Singer aka Sean.

AnDunAbu (Down) - Posts: 4 - 21/08/2009 16:11:15    399325

Singer aka Sean - what is that about???

Junior championship final at the weekend and Mayobridge are expected to win this easily enough. This time of year there are only 3 or 4 clubs competitive in the ladies sector and the rest are left by the wayside. In late May the girls had league games - sometimes two per week, first round of the championship and this is the peak time for examinations... Surely there is something that can be done to address this.. Someone who plays for Saval was recently heard saying they have played one game since middle of Jule - with county closing down the season, her own holidays, July was a wipeout for games - she played against Clonduff in the championship last week. This person is not a county player but yet trained for 8 weeks to play in one game.... That does not make sense and is a major reason why young girls walk away from the sport.....

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 26/08/2009 08:51:09    404432

I totally with you on that score singer... We in the Duff this year suffered badly because of lack of games before our big championship semi final against Bredagh. It is vitally important to keep as many people playing the game as possible and with lack of games during the summer - when the girls are available to play - we are fighting a losing battle... Our girls were crippled with exams and football particularly in May and we just about fielded teams week in week out.. This needs to be addressed. Maybe we could do what the Southern county teams do during examination time and have a closed month from middle of May until Middle of June??? Any thoughts???

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 26/08/2009 13:54:36    404795

Totally agree with Singer and Duff in the fact that the girls are under enuf pressure in May/June with exams, so I agree there should b a close season, or perhaps just one game in a fortnight so they wont lose fitness etc in the month... July is then a month of little or no football. This def needs to be addressed!

downman (Down) - Posts: 25 - 27/08/2009 12:31:10    406050

They are definitely valid points however I suggest you attend the AGM and make these points so that action can be taken or even better why dont you lend your services to the county board to effect change. The points make alot of sense but just putting them on thins board is not going to change anything.

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 27/08/2009 14:13:15    406243

honestly what is the point of going to the county AGM when its pretty much sorted out before you go anyhow. There are delegates from certain club who get their way no matter what is said. Our county board is a farce in more ways than one. They selected the last two managers based on what, games are changed for no reason at all - sometimes without referees even knowing, games are thick and fast in busiest time of the year for girls playing the sport, some clubs are allowed to transfer in whatever players they want and nothing is said or done.... The list is endless..................

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 27/08/2009 21:33:21    407001

singer, sometimes you make good sense, but you are now quite out of order; the ladies GAA is run by volunteers, who do it purely for the love of the game and those on the county board surely have the most onerous and thankless task of all. If you go to the AGM and offer to share the burden, I'm sure they'll be delighted.

befair (Down) - Posts: 238 - 28/08/2009 01:32:59    407225

Well singer yu have always been full of talk on this message board but one this is for certain, if people dont go and push for change then nothing will change so what does this say to you!!

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 28/08/2009 09:31:53    407270

Has anyone been approached to manage the Senior team yet? Time is of an essence as we have division 1 football next year. This time last year the squad had met and started the work to enable us to get into Div.1. So If this isn't sorted soon we could find ourselves going quickly backwards. Obviously he/she/they would have to carry on the good work already done and improve it if they can. Anyone have any ideas on who can do this andbring us forward and if they would be willing?

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 09/09/2009 13:11:27    420447

Apparently the county board are going to ask that girl Clarke who managed Armagh ladies to the all-ireland final a few years ago. She was overlooked for the job a number of times now so not sure if she would be willing. Other names spouted about were Brian Doherty and Kevin Owens but I think there lack of club success would probably rule them out. Ideally i think the county board should make a big effort to try and convince last years team to come back in for the first year in division 1.

gaa2 (Down) - Posts: 116 - 09/09/2009 14:13:53    420528

i missed somthing here! are last years management gone and if so why

newryview (Down) - Posts: 748 - 09/09/2009 14:20:15    420542

They stepped down at the end of the season but not sure of the reasons why.

gaa2 (Down) - Posts: 116 - 09/09/2009 15:03:45    420599

The two lads have probably brought Down Ladies as far as they could and should be commended for that, but what we need now is someone that can push us on further and will keep us in Division 1. My fear is that the county board will dwell for too long and not give the new people enough time to prepare a squad for what is our most important season ever! This Clarke girl is probably the most experienced person to take us forward, and shes a Down woman, but what about that Quinn fella thats with monaghan, he took us at minor level a few years ago and since has guided a team to an ireland final and a semi in 2 years?

