Down Club Hurling & Football

PAULD123 · February 09, 2015, 11:45:42 PM

There is a lot for Jim to sort out. But first he has to sort out his own selections. Most strange for me was playing PD and half back when he has only ever played him in the forwards for his club.

The fullbacks are never in front of their men, never get a hand in to prevent the forward gathering the ball. Ok some of their covering was good by mostly not allowing their man to turn but seriously surely they should win some balls? The half back line hardly defended at all. Wouldn't Garvey and Ryan Johnston have improved it?

The ball in to the forwards was terrible, but then again the half forwards will probably say their forwards were not showing, and the really weren't. Donal O'Hare again went a bit AWOL. Crilly and Savage showed nothing really. Only Jerome Johnston and Laverty were able to make themselves available for passes.

And on that point why choose not to play PD as a forward when we had no passing half forward there?

Why big Arthur isn't in there are a target man is beyond me. After two goals in two games I would expect he will start next time out.

In fairness the loss of McKernan and Mooney took a huge amount of athleticism out of the team.

I think we need to see Garvey and Ryan Johnston, in for Turley and Devlin, PD at half forward (or Poland), Mooney back fit, Laverty to move forward for Crilly, Arthur in for Savage and Mallon in at midfield. Personally I'd also put Jerome in for O'Hare but I don't see him getting dropped as he has scored 1-09 in two games with 1-04 from play

gaaboard · February 10, 2015, 10:56:29 AM

Folks, take it easy with the personal attacks on players.

rosskarr · February 10, 2015, 03:53:42 PM

Order is now restored.

Aristo 60 · February 10, 2015, 03:58:36 PM

Quote from: rosskarr on February 10, 2015, 03:53:42 PM
Order is now restored.

Good job and all - I thought we were going to have a serious falling out amongst the common Down men (and/or wemen).

No doubt we will have had our fill of 'the Kilcoo question' come the end of the championship be it in June or September!

RadioGAAGAA · February 11, 2015, 09:38:46 AM

Quote from: Aristo 60 on February 10, 2015, 03:58:36 PM
No doubt we will have had our fill of 'the Kilcoo question'

Jealousy will get them nowhere.

supersub · February 12, 2015, 12:15:35 PM

Who's that?

Courtney · February 13, 2015, 04:02:50 PM

Any lads going to McRory game tonight ? Abbey could be dark horses this year .

Shamrocks Gaelp · February 15, 2015, 12:25:13 PM

Good luck to the four shamrocks men on the college macrory and the three on the St pauls team!

alba2 · February 23, 2015, 11:33:03 AM

The Ulster Coaching conference was a fantastic success on Saturday past. A great day for all coaching enthusiasts. The information i got from the Burnout seminar ran by Marty Loughran and the coaching session by Donie Buckley was first class. Its just a pity this type of masssive conference is only ran once per year. More of the same needed please!!

Aristo 60 · February 26, 2015, 05:07:30 PM

Many travelling to breffni on Saturday night?

Low key build up - anybody any news before we hear the team later tonight hopefully.

NP 76 · February 26, 2015, 09:13:56 PM

Down team to face Cavan
Kieran Gordon
Darren o hagan
Luke Howard
Damien Turley
Paul Devlin
Niall Madine
Conal Mc Govern
Benny Mc Ardle
Peter Fitzpatrick
Jerome Johnson
Kevin Mc Kernan
Daragh o Hanlon
Mark Poland
Conor Laverty
Donal o hare

Mourne Rover · February 26, 2015, 10:09:51 PM

It is a team with plenty of pace but very much on the light side. McCorry seems determined to give Devlin an extended run at wing half back, and he may find a bit more space there with a packed Cavan defence in the other half. Madine and McArdle have effectively swapped roles, and both are in fairly unnatural positions. Breffni is a tough place to go but we will probably find out more about ourselves as a result.

Shamrocks Gaelp · February 26, 2015, 10:36:47 PM

Some players picked due to injurjes but it's good to see some new faces prove themselves. As terry Hyland said recently, he expects every county player to play anywhere for his county and be versatile, however Id say most of our men will end up switching in and out all over the field, however this team could be a tactically oriented.

Mourne Rover · February 26, 2015, 11:31:33 PM

We will also have a decent bench, which should include the returning Warrenpoint players and Aidan Carr, and we will probably need them if we are going to get something out of the match.

PAULD123 · February 27, 2015, 03:29:34 PM

Darragh O'Hanlon has played a lot of football at half-back and PD at half-forward. Why line them out in positions they are not used to?

Why not bring Boyle and Mallon back in and make use of their extended run of competitive matches at club level?

Why play three players under 5'7" in the full-forward line?

Are Arthur and Connor Garvey unfit? Because they both deserve a place

Continuing with Pete Fitzpatrick at midfield when he isn't even the best midfielder in Division 2?

Benny McCardle at Midfield?

Played his best at corner or wing back!

Jerome Johnston who is generally a full-forward line playing out at half forward?

Ryan Johnston nowhere in sight.

Makes me wonder if Jim is a bit of an Armagh secret agent!!!!!!!