Down Club Hurling & Football

[6th sam]

Wasn't there precedent set before with league final delayed into the following year, kilcoo Castlewellan a couple of years ago?
A league title is always prestigious and if public health advice allows this could go ahead when football allowed back, I would imagine

[thewobbler]

Wasn't there precedent set before with league final delayed into the following year, kilcoo Castlewellan a couple of years ago?
A league title is always prestigious and if public health advice allows this could go ahead when football allowed back, I would imagine

The difference being that the previous league title was competitive tournament. 2020's was not.

[Johnnysboys]

I don't know how people keep sayin last year we're glorified challenge matches. I was at quite a few games that had the cut and thrust of every other season. Every team was at the same level in terms of fitness etc and the pace of the games got better as they developed. Clonduff were already guaranteed a place in the final but I think the other section had a few permutations so it could be awkward to finish because of that.

[6th sam]

I don't know how people keep sayin last year we're glorified challenge matches. I was at quite a few games that had the cut and thrust of every other season. Every team was at the same level in terms of fitness etc and the pace of the games got better as they developed. Clonduff were already guaranteed a place in the final but I think the other section had a few permutations so it could be awkward to finish because of that.

Would agree re everybody being at same level , and as we had been starved of sport , it was great to be back at it. Fair play to Down GAA for getting so much of the season completed

[thewobbler]

I don't know how people keep sayin last year we're glorified challenge matches. I was at quite a few games that had the cut and thrust of every other season. Every team was at the same level in terms of fitness etc and the pace of the games got better as they developed. Clonduff were already guaranteed a place in the final but I think the other section had a few permutations so it could be awkward to finish because of that.

They might have been hard hitting. But without relegation to worry about, it's not league football. The format was designed specifically to give club footballers the best chance possible of having a fair and meaningful championship competition, and not to crown some club as winners of a league nobody gives a damn about.

Anyone who really wants to finish out such a competition, especially when we are pretty likely to have the same again this summer, should have a word with themselves.

[whitegoodman]

Would have to agree with this.  Plus a few of the matches I seen teams weren't even close to full strength.

I would be surprised if Clonduff or Kilcoo or Burren or whoever from the other section are too bothered about getting it played.

Now if CPN were in the final Smurfy would be demanding it were played 

[Smurfy123]

Whitegoodman we would take a league title now
We haven't the titles that other clubs have
On the argument
I don't see why the 2020 league needs to be played
Put all into 2021

[Johnnysboys]

Would have to agree with this.  Plus a few of the matches I seen teams weren't even close to full strength.

I would be surprised if Clonduff or Kilcoo or Burren or whoever from the other section are too bothered about getting it played.

Now if CPN were in the final Smurfy would be demanding it were played 

As it stood Clonduff were in the final and Burren v Bridge was in other section. If Burren won they were into final. If Bridge won it forced a three way playoff for final.. I'm sure Clonduff would love a league title for likes of Darren OHagan etc who have won nothing at club level.. After 2 disappointing championships I'm sure Burren would have loved a title too.. CPN would take your hand off for a title. There are only 2 titles handed out each year for senior clubs..

[wobbller]

 The tightening of restrictions in the Free State is going to have implications
for the restart of any GAA activity.

[SamFever]

Allianz Leagues set to be delayed until end of March

[supersub]

My point was, it is not really 'imperative' the 2020 Down league is finished like other counties. As really it doesn't mean anything.

There was to be a winner in division 1... that's important... but with covid - nothing is really important except staying safe..

Important yes, imperative no.

The fact Kilcoo were happy to void the game v Rostrevor at the end of the season when they technically had a chance of getting to the final/winning says it all. The leagues were glorified challenge matches, don't let anyone think anything else. A winner would be for league sponsor reasons more so than for any other reason. It really isn't important at this stage. It would have been if teams' league status depended on the outcome. However it doesn't.

[Johnnysboys]

Important yes, imperative no.

The fact Kilcoo were happy to void the game v Rostrevor at the end of the season when they technically had a chance of getting to the final/winning says it all. The leagues were glorified challenge matches, don't let anyone think anything else. A winner would be for league sponsor reasons more so than for any other reason. It really isn't important at this stage. It would have been if teams' league status depended on the outcome. However it doesn't.
[/quote]

Kilcoo couldn't get to the final - Clonduff were unbeaten in their section including their game v Kilcoo. So they were automatically there..

Big decisions tonight for the county board to elect new minor management. A lot of strong candidates included and some strong tickets.  Interview process is difficult at the minute but everyone gets the same process I suppose..

[Godsown]

Things mightily quiet on minor appointment. No news I presume

[wobbller]

Even the McKenna Cup would stir me this year.Soccer,Rugby and re-runs just don't do it for me.And two or three months away for me to get jabbed.Will there even be Club football at all?

[DownbutnotOut]

Cork and Down's senior footballers are to receive notice of proposed sanctions for alleged training breaches in the coming days.

Investigations into claims they breached the collective training ban earlier this month have now concluded and it is expected they will soon receive notice of the sub-committee's recommendations.

The Irish Examiner has learned Kildare were the third county asked about their activities but as there was no evidence of them contravening the training moratorium they will not be punished. Collective training was due to resume on January 15 before being extended indefinitely.

Suspensions have been mooted, which could also apply to the chairman of each county as well as the teams. Last summer, GAA president John Horan warned individual responsibility for breaches would rest with county chairs.

Such breaches are being considered under Rule 7.2 (e) of the GAA's Official Guide, "misconduct considered to have discredited the Association". A member found to have done so will receive a minimum of an eight-week suspension with possible debarment and expulsion from the GAA. For a team or unit, potential disqualification is also a possible penalty.

In the context of this month's incredibly high Covid case numbers and deaths, the actions of the counties have infuriated Croke Park and they have considered looking at handing down penalties outside of the rule.

"That question has been asked, whether they are restricted to imposing the penalties contained in that rule or not," said GAA director of communications Alan Milton earlier this month. "There is plenty in it to be applied, as required, but this wasn't just a GAA issue, this was also societal. There was an open letter sent out last week out by the DG (director general Tom Ryan) which clearly underlined the seriousness of it." At the very least, fines are expected to be recommended but the punishments could yet include teams being stripped of home advantage in the Allianz Leagues. Cork are in Division 2 South with Clare, Laois and Kildare while Down are in the division's North group along with Mayo, Meath and Westmeath.

Cork manager Ronan McCarthy confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the panel did convene on Youghal beach on the first weekend of this month but insisted they were compliant "at all times" with public health and Association guidelines. He said of the team building exercise: "We are hugely conscious of our responsibilities to our players, backroom team and the wider public and are fully committed – as we have always been – to following Covid protocols, in particular during this difficult period of escalating numbers nationally." 

Down chairman Jack Devaney insisted no training took place in Abbey CBS on January 5 when the PSNI were called but were satisfied that as an elite sports group they could come together. "A number of the panel, including potential new players, were brought together last night and the management went through their individual programme plans and what they expect of them for the coming weeks, because they won't be back together for a while," said Devaney. "Someone obviously called the police in, but they were satisfied that there was no issue."

Part of the counties' mitigation is believed to centre around these gatherings taking place on non-GAA property. However, in his letter Ryan stressed "outdoor gatherings on GAA property are not permitted". The GAA's rulebook defines collective training as "where one or more player(s) is/are required to be at a specific place at a specific time on a specific date".