I hear the ladies got Donegal in the next round of the qualifiers - this should be an easy enough tie for them considering Monaghan stuffed them in the preliminery round of the championship. Down have a load of injury concerns at present which could scupper their chances of success though... Any thoughts???

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 08/07/2009 11:59:38    336990

Heard at the weekend the two dohertys have left the panel without even telling the management! I think that is a disgrace that the two of them did not go to the management to let them no, as i have heard aswel that some of the panel knew before the management! Hopefully this has not affected the team becuase i believe they can do very well in the championsh

ballym1 (Down) - Posts: 11 - 14/07/2009 15:06:39    345436

Anyone notice that singer hasnt posted anything in so long, then when the ladies get beat they're back on slaggin off management. Singer I cant see the management staying on next year, they have bigger fish to fry, and u mark my words, theyl be 2 successful managers. As for u, u dnt deserve to post comments on this forum because u obviously have no clue.

downman (Down) - Posts: 25 - 17/07/2009 09:03:01    349342

I would just like to wish the Ladies team all the best for their match on Sunday. If you play the way you have been then there is no reason why you cant win. Good luck.

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 22/07/2009 09:24:15    356428

Best of luck to the ladies on Sunday. It will be no bother to ye's if u play how u's have been.

downman (Down) - Posts: 25 - 23/07/2009 13:14:21    358301

Yep, Best of luck girls, hope the hard work pays off! :) You's can do it!!

leg_end (Down) - Posts: 62 - 23/07/2009 16:44:42    358826

Well done to the Ladies gaelic team. It was a good win over Donegal. Along with promotion to Division 1, we're one step further than in last year's Championship.

MourneRising78 (Down) - Posts: 23 - 26/07/2009 21:38:08    363112

Well if anyone was watching that game yesterday and thinks the down lasies are progressing - they are far mistaken... it was a shambles from start to finish. Are these girsls not being taught to kickpass and fistpass to members of their own team at training sessions. The game was littered with mistakes. The management didnt have aclue what to do when Donegal droppd the extra player into defence and it meant down couldnt play the only tactic they know - kick it long to Michaela..... Only for F Carr dragging that girl down at the last and going to the sin bin - they would surely have had to play extra time and been put out - but i dont condone her dirty play. Lets hope there is a marked improvement in the application of the girls in the next two weeks before the next game as i would hate o witness another spectacle like the one we had yesterday..........

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 27/07/2009 14:06:51    364117

Well done girls, tough victory yesterday but a victory none the less.... at least we have still 1 Down team left to cheer on seeing as the men let us down....Keep it going!! :)

leg_end (Down) - Posts: 62 - 27/07/2009 15:00:01    364253

Well done to the ladies on sunday. It wasnt the best performance but you did grind out a result which is all that matters. Looking forward to the next day already. This is definitely a good year so far. A good run in this All-Ireland would be a great experience for a lot of these young girls. It was also great to see young Chara Lavery do so well on sunday. Keep it going girls.

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 28/07/2009 16:03:53    366415

Well done to the Ladies on Sunday,great to see a fighting spirit from a Down team for a change. Thought in the first half the backs wer opened up very easily and the forwards just wanted to get goals.

Dont understand why sinead fegan was taken off only 10mins into the game. I think she is a great defender for Down.

ballym1 (Down) - Posts: 11 - 30/07/2009 16:36:10    370140

No sweat to you's this weekend girls. You's can beat Monaghan no problem, it was only a bad day last time around. Hope you's do ur best, that will def be enuf to beat them...

downman (Down) - Posts: 25 - 05/08/2009 16:50:46    379449

Good luck tomorrow to the team and management. Its definitely going to be a tough game but if you set your mind to it you can win. Go and show the country how good you really are!

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 07/08/2009 09:11:20    382200

Disappointing for the ladies on Saturday but they were beaten by much better team on the day and Monaghans experience told during the game... I hear the management stepped down after the game too which is disappointing to hear. Personally i would like to thank them for their hard work over the last few years - they definitely brought the ladies to a new level. Back to club championships now and i expect the Clonduff v saval game to be tight affair and maybe saval to nick it... Bredagh should b too strong for Carryduff but it has been one hell of a year for the duff anyhow..... Kilcoo and Bright to make the intermediate final and Mayobridge and Teconnaught to make the junior...

