well done Down - this was a very good game of football!!!

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1688 - 02/06/2013 16:07:37    1397110

Down have just beaten Derry and their supporters seem more preoccupied with rubbing up Tyrone, proof that Tyrone GAA has well and truly gotten under the skin of the average Down supporter, and that can only be a good thing in my opinion. Well done on your fine win today, as for Derry, there's every chance our paths will cross in the qualifiers, see you then.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 02/06/2013 16:09:06    1397111

MissDownFanatic
County: Down
Posts: 213

1397077
Yeooooooooooooooo!! And to all the Tyrone folk here yeooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! Wee trip to Quinns Corner I think may be necessary now!

Can't believe I missed the Tyrone Down game today.

I've had a word wit Paudge and we recommend the soup

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 02/06/2013 16:14:54    1397116

Fantastic match, end to end stuff for most of the game, Derry tired towards the end. Once Down started to dominate midfield, Eoin Bradley who was unmarkable in the first half, found himself coming deeper out the field looking for possession, way out of his comfort zone. What a dreadful mistake from the Derry corner back which led to Down's second goal, killed the game off really.

Was expecting more from Benny Coulter, but O'Hare and Madine were excellent.

As for Down's next game, they probably won't have enough to beat Donegal. That defence will have to tighten up considerably. They couldn't deal with Eoin Bradley for most of the game, they'll have a tough job on McBrearty, not to mention the arial ability of Murphy and the power of McFadden. Nonetheless, I think they could win the midfield battle, Kalum King had a fine game today and should be capable of putting it up to Neil Gallagher. But winning midfield against Donegal counts for nothing the way they're set up.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 02/06/2013 16:56:09    1397151

Congrats down, I predicted a 2 point win, but 4 was about right. Hope the semi in 3 weeks is as good a game as today. Down have really come on, although i am not surprised they got 2 goals today. They are lively around the goals and will be a constant threat there this season.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3852 - 02/06/2013 16:57:44    1397153

Hi guys,

Tactical analysis of Down's win over Derry up here
http://action81.com/blog/?p=7300

Thanks,
Emmet

emmetryan (Dublin) - Posts: 154 - 02/06/2013 17:01:35    1397156

Fair play to Down, showed their traditional championship pedigree today!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8795 - 02/06/2013 17:12:47    1397162

First and foremost , congrats to down on their comeback and victory. Open game of football because both defences are very leaky, dub, Kerry, cork, Donegal would destroy either. Entertaining alright, disappointing mostly.

johnjoseph (Derry) - Posts: 158 - 02/06/2013 17:27:54    1397166

Must say Down impressed me in the second half. They were loose at the back in the first half but certainly cut out the supply in the second and got to grips with Bradley. Like the majority of people on here I thought it was a very good game of football but surprise, surprise , we will alaways have the "glass half empty " brigade moaning. Some wonderful scores, see saw struggle. What more could one ask for?
I was in Croker yesterday and really 2 very bad games with only flashes of the Dubs to brighten up the evening. I'm afraid Leinster has become a cakewalk for the Dubs. Kildare are nearly as bad as Offaly and Westmeath.But to be fair to McGeeney he is giving the u21's a chance.Maybe Louth will brighten up the place again!!
Looking ahead , Down could surprise a few people!!

BreffniDub (None) - Posts: 377 - 02/06/2013 18:54:13    1397199

Enjoyed the game but I cant see Down winning the semi.Id want to avoid them in the qualifiers,but as a galwayman,i want to avoid pretty much everyone in the qualifiers.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 02/06/2013 19:10:33    1397215

01/06/2013 13:37:46
brendtheredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 7272

1396449
Derry will win this one fairly comfortably I'd say, Derry by 4.


Good man Brend. An Dún Abú

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 02/06/2013 20:06:50    1397269

Good job I'm not a betting man Mourne Army. I wouldn't get too carried away all the same, it was a keen contest between two competitive but ultimately limited teams. Those defences aren't designed with a long summer in mind!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 02/06/2013 20:23:46    1397285

Can't see anyone getting too carried away??

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 02/06/2013 20:33:42    1397299

We were in a winning position but lost midfield at the most crucial time in the 2nd half,patsy bradley clearly was struggling maybe shouldnt have started the game,young bell tough ask for him also on debut,good game for the neutral both defences struggled and donegal will be a different proposition.Hoping for a qualifier run still a young team downs more experience showed as the game wore on.congrats to Down k mc kernan had trmendous game at midfield.

93vintageyear (Derry) - Posts: 301 - 02/06/2013 21:08:05    1397344

I don't see Jim McGuinness or Donegal taking this Down challenge lightly, far from It I would think after today.

Down now have Donegal's full attention, as they stand between the Donegal men and a 3rd Ulster final in row. It will be a tighter game than last years Ulster final no doubt, but I will be expecting Donegal to prevail.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 02/06/2013 21:08:54    1397345

02/06/2013 21:08:54
GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 502

1397345
I don't see Jim McGuinness or Donegal taking this Down challenge lightly, far from It I would think after today.

Down now have Donegal's full attention, as they stand between the Donegal men and a 3rd Ulster final in row. It will be a tighter game than last years Ulster final no doubt, but I will be expecting Donegal to prevail.

In last years Ulster Final Donegal overran us in the last 15 or so minutes. I believe this was due to Donegal's superior fitness levels more than anything else. Before yesterdays game I kept reminding my mates to watch this Down team in the last 10 minutes to see how fit they remained. I'd heard great things about Niall Moyna, and I think we seen his fine work in progress in the final minutes of the game yesterday. Most of the Derry men looked dead on their feet as they tried to stop the marauding runs of McKernan, Laverty and Poland, it's as fit a Down team as I've ever seen judging by yesterdays game.

Would also note from yesterdays game that although Kielt hit some beautiful points, I think he cheated his own team mates. I noticed in the most crucial periods during the 2nd half he didn't track back as our half backs were attacking in waves, this was a critical error on his behalf, or maybe just plain laziness. I also felt our bench had more of an impact than Derry's. Danny Savage, Ryan Mallon and Jerome Johnson all came on and gave us fresh impetus and ran Derry ragged in the last 15. Derry's bench had little impact when they came on, and if anything weakened the team and any momentum it had.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 03/06/2013 10:25:15    1397436

Great game yesterday, played in the right spirit. Derry's summer is far from over. Down obviously face a big ask in beating Donegal, our key players like Poland, will find the space they took advantage of yesterday in very short supply next day out.

Our short kick out game deployed yesterday may need to be looked at against Donegal, carrying the ball the length of the field against Donegal's hunting packs will lead to a lot of turnovers. For Down though, yesterday was a decent championship win away from home against a decent team. The league seems very far away now, yes, Donegal will be big favorites. That said, I'd much rather be looking forward to Donegal in Clones as waiting for the first round qualifier draw.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1794 - 03/06/2013 11:11:22    1397456

Whens the backdoor draw?

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 03/06/2013 11:53:05    1397481

was impressed with both teams yesterday. However Down were a tad fitter in the end and had very strong midfield in McKeirnan and King. However if Derry had taken 2 very good goal chances they would have won it and no amount of analysing can deny that.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 03/06/2013 12:34:04    1397524

Orlaith :O Blast from the HS past.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 03/06/2013 13:19:31    1397568