Down Club Hurling & Football

[snoopdog]

Soul destroying defeat that. 

[thewobbler]

It's an odd thing.

This is the most progress a Down team has made in 15 years. Competitive in every game and unwilling to accept defeat. Likely going down to D3, but not far off D1 standard. I think there's a big championship incoming.

[snoopdog]

It's an odd thing.

This is the most progress a Down team has made in 15 years. Competitive in every game and unwilling to accept defeat. Likely going down to D3, but not far off D1 standard. I think there's a big championship incoming.

I'd disagree. I think we are miles off Div 1 standard. Rl
Relegtion back to div 3 is a major set back. Very competitive in all games but do we lack leaders to get them over tge line? Last 2 games should've seen a result.

[LosDodgers]

I think that's why it's so gutting. If we played these 5 games again next season we could well win 4 or 5 of them! This is our level, but going back to playing Antrim & Wicklow etc is a major major blow.

[Splash]

Hurlers in the last home game of the league tomorrow. Hosting Tyrone in Ballycran.

Im looking forward to this novel pairing.

Tyrone have made some serious progress, but they're bottom of the league whilst Down are on top. Im not expecting Down to walk it, but it is important Down pick up the points.

I haven't seen a team sheet, but the management have 2 options: do they name a normal starting XV and aim to get the best possible score difference in case things go pear shaped in Tralee or Trim, or do they start a team of young or fringe players and give them the chance to get some competitive game time.

Personally, I would like to see players from smaller/junior clubs involved tomorrow. Every club has at least one or two fellas who could be a great addition to the county. Connolly from Castlewellan, McGreevy from Ballela, Malone from Ballyvarley, Beggs from the Point- players like these could develop even further in the county set up, and it would be a good opportunity tomorrow for them to get game time. We need more players to feature from outside the traditional clubs, and not just for the sake of it. We need them for what they can actually bring to the table.

I don't think it'll happen, but it would be great to see.

Tyrone have really kicked on, and they've shown they won't lie down. Always great to see an Ulster team in Ballycran. They haven't quite reached the level of Down or Antrim yet, but they'll be happy with their season.

Would recommend anyone interested to take a look at this match. Hopefully it should show what Down can do.

Kerry did us a favour today beating Meath, meaning we are the only undefeated team in the division. Delighted with how things have been going so far, and hopefully Down can keep the heads down and march closer to Division One.

Also best of luck to the minors tomorrow in the final against Antrim in Ballycastle. It'll be tough but would be great boost if they could get the win.



Sickened for the footballers. As has been said, it's nearly worse because all those games could have been won on another day. Correct me if I'm wrong, but technically, relegation isn't inevitable- although it is out of Downs' hands.

Down have seriously come on in 3 or 4 years. But they still have a long, long way to go it would seem. There's a lot of potential in Down football. How it is utilised is the question.

[snoopdog]

Hurlers in the last home game of the league tomorrow. Hosting Tyrone in Ballycran.

Im looking forward to this novel pairing.

Tyrone have made some serious progress, but they're bottom of the league whilst Down are on top. Im not expecting Down to walk it, but it is important Down pick up the points.

I haven't seen a team sheet, but the management have 2 options: do they name a normal starting XV and aim to get the best possible score difference in case things go pear shaped in Tralee or Trim, or do they start a team of young or fringe players and give them the chance to get some competitive game time.

Personally, I would like to see players from smaller/junior clubs involved tomorrow. Every club has at least one or two fellas who could be a great addition to the county. Connolly from Castlewellan, McGreevy from Ballela, Malone from Ballyvarley, Beggs from the Point- players like these could develop even further in the county set up, and it would be a good opportunity tomorrow for them to get game time. We need more players to feature from outside the traditional clubs, and not just for the sake of it. We need them for what they can actually bring to the table.

I don't think it'll happen, but it would be great to see.

Tyrone have really kicked on, and they've shown they won't lie down. Always great to see an Ulster team in Ballycran. They haven't quite reached the level of Down or Antrim yet, but they'll be happy with their season.

Would recommend anyone interested to take a look at this match. Hopefully it should show what Down can do.

Kerry did us a favour today beating Meath, meaning we are the only undefeated team in the division. Delighted with how things have been going so far, and hopefully Down can keep the heads down and march closer to Division One.

Also best of luck to the minors tomorrow in the final against Antrim in Ballycastle. It'll be tough but would be great boost if they could get the win.



Sickened for the footballers. As has been said, it's nearly worse because all those games could have been won on another day. Correct me if I'm wrong, but technically, relegation isn't inevitable- although it is out of Downs' hands.

Down have seriously come on in 3 or 4 years. But they still have a long, long way to go it would seem. There's a lot of potential in Down football. How it is utilised is the question.

