HURLEY??? WTF? Never heard HURLING being called this before! Is this a Down thing can anyone tell me?

overdabar (Westmeath) - Posts: 252 - 02/12/2012 17:43:30    1305477

Ballycran 0-13 1-9 Portaferry in the Joe McCrickard final. That's the hurling finished until the Ulster League in February. Highlights of this season have to be Portaferrys unbeaten league campaign and the Senior championship win, Bredaghs successful JHC, Ulster JHC and now All-Ireland run. Most improved team has to be Clonduff who done well in Div 2 and had a great championship run beating a few Div 1 teams on the way.

Lot of issues need sorting out for next year such as unfinished league fixtures (which is happening year after year), intermediate championship, restructuring of leagues, possibility of new teams emerging in the next few years, the shambles that was the Betsy Gray/Joe McCrickard cups. Gerard McShane also has quit as hurling chairman, wonder who will step in and sort out these recurring issues, as they are a detriment to the county in general. What do people think should be implemented for next season in regards to improving organization and therby benefiting all the hurling clubs in Down. Only have to look at our neighbours in Antrim and how well organized hurling is at club level as an example. Everything is on a weekly basis (if the match gets called off for whatever reason on the Sunday, its played later that week.)

BarrackBuster (Down) - Posts: 525 - 03/12/2012 16:53:10    1305911

BB have you put your wants on a letter to Santa? It's a big, big, big ask for the county board to carry out your recommendations otherwise. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cahill (None) - Posts: 2567 - 04/12/2012 11:34:59    1306224

Once again cahill you strive to present a good point!

BarrackBuster (Down) - Posts: 525 - 04/12/2012 13:17:33    1306298

Unfinished leagues in football as well.

Bigsheep (Down) - Posts: 290 - 04/12/2012 14:49:26    1306349

have to point out one thing , maybe we should have 1 division next year , but move our classification to intermediate , allowing the hurlers at the lower grades than the ards to test themselves against better fare , id highly doubt the county will do this , but seeing as its been proved that they are the best at junior level in ulster it only makes sense to move the county up and strive to improve.

Junior hurling in down is of a diabolical standard and i would be glad to have gotten rid of it for a few years as clubs struggle to field , with the one division offering better competition and improving the table proppers. No use cwellan or bvarley moving up every few years for example

DownAndOut (Down) - Posts: 344 - 07/12/2012 22:03:18    1307904

DandO
i mentioned this last year and have always held that opinion, we shud have 1 division but if it were to happen we need to be patient with it. if it does happen as we might see a few hammerings with the ards 2nds at the start but i see it bringing down hurling up a few knotes. im not so sure what to do with the intermediate as from 1 point of view it is good for down hurling that bredagh are in an all ireland semi regardless of the level,junior. kilclief did not play a single championship game this year, and in my opinion that is an absolute disgrace. where do we go from here is up to all of us as a county but until we come together as 1 we will not get very far, we are certainly taking the first steps,so i hope this may continue for the next couple of years at least.

all will be revealed at the county convention which isnt too far away

Christy4Down (Down) - Posts: 177 - 08/12/2012 15:15:29    1307986

Fair point men, it is the likes of Ballyvarley and Castlewellan who no doubt have taleneted hurlers but suffer on the basis that football is priority but could eventually get to the level of Liatroim or Ballela a few years back when they were within touching distance of the Ards 2nds. We should be moving to the level county-wide that every team in the county should be at the level the Ards 2nds are at, because they are way off at the minute. A few years of one division set-up would help this

BarrackBuster (Down) - Posts: 525 - 08/12/2012 19:16:05    1308058

One league is certainly a good idea, but as noted, the problem exists with the potential for hammerings and the negative effect that can have on weaker teams. Would that mean ruling out the Ards 3rds teams from competing in Down? Also, if we can't finish a league with the current teams, how do we expect to finish them with more teams. The Secretary's report made for some interesting reading, and I think some of the positive vibes coming from the county board will be good for the game in the Down long term.

Gaelforce1 (Down) - Posts: 36 - 10/12/2012 13:53:28    1308568

Different motions to be sorted out at convention tonight, also some info regarding next year from the Hurling Committee:

Clonduff propose November 1 be the cut-off date for the Hurling leagues, and Warrenpoint want a complete hurling review within the county

Clubs comply fully with Bye Laws in relation to postponement of games

Coiste Iomána, East and South Down Committees and Clubs agree early in Year a complete fixture plan and abide with it, except due to unforeseen circumstances

That Co. CCC organise at adult level the minimum number of hurling league games, as outlined by Croke Park, and importantly the Clubs play the games when scheduled!

Co. CCC, Coiste Iomána and Referees fully make use of the website in relation to fixtures, results and it being up to date at all times!

Coiste Iomána Members meet with other Committees involved in Hurling to discuss strategy and forward planning, with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of Hurling in the county.


How these plans will work out is uncertain at the minute with Gerard McShane unsure of his position for next year. Rumour has it that there will be no promotion/relegation from this year as the leagues were not totally finished in order to properly determine what team goes up and goes down, meaning Clonduff and Castlewellan stay where they are. Also waiting to see if Ballycran continue with a thirds side in Div 2, if not then it'll be down to 7 teams in that league, meaning a weekly bye in the fixtures. The intermediate championship could well be back on with the championship layout something like this:

SHC: Ballycran, Ballygalget, Portaferry, Bredagh
IHC: Liatroim, Warrenpoint, Kilclief, Castlewellan
JHC: Ballela, Clonduff, Shamrocks, Ballyvarley, Carryduff

Ulster League fixtures to be played every Saturday from 2nd Feb-2nd March with semis and finals wrapped up around St Patricks Day

BarrackBuster (Down) - Posts: 525 - 12/12/2012 13:52:25    1309565

Would Bredagh not play in the Intermediate Championship considering they played Junior last year?

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 12/12/2012 14:24:50    1309589

Intermediate will be Kilclief & Bredagh.

Frank Mitchell (Down) - Posts: 1082 - 13/12/2012 11:48:28    1309966

Clonduff shouldn't be in div2 next year. they beat shamrocks twice in the league and beat Castlewellan in the championship on their way to the final. They should be gettin hurling at a higher level.

Down_champs (Down) - Posts: 37 - 13/12/2012 12:21:26    1309985

I agree Clonduff should be in Div 1 next year. If Castlewellan don't go down then keep them both up

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 13/12/2012 16:08:42    1310129

Does any one know the management set ups to the three senior Down clubs? Has there been any changes from last year?

swan song (None) - Posts: 451 - 12/01/2013 18:03:29    1317355

column mc mannus is new manager and trainer in ballycran

sliothar (Antrim) - Posts: 339 - 14/01/2013 15:27:24    1318189

Crans really pushing hard this year!! Wont be happy without top 4 in league and championship in bag!!

DjCollyMac (Down) - Posts: 96 - 16/01/2013 12:41:39    1319032

anybody know how the match was or how the team played

Christy4Down (Down) - Posts: 177 - 20/01/2013 19:32:08    1320927

beat by a goal and from the looks of it a strong enough team was played

Red Head (Down) - Posts: 144 - 21/01/2013 12:04:15    1321127

Team not overly strong, but probably best we have on offer at the minute!!!

Pulltheball (Down) - Posts: 56 - 22/01/2013 15:56:54    1321849