I agree that it is disappointing that Michaela is retiring from county football although she definitely owes nothing to anyone. She has given great service to the county but I definitely feel she has more to offer and it seems that now she has won an all star and a national league that she doesnt see the point in pushing herslef anymore. Its now that she should be leading by example and helping the younger players through. I must also say that it is very disappointing that so many of last years panel have not returned this year. They had their most successful year ever and now they have just quit. Beggars belief, now is the time they should be building on that success but instead they have put us back to where we where 8 years ago. Personally I think it is a shame. Does anyone know if Michaela has also quit club football or will she still be playing for Clonduff?

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 07/01/2010 12:39:09    526696

Should a person or persons decide to retire, that is their choice and i know we all would wish them the
best,however when people are asked to attend trials/ training sessions it is only common courtesy to
advise the management of their availability.It appears a high percentage of last years panel may not
available this year for various reasons,if thats the case they should simply advise the management team.
I only hope in the teams next game the management make their selection from those who have
taken the time to attend trials/ training and not try to second guess those who may feel they have a god
given right to attend when it suits them.
Its now time to move on and hopefully the train will fill up at this late stage.

SILVERWARE (Down) - Posts: 24 - 07/01/2010 16:15:11    526958

Who are these players from last year who are not attending trials? why are they not atending? is it because of lack of management?

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 08/01/2010 12:20:02    527804

its obvious who these girls are and its obvious why they arent bothered. they think we will struggle this year because we dont have the type of management they want.
But how are we gonna attract anyone decent as manager/ess if most of our senior players are quiting.
I really dont want to waste any more time talking about these girls, so can we look forward to having a productive year with a young team (with no egos and superstars) that are committed to Down and that are willing to give their all for the county even when there is probably no chance of us winning anything.

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 08/01/2010 13:30:01    527905

I agree with duff - NAME AND SHAME

Jofus (Down) - Posts: 248 - 08/01/2010 17:49:10    528271

Morning all.I have been a keen follower of this site for this past couple of years and it still never ceases to amaze me the amount of backstabbing that goes on which is disapointing considering that at the end of the day Gaelic football and in particular Ladies football is not a prof sport so as far as retirement or taking a years break is concerned with some of the girls its entirely up to themselves after all as far as im aware there wasnt a contract they signed ...And if some of you had the decency to maybe ask some of these girls rather than assume there reason for a break is more ligitment than whats being portrayed if I remember correctly both aoibhan and machela didnt play county the year they headed stateside for the summer yet they were stil in the country and infact in the crowd the day the girls suffered a heavy defeat to tyrone. If ya ask me and im only lookin in on it, these girls done the decent thing and said from the onset that they were taking a 'break' Machela on the other hand delayed her announcement for retirement Singer i dont know why you have piped up about Michela being such a loss and that she should be brought on as manager you were one of her biggest critics funny how some things change. --------

crowsview (Down) - Posts: 1 - 09/01/2010 09:45:28    528592

Michaela Downey has been the Down's best player ever, without doubt and has decided to retire after playing some of her best football in the last few seasons. We have to respect her decision and wish her well. But who are these other players who are also leaving now that their talisman (woman) is hanging up her county boots? The obviously don't have the stomach for the battle and certainly lack any leadership qualities necessary to lead down forward.

Jofus (Down) - Posts: 248 - 09/01/2010 20:05:41    529043

I heard from a good source that M.Downey hasn't retired.

weepats5 (Down) - Posts: 295 - 13/01/2010 17:23:33    532139

Seen the girls play yesterday in Saval, wasnt a great performance but then again they were playing a bad team. You could see that the girls fitness levels were poor but supoose it only the start of the season...i also think there is not enough experience players this year

sun (Down) - Posts: 19 - 18/01/2010 14:48:37    536045

'Sun' i agree with not being enough experience players, there is alot of young players. Thought there was some good play but dont think that sort of play will be good enough come national league time.

Are the young fegan twins not playing for Down this year, didnt see them there, maybe they are playing for university?

ballym1 (Down) - Posts: 11 - 18/01/2010 15:01:25    536064

Ballym1 they had to play for there university

weepats5 (Down) - Posts: 295 - 18/01/2010 16:04:42    536167

Fegans were playing for their university yesterday and as far as I know they are still playing county this year

sun (Down) - Posts: 19 - 18/01/2010 16:22:19    536192

I thought it was very satisfactory performance; Antrim looked poor but thye were Junior Al-Ireland champions last year, so can't be that bad. Lisa Morgan and Kyla Trainor led the line very well, and the young players looked very assured and competent. Physically we might be lacking, but if this team is brought through it could be very good.

befair (Down) - Posts: 238 - 19/01/2010 16:50:47    537270

who are all the newcomers too the squad and who all is out from last year??

121andun (Down) - Posts: 54 - 19/01/2010 18:25:37    537443

another win for the ladies last night - great to see it.. thats two out of two so far for the new management - and im delighted for them as they are excellent trainers and ambassadors for the ladies game. lets hope they give a good account of themselves against uuj and possibly beat them... the younger girls in the county are really impressing me at present. When the university players come back into the fold - there will be real competition for places in the panel... the debacle of the last two years is finally dead and buried so lets hope the girls can continue to impress in their new professional set up.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 21/01/2010 11:38:19    538722

Professional - yeah right. Half the girls dont even show up for training. The attitude of others leaves alot to be desired. they are winning alright - but because they have played a junior and intermediate team on each occasion. they will struggle against uuj for sure. then its the league time again - they will struggle here as well.. Last year was professional - this year is a joke.

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 21/01/2010 12:25:41    538799

Whats wrong with the setup at the minute then>? the girls are being looked after well and training hard from what i hear. Is it not better than this time last year when all we got was complaints from the players aboput the management. at least this year they are just getting on with it...

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 21/01/2010 14:24:29    538944

well singer - what were you slabbering about last week saying the girls would gibe uuj a good run for it... only scored 1-1 thats a joke.. even antrim scored more against uuj... when this current dawn team plays in the league they will get tanked by most teams as the set up is a complete joke..

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 24/01/2010 19:50:14    541263

Does it really matter what the new management are like. Surely it is all about the players on the field.Our problem is that there are too many senior players that think they are above scrappin for points in div 2.This is not a dig at micheala, as i've said she has been an inspiration to all ladies players in down and owes down football nothing.There are others that are only interested in themselves and how they would look in a team that might not win too many games this year. . The reason that some have given is that they have quit county football because at 26/27 they have played too much football, yet there they were scoring against us yesterday.Some may ask why they are playing college football and not county, then the answer is obviously they feel they can win something with UUJ. My personal view is that these 'glory hunters' aren't worth begging back to the county. This is the reason that we should go easy on the current team 'duff'. They are young and inexperienced but they care for their county, so ease off people and let them find their feet in senior football.

puma_gal (Down) - Posts: 24 - 25/01/2010 16:31:23    542000

I really dont understand what happened to the ladies on sunday. they must have had a very weak team out or something... Only to score 1 - 01 in any game is not good for confidence. they play armagh now in the semi finals and going on last years performance aginst them in a friendly - they will suffer the same feat as las weekend. armagh are a physically stronger team in most areas on the pitch. Lets hope the girls do themselves justice. sure its all about the fun anyhow - the game is taken too seriously by some......

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 26/01/2010 11:00:11    542625