Down Club Hurling & Football

[supersub]

Your county board has just published a result where an under 14 LGFA team lost a game tonight by 93 (ninety-three) points. That is a shameful thing to do.

When you say published, what do you mean? Assume the website, which would be generated from the referee's match result submission. Firstly, why would you come on here and highlight it if it is so shameful? Secondly, what is the alternative? Put in a 10, 20, 30 point win? Some other team wins by 40 points and the referee puts in the exact score then points difference is out the window? Not as big an issue as you make out I fear.

[snoopdog]

Does anyone think we will run Donegal close next sunday. Im travelling in hope of a good performance. A tifhr pitc might suit Down better . We were 6 pointa of them last year in Clones but it was hard to know what Donegal were at that day. Always thought they coukd raise ut if they needed to.
These are the games we want and we need to improve so thr better the teams we get in the following all ireland series the better.
Any idea when Magill will be back,? Someone mentioned Mooney was back in panel? Any others? Im assuming the johsons arent interested this year either?

[Aristo 60]

Same here. Will travel in hope. A bit like Clones 2024. We ran the eventual champions very close that day and I wouldnt want to miss the opportunity to see that sort of thing happen again.

[Splash]

Last game of the league against Antrim this evening in Newry.

Think if we beat them, and Dublin beat Carlow, we can mathematically stay up if Down beat Antrim by enough, but in all likelihood Down will be relegated to Division 2.

The Dublin game was a disaster, but there's plenty of lessons to be taken from playing who were one of the top 4 teams in Ireland last year.

Some people from Antrim I have spoken to seem to think Antrim will win this easily, and it would be great to give them something to think about.

Whilst Antrim look like they have improved in recent weeks, I don't think there is much between them and Down, and they are certainly there for the taking.

Great that it's in Newry- wish a lot more games were held there.

Im sure your a happy man tonight Splash! Get win that, and well deserved. Delighted for Ronan, he's put some effort into Down hurling.

I was delighted- first time Down have beaten Antrim in any game of importance for many, many years if I'm not mistaken.

I suppose this makes Down the best hurling county in Ulster? For the time being, anyway.

Thought the game was gone to be honest, and it was fairytale stuff when Hughes got the goal with the last puck of the ball.

I'm looking at it through red and black glasses, but I thought it would have been very unfair of Down to have lost that game.

Great to see a decent crowd in Newry, too.

Ultimately, Down are relegated to Division 2 on points difference. The day in Parnell Park against Dublin ultimately sealing our fate.

It's a pity, because Down, on the whole, we're probably better than the end table suggested.

Really, really should have beaten Wexford (which is sickening), and performed poorly against Kildare and Carlow, leaving too much to do when they finally found their stride.

It's unfortunate to not be in Division 1 next year, but Down should really be targeting an immediate return for 2028.

The Joe McDonagh is now a huge opportunity. This is probably Down's best opportunity to win the championship yet, and I'm particularly looking forward to Antrim, away. If Down are able to beat Antrim twice in a row, it only strengthens the argument for a revival of the Ulster Championship.

I know tickets for the football in Donegal are scarce, so would highly encourage anyone to head up to Dunloy tomorrow and support the hurlers in this championship derby game.

[johnnycool]

Last game of the league against Antrim this evening in Newry.

Think if we beat them, and Dublin beat Carlow, we can mathematically stay up if Down beat Antrim by enough, but in all likelihood Down will be relegated to Division 2.

The Dublin game was a disaster, but there's plenty of lessons to be taken from playing who were one of the top 4 teams in Ireland last year.

Some people from Antrim I have spoken to seem to think Antrim will win this easily, and it would be great to give them something to think about.

Whilst Antrim look like they have improved in recent weeks, I don't think there is much between them and Down, and they are certainly there for the taking.

Great that it's in Newry- wish a lot more games were held there.

Im sure your a happy man tonight Splash! Get win that, and well deserved. Delighted for Ronan, he's put some effort into Down hurling.

I was delighted- first time Down have beaten Antrim in any game of importance for many, many years if I'm not mistaken.

I suppose this makes Down the best hurling county in Ulster? For the time being, anyway.

Thought the game was gone to be honest, and it was fairytale stuff when Hughes got the goal with the last puck of the ball.

I'm looking at it through red and black glasses, but I thought it would have been very unfair of Down to have lost that game.

Great to see a decent crowd in Newry, too.

Ultimately, Down are relegated to Division 2 on points difference. The day in Parnell Park against Dublin ultimately sealing our fate.

It's a pity, because Down, on the whole, we're probably better than the end table suggested.

Really, really should have beaten Wexford (which is sickening), and performed poorly against Kildare and Carlow, leaving too much to do when they finally found their stride.

It's unfortunate to not be in Division 1 next year, but Down should really be targeting an immediate return for 2028.

