Down Club Hurling & Football

[Splash]

We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

I could be wrong, but the last time an intermediate winner went straight up to the senior championship was when Liatroim won it in 2022. Before that, Newry Shamrocks went up as winners in 2021.

Liatroim obviously are thriving at senior, and whilst it was a step too far for Newry, I don't recall any slaughter matches.

I understand why you're saying the winner of a group game being promoted seems too easy, but the problem is the two senior clubs coming down to contest a final.

If this didn't happen, the chances are this year Warrenpoint and Shamrocks would have played the final. Surely winning an intermediate final should give a team the chance to go up? But whilst there is this insistence of having senior teams slot in to play the intermediate final, it's going to effectively put a glass ceiling on our true intermediate teams.

I do understand where you're coming from. For me the solution is to remove the caveat of the bottom senior teams coming down.

I really don't see the benefit of the current system. It just makes things more difficult for the intermediate clubs. Neither the current system nor the proposed one seems like the best available one.

[Goals_Will_Come]

Rory Gallagher going in with Lacey at Kilcoo

[Hard2Listen2]

Rory Gallagher going in with Lacey at Kilcoo

Yea. Donald Trump helping out with S&C too.
🤣😜🤯

[Splash]

Down's league campaign starts this week at home to Kildare. Due to the restructuring of the league, two teams will be promoted to Division 1 next year- with Down, Kerry, and Kildare all favourites to go up.

Division 1 would be a big boost to the county hurlers, and it should be a very realistic target this year.

Kildare in Ballycran is the best we could have hoped for. Kildare have been something of a bogey team for Down this decade, but Down are well fit to handle them. Winning this game would really set things off in the right direction, particularly since I'd say our Ulster rivals in Derry, Donegal, and even Tyrone would be looking to make a big statement against us.

Kildare are really flying through the motions, and are doing a lot of things right. They will have similar ambitions to us.

Interested to see who is involved.

Some experienced heads in the likes of Kieth, Sheehan, and Conlan are still involved, which will be what we need against the likes of Kerry and Kildare. The Irish News says Ronan Beatty of Carryduff has committed to the hurling, and Niall McFarland of Bredagh is available after being injured last year.

Beatty is a great addition- he is like glue and the ball just seems to stick to him. McFarland is a top defender and very glad to see him back.

McGrattan from Portaferry was very good this year I thought and could be our most dangerous forward.

It has been a while since Down went into a league campaign as favourites, so will be interesting to see how they deal with that. I have no doubt they won't buy into it, anyway. There is no secret there will be a target on our back. This league very much is a mini Ulster Championship of sorts.

Regardless of who the opposition is, there is no one in this league Down hasn't beaten in the past few years in the league, championship, or preseason competitions. It's a big opportunity this year, but let's not get too far ahead. Kildare are a very good side and are constantly improving. Hopefully Down are able to turn Ballycran into a fortress once again and come out the right side of this one.

[johnnycool]

Down's league campaign starts this week at home to Kildare. Due to the restructuring of the league, two teams will be promoted to Division 1 next year- with Down, Kerry, and Kildare all favourites to go up.

Division 1 would be a big boost to the county hurlers, and it should be a very realistic target this year.

Kildare in Ballycran is the best we could have hoped for. Kildare have been something of a bogey team for Down this decade, but Down are well fit to handle them. Winning this game would really set things off in the right direction, particularly since I'd say our Ulster rivals in Derry, Donegal, and even Tyrone would be looking to make a big statement against us.

Kildare are really flying through the motions, and are doing a lot of things right. They will have similar ambitions to us.

Interested to see who is involved.

Some experienced heads in the likes of Kieth, Sheehan, and Conlan are still involved, which will be what we need against the likes of Kerry and Kildare. The Irish News says Ronan Beatty of Carryduff has committed to the hurling, and Niall McFarland of Bredagh is available after being injured last year.

Beatty is a great addition- he is like glue and the ball just seems to stick to him. McFarland is a top defender and very glad to see him back.

McGrattan from Portaferry was very good this year I thought and could be our most dangerous forward.

It has been a while since Down went into a league campaign as favourites, so will be interesting to see how they deal with that. I have no doubt they won't buy into it, anyway. There is no secret there will be a target on our back. This league very much is a mini Ulster Championship of sorts.

Regardless of who the opposition is, there is no one in this league Down hasn't beaten in the past few years in the league, championship, or preseason competitions. It's a big opportunity this year, but let's not get too far ahead. Kildare are a very good side and are constantly improving. Hopefully Down are able to turn Ballycran into a fortress once again and come out the right side of this one.

I'd give Derry a fighting chance as well there Splash.

We've them up in Owenbeg and they'll see that as one they could win and they can indeed.

The Kildare lads have had the better of Down in the most recent meetings in 2024 and will be hard work in what will be a very soft pitch in Ballycran.

Meath have dropped off a bit and Kerry will be without their star in Mackessy, now with the cats, so Down have a good chance alright, but a good start is imperative.

You'd hope we've enough to get over Donegal and Tyrone with something to spare.

[Splash]

Derry absolutely are going to cause Down problems.

I think beating Down, Kildare, and Kerry, will be a step too far for them, but they're more than capable of beating those teams, and if I was McGarvey, I would absolutely be targeting the Down game.

I might be wrong, but the last time Derry came to Ballycran, Down were lucky to get out with the draw, as far as I can recall.

Still though, I think if Down are going well they're a bit ahead of Derry still.

Meath don't seem to be where they were a few years ago, but they'll not be any push overs.

