Any word how the senior ladies fared against Monaghan today???

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 13/01/2013 20:33:45    1317812

Have to say, In parts i was pleasantly surprised in yesterdays match and in parts it was as expected. The first half the only difference between the sides two teams was Monaghans superior ability to score goals. I didnt keep the score but Down could not have been far away and in fact dominated the middle part of the field and possession. Monaghans key players however sliced through Downs defence far too easy when they decided they wanted to. Alot of new faces played in red and black yesterday that i dont know although those beside seemed to know who they were. I was particularly impressed with Clara fitzpatrick in midfield. In the second half the team changed and they may as well have gone home. Monaghan tore threw them the first 10 minutes and i took my own advice.... I went home. Not going to go crazy with critical points when they were playing a team like Monagahan but for once i will say I was satisfied for one half at least

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 14/01/2013 11:38:52    1317974

Thekingdomgael - you must have been at a different game than i was yesterday.. Down had out a very strong first 15 in the first half and remember these girls have been training since early October and they were blown to pieces. First attack - Ciara Mc Anespie left the full back for dead and stuck it in the net. This was a sign of things to come as time after time downs lack of pace was exposed. How you can single out the midfield as playing well is beyond me. The only time Clara got her hands on the ball was when she had tracked back into defence to help out with the onslaught. The centre half forward for Monaghan left Mc Gowan time and time again - burned her for pace and either scored or set up someone else to. The line were slow to make changes - but i understand why - they have no one of that quality to be able to mark her. Down got a goal from nothing in the first few minutes when Mc Clean pitched in a high lob and it deceived the keeper and hit the net. this took a very very bad reflection of the score at half time. In the second half i actually spent my time down beside the wire to listen to the both sets of management and how they called various things. We have a whole lot of men there with our team at present who had no notion what to do as time and again the girls were exposed. A second half penalty again made it look like a respectable score line - but it was far from it. If our girls have been training since mid october and this is the best we can get out of them - go back to the drawing board please and get some new talent. the only girl who looked to have ANY pace was wee Aoife Keown when she came on - but she is 16 and very light for this level of football. Get the slow, heavy legged players off the panel now and go with those who actually look like county players and can play the same way. I am 48 years of age and i would fancy myself in a race with most of that squad.

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 14/01/2013 14:51:31    1318158

In fairness Duff.... neither myself or you could go through the county and find better talent than what is on the panel already. thats like going to Carlow mens team managment year after year and telling them to get rid of their experienced players because they cannot compete with Dublin or kerry. I never said this was a great performance, in fact far from it.... they did have a 15 min spell in first half were they dominated possession but as you have mentioned, the full forward and half forward from Monaghan were too much for any girl in the back line. Monaghan went for goals and down took points in the first half, apart from that there was nothing really in it. Then the 2nd half was a disaster. Monaghan were always going to be too strong, managements biggest fault was playing a team so far up the food chain. What they have learned or what they do from here is what will matter most because playing Monaghan will show them nothing at their own level

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 14/01/2013 15:42:29    1318206

Just heard today that Monaghan scored 12:12 the other day. And Down didnt... Already rumours of discontent within the panel - girls starting the first game of the season and not training regularly, girls getting a start and coming off only to be put back on again... then to round it all off - members of the panel not attending the game because Liverpool were playing Man United. What is the world coming to... Think the management need to address some of the issues on the players side of things before working on things that are much needed on the pitch.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 15/01/2013 17:49:05    1318769

Singer you have me in kinks u know that? you should write for the National Enquirer! missed the match to watch the United v Liverpool game? you didnt miss the match anyway did u? spied you on the sidelines watching it...never one to miss an opportunity to take all in then come on here and spew your bile are ya?

Arrival (Down) - Posts: 16 - 18/01/2013 15:53:11    1320367

Arrival - read messages b4 talking crap. I HEARD THEY SCORED 12.12 - hence - i wasnt at it. I had club training to attend and it was far far away from the game im afraid. And if you dont believe me about the players not going because of the soccer - ask them - simple... If they are honest they will tell you the truth...

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 20/01/2013 20:53:49    1320992

Ladies are playing tonight again v Tyrone - really hope it goes better than the last game. Any up dates or reports????

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 22/01/2013 20:44:41    1322026

Beat by a point. Armagh hammered Tyrone Im lead to believe.

