I do agree duff.... however i would not want kyla coming too far back tracking a ball or player and if you have a player of Kylas quality in full forward and the full back decides to 'attack like hell' as you say, then more fool them leaving someone like that alone in the forward line alone. if down turned the ball over then what an easy target to have - For the teams sake I hope someone with your tactical know how are managing in Division 3 this year

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 25/01/2013 08:23:25    1323349

Im not in anyway doubting the ability of Kyla but I can see where Duff is coming from. Players of Kyla's ability should be bossing games, not being played in at full forward however thats a decision for management and their decision has to be respected. We have been talking about Kyla's ability to carry the ball. She is also excellent at fielding a ball. Having someone of her ability around midfield driving at teams with support players coming off her would be hard to stop. I wouldn't be one for running players down and I am well are that if Down are to be successful this year Kyla will be a huge figure in doing that.

On a more positive note, I think its great that the girls are taking Down football more serious this year. There's no reason why the girls can't challenge for honours this year.

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 25/01/2013 09:51:45    1323378

Obviously Kindomgael - in a good group of players - when the full back does go and attack another player covers back - they dont just look and say there she goes again but its ok i have my marker - lets let the full forward stand in there alone... Think about it.... Kyla - although is getting much publicity at the minute on her - is a fantastic player - but a few years back when she played midfield - she had more control of games and her serious football ability was scary for other teams. I cant understand how in the peak of her football career she has been pushed into full forward - surely there are plenty of excellent forwards in down who can collect the ball and finish or indeed collect the ball and feed the onrushing kyla to take her score. Her fitness levels a few years back were excellent and this allowed her to play in the middle and influence the game. If we had Michaela Downey playing at Kylas age - she ran games, controlled opposition, was able to attack and defend and take scores and in many games - ran the show herself. Thus earning herself an all star. Kyla has more ability.

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 25/01/2013 10:17:50    1323400

Kyla may be many things - but she is no Michaela Downey thats for sure. We were lucky to have such an inspirational leader in our ranks for so long. I doubt we will have another like her again.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 25/01/2013 13:31:34    1323514

Well Singer you for one must be glad she s back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or DID NO ONE TELL YA ?

FULLOFIT (Down) - Posts: 50 - 25/01/2013 14:00:05    1323537

Any word how the ladies got on today in their third challenge game before the league in Dublin???? A victory would be nice to report...

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 27/01/2013 20:54:00    1324555

ladies had a win in UCD yesterday. The girls i spoke with didnt know the final score.

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 28/01/2013 11:45:26    1324708

Excellent stuff. Lets hope thats a spring board to the league meeting with Armagh at the weekend.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 28/01/2013 12:25:59    1324743

Players should not be on this forum - even just for the simple fact if they read any of the comments made about them they'd probably never play football again! most importantly though management should most definitely not be contributing to this forum.

surprised to hear MD is back in the squad, thought she had retired?? did she play yesterday?

Arrival (Down) - Posts: 16 - 28/01/2013 13:43:37    1324809

No word of her playing at the weekend... I see that Armagh will be missing key players for the weekend clash - cud even up the tie a little...

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 29/01/2013 17:25:05    1325456

I see Armagh will be missing some key players on Sunday. Can down capitalize on this? Are Down missing anyone or does anyone know what 15 they have been playing with? A win would put them in good stead for the rest of the league but a massive hurdle to jump

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 30/01/2013 11:20:47    1325685

It seems to be the following that are getting the nod at present - training or not......

Emma Joyce
Orla Boyle
Eimear Mc Kay
Cora Mc Kibbin
Sinead Fegan
Niamh Mc Gowan
Sinead Brannigan
Clara Fitzpatrick
Megan Mc kay
Orla Fegan
Grainne Kelly
Grainne Mc Clean
Lauren Cunningham
Kyla Traynor
Natasha Ferris

There is prob a few changes here and there in that team but would think that is near enough the starting line up. should be an interesting fixture with this being Downs strongest lineup and Armagh missing a few key players. Bring it on at Clonduff on Sunday - this puts down a marker for the rest of the season.

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 30/01/2013 19:52:51    1325969

Interesting selections there singer... What is this based on??? There are some strong players on that team you have selected though - and Megan is not Mc Kay - she is Doherty!

duff (Down) - Posts: 145 - 30/01/2013 20:09:19    1325981

What way does the league structure work in Down. Is there u12, u14, u16, minor, reserve and senior level for the ladies?

Nanderson (Down) - Posts: 83 - 31/01/2013 12:36:54    1326168

I see the down men have named their lineup for sat nights game against Tyrone. Should the ladies management not do likewise and name the team?? This gives us plenty of time to think about the possible match ups etc for the games ahead. Good publicity for the girls and thier clubs too. Just a thought thats all. If all mens teams do it - i think its time we caught up and did the same.....

singer (Down) - Posts: 330 - 01/02/2013 16:36:19    1326848

A point lost more than a point won.

