I see the replay is in Ballycran instead of Newry. Bit of a nasty move by Down on the face of it. Newry would be less than an hour away from Navan but Ballycran GAA grounds are over 2 hours away via Belfast.
Maybe there's a more innocent explanation to the ground change but they have always used Newry in the league and Christy Ring and it looks to me like they're making the trip as awkward as possible for both players and fans to give themselves a better chance. I'm open to correction from Down fans though.

Ballycran is the same distance if not shorter for Meath fans and team that Trim was for Down players and majority of supporters. No more a nasty move than the reason given for Navan being unavailable, so I assume Newry also has stadium requirements than need sorted out this weekend - anyway enjoy the trip and welcome to the home of Down hurling to all who travel and may the best team win

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 28/05/2013 09:17:42    1393203

Tim, the difference being Trim has been Meath's home ground all year for the hurlers. Down have played all their home games in both the league and Christy Ring in Newry so why the change all of a sudden? Smacks of desperation from your county board. Trying to make things as difficult as possible for Meath players and fans by the looks of it, especially seeing as we've beaten Down in Newry already this year.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1385 - 28/05/2013 10:31:03    1393267

As I said same distance for Meath players and fans as it was for Down last week so no advantage to be gained - my understanding is Newry needs remedial work done urgently as its badly cut up after alot of football matches recently so that was the reason.
Anyway if you have beaten Down once this year then it should be no problem on Saturday; enjoy the scenery and heres to an equally sporting match as the Trim one was.

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 28/05/2013 11:10:15    1393310

No not all matches played in Trim...at least one National League game played in Navan which is where last week's match was supposed to be until meath decided to move it to Trim. Ballycran IS the county hurling pitch and has been for years....and unlike Trim it does have a stand! Matches were played in Newry simply to promote the game there. There is no hidden agenda in Down. Hopefully a great game. have a safe journey and enjoy the beauty of Co down.

Co.Down1 (Down) - Posts: 163 - 28/05/2013 11:14:36    1393314

Royal you mustnt go to all Meath matches as the NL match V Armagh was played in Pairc Tailteann on March 30th.

My fellow Down fan is also correct that the match last weekend was also to be in the same venue until Meath changed it to Trim, so people in glass houses and all that - anyway this is all a sideshow now, match is in Ballycran and heres to a fantastic encounter between two good teams.

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 28/05/2013 11:45:41    1393361

Newry is a 'home' venue in name only for Down's hurlers - the true home of Down hurling is in the lower Ards Peninsula in Portaferry, Ballcran and Ballygalget. This is where Down should have been playing their home games all along. Newry is between an hour and hour and a half by boat then car from the Ards, which is lot to ask supporters to travel for a home game. Meath get to play their games in the heart of Meath hurling country in Trim - it's only fair that Down should play their home games in the home of Down hurling which is the Ards.

portinexile (USA) - Posts: 21 - 28/05/2013 12:20:06    1393407

Lads as a meath GAA fan I made the trip up to Ballycran before and to be fair it is the home of hurling in Down. Ballycran would be one of the best club teams in ULster. but still by right the game should be in Newry just the same as the game should have been in Navan last week. All the Down county board is doing is putting the game in the grounds which is downs home of hurling just like we did last week by playing in trim.

butterfly (Meath) - Posts: 112 - 28/05/2013 12:36:23    1393431

I stand corrected: all of Meath's home games but one have been played in Trim. And have you any link to where the match last week was switched from Navan? I checked the fixture the previous Monday and it was set for Trim. Not doubting you by the way, just curious. Even if it was switched, I'd hardly compare a switch from Navan to Trim (15 minutes by car) with a switch between Newry and Ballycran (well over an hour away by the looks of it) though.

Just very suspicious that this 'home of hurling' wasn't used before now. To me, it looks as though Down are desperate not to lose yet another semi final replay at home. Maybe I am wrong though.
Here's hoping for another great game and (hopefully) a Meath win, wherever the game's played.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1385 - 28/05/2013 13:09:07    1393473

I stand corrected: all of Meath's home games but one have been played in Trim. And have you any link to where the match last week was switched from Navan? I checked the fixture the previous Monday and it was set for Trim. Not doubting you by the way, just curious. Even if it was switched, I'd hardly compare a switch from Navan to Trim (15 minutes by car) with a switch between Newry and Ballycran (well over an hour away by the looks of it) though.

Just very suspicious that this 'home of hurling' wasn't used before now. To me, it looks as though Down are desperate not to lose yet another semi final replay at home. Maybe I am wrong though.
Here's hoping for another great game and (hopefully) a Meath win, wherever the game's played.