Mackessy will be a big loss to Kerry, and I am very hopeful about what Down can do in that game, but there's still a number of other very skilled hurlers in Kerry-Mackessy never carried Kerry and I wouldn't sleep on them.

Hoping Down should have enough for Donegal and Tyrone, but it's probably worth giving Donegal the credit they beat Down in the McGurk final last year. But for obvious reasons I wouldn't look too much into that.

Anyway, a lot depends on whether Down start on a good foot or not. Hopefully they get the year off to a good start.

[Armaghdog]

Down's league campaign starts this week at home to Kildare. Due to the restructuring of the league, two teams will be promoted to Division 1 next year- with Down, Kerry, and Kildare all favourites to go up.

Division 1 would be a big boost to the county hurlers, and it should be a very realistic target this year.

Kildare in Ballycran is the best we could have hoped for. Kildare have been something of a bogey team for Down this decade, but Down are well fit to handle them. Winning this game would really set things off in the right direction, particularly since I'd say our Ulster rivals in Derry, Donegal, and even Tyrone would be looking to make a big statement against us.

Kildare are really flying through the motions, and are doing a lot of things right. They will have similar ambitions to us.

Interested to see who is involved.

Some experienced heads in the likes of Kieth, Sheehan, and Conlan are still involved, which will be what we need against the likes of Kerry and Kildare. The Irish News says Ronan Beatty of Carryduff has committed to the hurling, and Niall McFarland of Bredagh is available after being injured last year.

Beatty is a great addition- he is like glue and the ball just seems to stick to him. McFarland is a top defender and very glad to see him back.

McGrattan from Portaferry was very good this year I thought and could be our most dangerous forward.

It has been a while since Down went into a league campaign as favourites, so will be interesting to see how they deal with that. I have no doubt they won't buy into it, anyway. There is no secret there will be a target on our back. This league very much is a mini Ulster Championship of sorts.

Regardless of who the opposition is, there is no one in this league Down hasn't beaten in the past few years in the league, championship, or preseason competitions. It's a big opportunity this year, but let's not get too far ahead. Kildare are a very good side and are constantly improving. Hopefully Down are able to turn Ballycran into a fortress once again and come out the right side of this one.

I'd give Derry a fighting chance as well there Splash.

We've them up in Owenbeg and they'll see that as one they could win and they can indeed.

The Kildare lads have had the better of Down in the most recent meetings in 2024 and will be hard work in what will be a very soft pitch in Ballycran.

Meath have dropped off a bit and Kerry will be without their star in Mackessy, now with the cats, so Down have a good chance alright, but a good start is imperative.

You'd hope we've enough to get over Donegal and Tyrone with something to spare.

Mackessy gone from Kerry but Shane Nolan is back out of retirement which is big plus for them.

[Splash]

Couldn't have asked for a better start to the league than yesterday.

Beat Kildare by 3.

Kildare saved a penalty, but Down also saved one, so can't have too many complaints.

Puts Down top of Div 2. Away next week to Derry. Could be a very difficult game, but Derry only beat Tyrone by 2 yesterday, and if Down play to their full potential you'd like to hope they come out the right side.

Kildare host Kerry on the same day, and that result may have an impact on Down.

Regardless, Down will be focused on Derry, and hopefully putting in another good performance. 

Very pleased with how yesterday went. Hopefully Down can keep up the good form.

Let's hope the footballers can do the same today.

[LosDodgers]

New rules are not gonna suit this Down team at all.

Same old problems:

- Can't win a kick out

- can't penetrate a low block defense, even with 12v11

- when opposition press high we struggled to get out.

- no kicking option on the transition.

Easy two pointers from Havern gave us a bit of a false 7 point lead with a very strong wind, but Rossies cut thru us with ease at times. The goal into the empty net killed the game off but reality is it was an uphill struggle by that stage. Can't really blame O'Hare for that one as that's what he is being told to do, but when he has possession he can't do anything with it, it's literally just an extra body in attack, I feel if you wanna bring the keeper up like that you need to have a keeper who can create - look at Reape's pass for Mayo goal yesterday for example.

2 big home games coming up against cork & meath. Need to win at least 1 of them to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

[snoopdog]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 

[Ed Hardy]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 
Sheelan is away to Australia, and Jerome isnt on the panel (same as last year). Only leaves Ryan.

[johnnycool]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 

The 3rd goal in the second half wasn't great either, shot blocked at one end, Roscommon break at pace and lad slots it in from 30 yards with not a keeper in sight.

[snoopdog]

Down conceded 2 dreadful goals in 1st half that ultimately killed them.
Roscommon are a good team. There was a performance from Down. I went to the Hyde expecting to lose but expected Down to sit back like they did against Armagh but they surprised me and better defending could've got a result.
Where were the johnsons today? 

The 3rd goal in the second half wasn't great either, shot blocked at one end, Roscommon break at pace and lad slots it in from 30 yards with not a keeper in sight.

Agree it was a poor goal to concede. The block on Murdocks shot and they were away, basically a 4 pt turnaround from that block.  It's pointless bringing the keeper up if it only increases sideways passing. If he is going to run at defences as an extra man then yes. But not for what was happening yesterday.

[ardtole]

OHare was totally ineffective yesterday when he came out to join the attack, other players seemed reluctant to get him involved and even in the crowd you could sense his anxiety.

In contrast the Roscommon keeper was very assured in possession, created an overlap, particularly on the right hand side of their attack and although he never threatened the scoreboard he did give our defenders something to think about.

[ck]

Rory Gallagher going in with Lacey at Kilcoo

Lacey got the bullet from Kilcoo