The Joe McDonagh is now a huge opportunity. This is probably Down's best opportunity to win the championship yet, and I'm particularly looking forward to Antrim, away. If Down are able to beat Antrim twice in a row, it only strengthens the argument for a revival of the Ulster Championship.

I know tickets for the football in Donegal are scarce, so would highly encourage anyone to head up to Dunloy tomorrow and support the hurlers in this championship derby game.

I think Eoghan Sands is out for tomorrow and that's a big loss, but Down shouldn't fear Antrim and go at them.

It may also depend on who learnt most from the previous encounter, and sometimes the winning can mask some issues, so the Down management need to use that experience and improve in certain areas, efficiency in front of goal being one.

Laois, Carlow and Westmeath will also provide stiff challenges and Down may do well to get to a final here.

[LosDodgers]

Does anyone think we will run Donegal close next sunday. Im travelling in hope of a good performance. A tifhr pitc might suit Down better . We were 6 pointa of them last year in Clones but it was hard to know what Donegal were at that day. Always thought they coukd raise ut if they needed to.
These are the games we want and we need to improve so thr better the teams we get in the following all ireland series the better.
Any idea when Magill will be back,? Someone mentioned Mooney was back in panel? Any others? Im assuming the johsons arent interested this year either?

Having Magill back would be a huge boost. Him & Kerr definitely give us a much different dimension in attack which is needed as we rely too much on Murdock/Guinness/Havern on the arc.

I mean its literally the toughest game we could ask for, Donegal are flying, have great depth to their squad and we know they take the Ulster Championship very seriously so we can't imagine they will take us lightly.

But we give them a good rattle last year and if Murdock & Guinness are on top form and Pat has his shooting boots on we can give them a scare! This team has shown great fight and pride in the jersey so I don't think we will travel up there just to lie down

[downtothecore]

Donegal looked awesome in the div 1 league final and easily beat arguably the best team in country. We looked very average in the div 3 final. Noone in the country gives us a chance and the only person that will be talking us up is the donegal mind  master mc guinness because that is what he does best. All expert opinions aside I expect a lavery team to have prepared well for a good effort for this one....

[snoopdog]

Great win for Down hutlers again today away in Antrim .

[ardtole]

Great win for the hurlers yesterday. Westmeath upsetting Meath today might cost us a Sam Maguire spot, unless Kildare can reach the provincial final, from that side of the draw.

[PAULD123]

Bad result in Leinster. Need Kildare to pull off a surprise

[LosDodgers]

Defs a disaster of a result for Down however it could work out well.

Kildare/Westmeath is a 50/50 game still even though many will now be tipping Westmeath and they have great momentum.

If Kildare win, Down would hopefully draw them in R1 of Sam Maguire series which would be a very winnable game! So still plenty to be positive about!

PS: Superb result for the hurlers - surely Ulster Championship needs to come back

[johnnycool]

It was a good result for the hurlers, and by all accounts should have probably won by more only for some poor shooting in the second half.

Any of those asking for an Ulster championship to be resurrected haven't really thought it through.

When would it be played for a start?

The league and the Joe McDonagh run right into each other and when that's over you're into mid to late June. Play it after than then you are encroaching on the club players and leagues.

Imagine being in Portaferry's position with nine plus players on the Down panel, currently they're playing a glorified reserve team in the Antrim league and when it splits if those players don't go back to their club they'll get relegated.
How do you think that'll go down in that club and what pressure would be put on the players to drop from the county and then it's a mess of a championship.

[PAULD123]

If anyone hears of tickets available for the Donegal game could you please message me.  I know it's a long shot, but in my experience people often hold tickets till the last minute then release them just before the day. 

I'm hoping to take my nephew.

Thanks

[knowbetter]

It was a good result for the hurlers, and by all accounts should have probably won by more only for some poor shooting in the second half.

Any of those asking for an Ulster championship to be resurrected haven't really thought it through.

When would it be played for a start?

The league and the Joe McDonagh run right into each other and when that's over you're into mid to late June. Play it after than then you are encroaching on the club players and leagues.

Imagine being in Portaferry's position with nine plus players on the Down panel, currently they're playing a glorified reserve team in the Antrim league and when it splits if those players don't go back to their club they'll get relegated.
How do you think that'll go down in that club and what pressure would be put on the players to drop from the county and then it's a mess of a championship.

Agreed, Its great that the team have pushed on and are now at Antrim's level, but lets be honest it would just be a 1 match championship that doesn't really go anywhere.

If they wanted to I do believe Antrim could push on provided they get their house in order, management sucking the life out of that team.

[Baile na Faiche]

"I don't know, we'll see what happens," - Danny Magill teasing us with the prospect of appearing on Sunday (Irish News yesterday). We should be so lucky.

Burns
Fegan, McEvoy, Laverty
R Magill, Annett, Rogers
Murdock, Guinness
McCormack, Doc, Kerr
Crimmins, Havern, McGeough