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 10/08/2009 16:44:08    386422

yeah hard luck til the ladies at weekend - but hopefully they will learn from it.. Management gone too - bring in jackie clarke til move this team forward - she will def get the best outta them.....

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 11/08/2009 00:41:10    387161

Hard luck to the ladies at the weekend, i think it was just a case of being beaten by a much more clinical and better team. You can all be proud of your efforts this year, winning Div 2 was a great achievement and you have retained your senior status for another year. Also as the management have stepped down I would like to pay tribute to them. From what I have been told they have brought in a professionalism and a winning mentality into this setup which has never been seen before.They have definitely brought this ladies team on in leaps and bounds and Down are now a force to be reckoned with in ladies football. Personally I think its a real pity that they have stepped down and I for one would hope that the county board have asked them to reconsider. As for possible future management well who knows, but one thing for certain is that Div 1 football is going to be a tough challenge. But as its the end of the year I think it should be a well done to everyone concerned. It has been Downs best ever year!

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 11/08/2009 09:51:18    387304

It definately has not been the best year ever - remember they did win an all ireland in 2000. It was good but not great. Think these two are jumping before they are pushed. Hopefully we can get the correct professionalism into the job now and the county board act swiftly to replace what was there... I see Ohare mentioned for the minor job - take him....

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 11/08/2009 23:17:28    388823

To question the professionalism of the Management is a totally unfair. Not everyone may agree with some of their methods (though at the end of the day it really only matters what the squad feel about the setup and they seemed happy with the boys), but we will be hard pushed to find anyone else who will give as much. When someone new does come in, they will have a massive task on their hands. Yes, 2000 was a fantastic year for the County. However, they won the JUNIOR all ireland in 2000. Now, instead of looking on in awe from the stands at the likes of Cora Staunton, Edel Byrne & Co. they will be up there competing against them week in week out in the Division 1 league. With girls in the Junior leagues now looking on at the likes of Eliza Downey, Aileen Pyers, Kyla Trainor and the other Mourne Players, thinking WOW!! It took 9 long years to get here, and I don't doubt that it will take another 2 or 3 for them to find their feet in Division 1 and really compete against the top teams in the Senior Championship. No doubt they'll need the support of all the clubs and fans during the inevitable up's and down's. Yes, I would have loved to have seen them progress further in the Championship, but be realistic, At what stage for them to go out would you have considered it a great year? The final?? Monaghan were very impressive all over the field. Our girls gave a good account of themselves, but the long season showed, and the run of the ball wasn't with them. What it did highlight, along with the Mayo v Laois game, is how tough next year is going to be. Well done all involved, hope you enjoy your break after 11 months of hard slog, you certainly deserve it!! I'm looking forward to cheering you against the big guns next season!

leg_end (Down) - Posts: 62 - 12/08/2009 13:45:35    389407

Could you please name all th things these men did that made such a difference... They only did what other managers would do.. Professionalism comes even when the training pitch and games are in the past the players can still ask for help with things and get them sorted.... These guys switched off when they left the pitch and left the girls to their own devices........

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 14/08/2009 14:54:55    392210

Of all people, singer, I think you are one person who does not deserve to have anything explained to you about this management. If you are so close to the players then ask them. If you were to sit down and list out all the results under their reign in the league and championship and compare them to any other year then its obvious that you will see massive progress. Without trying to belittle any previous management I think it is clear that this duo has been the best management that the ladies have had for years. I think the county board should try everything possible to get them to stay on as no doubt they will be snapped up by clubs or other counties very soon. Down do not have the same calibre of players as Monaghan or Cork at their disposal all over the pitch but these guys installed a work ethic and belief into this team which has never been seen before. I also remember that it was these guys who orchestrated the new sponsorship draw for the jerseys which raised more money than ever before for the main sponsor. They also secured sponsorship for 2 training tops, bags, hoodie, gloves and a tracksuit and polo shirt for the team. Well done lads and thanks for everything and please reconsider.

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 14/08/2009 15:36:59    392306