Down Club Hurling & Football

[johnnycool]

Is that the footballers relegated on head to head?

[snoopdog]

Is that the footballers relegated on head to head?

Yes

[downtothecore]

Dissapointed for our footballers. Eventhough they are relegated which is a blow I still feel this group is progressing.... I think if liam kerr and shealin Johnston had been available this year we would not have been in this position today. I think there is better days ahead for this group and hope they all stick together.

[befair]

Lost my enthusiasm for the county due to the Kilcoo influence, but they were very competitive all through the league and a bit unlucky (shame they weren't able to blackball any referees), and I hope they have a good championship

[statto]

Dissapointed for our footballers. Eventhough they are relegated which is a blow I still feel this group is progressing.... I think if liam kerr and shealin Johnston had been available this year we would not have been in this position today. I think there is better days ahead for this group and hope they all stick together.

Don't think Johnston has made that much of impact at county level to suggest he would been difference between relegation and staying up.

[Sheedy]

Very disappointing to end the league with relegation back to division 3, this team is a division 2 team and have shown in every game they can compete with teams at this level.

A 1 point loss to Louth and a controversial 2 point loss to Cavan shows how tight the margins are in this division.

A good win and performance today and as another poster said hopefully this group sticks together.

[snoopdog]

Lost my enthusiasm for the county due to the Kilcoo influence, but they were very competitive all through the league and a bit unlucky (shame they weren't able to blackball any referees), and I hope they have a good championship

The kilcoo influence as you call it has been all positive for Down.
Unlucky to get relegated. That score at end in breffni would've kept us up.
Down ate improving. Laverty always needed time. And they will improve more. We are where we are because of 30 years of poor development poor decision making in the county. We are miles off the big counties.  A good championship is not beyond Down. Good performances against the big teams will bring them on more.
Unfortunate to be then going back to Div 3.

[tiempo]

How's Eugene Brannigan getting on?

[snoopdog]

How's Eugene Brannigan getting on?

He did well yesterday. Got on the scoreboard.
 

[ardtole]

In the games I've seen, Eugene Brannigan has been very good, the new rules really suit his game. He is very good breaking from defence and setting up attacks. At times he looks to take a bit much out of the ball, and risks overcarrying.

He definitely has more influence on the game than James Guinness, who seems to get more game time than Brannigan.

I was suprised he was taken off as early as he was yesterday, because he had a very impressive 1st half

[Mourne Rover]

Eugene Branagan and James Guinness both did well yesterday but they play in entirely different positions - Guinness was in the corner while Branagan usually operates around our half back line. Branagan ran himself into the ground and scored a couple of fine points but he can also be caught in possession, as happened in first half injury time when we could have been in for a goal after a turnover. It was reasonable to replace him with nearly an hour gone and Guinness was also subbed a couple of minutes later. Laverty made all the right calls in Clones and, despite a very unlucky relegation in a tight division, we are in good shape going into the championship. If we keep our key men, McEvoy, Havern and above all Murdock fit, we are capable of making a decent impact. McGeough has suddenly emerged as a prospect while Burns is improving in goals with every game. We are definitely in our best shape since Laverty's appointment, and a little more strength on the bench could take us even further.

[Blackandblue2]

I tend to agree, Down with a really good NFL campaign but ending in relegation. Team is in a decent place with subs entering the game and influencing it, which is massive in championship football. Fingers crossed we can give it a good run this year 

[Truth hurts]

It is disappointing we got relegated as that was a great league. It was good to see some real football being played. Onto the championship.

[tiempo]

Celebrating relegation, not much to be said for Eugene's winning mentality

[ardtole]

Eugene Branagan and James Guinness both did well yesterday but they play in entirely different positions - Guinness was in the corner while Branagan usually operates around our half back line. Branagan ran himself into the ground and scored a couple of fine points but he can also be caught in possession, as happened in first half injury time when we could have been in for a goal after a turnover. It was reasonable to replace him with nearly an hour gone and Guinness was also subbed a couple of minutes later. Laverty made all the right calls in Clones and, despite a very unlucky relegation in a tight division, we are in good shape going into the championship. If we keep our key men, McEvoy, Havern and above all Murdock fit, we are capable of making a decent impact. McGeough has suddenly emerged as a prospect while Burns is improving in goals with every game. We are definitely in our best shape since Laverty's appointment, and a little more strength on the bench could take us even further.

I'd agree McGeough looked very promising yesterday, he has probably done enough to edge in front off Savage and McCrickard for a starting place against Fermanagh in the championship.

In addition to Havern, McEvoy and Murdock, I'd add Daniel Guinness to that list he's had a very impressive league campaign. It's a real pity Liam Kerr isn't available this year, the new rules would be ideal for his game.