Ross Carr's Down will provide the wild card game of the last round of the qualifiers after seeing off a determined Laois fightback in the second hand of yesterday's game.
Down really are the goal kings of Gaelic football, two more yesterday helped see them through to the last 12.
The Mourne defence is nothing to write home about, and they definitely won't win the county any matches.
However, in Dan Gordon and Ambrose Rodgers they have a good midfield with Jack Lynch also capable of doing a job for them.
Benny Coulter remains the most explosive forward in the country, when he's hot and getting any sort of decent supply he is unstoppable and there will always be the chance of goals when he's close to the target as it's almost always his first instinct to look for the net when his confidence is high.
I just don't know how far Down can go, they beat what is a Tyrone side playing way below its best and lost to Armagh.
They have beaten two Leinster sides in the qualifers but it has been the poorest championship in recent seasons so it is hard to gauge just how much Down have improved since their defeat in Ulster.
But they play an open brand of attractive football and when they get a run in the championship and get their dander up they could pull off a big result.
The top sides will not fear them in the draw unless of course you're Kerry who have never beaten them at Croke Park, but there's none of the sides from outside Ulster who will feel that they are easy pickings in the last round of the qualifiers.
Showing posts with label Down. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Down. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Monday, 16 June 2008
Ulster experiment should be wound up
Antrim have limped through the Ulster championship seeing off Down and Derry but by no means looking like they are at least a division better than their Ulster rivals.
The Saffrons struggled to see of a Down side missing Magic Johnstone and the improvement needed in less than a fortnight to even put it up to high flying Galway seems beyond them.
Sambo McNaughton remains as honest as ever and one Eff didn't wait on another when talking to the press after the game.
McNaughton knows that a repeat of Sunday's performance against Galway will end in tears and Antrim will be left licking their wounds after another heavy defeat.
To be honest I fear for our lads in a fortnight's time.
I believe they will raise their game a notch as the over familiarity and the fact that the Saffrons were going for their seventh Ulster in a row in what is now a meaningless championship obviously has taken some of the fire out of the contest.
Down are working hard to develop the game outside its Ards base and there are some signs of hope in South Down and with the efforts of the Bredagh club in south Belfast to promote the game.
It could be another five years before the county side sees the full benefit of this but if this doesn't work the game will die in the county.
The base the Ards teams have drawn off in the past has narrowed considerably as the day of the big hurling family producing three and four brothers for the local side is gone and falling school numbers tell their own tale.
The Ulster experiment of all nine counties competing added a little interest to the season but on its own did little to lift the standard of play, indeed it added to the mediocrity.
All the Ulster sides outside of Antrim should be playing in the lesser competitions and while the aspiration to have a fully contested Ulster championship is indeed a noble one the hurling authorities need to look no further than Leinster to see the effect a poor championship can have on the game.
The Saffrons struggled to see of a Down side missing Magic Johnstone and the improvement needed in less than a fortnight to even put it up to high flying Galway seems beyond them.
Sambo McNaughton remains as honest as ever and one Eff didn't wait on another when talking to the press after the game.
McNaughton knows that a repeat of Sunday's performance against Galway will end in tears and Antrim will be left licking their wounds after another heavy defeat.
To be honest I fear for our lads in a fortnight's time.
I believe they will raise their game a notch as the over familiarity and the fact that the Saffrons were going for their seventh Ulster in a row in what is now a meaningless championship obviously has taken some of the fire out of the contest.
Down are working hard to develop the game outside its Ards base and there are some signs of hope in South Down and with the efforts of the Bredagh club in south Belfast to promote the game.
It could be another five years before the county side sees the full benefit of this but if this doesn't work the game will die in the county.
The base the Ards teams have drawn off in the past has narrowed considerably as the day of the big hurling family producing three and four brothers for the local side is gone and falling school numbers tell their own tale.
The Ulster experiment of all nine counties competing added a little interest to the season but on its own did little to lift the standard of play, indeed it added to the mediocrity.