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 11/09/2009 17:44:59    423484

Puma_gal i think your living in cloud cuckoo land if you think the 2 people you have proposed are gonna keep us in div 1 next year.first of all jackie clarke is still playing and was only 1 part of a 3 people management team with armagh. whos to say that she alone could work miracles with this team.secondly ciaran quinn only trained our minor team and they won nothing.he is doing the same job with a highly talented group of footballers who probably need little training.when he had to coach a team of average footballers he got nowhere. so where is the proof that either of these two are the messiahs we need?

babyshamrocks (Down) - Posts: 3 - 15/09/2009 22:17:37    427172

Why do people think we need messiahs at all? Surely we have lots of talent and our main aim should be to try and retain our division 1 status in our first year in that division. We dont need miracle workers. We need people who have good experience and who can get the best out of our players. Does anyone have any better suggestions?

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 16/09/2009 09:51:46    427446

Look baby-shamrocks you can have a go at my choices for manager if you like, but i don't see you coming forward with any better options. As for your opinion on Jaqui Clarke and Kieran Quinn, there is no-one else in Down Football that have the same experience in Ladies Football. These two people have brought their respective teams to All Ireland Senior Finals and competed in Division 1. At least when i give opinion i back it up with substance!!! Jaqui Clarke was joint manager of Armagh when they narrowly lost to Cork by 1 point. Armagh were a Divisiion 2 team when she took over and had never been to an Ulster Final. Her record speaks for itself as manager - Div2 winners, Ulster champs 3 years in a row, All Ireland Junior Winners and All Ireland Senior finalists. Now name me anyone in Ladies football in Down with the same record! As for Kieran Quinn, yes he was only trainer of the Minor team but you ask anyone on that team (and i'm one of them) and they will say that they finished that year better atheletes and better footballers. The year before we cancelled minor training as only 6/7 people would show up, 25/26 regularly attended his training, and that says it all. He has since trained Monaghan to a Senior Final last year and a Semi final this year, beating us twice along the way. and anyone at that match will confirm the superior fitness and speed of the monaghan girls. I don't know if any of these 2 are available our would take the job but in my opinion the would high up on my list of people the county board should be speaking to.

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 16/09/2009 12:02:23    427582

'Gaaforall' is right. We dont need any messiahs. What we need is people with experience in Ladies Football to get the best from this squad. We have improved every season in the last 2 years so there is no reason we can't keep this trend going. We are in the top 3 teams in Ulster and we never thought we would be saying that a few years ago. Really lookin forward to the season ahead, think we can carry on from last year, only if the county board act quickly though.

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 16/09/2009 12:08:36    427591

I think people have to be realistic here. Yes of course we need and want a good management team but Down will really struggle this year in Division 1. We do not have enough top class players in the squad and we do not have enough strength and depth in the panel to bring on subs that can have an impact in the game. This is not a criticism of the players or the management, the players are just not within the county. Also some of our players are past there best. We need to do much more work in our clubs and schools at underage level and county underage level to continue to produce top class players. Our senior club championship showed that our best players were on the panel and even a few of them were very average. At this stage Down are a good division 2 side but I think they will be a weak Division 1 side. They played Galway, Armagh and Monaghan last season in matches and were well beaten by each of these teams so its not a good sign for the season ahead. It will be good experience for the younger players and a great challenge but unfortunately I think its going to be a bit too much for this team. But then again this is only my opinion.

gaa2 (Down) - Posts: 116 - 16/09/2009 13:05:23    427663

Lets get serious here - any manager in there would be better than what we had for the last two years... Lets hope the county board act quickly to replace them i agree with - but lets face it - anything is step in the right direction.. Wonder is gregory Mc Gonigle staying with armagh???

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 16/09/2009 23:04:02    428382

Singer, you have really shown your lack of knowledge now. We had always been a good junior and an average senior team until the two lads came in and brought with them a professional, winning and commited attitude which rubbed of on all the players and brought results. Whilst i will admit we aren't a top senior team (yet) we are taken far more seriously by other teams now. But you put us and the previous managment down at every oppurtunity you get. And then you show us how clever you are by mentioning that Gregory McGonigle is the way forward.. Did you not see what happened Down when he was last with us, and Armagh nearly got relegated to intermediate when he managed them last year. I think you dislike Ladies Football and are a follower of the mens game and are only jealous that the Ladies are playing Championship football long after the men are out.
If i am wrong then please come up with some suitable candidates for the job and give reasons for them!!!

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 18/09/2009 18:17:07    430115