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 23/01/2013 08:19:56    1322079

Interesting game last night, highlighted where this team is going well and where they are lacking. I didn't keep score myself but already bumped into two of the girls this morning and they didn't seem too down hearted. Beaten by one point by a division 1 national league team is no bad result, but in a game where they by and large dominated possession the Down girls really should have put this game game away. As with the Monaghan game (although i'll try not to compare the two games) the goals let Down side down, 2 slack goals proved costly in the end. I must say Down looked the superior in terms of fitness and defensively very strong but shooting let them down..... this must be the fist year ive seen kyla dropping balls short. I noticed Natasha ferris was on the line last night as was orla fegan, two girls who can pick out scores and in my view two of the top forwards in the county... Management maybe need to re-think some selections - though i must admit the new faces on the 15 that started the game were impressive at times - Can they beat Armagh? well i believe they they wont unless they sort out their ability to stop goals and maybe worry about working on how to score them at the other end also. Impressed lastnight but not impressed enough to see a league title just yet

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 23/01/2013 10:18:04    1322114

Kingdomgael not happy as usual.... nothing ever changes.. Was this not a pre season challenge game where things can be tried and tested and worked on... Catch a grip . I really think you should stop going to these matches as they upset you ... And maybe someday you ll have no complaints and then what would you do ??????????????????????????? Up Down

FULLOFIT (Down) - Posts: 50 - 23/01/2013 10:54:34    1322139

As your name suggests, you are indeed FULLOFIT. If you read my post you would see i quite simply highlighted good and bad areas and pointed out that game with last years champions is still a bridge to far for this team from what i have seen at the moment

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 23/01/2013 13:33:43    1322312

You AMAZE ME WITH YOUR NONSENSE !! You say in you post that Down were ' defensively strong ' yet criticise them for conceding two slack goals ??? You say you did nt keep the score but you add Down were beaten by a point. You criticise Kyla Trainor for dropping shots short but fail to add that she in fact scored 1-03 from play despite being tightly marked and Tyrone playing a sweeper hence limiting space. You question the Management for their non selection of Orla Fegan despite the fact that she is injured and unable to play and you judged all this on a friendly match.... Catch a grip ... Oh by the way was their any word on the quality of the food afterwards and had the management enough soup for everyone ..??

FULLOFIT (Down) - Posts: 50 - 23/01/2013 14:32:00    1322367

beaten by a point - thats more like it from the ladies... Who did all the down scoring??? What was the starting defence and are there any other natural defenders out there that would be worth a look at??? This game should stand them in good stead for the upcoming league game v armagh in few weeks.....

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 23/01/2013 17:12:26    1322576

This is an interesting result against Tyrone who have always been a nemesis for us to beat in the past at all levels. Who were the stars for Down? Kyla moving to centre forward is a master stroke - she has a massive presence in there and when in possession has serious upper body strength to shake off opponents and score. I would question her workrate and tackling back at times - but she is definitely one of the best finishers in Ulster at present.

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 24/01/2013 09:54:29    1322790

Kyla is a serious talent no doubt but in my opinion not near fit enough. Going forward theres very few that would stop her and she can take a score from nearly anywhere inside the 45 but like Duff says fitness and tracking back need serious work. The half forward line is the hardest working line in the team and in a position like that can't afford to carry players regardless of their talent.

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 24/01/2013 11:08:41    1322835

Good job she was playing full forward then !!!!

FULLOFIT (Down) - Posts: 50 - 24/01/2013 13:34:30    1322975

How many of you where at the game? I may have said that kyla should not have been dropping shots short however I was correctly critisized that she did manage to score 1-03 from play which is granted, although could have been more of course but it is early days. However anyone questioning her fitness to track into defence obviously was not at the game as it was easily observed that Kyla was played as a target in the full forward line and was not wanted tracking back on . The whole team did look to have a much higher level of fitness than Tyrone which is one of the positives i have noted. Kyla may not be the fittest player on the team but give her a ball and put anyone in Ulster on her and she will give it her best and i certainly wont critise her work rate

To the earlier poster who said questioned the fact that i said Orla fegan was a sub as was other key players.... I am not a mind reader, they where there and stripped out so my thought was that they were not getting their place on the starting team.

People have said 'Kingdoms not happy as usual....however i said that there was positives and negatives in the game, as there is in any game. On whether i felt they were ready for a team like Armagh, i gave my opinion..... I do hope I get it wrong

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 24/01/2013 14:25:59    1323034

I M surprised none of the critics noticed M Downey playing against Tyrone ...!!!! We all need to remember that the girls could be reading these forums and we should be careful not to criticise them all the time .... Im sure they are all aware of their own performance and they realise what they can improve and what is giong well ... Leave them to it and just enjoy watching !

FULLOFIT (Down) - Posts: 50 - 24/01/2013 14:56:25    1323064

I am not criticising Kyla at all - she is a good player - but imagine she was totally fit - she would be outstanding. If the armagh full back has any wit about her she will attack like hell - Kyla wont follow and already there is an overlapping player going up the pitch - this causes problems for the other girls. Kindomgael - its a bit niave to think that girls just line out and go toe to toe with their markers and thats it - ladies football has moved a lot in recent times and every player must defend and work like hell both defensively and offensively - doing one or the other is not acceptable in a team game anymore..

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 24/01/2013 20:29:03    1323264