Down Club Hurling & Football

Dayman · March 02, 2026, 10:20:56 AM

Yeah absolutely, the Division 3 final will be the most important game we play all year, it'll be very hard to get the lads or fans motivated for another Tailteann Cup campaign.

One thing I know for sure is it will be a stressful watch, they never make it easy on us. Some great performances on Saturday night (Crimmins and Close had their best games so far I thought, and looks like Kerr hasn't lost his pace), but Fermanagh never should have been as close before their goal went in. Havern missed a handy enough 2 pointer, there were a few other handy enough wides that kept them in it. Would just love them to be able to have a full 70 mins like they did against Wexford in the final.

Ed Hardy · March 02, 2026, 04:05:14 PM

See Mooney back in with Down, good option of the bench with 15/20mins to go! Any word on either Eugene Branagan or Anthony Morgan are going to be involved at any stage this year?

LosDodgers · March 03, 2026, 06:16:21 AM

Quote from: snoopdog on March 02, 2026, 07:56:57 AMYeah but you woukd prefer to be sure by winning Div 3. Being in the Tailteann would be a disaster for Down.

100% huge to win D3 final, another trophy win at Croke Park (we have a terrible record in league finals from my memory) and pretty much gaurenteed Sam Maguire football unless likes of Sligo beat Galway or Clare beat Kerry!

marty34 · March 03, 2026, 07:24:11 AM

Quote from: Ed Hardy on March 02, 2026, 04:05:14 PMSee Mooney back in with Down, good option of the bench with 15/20mins to go! Any word on either Eugene Branagan or Anthony Morgan are going to be involved at any stage this year?

A lot of players coming out of retirement - Mc Kiernan (Cavan), Mooney (Down) and Michael Murphy (Donegal). Probably add more to that list.

Is it the new rules that's enticing them back - a bit more space and the 2 pointers? That's be true in Mc Kiernan's and Murphy's case for sure.

toby47 · March 03, 2026, 10:32:45 AM

Quote from: marty34 on March 03, 2026, 07:24:11 AM
Quote from: Ed Hardy on March 02, 2026, 04:05:14 PMSee Mooney back in with Down, good option of the bench with 15/20mins to go! Any word on either Eugene Branagan or Anthony Morgan are going to be involved at any stage this year?

A lot of players coming out of retirement - Mc Kiernan (Cavan), Mooney (Down) and Michael Murphy (Donegal). Probably add more to that list.

Is it the new rules that's enticing them back - a bit more space and the 2 pointers? That's be true in Mc Kiernan's and Murphy's case for sure.

Yeah, football is about 10 times more enjoyable to play now.

PAULD123 · March 03, 2026, 10:49:14 AM

Since 1983 we have lost 6 National League deciders in a row

One Division 1
Two division 2
Three Division 3

In fact since 1994 we have only one one final of any description which was the Tailteann cup two years ago

Aristo 60 · March 03, 2026, 12:09:26 PM

McKenna Cup final 2008

PAULD123 · March 03, 2026, 07:06:50 PM

Quote from: Aristo 60 on March 03, 2026, 12:09:26 PMMcKenna Cup final 2008

Yes, I stand corrected

Walt Jabsco · March 03, 2026, 07:28:34 PM

Quote from: johnnycool on March 01, 2026, 09:02:20 PMThe hurlers are as good as down as they'd need 2 wins v Dublin in Parnell and then Antrim in Newry.

Kildare did all the damage in the first half when they played with the strong wind on their backs.

Too much pace and team work for Down who put up a much better show in the second half.
It got a wee bit feisty which from a Down perspective would have been better if they'd shown that fire in the first half.
Big Ruairi lucky not to get a red with the block down that caught the Kildare lads helmet. There was no malice in it, just mistimed.

The minor camogs had a good win later on in the day on the same pitch.

The Liatroim groundsman should be sacked, he's letting his standards slip

The impossible he does today but miracles take a little longer JC

It held up well on Sunday to staging a double header. Very few grounds could take the amount of usage that it has in recent weeks. Hopefully there will be another IC fixture when the sod is a bit drier.

Aristo 60 · March 03, 2026, 07:33:59 PM

Quote from: PAULD123 on March 03, 2026, 07:06:50 PM
Quote from: Aristo 60 on March 03, 2026, 12:09:26 PMMcKenna Cup final 2008

Yes, I stand corrected

Always think it was the little bit of a spring board for 2010 - so I don't forget it

LosDodgers · March 03, 2026, 10:22:01 PM

Yeah records in Finals since 1994:

1996. Ulster vs Tyrone Lost by 3
1999. Ulster vs Armagh Lost by 11
2003. ulster Vs Tyrone Lost by 15 (after reply where we threw away about a 12 point lead)
2004. D2 Vs Offaly Lost by 1
2009. D3 Vs Tipperary Lost by 1
2010. D2 Vs Armagh Lost by 2
2010. All Ireland vs Cork Lost by 1
2012. Ulster vs Donegal lost by 11
2015. D2 Vs Roscommon Lost by 5
2017. Ulster vs Tyrone lost by 8
2020. D3 Vs Cork Lost by 5
2023. Tailteann vs Meath lost by 5
2024. D3 Vs Westmeath Lost by 3
2024. Tailteann Vs Laois WON by 2

13 Final loses in a row before the Tailteann Cup win so winning D3 final means we will be back on a Winning streak!

(This doesn't include 3 McKenna Cup wins)