Decent enough performance yesterday against a very very poor Armagh side who effectively played with 14 players due to whatever injury it is that Caroline O'Hanlon is carrying. Considering Down has been training since October and Armagh the last 4 weeks it's a game that should have been won. That said I thought Clara Fitzpatrick, Sinead Fegan and Lauren Cunningham (small blonde forward I think) were excellent for Down. Kyla took her goal in the first half very well and it was the end result of some very good football. I thought however, that Down played a very narrow style of football and on a couple of occasions worked the ball across 4 players over 5 yards coming out of defence and then looked short of options. Fast, direct ball in would have been ideal for Kyla yesterday as she certainly had the better of the full back.

The game yesterday in my opinion was won by the girls and not by the sideline. It was hard to see any direction coming from the sideline and I thought that this was shown but the lack of subs (2 in the last 10 minutes) and lack of communication between management. It was hard to hear what was going on from the opposite side of the pitch but I do recall Benji Ward giving out to Lauren Cunningham for dropping deep when 2 minutes previous Mark Copeland had told her to drop deep. I may be wrong though.

Michaela Downey would have been good to have the last 10 minutes of the game yesterday as her experience would have helped kill the game off and probably come away with a win.

All in all plenty of positives to come from the game and they can only push on from here.

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 04/02/2013 08:10:00    1327957

I agree that it was a point lost more than a point won, however this is because I felt Down were the superior side until the last 15 minutes, the 10 or 11 Down players that realised they were in a game anyway. They had a slow start but when they got into the game Armagh simply couldnt handle them. Lauren Cunningham was fantastic as was Clara Fitzptrick in Midfield. I wouldnt read too much into Caroline ohanlons injury, if she was playing midfield for Armagh she must not have been too bad. I would be more worried at the fact that Armagh were missing Mags McAlinden. In downs defence they were missing Natasha Ferries from Bryansford and one of the Twin Fegans, Orla I think, which is 2 massive misses in terms of scoring pedigree.

Hopefully the return of these two players will help with what I though was a very poor half forward line, if not for the work rate of Lauren Cunningham and Kyla the forward line would have caused Armagh little to think about. How many times did the Fegan girl that was playing get the ball in Down defence and have nobody to play it too in the forward line?

Fitness levels appear to be 2nd to none when they were still able to survive Armaghs onslaught in the last quarter however giving away silly frees in scoreable positions eventually gave Armagh the draw. Do the men on the line not show these girls about tactical fouling? Really was a case of hope the whistle goes soon or this could slip away.

Taking a point from probable league favourites and last years champions I suppose is no bad start, just feel its an opportunity missed as Armagh wont take Down so lightly again. Can these girls lift themselves as much for other games in the league? remains to be seen, but ill give it as improved from last year but a hell of a lot to do

TheKingdomgael (Down) - Posts: 167 - 04/02/2013 10:31:44    1328033

Plenty of positives, our best performance for some time. Excellent league debuts from Lauren Cunningham and Sinead Brannigan, both looked comfortable at this level. Clara did great job on Caroline O'Hanlon, Kyla as lethal as ever. Armaogh might have been short, but so were we, some strong players to come in.Two minor criticisms; more direct ball into Kyla in the second half (when we had the wind) would have yielded results, and we need a system for kick-outs. Our goalie sometimes had no obvious outlet, esp in the last 10 minutes when we couldn't win the ball.
Looking at the other results, Longford, Wicklow and Wexford seem to be the weakest sides, so we should be aiming for the play-offs.
But In general, a promsising performance, well done to team and management.

befair (Down) - Posts: 238 - 04/02/2013 12:37:32    1328163

I would have to say that I believe Down were lucky to come away with a point in this game. forget about who Armagh had or didnt have, its irrelevant. Armagh had 90% of the possession in the first 15 minutes and if they had have been a wee bit more composed in front of the posts they would have had Down dead and buried. Armagh had 12 wides in this period. Furthermore Down could not get the ball up the field from their own kickout for 10 minutes which added to this Armagh domination. Sinead Fegan, Clara Fitzpatrick and the wee corner forward from Ballymartin I think (name escapes me) were the pick of the Down players in the first half. Kyla whilst taking her goal well refused to move and show in front often enough in the full forward postion. Our half forward line looked like they never played together before and our two corner backs were very dodgy on long balls coming into them. In the second half, aided by the breeze Down played slightly better football but not much. I know it is only the first league game but there is going to have to be massive improvement in this team. If we have a target player in full forward she is going to have to come out in front looking the ball and the must must go in long. We need 15 players on the field who are comfortable on the ball especially our defenders. Sinead Fegan is a joy to watch and should be a far more central figure in the team. Our half forward line needs serious tweaking and there were players on the line who were bound to be thinking how long will those girls get to play like that for. Its hard to see what our gameplan is but it is a point in the league but definitely 'could do much better' must be the feeling coming away from Hilltown yesterday.

gaaforall (Down) - Posts: 130 - 04/02/2013 12:58:05    1328188

Have to agree with gaaforall

the_guvner (Down) - Posts: 318 - 04/02/2013 14:04:18    1328273