Down Club Hurling & Football

LosDodgers · March 16, 2026, 03:41:23 PM

Quote from: ardtole on March 15, 2026, 11:35:36 PMId rest Murdock, Guinness, Laverty, Burns, McEvoy, Havern. Possibly the biggest game of the year the following week. Win and we go into the Donegal on a high and a free hit.

Yeah, we've had a fairly settled team over the 6 games so I would pretty much rest anyone who has played all 6 games. Not worth it with a potential 6 day turnaround.

We have plenty of lads who could do with the game time - Kerr, O'Hagan, Brown, O'Hare, Doran, Close, McCarthy, Rooney etc also if Caolan Mooney is back great opportunity to get him minutes.

Is Pierce McPolin injured? Though he done well first few games but hasn't been in match day squad last 2 games.

Hugh Pat McGeary was due back before end of the league too.

Presume Eugene & Danny Magill are still a bit away.

If them 3 or 4 come back it gives us great depth going into championship.

snoopdog · March 17, 2026, 08:30:57 AM

You still need to uohold the integrity of the League . Laois are coming to Newry in a relegation battle.
Sligo and limerick both faced a strong Down team. As much as we want to rest players and avoid injury we cant just send out a total 2nd string and give Laois a big chance.
Itd a strange division ive been to all the games and bar Fermanagh, Wexford were tge weakest team we have faced yet they could get promoted. Down were very lucky to come away from Limerick witg a win.

ardtole · March 17, 2026, 09:37:35 AM

Id disagree entirely snoopdog. Down have earned the right to rest whoever they want v Laois. The league final the following week is probably our most important game of the year, if you slip up in a league game you have another opportunity to get back on track.

The league final could determine if we play Sam Maguire or Tailtain cup and if resting key personnel this week is the difference in Down getting over the line in the final then so be it.

LosDodgers · March 17, 2026, 09:50:51 AM

You're right about it being a strange division - to be honest I think Down have probably been 10+ points better than everyone. Limerick certainly give Down the biggest scare but I felt we should have had the game out of sight in first half - missed 2 or 3 good goal chances.

As for the integrity of the league, Lav has to do what best for Down, if Sligo or Limerick get relegated that's on them...they had 7 games to get the points. Plus Laois are 90% safe they would need a 25 point swing for Limerick to finish above them.

Also, I would still fancy us to beat Laois - I would want us to be starting Liam Kerr, Barry O'Hagan, Eamon Brown, Jamie Doran maybe even Caolan Mooney - not like we're putting out a U16 team!

smort · March 21, 2026, 12:23:01 PM

Any team news yet? Would definitely like to see some boys get a rest.

Ed Hardy · March 21, 2026, 03:32:11 PM

Quote from: smort on March 21, 2026, 12:23:01 PMAny team news yet? Would definitely like to see some boys get a rest.

Burns
Murdock
Laverty
McEvoy
Brooks
McCarthy
Rogers
Guinness
Murdock
Rooney
Doherty
Scullion
O Hagan
Havern
O Hare

Ed Hardy · March 21, 2026, 03:33:00 PM

Minors took another awful trimming today, hard to believe we are so far behind at u17 level.

Splash · March 21, 2026, 03:39:37 PM

Last game of the league against Antrim this evening in Newry.

Think if we beat them, and Dublin beat Carlow, we can mathematically stay up if Down beat Antrim by enough, but in all likelihood Down will be relegated to Division 2.

The Dublin game was a disaster, but there's plenty of lessons to be taken from playing who were one of the top 4 teams in Ireland last year.

Some people from Antrim I have spoken to seem to think Antrim will win this easily, and it would be great to give them something to think about.

Whilst Antrim look like they have improved in recent weeks, I don't think there is much between them and Down, and they are certainly there for the taking.

Great that it's in Newry- wish a lot more games were held there.

Ed Hardy · March 21, 2026, 07:45:55 PM

Quote from: Splash on March 21, 2026, 03:39:37 PMLast game of the league against Antrim this evening in Newry.

Think if we beat them, and Dublin beat Carlow, we can mathematically stay up if Down beat Antrim by enough, but in all likelihood Down will be relegated to Division 2.

The Dublin game was a disaster, but there's plenty of lessons to be taken from playing who were one of the top 4 teams in Ireland last year.

Some people from Antrim I have spoken to seem to think Antrim will win this easily, and it would be great to give them something to think about.

Whilst Antrim look like they have improved in recent weeks, I don't think there is much between them and Down, and they are certainly there for the taking.

Great that it's in Newry- wish a lot more games were held there.

Im sure your a happy man tonight Splash! Get win that, and well deserved. Delighted for Ronan, he's put some effort into Down hurling.

snoopdog · March 22, 2026, 08:59:12 AM

Quote from: Ed Hardy on March 21, 2026, 07:45:55 PM
Quote from: Splash on March 21, 2026, 03:39:37 PMLast game of the league against Antrim this evening in Newry.

Think if we beat them, and Dublin beat Carlow, we can mathematically stay up if Down beat Antrim by enough, but in all likelihood Down will be relegated to Division 2.

The Dublin game was a disaster, but there's plenty of lessons to be taken from playing who were one of the top 4 teams in Ireland last year.

Some people from Antrim I have spoken to seem to think Antrim will win this easily, and it would be great to give them something to think about.

Whilst Antrim look like they have improved in recent weeks, I don't think there is much between them and Down, and they are certainly there for the taking.

Great that it's in Newry- wish a lot more games were held there.

Im sure your a happy man tonight Splash! Get win that, and well deserved. Delighted for Ronan, he's put some effort into Down hurling.

Super win for the Down lads. Always great to see that Davy fitz beaten.

LosDodgers · March 22, 2026, 07:32:21 PM

Super win for the hurlers.

Selection for the footballers baffled me! We played like a team who had a final coming up 6 days later and didn't wanna play the game!

Aside from a great spell at start of second half we played like it was a McKenna Cup game.

O'Hagan injured after 20 odd minutes. I really fear his time at inter-county level might be coming to an end.

Hopefully we got through today without any further injuries. Wexford in the final - amazing achievement for them, but we really can't have a better opportunity to win the division and hopefully secure Sam Maguire football

johnnycool · March 26, 2026, 11:23:58 AM

Best of luck to OLSPK Ladies footballers heading off to Carlow in their AI A U20 final.

18 buses of them heading off this morning.

God help the teachers.

johnnycool · March 26, 2026, 04:00:36 PM

Quote from: johnnycool on March 26, 2026, 11:23:58 AMBest of luck to OLSPK Ladies footballers heading off to Carlow in their AI A U20 final.

18 buses of them heading off this morning.

God help the teachers.

They won well in the end.

Well done all involved.

There won't be a cow.....

I'll get me coat.

LosDodgers · Reply #44413 - Re: Down Club Hurling & Football

Pretty much biggest game of the season today! I don't think we can underestimate how much of a disaster it would be to lose today...I can't imagine there would be a huge appetite within the county for another Tailteann campaign.

If we win today and somehow end up in TC due to a shock result in the provincials so be at...at least we would have done our job.