USFC Round 1 : An Cabhan V An Dun

[Cloc Mor]

I said Hughes was piss poor, not Carr.

Game V Monaghan in Newry on 10 June

[Dubh driocht]

Cloc Mor , think you are too harsh on Carr and Hughes. The two key tasks are to win the ball and distribute it. Both the players performed these tasks immensely.If there was a statto analysis I think you would find they were well ahead of the other forwards.Aidan's shooting again lacked confidence but once he starts firing them over there will be no stopping him . Daniel won every ball that came his way which was crucial when Benny was so well marked and not firing on all cylinders. We could be critical but days like this are few and far between. We had a great view so well done to Sean Magee and Club Down.

[Pangurban]

A lot of positives from a fine team performance plus signs of return to the old spark and self belief. Certainly a real confidence booster. But lets not get carried away, todays performance while a decided improvement on anything we have seen to date this season, would still not be good enough to trouble any of the real contenders in Ulster. Our lack of a strong physical presence in key areas, very evident at times today, will be difficult to compensate against teams like Monaghan or Derry. However thats another days work, lets enjoy our all to rare victory

[Mourne Rover]

While we have a long way to go, this was a very decent Down performance.  We dominated from start to finish, apart from a couple of brief purple patches from Cavan, and it would probably be the first time since the 1994 AI semi against Cork that we have been so much in control of a championship match. We should have been ahead by double scores at the break, but we stayed calm, and although the red card for Lyng was a big help, we finished the game like a fit and confident side.

McVeigh was a reassuring presence with safe hands and a fine range of kick-outs but there could be no doubt about the MoM. Rooney was outstanding when the pressure was on, and, although he made a couple of errors in the first half, he got stronger and more commanding as the game developed.

The entire defence was excellent, and Grant probably had his best ever game in a county jersey. McCartan is not the fastest back in the country but no one got away from him, while Murtagh and Cole were as steady as ever. McGuigan had a strange game, as he struggled badly in the third quarter but looked very impressive in the closing stages. Clarke was still a bit patchy when he came on.

Gordon really looked the part for most of the game, although he took a heavy knock early on and was lucky to stay on after throwing a punch during the flare-up in the middle of the second half. Murphy works really hard alongside him and gets up and down the field effectively.

Carr got his point at last and is capable of further improvement, while McGovern did not look very happy to be replaced. However, Kearney was strong with plenty of pace when he got his chance and Sexton still covers more ground than anyone else. Downey provides a good physical presence, although he can still do more, and while Benny did not score, and was not at his best, he still set up chance after chance and created the space for Hughes, who was back to his true form. McComiskey should have been on earlier but he is a fantastic prospect and took two vital points at the right time.

Ross and DJ have gone quietly about their business, but they are creating an emerging team. The atmosphere in the new stand was great as well, so I can't wait for the Monaghan match. They are likely to be a better side than Cavan, who were mostly fairly ordinary, but the buzz is back in Down football. 

[the derg]

what a prospect young mccomiskey is cool head and very accurate great to see someone from division 3 excelling in county football

[Dubh driocht]

CC1, the referee didn't give us that much- would agree that Dan was lucky to stay on but the big hallion who came on had only one thing in his mind and that was to get dan sent off. Agree with you about Seanie Johnson- he should have been on earlier and he gave our defence many more problems than the Reillys.

[No1]

  Good win for the boys today, you would have to take heart from it.  Gordon should have walked and was really lucky that the referee was as shite as he was.  

 Can't see what Aidan Carr has to offer, I thought he was our least effective player and we need a centre half forward who can win his own ball and set up play.  

 The Lyng sending off was crucial, although it took a while for our boys to work out how to use the extra man.

 Don't want to be too critical though, a win is a win.  Rounded off a great GAA weekend for me, know what I mean wobbler and 5 Sams  even our seconds won this morning!!