All the Ulster sides outside of Antrim should be playing in the lesser competitions and while the aspiration to have a fully contested Ulster championship is indeed a noble one the hurling authorities need to look no further than Leinster to see the effect a poor championship can have on the game.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Armagh impress in first outing
Armagh looked as formidable if not quite as clinical as ever in their first outing in the Ulster championship today when they disposed of Cavan a lot easier than the score line of 0-17 to 0-13 suggests.
Armagh still play to their strengths, they make it hard to break them down and they hold possession in their no nonsense no panic style and in Clarke and McDonnell they have two class acts up front.
They should have had at least three goals today with Stevie McDonnell, Clarke and Stephen Kernan all guilty of misses one to one with the 'keeper.
The Orchard men snuffed out Cavan at every turn.
The Breffni men never really looked like getting back into the game bar a short spell right after half time when Armagh missed a few chances to finish the game off and Cavan closed the gap to two.
The defence looked better for Francie Bellew and Andy Mallon's return and John Toner looks like a good partner for the ever reliable Paul McGrane in the middle.
Stephen Kernan adds a bit of class to the forward line and Charlie Vernon looks to be a very powerful footballer.
If Armagh can keep McDonnell and Clarke fit they are always going to be a threat.
They will now face a resurgent Down in the Ulster semi final in what will be a much-anticipated game.
For Cavan, I can't see them lift themselves for the qualifiers, their shortcomings were cruelly exposed today and with the calibre of opposition already in the draw it's hard to see them going much further.
They were much too predictable.
They battle hard but Armagh starved Seanie Johnston of possession and even though he still managed a credible haul of points Armagh dominated midfield and made Cavan work hard for everything they got.
Cavan will be a banana skin for anyone they meet but only that.
The challenge to Armagh is now to improve, if they can do that they will be in the mix in the latter part of the season.
Armagh still play to their strengths, they make it hard to break them down and they hold possession in their no nonsense no panic style and in Clarke and McDonnell they have two class acts up front.
They should have had at least three goals today with Stevie McDonnell, Clarke and Stephen Kernan all guilty of misses one to one with the 'keeper.
The Orchard men snuffed out Cavan at every turn.
The Breffni men never really looked like getting back into the game bar a short spell right after half time when Armagh missed a few chances to finish the game off and Cavan closed the gap to two.
The defence looked better for Francie Bellew and Andy Mallon's return and John Toner looks like a good partner for the ever reliable Paul McGrane in the middle.
Stephen Kernan adds a bit of class to the forward line and Charlie Vernon looks to be a very powerful footballer.
If Armagh can keep McDonnell and Clarke fit they are always going to be a threat.
They will now face a resurgent Down in the Ulster semi final in what will be a much-anticipated game.
For Cavan, I can't see them lift themselves for the qualifiers, their shortcomings were cruelly exposed today and with the calibre of opposition already in the draw it's hard to see them going much further.
They were much too predictable.
They battle hard but Armagh starved Seanie Johnston of possession and even though he still managed a credible haul of points Armagh dominated midfield and made Cavan work hard for everything they got.
Cavan will be a banana skin for anyone they meet but only that.
The challenge to Armagh is now to improve, if they can do that they will be in the mix in the latter part of the season.
Breath-taking game of football
Great weekend of football in Ulster following Down's one-point win over Tyrone and Armagh seeing off Cavan to win at Breffni Park for the first time ever in the championship.
Last night's game between Tyrone and Down was captivating throughout.
Every so often there were flashes of the brilliance we have come to expect of Tyrone in recent seasons with some incisive football and finishing.
However, it's clear that the former champs are not firing on all cylinders.
They are still plagued by injuries, Enda McGinley missing out with concussion was another big blow to what has been one of the most unsettled midfields in the country.
The loss too of Colm Cavanagh who had scored four points in the first 25 minutes followed by his substitute Kevin Hughes leaving the field only about ten minutes later left Tyrone's resources in the middle of the park threadbare.
