Does anyone else find it highly unusual that here we are, 2 weeks into the USFC and no one, and I mean no one has been talking about Down's prospects? Here's a county with as good a pedigree as any other, who know all about winning, granted they've been out of that equation for a little while now, who can still produce quality footballers and who remain true to their footballing roots, yet in any discussion about Ulster champions they never enter the conversation. Am I really sticking my neck out here to say that Down coming in under the radar on the toughest side of the draw could well spring a surprise on all of us, not least a highly fancied Donegal? It would useful to hear the views of the Down lads themselves, who have been keeping pretty quiet themselves, it hasn't gone unnoticed!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 26/05/2015 14:36:49    1728632

because they are woeful? A bad Tyrone side made them look average last time out, they have had some big retirements and changes in management and just don't look like a real threat to be fair.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 26/05/2015 15:12:34    1728662

May have my oak tinted glasses on but I cant see them winning at Celtic park.

(On a side note it has been bad form by HQ not putting the derry/down ring semi on before the football to promote hurling in the city)

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 26/05/2015 15:16:18    1728666

Don't forget Cacs, that was 12 months ago, they had a pretty decent NL including promotion to Div 1, I wouldn't like to judge Down 2015 simply on what they achieved a year ago.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 26/05/2015 15:25:00    1728674

No way Brendtheredhand - While we had a decent league we cannot look any further than the game in Derry. I think Down look better at the back than in recent seasons and we have some good forwards but we struggle to get direct ball up to them.

I have a feeling this will be decided by whoever can get in for goals on the day.

As for Ulster, realistically there is a clear gulf in class between ourselves and the likes of Donegal/Monaghan - In my opinion.

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 26/05/2015 16:18:31    1728704

Not a hope in hell.

Derry will get a win at home!

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 26/05/2015 16:51:33    1728726

A few months ago I tipped them for Ulster mainly due to the pedigree that down normally produce, this coupled with a new manager I thought they would get a bounce and go and win ulster this year, they may well still but I wouldn't be as confident now having seen them play in the Div 2 final....... I just feel they don't have the physical power especially up top to really trouble the perceived top teams in ulster, that being Donegal and Monaghan, I don't mention Armagh here as a Down/Armagh is the fiercest rivarily in ulster and anything can happen in these matches and usually does......

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 26/05/2015 17:59:48    1728771

Down can't be ruled out alright. Could even be a Down v Armagh semi-final.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7844 - 26/05/2015 18:57:28    1728795

The winners of donegal v armagh will win ulster,wouldnt mind seeing armagh win it as there great supporters as for Down NO CHANCE

blackrockeddie (Cork) - Posts: 160 - 26/05/2015 19:25:29    1728813

Our Hurlers have a better chance of winning the Christy Ring than our footballers winning Ulster. After the Roscommon league final performance it will be a very big ask.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 26/05/2015 19:37:21    1728820

redhanddefender, based on Derry's poor championship record in recent years, I would fancy Down to win in Celtic Park.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 26/05/2015 19:37:22    1728821

I thought they looked pretty strong in that Division 2 final, until the sending off which really swung it for Roscommon then.

I've been Impressed with them this year so far.

As being a dark horse for Ulster, I wouldn't rule them out. They could beat anybody else in Ulster on any day, so It's definitely not beyond them.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 26/05/2015 20:14:09    1728831

Sadly I think there is no hope of this. The team aren't big enough and it seems to me like the opposition can run straight through Down's defence. Even if we beat Derry I don't think we're consistent enough to get much further than that really.

OgraAnDun (Down) - Posts: 406 - 26/05/2015 20:39:05    1728839

I do not think Down are Ulster dark horses. I saw them in the Division 2 league final in April and I thought they were very poor. I thought there was a huge difference in class between them and the winners of the other match Dublin in the NFL league final that day.
I hope Down will be competing at the latter stages of the championship in the near future as they bring something special to Croke Park.
Down have played a beautiful style of Football in Croke Park in the past, with a swagger and confidence in their play. In 1991 they were a complete surprise to win the All-Ireland with a young team. Down were the first to bring the Sam Maguire Cup across the border in 1960 and revolutionize the way Gaelic football was played. In 1961 they played Offally in the final before a record attendance of 90,556 and many more thousand getting in free as a result of the gates been burst open. Down have a special appeal with neutrals agus mar sin táim ag tnúth go mór le Dún beith pairteach i gcluiche peil craobh ceannais na hÉireann arís.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 598 - 27/05/2015 13:10:21    1729047

There are about 8 dark horses in Ulster ... Antrim dont even qualify as horses at present.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 27/05/2015 13:24:58    1729057

Down dark horses of Ulster in the same way every year and I mean every year you get a wise old head saying " have a sneakin suspicion about Galway " one day by the law of averages they may be right , but not this year , deal with facts Down aren't up to much , Galway I wouldn't be surprised if"" nah stop it ""

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 27/05/2015 13:33:21    1729060

Not this year, they just haven't shown anything.

As things stand I would put them behind Monaghan, Donegal, Tyrone, Derry, Armagh & on a par with Cavan

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 27/05/2015 14:45:05    1729115

That 8 dark horses of ulster not including Aontroim is rubbish!

If anything you should be saying there are 8 dark horses who play blanket handball. And An Dún

beansycpn (Down) - Posts: 128 - 27/05/2015 16:16:52    1729175

beansycpn
County: Down
Posts: 89

1729175 That 8 dark horses of ulster not including Aontroim is rubbish!

If anything you should be saying there are 8 dark horses who play blanket handball. And An Dún
__________________________
I'm sorry I asked now!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 27/05/2015 16:19:33    1729177

So antrim are the only non dark horses? How about fermanagh......still yet to win the thing

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 27/05/2015 16:36:33    1729184