Correct, it's not a cert. But we need Cork to lose they're last 2 games and us to win at least v westmeath. Our head to head with Cork would keep us up. Cork have Louth at home and Cavan away
Not likely.
It's very dissapointing. They've played well I've been to all the games bar last nights and thry never give up. Bud set back though. Down will learn nothing from div 3 bar maybe blooding a fee more players. But who is there in the county that will make the difference. The johsons and liam kerr might jave got us over the line in 1 of those games .  Small margins.
Laverty is getting the most of them just too many small men. Midfield is killing us.
Was anyone there last night. Northern sound said haverns 2 pointer was over.

[downtothecore]

If we were to beat westmeath and monaghan would we be ok?

[ardtole]

It's an odd thing.

This is the most progress a Down team has made in 15 years. Competitive in every game and unwilling to accept defeat. Likely going down to D3, but not far off D1 standard. I think there's a big championship incoming.

I'd disagree. I think we are miles off Div 1 standard. Rl
Relegtion back to div 3 is a major set back. Very competitive in all games but do we lack leaders to get them over tge line? Last 2 games should've seen a result.

I think only having 3 home games this year was a huge disadvantage. Eugene Brannigan has had a huge impact off the bench in the last 3 games, how James Guinness, Millar, and at the start of the campaign, McKibben started before him is a mystery.

McCrickard in ff has had a few games, and considering the impact other forwards in other counties are having under the new rules, he is coming up short. Savage might benefit from a year in div 3 to help find his feet. Our problems in midfield are well documented but I think our ff line is what is causing Laverty the most problems.

On a positive note Paddy McCarthy had a solid game, Daniel Guinness was quieter than normal, but has probably been our best player in the league. I think that come championship, the hard ground will really suit this Down team.

I think Laverty is getting the best out of this group, the results have been disappointing but sometimes you can go through a spell where you just can't buy a win and it feels like we are in a rut.

If the frc change the 12 v 11 keeper situation it will benefit Down immensely. We don't have a goalkeeper who can take advantage of the rule and other teams are killing us, particularly Meath and Roscommon who had a keeper who could contribute positively to their teams attack.

[snoopdog]

If we were to beat westmeath and monaghan would we be ok?

That would leave us in 6pts. If Cork win their last 2 games they'd be on 8.
Louth and Cavan would finish above us on head to head.

[Sheedy]

If we were to beat westmeath and monaghan would we be ok?

That would leave us in 6pts. If Cork win their last 2 games they'd be on 8.
Louth and Cavan would finish above us on head to head.

Not if Louth lose their last games (Monaghan, Cork and Meath) which is possible, they'd only be on 4 pts. Down need to beat Westmeath and Monaghan and hope others lose to stay up.

Last 2 results have been a killer, the performances in league so far have been good and we've been competitive in all the games, just can't come out on the right result in a tight game.

[downtothecore]

If we were to beat westmeath and monaghan would we be ok?

That would leave us in 6pts. If Cork win their last 2 games they'd be on 8.
Louth and Cavan would finish above us on head to head.

Not if Louth lose their last games (Monaghan, Cork and Meath) which is possible, they'd only be on 4 pts. Down need to beat Westmeath and Monaghan and hope others lose to stay up.

Last 2 results have been a killer, the performances in league so far have been good and we've been competitive in all the games, just can't come out on the right result in a tight game.

Well if down do beat westmeath and monaghan which i think they can do and do much manage to stay up it would be great for this group and they will deserve it as they are not far away. Here is hoping...

[PAULD123]

The best chance for us would be for Cork to lose at home to Louth, then away to Cavan. Which is very possible.

In that scenario we would just need a win against Westmeath to stay up.

[johnnycool]

The hurlers filled their boots against poor Tyrone, they better have the same firepower the next day out against Kerry.

A draw there is enough to cement top spot and a run in Div 1B in 2026 irrespective of the last game in Trim.

They'd have taken that at the start of the year.

[Splash]

Best of luck to the U20s against Antrim tomorrow in the Ulster Final.

The minors were well beat in the same fixture last week.

There's clearly work that still has to be done before we can match Antrim at underage.

[johnnycool]

Best of luck to the U20s against Antrim tomorrow in the Ulster Final.

The minors were well beat in the same fixture last week.

There's clearly work that still has to be done before we can match Antrim at underage.

Big Shea pulled his hamstring a few weeks back playing for University of Ulster and really shouldn't be playing based on the conversation I had with him on Monday night.
This is the first time he's had that injury and if he doesn't let it heal properly he will be blighted by this for years to come.
Rory McCamphill is also injured by the sounds of it and with those two out Downs chances of causing a shock is gone as it would be a shock for this team to beat Antrim at this level.

For the U17's I was expecting a bigger Castlewellan contingent to be on that team.  Appointing management so late and with very little experience of the players at this level doesn't help.

Having a few trials doesn't really tell you much IMO, you need to see the lads in competitive action for their clubs and schools tells you much more.