Brian McGuigan too was left out of the starting line-up but despite this Tyrone put in a credible performance, a storming finish to come back from the dead and at one point in the first period of extra time it looked like they could run away with it.
Sean Cavanagh led the fightback, while Ryan McMenamin, Conor Gormley and Tommy McGuigan all raised their game to bring the Red Hands back.
To Down's credit they simply refused to give up over the two games.
Liam Doyle, Aidan Carr, Dan Gordon were all top class once again and Benny Coulter produced the goods when it mattered most.
Down will take an awful lot of confidence out of the two games and the experience will stand them in good stead.
The Down attack have looked good over the two outings, a return of 16 points in normal time would win most tight games, and they were a lot tighter in defence than they had been in the first quarter of the game at Healy Park.
They will need no motivation for the semi final tie with Armagh with whom they enjoy a huge rivalry and most neutrals in Ulster will be looking forward already to that one.
There is no doubt about the Down men in that if they get their dander up they are one of the strongest teams in Ulster in terms of self belief.
For years they were the only side in Ulster who travelled to Croke Park expecting to win.
As for Tyrone a defeat like Saturday's will be hard to shake off.
They should have had this game won twice and blew it.
However, they are still a good side and much will depend on their mental strength and how quickly they can get a full side on the pitch.
I think they need a good draw in the qualifiers, which already has Donegal, Meath, Kildare and Monaghan in the shake-up.
If Tyrone can get another game under their belts they may just be able to regroup but it must look like a long road from here.
Last night's game between Tyrone and Down was captivating throughout.
Every so often there were flashes of the brilliance we have come to expect of Tyrone in recent seasons with some incisive football and finishing.
However, it's clear that the former champs are not firing on all cylinders.
They are still plagued by injuries, Enda McGinley missing out with concussion was another big blow to what has been one of the most unsettled midfields in the country.
The loss too of Colm Cavanagh who had scored four points in the first 25 minutes followed by his substitute Kevin Hughes leaving the field only about ten minutes later left Tyrone's resources in the middle of the park threadbare.
Brian McGuigan too was left out of the starting line-up but despite this Tyrone put in a credible performance, a storming finish to come back from the dead and at one point in the first period of extra time it looked like they could run away with it.
Sean Cavanagh led the fightback, while Ryan McMenamin, Conor Gormley and Tommy McGuigan all raised their game to bring the Red Hands back.
To Down's credit they simply refused to give up over the two games.
Liam Doyle, Aidan Carr, Dan Gordon were all top class once again and Benny Coulter produced the goods when it mattered most.
Down will take an awful lot of confidence out of the two games and the experience will stand them in good stead.
The Down attack have looked good over the two outings, a return of 16 points in normal time would win most tight games, and they were a lot tighter in defence than they had been in the first quarter of the game at Healy Park.
They will need no motivation for the semi final tie with Armagh with whom they enjoy a huge rivalry and most neutrals in Ulster will be looking forward already to that one.
There is no doubt about the Down men in that if they get their dander up they are one of the strongest teams in Ulster in terms of self belief.
For years they were the only side in Ulster who travelled to Croke Park expecting to win.
As for Tyrone a defeat like Saturday's will be hard to shake off.
They should have had this game won twice and blew it.
However, they are still a good side and much will depend on their mental strength and how quickly they can get a full side on the pitch.
I think they need a good draw in the qualifiers, which already has Donegal, Meath, Kildare and Monaghan in the shake-up.
If Tyrone can get another game under their belts they may just be able to regroup but it must look like a long road from here.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Pendulum swings to Tyrone
I think the pendulum has swung back Tyrone's way for their replayed Ulster football quarter final tie with Tyrone with the news that midfielder Dan Gordon will miss the game with a broken thumb.
