Down Club Hurling & Football

[Mournenan82]

I'd say it's the best draw we could have got from a qualifying perspective. Maybe would have liked to get one of the big teams to newry but definitely should be looking at qualification to at least the last 12 and maybe compete for the automatic quarter final spot

[Truth hurts]

Its a great draw and we should be making the last 12 at least which would be progress but the squad should be confident of top spot.

[snoopdog]

Great draw. Not sure on dates and fixtures I think we are away to Clare 1st?

[AnDúnAbú94]

Great draw. Not sure on dates and fixtures I think we are away to Clare 1st?

It'll be away to Clare (presuming there's no upset) 17th/18th May
At home to the Leinster winners 1st/2nd June
Neutral (probably Armagh?) vs Monaghan 14th/15th June

I think its a great draw, best we could have hoped for. Might have been nice to get a Kerry or Galway to Newry but this gives us our best chance of going through and outside chance at topping the group.

[DownFanatic]

Well done to the hurlers today.  League titles are thin on the ground up here.

They responded well in both halfs when Kildare got their goals, in particular at the start of the second half.

CT was good for the whole game, my motm, no doubt Tom McGrattan is in with a shout and took his goals well will always grab the headlines.

Roll on Div1B.

The hurlers have taken two big beatings so for in the Joe McDonagh and the mood within the camp isn't good by all accounts..

We could well be looking at relegation to the Christy Ring if the whole group don't start pulling together and soon.

Where did this implosion from the hurlers come from in these two games? Especially after such a good league campaign. Carlow and Laois obviously 1B League teams but are we going to be massively out of our depth in the higher league tier next year?

[johnnycool]

Well done to the hurlers today.  League titles are thin on the ground up here.

They responded well in both halfs when Kildare got their goals, in particular at the start of the second half.

CT was good for the whole game, my motm, no doubt Tom McGrattan is in with a shout and took his goals well will always grab the headlines.

Roll on Div1B.

The hurlers have taken two big beatings so for in the Joe McDonagh and the mood within the camp isn't good by all accounts..

We could well be looking at relegation to the Christy Ring if the whole group don't start pulling together and soon.

Where did this implosion from the hurlers come from in these two games? Especially after such a good league campaign. Carlow and Laois obviously 1B League teams but are we going to massively out of our depth in the higher league tier next year?

Yes, Carlow and Laois are a step above anything Down have faced in a competitive game this year (they did play Laois in a friendly earlier in the year) and it's not unexpected to be beat by both teams, the manner of the defeats is another thing, and the players response to the defeats isn't good either.


There may have been a clearing of the air this week and hopefully they can all refocus to face Westmeath in Mullingar on the 10th, another Div1B team even if they were relegated, they'll be used to playing at a higher standard than Down so everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction.

[snoopdog]

Hurling has massive gaps.between the different leagues/levels.
Down will learn alot from this and next seasons league. A massive learning curve.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Why has McGovern gone? He was given plenty of oppurtunity last year to get up to speed. Pity if he jas walked away.
Would Mooney be an option as one of the 3 left up?
I think Doherty is too important to leave up there. The lad covers some amount of ground.
Looking fwd to going to the Hyde. Roscommon a decent team and would expect them to win but we need to get to the level of div2 quickly as we only have 1 home game remaining after game 3.

I presume he wont be playing, because of the soccer. Pity because he's very talented

I assume the move to full time soccer ends his GAA career

[Splash]

Well done to the hurlers today.  League titles are thin on the ground up here.

They responded well in both halfs when Kildare got their goals, in particular at the start of the second half.

CT was good for the whole game, my motm, no doubt Tom McGrattan is in with a shout and took his goals well will always grab the headlines.

Roll on Div1B.

The hurlers have taken two big beatings so for in the Joe McDonagh and the mood within the camp isn't good by all accounts..

We could well be looking at relegation to the Christy Ring if the whole group don't start pulling together and soon.

Where did this implosion from the hurlers come from in these two games? Especially after such a good league campaign. Carlow and Laois obviously 1B League teams but are we going to massively out of our depth in the higher league tier next year?

Yes, Carlow and Laois are a step above anything Down have faced in a competitive game this year (they did play Laois in a friendly earlier in the year) and it's not unexpected to be beat by both teams, the manner of the defeats is another thing, and the players response to the defeats isn't good either.


There may have been a clearing of the air this week and hopefully they can all refocus to face Westmeath in Mullingar on the 10th, another Div1B team even if they were relegated, they'll be used to playing at a higher standard than Down so everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction.

What's been the craic in the hurlers? Is the mood in the camp poor? I haven't had the chance to follow the championship this year.

I haven't been to any of the games, but they have been bad score lines. To be honest though, I wasn't totally surprised. They went very hard at the league, and there's only so much you can do before you burn out.

Beating Westmeath is essential after they lost to Kildare. Returning to the Christy Ring would be massively disappointing, although if it gives Down the chance to try new players, new tactics, new game plans, etc., and play more competitive games, it will not be all bad. But let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I was told there's been a bad run of injuries to some key players.

What has been the response from the players to the defeats?

Well done to the U20s on winning another All Ireland B, beating Tyrone at the weekend. Things seem to be on the up domestically, within the county.

Too early to even worry about Div 1 next year, but it's where we want, and need, to be.

[knowbetter]

Its unfortunate that our hurlers had to play the two strongest teams in their first two games of the championship. Playing and competing in division 1 has shown Laois and Carlow are slightly above the rest.

Cant imagine the mood in camp being great with two bad losses, which is disappointing for the team after a fantastic league campaign.

Westmeath and Down are on 0 points and regulation to the Cristy Ring is a very real possibility. Both teams will be targeting this match to secure their spot for next year. A lot of people have commented on Westmeath's fall but they were still a division 1 team and I expect it to be a tough match.

I 

[PAULD123]

Does anyone know when the GAA release the actual dates of the games? For now we know the weekend but the 2nd and 3rd games could be Saturday or Sunday. When do they tell us the day of the game and time? Thanks

[snoopdog]

Does anyone know when the GAA release the actual dates of the games? For now we know the weekend but the 2nd and 3rd games could be Saturday or Sunday. When do they tell us the day of the game and time? Thanks

Prob next week knowing them. I'd think the Louth fame in Newry will be a sat evening. And tge Monaghan fame most likely in Armagh a sat evening game also unless they play them all on thr final day at same time?

[Ed Hardy]

Anybody know if any more players been called into the panel for the group games? Thought maybe they would be tempted to bring Sheelan Johnson back after coming home from Oz. 

[snoopdog]

No confirmation for Louths home venue v Monaghan.
It wouldn't be the best idea for Down GAA to allow Newry as an option. Considering they will be playing Louth in Newry the following week. Every small advantage will be needed for Down.
 

[blackwater1992]

Another loss for Mayobridge tonight really look in trouble this year, just can't get going at all.