Down Club Hurling & Football

[County Star]

Down JFC

Round 1 - Friday 16/08/2024

Aughlisnafin v Dromara

Glasdrumman v Aghaderg

Ardglass v Kilclief

St Michael's v East Belfast



#Predictions

Am going to go for Dromara, Glasdrumman, Ardglass and East Belfast

[manwithnoplan]

Down JFC

Round 1 - Friday 16/08/2024

Aughlisnafin v Dromara

Glasdrumman v Aghaderg

Ardglass v Kilclief

St Michael's v East Belfast



#Predictions

Am going to go for Dromara, Glasdrumman, Ardglass and East Belfast

Kilclief to beat Ardglass if the Ardglass soccer men aren't playing. Agree with the others.

Dromara should be strong favourites to finally get over the line this year. Glasdrumman perhaps next best. East Belfast could sneak in to a final depending on the knockout round draw.

Regarding the format, a team playing 4 games to reach a quarter final seems a bit excessive. So many games to be played in the 2 groups just to eliminate 2 teams, a month of football, surely there is a more efficient way to run it.

[TakeTheMark]

Regarding the format, a team playing 4 games to reach a quarter final seems a bit excessive. So many games to be played in the 2 groups just to eliminate 2 teams, a month of football, surely there is a more efficient way to run it.

I'd have to agree. I don't want to criticise the CB because I understand the challenge of shoehorning ten teams into a championship.

Personally I'd like to see maybe one league of all ten teams, but each team only plays three games instead of playing everyone (similar to the Cavan system), the games could be random drawn, or seeded based on league results, ie make a top 5 and bottom 5, and play one in your "group" and two from other "group".

Then top 2 advance to semi finals, 3-6 quarter finals and bottom 4 eliminated.

Or something along those lines.

[manwithnoplan]

Regarding the format, a team playing 4 games to reach a quarter final seems a bit excessive. So many games to be played in the 2 groups just to eliminate 2 teams, a month of football, surely there is a more efficient way to run it.

I'd have to agree. I don't want to criticise the CB because I understand the challenge of shoehorning ten teams into a championship.

Personally I'd like to see maybe one league of all ten teams, but each team only plays three games instead of playing everyone (similar to the Cavan system), the games could be random drawn, or seeded based on league results, ie make a top 5 and bottom 5, and play one in your "group" and two from other "group".

Then top 2 advance to semi finals, 3-6 quarter finals and bottom 4 eliminated.

Or something along those lines.

I do see merit in not having it as straight knock out in order to give a team another game, but it has been tinkered with over the last few years a little too much. Last year I think there were 3 groups (2 fours and a three possibly), and in previous years there was a back door system similar to SFC and IFC. Realistically there are a couple of teams who will struggle to win a game in the groups, it must be hard for them to keep their full squad interested for the next 5 or so weeks.

[County Star]

Down JFC

Round 1 - Friday 16/08/2024

Aughlisnafin v Dromara

Glasdrumman v Aghaderg

Ardglass v Kilclief

St Michael's v East Belfast



#Predictions

Am going to go for Dromara, Glasdrumman, Ardglass and East Belfast

4/4 ✅

[TakeTheMark]

Will there be any streaming of this years championships? We had JFC games last night, and three potentially very good games in the senior hurling championship this weekend, but down tv webpage still showing last year games.

[Nanderson]

Will there be any streaming of this years championships? We had JFC games last night, and three potentially very good games in the senior hurling championship this weekend, but down tv webpage still showing last year games.

I've checked their this evening as i wanted to watch our intermediate final from 2021 but it doesn't load. In an email they said they don't keep games from 2021 anymore. When i went back on all games bar maybe 5 have been wiped from the database. Very disappointing.

Edit: Could someone else check their account and see if they hav access to games that they've already paid for. I've paid for the Laitroim and Rostrevor game as part of the finals package last year but it is asking me to pay again and then the game doesn't exist. Just want to make sure that i am not the only one

[supersub]

Will there be any streaming of this years championships? We had JFC games last night, and three potentially very good games in the senior hurling championship this weekend, but down tv webpage still showing last year games.