Tyrone have injury worries of their own in Davy Harte, Colm Cavanagh and Enda McGinley but they lost the midfield battle against the Mournemen and Gordon will be a big loss to Down.
I think the draw will help Tyrone's bid to retain their Ulster title.
The only way for key men like Brian McGuigan and Brian Dooher to regain match fitness after their long lay-offs is by playing competitive games.
Both men showed well in patches on Sunday but they have a long way to go to reach the peaks they experienced in 2003 and 2005.
Another competitive game albeit a replay will be a step forward for both of them and a win would put Tyrone's season back on track.
That would guarantee them at least two more championship games and sometimes a team can rebuild its confidence and morale through a run of games.
The Red Hands have still not sorted out their problems in midfield, the loss of McGinley is a big blow, and the full back line still looks dodgy under the high ball.
The forward line is not firing on all cylinders either but there is still room to improve.
I think Tyrone will come through Saturday night's test but Down remain unpredictable and their ability to score goals always makes them a threat.
However, their full back line is poor and I think Tyrone will be more ruthless than they were last weekend.
Tyrone have injury worries of their own in Davy Harte, Colm Cavanagh and Enda McGinley but they lost the midfield battle against the Mournemen and Gordon will be a big loss to Down.
I think the draw will help Tyrone's bid to retain their Ulster title.
The only way for key men like Brian McGuigan and Brian Dooher to regain match fitness after their long lay-offs is by playing competitive games.
Both men showed well in patches on Sunday but they have a long way to go to reach the peaks they experienced in 2003 and 2005.
Another competitive game albeit a replay will be a step forward for both of them and a win would put Tyrone's season back on track.
That would guarantee them at least two more championship games and sometimes a team can rebuild its confidence and morale through a run of games.
The Red Hands have still not sorted out their problems in midfield, the loss of McGinley is a big blow, and the full back line still looks dodgy under the high ball.
The forward line is not firing on all cylinders either but there is still room to improve.
I think Tyrone will come through Saturday night's test but Down remain unpredictable and their ability to score goals always makes them a threat.
However, their full back line is poor and I think Tyrone will be more ruthless than they were last weekend.
Monday, 26 May 2008
Will Tyrone ever have full squad again?
Just wonder will Tyrone ever play with a full side ever again after the weekend games.
Owen Mulligan looks very doubtful for their opener against Down while Sean Cavanagh and Tommy McGuigan are also nursing knocks after club matches.
Cavanagh is a very important player for the Red Hands and any injury to him would be a huge blow to Tyrone.
Mulligan on the other hand is a confidence player, when he's hot he's brilliant but there are other occasions when the Cookstown man is very ordinary.
He needs a foil, being at his best when he played alongside Peter Canavan and Stephen O'Neill although I would have fancied my own chances with that pair by my side.
However, Mulligan has frequently struggled when he has been the fulcrum of the attack.
I think it's a case of the opposition being able to put their best markers on him in the absence of his partners in crime from the 2005 season and also the fact that Brian McGuigan wasn't around to supply the ammo.
I still think that Tyrone will have too much in the locker for Down who while they are on the way back are a long way short of being the genuine article.
Owen Mulligan looks very doubtful for their opener against Down while Sean Cavanagh and Tommy McGuigan are also nursing knocks after club matches.
Cavanagh is a very important player for the Red Hands and any injury to him would be a huge blow to Tyrone.
Mulligan on the other hand is a confidence player, when he's hot he's brilliant but there are other occasions when the Cookstown man is very ordinary.
He needs a foil, being at his best when he played alongside Peter Canavan and Stephen O'Neill although I would have fancied my own chances with that pair by my side.
However, Mulligan has frequently struggled when he has been the fulcrum of the attack.
I think it's a case of the opposition being able to put their best markers on him in the absence of his partners in crime from the 2005 season and also the fact that Brian McGuigan wasn't around to supply the ammo.
I still think that Tyrone will have too much in the locker for Down who while they are on the way back are a long way short of being the genuine article.
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