Down Club Hurling & Football

[maldini]

Down did very well to keep that so close. Really not sure it's possible we can progress to D1 level until a couple of big men are found.

Wouldn't be near good enough for Division 1 at the minute.

Need more than one reliable scoring forward. If Havern isn't scoring there's no one else really.

[snoopdog]

Meath are a year further down the road than us. The year of playing better teams has stood to them.
Some strange calls from the ref but I wouldn't say they cost Down the game. Meath deserved it.
It's a competitive league. Louth another tough game next Sunday in Drogheda. It's attainable to stay up I think. It's a pity the johnsons and Liam Kerr aren't available. Burns looks god in goal , mad a great save in 2nd half.
But agree with a few on here the midfield is a bug issue, has been for many many years.
But alot of positives from opening 3 games. A bug positive is the never give in mentality. When Meath went 7 up the Down of a few years ago would have dropped the heads and lost by 15.

[ardtole]

Meath are very strong in the middle 3rd and are physically very big, with strength in depth, I think they will give Roscommon their fill of it in Navan next week.

I thought Brannigan and McClements helped things when they came on. I also think the dry ball and fast ground will benefit Down a lot in the summer months too.

On the game itself, I've no idea what the call at the start of the 2nd half that overturned a free for Down to a 2 point free for Meath.

In fairness we got the 2 point lead back and we were on the attack, when Docherty give a sloppy fist pass which Meath intercepted and led to another Meath 2 pointer. This seemed to be the catalyst for Meath to dominate the next 10-12 minutes and they built up a 7 point lead.

We battled well without looking like really getting back level, but on the positive side, the subs done well when introduced and Down kept battling to the end.

If we had of won, we would have been in the shake up for promotion but in reality, as someone already mentioned, we are a fair bit of div 1 football. Kerr in particular is a big loss and the fact we have only 1 more home game is a cause of concern, we will probably need an away win to secure d2 football next year, which I would be content with.

[snoopdog]

Meath are very strong in the middle 3rd and are physically very big, with strength in depth, I think they will give Roscommon their fill of it in Navan next week.

I thought Brannigan and McClements helped things when they came on. I also think the dry ball and fast ground will benefit Down a lot in the summer months too.

On the game itself, I've no idea what the call at the start of the 2nd half that overturned a free for Down to a 2 point free for Meath.

In fairness we got the 2 point lead back and we were on the attack, when Docherty give a sloppy fist pass which Meath intercepted and led to another Meath 2 pointer. This seemed to be the catalyst for Meath to dominate the next 10-12 minutes and they built up a 7 point lead.

We battled well without looking like really getting back level, but on the positive side, the subs done well when introduced and Down kept battling to the end.

If we had of won, we would have been in the shake up for promotion but in reality, as someone already mentioned, we are a fair bit of div 1 football. Kerr in particular is a big loss and the fact we have only 1 more home game is a cause of concern, we will probably need an away win to secure d2 football next year, which I would be content with.

A good synopsis of where we are. Very unlike Doherty to give a sloppy ball like that. Looking fwd to Drogheda next Sunday.

[DuffleKing]

Jeez lads the free early in the second half was obviously for a 3v3 breach.

[Truth hurts]

We need a big support on Sunday, this is a vital game for us.

[ardtole]

Jeez lads the free early in the second half was obviously for a 3v3 breach.

It was a very costly error if it was.

[johnnycool]

We need a big support on Sunday, this is a vital game for us.

In Trim?

[Sheedy]

We need a big support on Sunday, this is a vital game for us.

In Trim?

Drogheda, Sunday at 2.30

[LosDodgers]

Thought we were a little slow to make changes during that 10-12 minute period where we got cleaned out and ultimately lost us the game. When we did make the changes and brought a bit more height on and also started to press Meath high up we got some success.

It is vitally important for us to stay up, we need to be playing against these sort of teams each week, going back down to face Sligo, Laois, Antrim etc will set us way back.

Louth, Cavan & Westmeath coming up, likely need to win 2 from 3 which is very possible. There have defs been a lot of positives from first 3 games

[LosDodgers]

Think the ref was poor and struggled with the new rules, it's didn't really cost Down the game but the 2 pointer given in the first half is not good enough at this level.

Also black card rule has to change, absolutely pointless. No punishment at all for getting a black card - when Meath only left 2 players back it means they enjoyed the 12v11 advantage and could just hold possession while the 3rd Down forward had to stand at the half way line watching helplessly...ridiculous

[Too many steps]

Jeez lads the free early in the second half was obviously for a 3v3 breach.

It was for the 2nd midfielder (one on sideline) entering the field before the throw in apparently.

[ardtole]

Jeez lads the free early in the second half was obviously for a 3v3 breach.

It was for the 2nd midfielder (one on sideline) entering the field before the throw in apparently.

The penalty for that sort of infringement is ridiculous.

[Splash]

We need a big support on Sunday, this is a vital game for us.

In Trim?

Drogheda, Sunday at 2.30

Trim, Sunday, 1:15pm.

Very vital game - as is the football - but a good performance here and Down will be within touching distance of playing Division One hurling next year.

Trim could maybe even be easier for some around Newry/South Down to get to than Ballycran?

All tongue in cheek, and I wouldn't be expecting a huge crowd at the hurling.

In all seriousness, it is very poor that the footballers and hurlers have been arranged to play at nearly the same time in two different counties. Down is one of the few counties to have had dual county players in recent years. Not sure of the situation this year, but it would be a pity if any dual players had to choose.

Really something could have been arranged so that Down and Meath could play a double header, the same way Derry and Tyrone had. Would have gave some people a chance to see the hurlers who may not have seen them before, and would have helped both attendances I'm sure.

[Aristo 60]

My wee lad is always asking why we don't go to down hurling games.