Streaming details have already been released to clubs. In fact they were released when the draw was made for the first rounds. Looking forward to more excellent coverage this year.

[johnnycool]

Down SHC continues unabated.

We'd to bring on two of our IC hurlers to finally put a resilient Liatroim finally to the sword but were made sweat until the last 10 minutes or so.

Goals win games and that's how it came to pass. Liatroim also had a penalty (a pretty soft one, but can understand how the ref gave it) saved and we rattled over a few points and a goal to push the margin out to 9.
Not sure how Liatroim let their best hurler stand on the edge of his own square when we were popping over the points from further out. We were happy to see it TBH. In saying that we did butcher a few other goal chances in the second half through poor decision making and poor control.
Liatroims forwards did cause our FB line some issues as expected and something our management will need to sort out, but they'll be happy with 2 wins out of 2.

Carryduff did a number on their more illustrious neighbours and they'll be overjoyed to get some points on the board. If they can build on that they'll be happy enough with their first year at senior.

Ports did as expected by beating Ballycran with 15 points to spare.

They're the team to beat and I can't see it happening this year.

[Truth hurts]

Last night's final game started slowly. Let's hope the rest of the weekend features more close games. What's the matter with Castlewellan?

[dingle82]

The garrison game is taking priority in the town.
Good underage teams in both codes coming through if they can focus on the GAA

[thewobbler]

Enjoyable game tonight. Well the first 15-20 mins were drab as is the way. Downpatrick got the early goals they (probably) needed, which meant Ballyholland had no choice but to force themselves into it in the final quarter. Seamy Loughran was top class and, ultimately, the difference in the teams.

Paul Faloon is a proper championship ref. Both teams were decimated of their first choice teams long before the end, but it continued to feel  like a championship match because it was played in that spirit - and allowed to be.

[TakeTheMark]

Enjoyable game tonight. Well the first 15-20 mins were drab as is the way. Downpatrick got the early goals they (probably) needed, which meant Ballyholland had no choice but to force themselves into it in the final quarter. Seamy Loughran was top class and, ultimately, the difference in the teams.

Paul Faloon is a proper championship ref. Both teams were decimated of their first choice teams long before the end, but it continued to feel  like a championship match because it was played in that spirit - and allowed to be.

Take into account the heavy rain just before throw in, and despite the low scores, it actually was a good game of attacking football, bar the opening 20 minutes as you pointed out. It was a decent watch.

Thought both penalties were soft enough but other than that, Faloon had a good game imo. Liked that he allowed the game to flow.

[Hard2Listen2]

Kilcoo did last night what they do, win matches.
In the most efficient & effective manner.
Can't see anyone stopping them again in Down this season.

Obviously it's great for their players & support & fair play to them they have their house in order, but (genuine question) does their dominance damage Down football in general?
We haven't had a really competitive championship in many years.

[Point-to-Point]

Down SHC continues unabated.

We'd to bring on two of our IC hurlers to finally put a resilient Liatroim finally to the sword but were made sweat until the last 10 minutes or so.

Goals win games and that's how it came to pass. Liatroim also had a penalty (a pretty soft one, but can understand how the ref gave it) saved and we rattled over a few points and a goal to push the margin out to 9.
Not sure how Liatroim let their best hurler stand on the edge of his own square when we were popping over the points from further out. We were happy to see it TBH. In saying that we did butcher a few other goal chances in the second half through poor decision making and poor control.
Liatroims forwards did cause our FB line some issues as expected and something our management will need to sort out, but they'll be happy with 2 wins out of 2.

Carryduff did a number on their more illustrious neighbours and they'll be overjoyed to get some points on the board. If they can build on that they'll be happy enough with their first year at senior.

Ports did as expected by beating Ballycran with 15 points to spare.

They're the team to beat and I can't see it happening this year.

Good read.

Hurling championship seems more interesting now than it has in a long time.

Liatorim will be disappointed and Carryduff delighted. Who do you think will be relegated from the senior championship this year? Carryduff will fancy themselves to stay up now?

What sort of teams have Ballygalget and Portaferry been getting friendlies with? A couple lads who would play hurling in our club were saying it's been difficult for them to arrange friendlies this year (albeit, they aren't playing at Senior Championship Level).