Moriarty
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
Bredagh - ?
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Castlewellan - C McCabe

Longstone - C Brannigan
Bryansford - J Magorrian
RGU - K Duffin & C McCrickard
Rostrevor - DJ Morgan
Saval - P Morrison
Saul - D Lynch
Liatroim - P Murray
Shamrocks - DJ Kane
An Riocht  - C Kelly
St John's - S Curran

Glenn - S Clark?
Drumgath - P Hynes
Annaclone- J Clarke
Ballymartin- Barry Cunningham
Attical - M Rafferty
Tullylish - R McShane
Drumaness - L Sloan
Banbridge- P Feeney
Bosco - M McVeigh
Finn - M Copeland


Darragh - B Mason
St Paul's- P Hannigan
Bright - Aidan Clark
Dromara - J Fegan
Teconnaght - C Laverty
Kilclief - S Curran
Ardglass - K Smyth
Dundrum - R McCartan
East Belfast - C O'Neill
Aghaderg - K Blaney
St Michael's - L McAlinden
Glasdrumman - N McKibben


Would this list of Down senior football club managers for 2024 above be correct??

Liatroim is Peter McDonnell

[Truth hurts]

Would it not make sense to postpone the reserve games this weekend due to the recent rain and the forecast for tomorrow?