I see the AFL boys are returning. We know that Down always have good footballers. Could a new manager and a fresh start be the spark they need to land a long awaited Ulster title?

Certainly a team with forwards such as Mark Poland, Marty Clarke, Caolan Mooney, O'Hare, Maginn, Coulter, possibly McComiskey, Hughes etc they could be in with a chance?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 04/09/2014 16:20:33    1648008

Yea possibly.

I like Down, And i would like them to make a break-through.

I still can't see it though.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 04/09/2014 17:09:14    1648035

I always had a soft spot for Down after watching a documentary on their teams in the 60's. I would like to see them successful again in time.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 04/09/2014 17:26:36    1648044

What do you like about Down Wayno?

Is it the way the mournes slope into the sea or the fact St Patrick is buried there?

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 04/09/2014 17:34:36    1648049

It's tough on any county to lose a talented player to the professional game in Australia. We've lost Kennelly and then Walsh. Add Moran's two cruciates to the loss of Walsh, and we were without two pivotal players that we had plans to build around over these last few years. Anyways sure all teams have to get up and get on with it. Great news for Down. There must be a good buzz in the county regards their prospects for next year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7822 - 04/09/2014 18:24:48    1648077

Cacsmckilly - I like Down because they traditionally play good quality football. There is an elegance and swagger in their football.I think their is a certain romance about Down and their football. Down was the first county to bring Sam Maguire across the border. This was a momentuous moment in the history of the GAA. I think the winning of the All-Ireland by Down in 1960 broadened the appeal of Gaelic Football. The Down v Offally final of 1961 created a record attendance of 90,556 at a sporting event in Ireland with thousands more gaining entry as a result of the gates been burst open. Down won the All-Ireland in 1991, giving confidence to other Ulster teams to do likewise. Down have many iconic figures of Gaelic Gootball including James McCartan, Sean O'Neill,Kevin Mussen, Joe Lennon,Paddy Doherty, Tom O'Hare, Greg Blaney, Mickey Linden and James McCartan Jnr. Even their sporting colours, red and black look elegant. I would like to see Down back in Croke Park and challenging for major honours.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 598 - 04/09/2014 20:33:01    1648139

fainleog
County: Limerick
Posts: 119

1648139
Cacsmckilly - I like Down because they traditionally play good quality football. There is an elegance and swagger in their football.I think their is a certain romance about Down and their football. Down was the first county to bring Sam Maguire across the border. This was a momentuous moment in the history of the GAA. I think the winning of the All-Ireland by Down in 1960 broadened the appeal of Gaelic Football. The Down v Offally final of 1961 created a record attendance of 90,556 at a sporting event in Ireland with thousands more gaining entry as a result of the gates been burst open. Down won the All-Ireland in 1991, giving confidence to other Ulster teams to do likewise. Down have many iconic figures of Gaelic Gootball including James McCartan, Sean O'Neill,Kevin Mussen, Joe Lennon,Paddy Doherty, Tom O'Hare, Greg Blaney, Mickey Linden and James McCartan Jnr. Even their sporting colours, red and black look elegant. I would like to see Down back in Croke Park and challenging for major honours.

well said fainleog... i hope they have a good year in 2015.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 04/09/2014 20:53:29    1648163

Down need to do a few things and they will be successful in 2015 , convince Mooney and Clarke to commit to the team in 2015 is one , convince Coulter to give it one more year as well as bringing back Danny Hughes back into the fold.
But before all that they need to appoint Tony McEntee and Gareth O'Neill to take over the reigns for the next 3 years

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 04/09/2014 21:13:48    1648173

I see the AFL boys are returning. We know that Down always have good footballers. Could a new manager and a fresh start be the spark they need to land a long awaited Ulster title?

Certainly a team with forwards such as Mark Poland, Marty Clarke, Caolan Mooney, O'Hare, Maginn, Coulter, possibly McComiskey, Hughes etc they could be in with a chance?

Agree - wasn't there another lad who came home too, maybe a year or two ago - O'Reilly? Sorry his first name escapes me - Did he ever come back and play for Down?

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 04/09/2014 21:17:00    1648174

Jamie O'reilly

downtothecore (Down) - Posts: 349 - 04/09/2014 21:50:27    1648209

Big changes in the county at the minute. One of the things about Down is that we've had huge difficulty adapting to modern Ulster football. Even in the years following 2010, when we were in Division 1 and able to beat most teams in Ulster, teams with better gameplans like Donegal, Armagh and Tyrone have always had our number. James McCartan tried to buck the trend and introduce an ultra-defensive system to Down, but we just weren't that good at it and the results were horrible to watch. Our football over the past couple of years has been terrible viewing, piling bodies back but with no clue how to manufacture scores in that type of system.

Hopefully the new (reported) additions will provide a bit of a shot in the arm. McEntee, if appointed, coaches a good style of football with emphasis on kick-passing, which will probably sit well with our pretty naive, romantic conceptions (myself included) of the 'Down way' of playing football. If we manage to get him on board it'll be business well done, considering the lack of other outstanding candidates. Not going to comment on Clarke as he hasn't committed yet, but Mooney will be a serious addition. Yeah, I can already feel the anticipation rising for 2015. Now just waiting for the bubble to be inevitably, spectacularly burst...

Gabriel. (Down) - Posts: 412 - 05/09/2014 13:24:57    1648396

At this point in time the only way is up

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 05/09/2014 15:39:54    1648470

Sorry Cacs that we haven't started a thread yet about Tyrone don't worry your time will come! Anyway, yeah things finally looking up for us! I hope I don't have to eat my words but with Benny potentially entering his last year and with the younger lads home and the new manager (most likely looking to be mcentee) we might make a bit of progress this year. We're not expecting 2010 all over again but it will be interesting to see how the new pieces of the jigsaw fit in together

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 05/09/2014 16:19:20    1648506