[corn02]

Dub Drioct minor match had to be on a neutral ground so it was hardly a disgraceful decision from the Ulster Council was it?

[Caitlin]

Corn 02 - why did it have to be neutral ? Down were away in the preliminary round so therefore had earned a home tie.The date it was played was already a concession to Monaghan.I understand the Monaghan management didn't want to play at Newry but it would have been the right thing to do. I was talking to the father of a player who had to leave the senior game early. We also had a double bill at Casement for the Hurlers. Setting that aside, well done to Monaghan.

[5 Sams]

know what I mean wobbler and 5 Sams

Fcuk off No 1

Well deserved win for Down. McCabe won a lot of ball in the air and took some deadly long range points but Murph ran the legs of him. I'll go into more detail tomorrow but I thought Ronan Sexton was immense. Our two boys are both hurt so good day bad day.


Only joking by the way No 1...yiz were streets ahead of us on Fri nite...well deserved win...

[thebuzz]

"Johnston is quality alright, and both Larry and Jason, the latter in particular are finished."

I didn't see the game today but I thought Larry was worth his place the last day. He's a bit greedy but he can still take a score ok.

[BallyhaiseMan]

CC1
agree with your suggestion of a full forward line,
Jason Reily is finished as a starter on the county team,
Larry im not sure about.
Some good performances by Cavan and some poor ones.

Miller very good in goals
Hannon made coulter look what he is which is an very overrated player.He has very poor feet on him.
Chesty and Cahill were ok,even though Daniel Hughes did score 3 from play on Cahill.
Didnt think Flanagan was terribely effective today at wing back,
Forde done well when dropped deep to double team Coulter.
McKeever had an awful game in my opinion at CHB,Tried his hardest but nothing went right.
Crowe was solid enough at wing back,definetely impressed seeing as it was his debut.
Thought McCabe had a stormer at midfield,Everything good as usual went through him,he scored what 4 or 5 points? and won a lot of ball at midfield.
I had high hopes for Galligan but i thought Gordon lorded it over him throughout,disappointed in him to be honest.
Sean Brady alongside McCabe and Jelly was one of Cavans better players.
He done everything today,Tracked back,carried the ball well,Set up scores and took them aswell.Very impressed with him.
Lyng done well in fits and starts,The sending off was stupid.
Larry kicked one great score,but then went out of the game,something which we have seen far too much over the past few years.
Jason was non existant.
Pierson wasnt great no doubt,but jason should have been taken off before him.
Jelly outstanding when he came on,Looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.

rest of subs
Walsh,should have started,we have no-one else to partner McCabe at CentreField,so hes our only option.
Fannin,not on long enough to really impact the game
Mulvey,liked the tactic of putting him at full forward but probably too late.
Gunner,did well when he came on,but didnt look terribely fit and comfortable on the ball,obviously the injury the last day was a bit more serious than just cramp.

[Mourne Rover]

Ballyhaise Man, I probably shouldn't bother, but if Coulter is very over-rated and has very poor feet, why did your boys put two men on him ? I agree that he has had better games for Down (i.e. last week) but he still had a hand in almost all of our second half scores, drew a brilliant save from your keeper and kept finding McComiskey, who was the main reason we pulled away at the end. If I was in the blue corner, I would be more concerned about team selection, tactics and discipline.

[Caitlin]

Rover, time you were in bed.Mind you, your analysis is spot on, as always. Any chance of a choc-ice ?

[downredblack]

Firstly great to see Down Flags back up around Newry and the Marshes is a fantastic venue, somewhere we can be proud of as a county , well done to all involved . Jarlath was well impressed with the pitch quality last night on the Championship .
Good hard working display by all including Ross and DJ , subs again made the impact that was needed .
Ross in the Irish News today , Doyle , Walsh , Rodgers wont be available until the Ulster final or the latter stages of the qualifiers . Walsh warmed up yesterday so he must be the closest . No mention of D.Rafferty .