i wasnt at the match on saturday due to holidays but watched it in an irish bar....really obvious to notice that only 3 east down players were on the down squad. is the divide that big? i would find it very interesting to see some sort of match between east and south. i no that especially at minor level east is very strong but it never really seems to materialise into the senior links. if u had like a double header of east down minors v south down followed by a senior game. wouldnt be a bad idea as to get an idea inot the difference in class!!

cdl (Down) - Posts: 41 - 04/08/2008 01:25:54    64631

LOL! A dispute going on for years! Personally find it ridiculous only 3 players on from E.D. And would only have been 1 on the pitch on Saturday if Dan's red card wasn't taken away and if Martin Cole wasn't injured, Turley would not have been on which would have meant East Down were represented by Luke Howard!

DDawg (Down) - Posts: 15 - 04/08/2008 10:08:29    64697

Yes...Would like to see more east down Lads in contention. I think there should be an annual match organised between the 2 or 3 (mourne side) at end of season. It would be useful for the Down Senior management to get a good view of all potential new players to bring into the squad.

mourneobserver (None) - Posts: 50 - 04/08/2008 11:51:55    64757

Im from east down so im not sticking up for east down or south down for that matter, there is actually 5 E.D players on the panel, Doyle, Gordon, Howard , mcCumiskey, Turley! It's not alot but Ross must have some reasons 4 his selections. If there are better players in south down then so be it!We are one county we go to Down matches united as on so why all this east south rubbish?

down gaa (Down) - Posts: 119 - 05/08/2008 01:45:35    65340

I think it is fairly natural to expect a 12-3 split in the team between South Down and East Down when the entire management panel is from South Down, a more balanced set up would have had at least 1 of the selectors from East Down but that's a decision of the management and if they're happy with the set up so be it.

What could help East Down clubs if they changed their names to Shamrocks then they could end up with 14 or 15 players being given a trial for the senior team, or maybe just get off a plane from the US and walk into the county set up without having kicked a ball for his club for several years, think every player with any tie to that club that could walk (and even some that cant manage that) have been asked to a trial or been on the squad at some point.

GaelForce (Down) - Posts: 54 - 05/08/2008 09:41:54    65377

TO GAELFORCE... i thought Mickey doyle was from leitrim which as far as i am aware is in east Down!!! before you start stirring at leastr get your facts right!!!

newryview (Down) - Posts: 748 - 05/08/2008 22:19:24    66255

Correct Newryview, I had forgot that Mr Doyle, a good St Colmans Man is from Leitrim - quite embarressing being corrected by a Newry person on this thread - thank you for the quick response tho it seems that I may have struck a sore point you wouldn't be from the Shamrocks club by any chance????

GaelForce (Down) - Posts: 54 - 06/08/2008 10:14:45    66422

Can anyone post the current down team and list the clubs they represent so I can see how many are from East and South Down clubs. I haven't been to the championship this year and have no match programmes. Is it still the case that Kilcoo are unrepresented?

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1558 - 06/08/2008 11:50:37    66539

Downgaa, you might find that McComiskey and Doyle due to injury have not been on the named 30 panel in the last 2 programmes if you have been at the matches!

The team from saturday

1. Brendan McVeigh- An riocht
2. Luke Howard- Bryansford
3. Peter Turley- Downpatrick
4. Colm Murphy- Rostrevor
5. Paul Murphy- Ballyholland
6. Aidan Carr- Clonduff
7. Kevin McGuigan- Newry Shamrocks
8. Declan Rooney- Burren
9. Ambrose Rodgers- Longstone
10. John Fegan- Clonduff
11. Kevin McKernan- Burren
12. Danny Hughes- Saval
12. Ronan Murtagh- Ballyholland
14. John Clarke- An Riocht
15. Benny Coulter- Mayobridge
16. Michael McAliister- Banbridge
17. Gary McArdle- Annaclone
18. Daniel McCartan- Burren
19. Martin Rafferty- Newry Shamrocks
20. Ciaran McGovern- Burren
21. Jack Lynch- Drumgath
22. James Colgan- An Riocht
23. Cathal Magee- Mayobridge
24. Ronan Sexton- Mayobridge
25. Peter Fitzpatrick- Ballymartin
26. Stephen Kearney- Saval
27. John McAreavey- Tullylish
28. Conor Gribben- Bryansford
29. James McGovern- Burren
30. Dan Gordon- Loughinisland

DDawg (Down) - Posts: 15 - 07/08/2008 14:06:32    67853

DDawg- " Downgaa, you might find that McComiskey and Doyle due to injury have not been on the named 30 panel in the last 2 programmes if you have been at the matches!" And whats your point? They are still on the Down panel! and yes i have been to the matches!

down gaa (Down) - Posts: 119 - 10/08/2008 12:43:05    70150

if east down played south down what would the teams be

downmidfeilder (Down) - Posts: 86 - 11/08/2008 18:48:05    71397

The old East Down / South Down debate is always a hot topic, the recent appointment of a full time paid secretary from South Down was certainly controversial as the man in the post (which was unpaid) was booted out.

It would be a good idea to organise a championship between East and South Down similar to that in Kerry to try and make the county more inclusive and to give the players from the weaker clubs a better chance to get on the county panel.

AwRef (Down) - Posts: 6 - 15/08/2008 11:25:38    75602

Intesting debate. If we look back to 91-94, 1/2 the starting team was from east down.

91
--
Collins
Deagons
Burns
Kelly
Breen
Blaney
Mason
Whitnell

I think it would be a good idea to organise a match with East Down vs South Down. Even split it up even more like Kerry have NSEW.

It works well for Kerry where a player might get picked based on how they played for East Kerry against someone on the Kerry team where as they might otherwise be overlooked.

maiden (Down) - Posts: 85 - 15/08/2008 16:30:51    76026

I think this would be a great idea. There is loads of good players in East Down that don't get a chance to be seen. Half the 91 and 94 teams were from east Down, this years captain as well, so why not. Its about time the county board start to listen to what the people want.

Dom2008 (Down) - Posts: 2 - 17/08/2008 21:22:12    77065