Down Club Hurling & Football

[downtothecore]

Definitely need to use tailteann to develop the squad particularly the physical size aspect of the team. Ross carr, eamon Brown, tom close, and tom gilroy all need to be looked at and developed so they can add to the current set up...

[ranch]

Agree. Lav put a target on our back after the Donegal win. Too much talk of screen savers and such nonsense. He should've played it down. Kerry, Donegal and Armagh was too much 3 weeks on the trot. Massive task to lift these lads now for a B competition. We are still top 16 team just unlucky the way its fallen. Hopefully the lads see out the summer and dont go to America where there is always the lure of a few quid.

That's debatable. At present they're a yo-yo side, anywhere from 14-18 if you were ranking teams.
Yes Down have good players but the drop off outside of your top 2/3 players to the rest is massive. Other counties have had the same issue in recent years (Louth with Mulroy for example) but over time have managed to develop players and create a bit more depth. Laverty's challenge over the next few years will be steadying the ship in division 2, ensuring they actually are a solid top 16 team and that will inevitably lead to players developing quicker and creating that depth they're currently lacking. From there, you can push on to division 1 in a good year. Division 2 next year won't be easy however, but if the key men stay fit Down should probably be ok. If Murdock was to be injured you'd question who would step up in his place.

[LosDodgers]

I think this is a fair point. We have a few stand out players who are top tier and start for pretty much any team in Ireland - Murdock, Guinness & Burns.

After that we have a couple of very good players, Pierce Laverty, Havern, Ceile Doc. (Danny Magill when fit)

The next tier is where we really need to develop - lads like Cummins, Rooney, Fegan, McPolin, Rogers, R.Magill, Annet,  Kerr (unlucky with injuries) have done really well for us but o feel we need these lads to step up to that next level and the more exposure they get to top level football hopefully helps that.

In this Tailteann Cup I would like to see someone get a run at corner forward weather this be Brown,Savage, Scullion and also maybe likes of Ross Carr and Tom Close get more time. What about Rauri Madine who scored well for the 20s? 

[Ed Hardy]

Did any of the county players line out for their clubs tonight?

[seanaglis]

I think this is a fair point. We have a few stand out players who are top tier and start for pretty much any team in Ireland - Murdock, Guinness & Burns.

After that we have a couple of very good players, Pierce Laverty, Havern, Ceile Doc. (Danny Magill when fit)

The next tier is where we really need to develop - lads like Cummins, Rooney, Fegan, McPolin, Rogers, R.Magill, Annet,  Kerr (unlucky with injuries) have done really well for us but o feel we need these lads to step up to that next level and the more exposure they get to top level football hopefully helps that.

In this Tailteann Cup I would like to see someone get a run at corner forward weather this be Brown,Savage, Scullion and also maybe likes of Ross Carr and Tom Close get more time. What about Rauri Madine who scored well for the 20s? 

Agree that Murdock and Guinness are top tier. They are exceptional. Burns badly exposed last week, although performances up to that point were good.

The ones you quoted as very good.... Dont agree. Can be good one day, poor the next. No consistency that you need for the top level.

[Green+Gold]

Did any of the county players line out for their clubs tonight?

Liam Kerr and Ryan Magill played for Burren.

[Ed Hardy]

U20s into All Ireland b final, not exactly where we want them to be but a final nonetheless. Is the full forward from Drumgath out injured for them, and Barra McEvoy?

[LosDodgers]

Good bounce-back game today, gets the Armagh game out of his system.

McCormick impressive again off the bench. Finn McElroy adds a bit of strength to the back line and Eamon Brown looked sharper off the bench, he's the one we really need to develop, good size and accurate