Down Club Hurling & Football

[SamFever]

 Comedians out in full force this morning.The sooner it's finished the better although Derry and others haven't exactly set the world on fire since their Centres were built.We'll see.

[Betsy Gray]

I still cannot get my head around the whole Ballykinlar project bar the land is cheap. I think the wobbler pointed out that the British army picked it for a base because it was remote and hard to get to therefore easy to defend. If the county board are serious about an accessible training facility then surely it needs to be near the A1. I see a previous poster suggested Annaclone. Banbridge Annaclone direction would be the ideal location given the proximity to A1. Obviously that does not work well for the hurlers and means both main bases would be in south down. There is definitely scope for a central facility in east down. But I cannot see how ballykinlar is the proper place for the main county training facility.

[manwithnoplan]

I still cannot get my head around the whole Ballykinlar project bar the land is cheap. I think the wobbler pointed out that the British army picked it for a base because it was remote and hard to get to therefore easy to defend. If the county board are serious about an accessible training facility then surely it needs to be near the A1. I see a previous poster suggested Annaclone. Banbridge Annaclone direction would be the ideal location given the proximity to A1. Obviously that does not work well for the hurlers and means both main bases would be in south down. There is definitely scope for a central facility in east down. But I cannot see how ballykinlar is the proper place for the main county training facility.

It's happening regardless.

[johnnycool]

I still cannot get my head around the whole Ballykinlar project bar the land is cheap. I think the wobbler pointed out that the British army picked it for a base because it was remote and hard to get to therefore easy to defend. If the county board are serious about an accessible training facility then surely it needs to be near the A1. I see a previous poster suggested Annaclone. Banbridge Annaclone direction would be the ideal location given the proximity to A1. Obviously that does not work well for the hurlers and means both main bases would be in south down. There is definitely scope for a central facility in east down. But I cannot see how ballykinlar is the proper place for the main county training facility.

very cheap and flat, with natural drainage so pitch development work is relatively straight forward.

I suppose after the Bryansford/Burrenbridge debacle cost is a major issue for any new centre of excellence.

[bigarsedkeeper]

I still cannot get my head around the whole Ballykinlar project bar the land is cheap. I think the wobbler pointed out that the British army picked it for a base because it was remote and hard to get to therefore easy to defend. If the county board are serious about an accessible training facility then surely it needs to be near the A1. I see a previous poster suggested Annaclone. Banbridge Annaclone direction would be the ideal location given the proximity to A1. Obviously that does not work well for the hurlers and means both main bases would be in south down. There is definitely scope for a central facility in east down. But I cannot see how ballykinlar is the proper place for the main county training facility.

If we're honest it's a pretty important part to this. Factor in the price of purchase, the land is reasonably flat and naturally free draining, it's nearly perfect. The land does most of the work for you.   Geographically it could be better yes but I can see why it looks appealing to the county board.

A site somewhere between Annaclone and Castlewellan would cost considerably more to develop as it would either be good agricultural land or land you have to spend a fortune on to make good.

[Johnnysboys]

No balls Burren do it again when playing Kilcoo.
Very poor tonight for such a free scoring team in last three games - back to earth with a bang.
Very impressed with some of the young Kilcoo players on view tonight. Callum Rodger's was excellent as was young Hynds.
Can't see Frank O'Hare going anywhere other than Kilcoo this year again!

[Smurfy123]

I don't see the uproar about ballykinlar
Give yourself an extra 10 minutes if you are so worried about a 3 mile stretch of the road
Jesus like. It's a bad enough road but hardly any traffic on it what's the big deal
As for the lgfa paying for Newry and why would they not?

Team for Sunday if we have any chance

Kane
O Hagan
McEvoy
Fegan
Laverty
Guiness
Poland
Doherty
Mooney
O Hagen
Quinn
McCormack
Gilmore
Havern
Lynch Sweeper

[Truth hurts]

I don't see the uproar about ballykinlar
Give yourself an extra 10 minutes if you are so worried about a 3 mile stretch of the road
Jesus like. It's a bad enough road but hardly any traffic on it what's the big deal
As for the lgfa paying for Newry and why would they not?

Team for Sunday if we have any chance

Kane
O Hagan
McEvoy
Fegan
Laverty
Guiness
Poland
Doherty
Mooney
O Hagen
Quinn
McCormack
Gilmore
Havern
Lynch Sweeper

Does CPN lgfa pay to use your pitches or St Marks?

[Truth hurts]

No balls Burren do it again when playing Kilcoo.
Very poor tonight for such a free scoring team in last three games - back to earth with a bang.
Very impressed with some of the young Kilcoo players on view tonight. Callum Rodger's was excellent as was young Hynds.
Can't see Frank O'Hare going anywhere other than Kilcoo this year again!

Disappointing game but with all their recent underage success Kilcoo seems to be unearthing just as many young players as Burren. Agreed with the performance on Rodgers, looks like a fine prospect

[thewobbler]

Interesting angle.

Are you saying that because the GAA had the foresight and drive to develop a playing field in every village and town in Ireland, that they should maintain and resource them for use by another association, free of charge?

[Smurfy123]

No we don't charge

Why should Down GAA give the Lgfa the pitches free of charge when it is they who are reluctant to come in under the one umbrella?

We don't get St Marks free by the way and rightly so

[Truth hurts]

Interesting angle.

Are you saying that because the GAA had the foresight and drive to develop a playing field in every village and town in Ireland, that they should maintain and resource them for use by another association, free of charge?

Do Ballyholland charge the camogs in their club for the use of the GAA facilities?

[Truth hurts]

BTW I am not saying it is right or wrong to charge but I can see in a couple of years that there is going to be a major conflict due to playing pitches in clubs. Clubs cannot cope with the teams they have at the minute and each club has mothers and others, lads and dads etc etc

I can see some clubs trying too much and keeping everyone happy but stretching the club.

Fair lay to Armagh LGFA for developing a pitch in south Armagh as their base. Where there be a permanent pitch is Down that could be used for LGFA or camogie matches.

[thewobbler]

Interesting angle.

Are you saying that because the GAA had the foresight and drive to develop a playing field in every village and town in Ireland, that they should maintain and resource them for use by another association, free of charge?

Do Ballyholland charge the camogs in their club for the use of the GAA facilities?

No. But we have integrated membership options, and we fundraise largely as one club. So it's not the same thing.

[Mourne Red]

BTW I am not saying it is right or wrong to charge but I can see in a couple of years that there is going to be a major conflict due to playing pitches in clubs. Clubs cannot cope with the teams they have at the minute and each club has mothers and others, lads and dads etc etc

I can see some clubs trying too much and keeping everyone happy but stretching the club.

Fair lay to Armagh LGFA for developing a pitch in south Armagh as their base. Where there be a permanent pitch is Down that could be used for LGFA or camogie matches.

Clubs can cope, plenty are making headway in acquiring 2nd pitches as well - plus they just don't have their underage teams training twice a week like you suggested on another thread