Royal you still dont get it but butterfly does. The issue isnt the distance between Trim and Navan its the distance between the Ards and Trim and it just means that Meath and their supporters will travel the exact same distance as most Down players and supporters travelled last week, fairs fair. If Newry, like Navan last week, is unavailable so be it. You only had three games in the league at home so 33.33% were in Navan.

Down to the best of my knowledge havent lost a Christy Ring semi-final at home but I could be wrong, Meath will be strong favourites as we havent beaten you this year.

The ards has always been the home of Down hurling, any hurling fan will tell you that but we are making in-roads slowly in other areas. Anyway, safe journey, enjoy the mountain scenery, strangford lough and hopefully a great game of hurling

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 28/05/2013 14:12:43    1393557

The game was never 'switched' to Trim. All Meath hurling games bar a dead rubber league match vs Armagh were in Trim this year, even minor games. If a fixture list ever said Navan was the venue for the CR games it's because whoever first wrote it lazily jumped to the conclusion that Meath means Navan.

Anyone comparing Trim to Ballycran is stretching the realities of things a small bit. The difference between Navan and Trim is another 15 minutes down the road to another town. Newry to Ballycran is doubling the journey from Newry to go a very rural pitch from the looks of it.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1678 - 28/05/2013 14:22:03    1393565

Navan has been closed since may 1st due to reseeding .

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 28/05/2013 18:34:52    1393880

Tim, I get it perfectly. I'm not debating that the Down supporters that made it last Saturday probably had to travel a similar distance that Meath fans will on Saturday. What I'm aggrieved at is the sudden switch of venue from Newry to probably the furthest possible location from Newry that's still in Down. It wouldn't have been an issue if Down had played most or even one or two games in the league or cup there. But to all of a sudden switch your home venue for your last home game of the season in any competition seems to me like a move to try and unsettle the opposition.
And apologies, for some reason I thought that last year's semi final replay between yourselves and London was played in Newry, but I see I was wrong on that.

But what's done is done, and I've made my peace with the location. I'm beginning to look forward to going to that neck of the woods. While your on, you may as well tell me the best way to get there. Would it be best to go via Belfast or through Newry and get the Strangford ferry?

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1385 - 28/05/2013 19:56:35    1393943

Good man Royal I agree, whats done is done - anyway its really down to what type of journey you want - relaxed and scenic then head to Newry and through Hilltown Downpatrick then over on the Strangford Ferry to Ballycran via Portaferry (ferry runs every half hour and hour in Strangford ie 9.00 9.30 10.00 etc.. on the way back its at quarter past and quarter to ie 10.15 10.45 11.15 ... - get return tickets as its much cheaper) If its busy as it may be this wekend then there may be two boats on and they just go back and forward across the lough
If you just want there as quickly as poss.. then Belfast down to Newtownards then Kircubbin and turn left about quarter of a mile outside it then along that road for about mile and half and you will seen McKenna Park pitch on your left - drive safely and enjoy your day out

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 29/05/2013 08:47:01    1394077

Just to add to what Tim said, you need to allow about an hour and five minutes from Newry to reach Strangford...so if you are in Newry at say 5 or 10 past the hour or half hour then you will have a bit of a wait (15 mins or so) in Strangford which may not suit if you are cutting it fine! However it is a lovely experience to go "cruising on Strangford Lough."! If you come by the ferry then you take the signs for Kircubbin/Newtownards out of Portaferry. just before you reach Kircubbin you will see Rubane Road on the right and follow Tim's directions from there. have a safe journey and enjoy the match....though I am hoping we will send you home disappointed!

Co.Down1 (Down) - Posts: 163 - 29/05/2013 10:56:08    1394175

Cheers lads. Think I'll head via Belfast on the way and relax through Strangford on the way back.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1385 - 30/05/2013 20:53:02    1395533

Sneaky move by Down no need for it game should be in Newry. Pairc Tailteann is indeed closed for pitch maintance for May tii 7th June as can be verified by no Football Championship games in it this week end

glenny (Meath) - Posts: 1119 - 30/05/2013 21:50:37    1395564

Best of luck to the Royal in the replay v Down, great to see the progression the likes of Meath are making with the hurley - hope ye win

juniorjudge (Waterford) - Posts: 383 - 31/05/2013 09:45:47    1395607

Come on meath

flyer (Meath) - Posts: 815 - 31/05/2013 10:56:25    1395677

up meath, down down! lol

loyal82royal (Meath) - Posts: 260 - 31/05/2013 16:05:56    1396064

Hope you all had a safe journey home yesterday. great result for us but you must be feeling low.

Co.Down1 (Down) - Posts: 163 - 02/06/2013 14:12:53    1396989