The bookies have Donegal as favourites and so they should be as this is still a Division One team against a Division Three team even allowing for Donegal's relegation. They're a team who have been in ten of the last twelve Ulster Finals.

They have been playing at a much higher level than Down against the best teams in the country. Down have had a much better year than 2022 which was pretty much a disaster. They had five wins out of seven games in The National League but the two defeats were to the two promoted teams, Cavan and Fermanagh, so progress was made but the team is nowhere near the finished article.

Some people think the turmoil in Donegal GAA circles might affect the team but who knows really what the mood is in their camp. Players can be pretty good at shutting out external noise and using adversity to motivate themselves, us against the world in other words.

The weather could have an affect, it's looking like it could be a wet day which won't suit Down's style of fast, running football. I favour a Donegal win simply based on their National League positions. A good day for Down would be to not have a repeat of the result the last time Donegal played in Newry when they posted a score of 2-25 and defeated Down by sixteen points. If Down can finish within three to five points, score a couple of goals and give it a real go for seventy plus minutes then I'd say that's a good day's work.

Newmitch (Down) - Posts: 97 - 22/04/2023 22:27:11    2472576

germac (Down) - Posts: 556 - 23/04/2023 10:27:31    2472648

Down well worth thay win today. This win feels significant. Armagh a big ask and a quick turnaround but it's a great week to look forward to for Down football.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1794 - 23/04/2023 16:12:03    2472776

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 332 - 24/04/2023 09:34:36    2473061

Comhghairdeas daoibh, I miss seeing a strong Down side in championship hopefully this can be a platform for you going on. Armagh will be a tough nut they are a few years ahead of you but I hope if anything comes from yesterday for Down it's a bit of belief, it seemed to me from the stands that nobody really believed until maybe the penalty in 2nd half? Once the belief is there you see the tackles going in hard and the breaks that bit quicker

Ádh mór in éadan Ard Mhacha

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 127 - 24/04/2023 11:00:41    2473133

Well done. I'd love to see Down back at the top table. Always had wonderful footballers and a swashbuckling style. Best of luck against Armagh and their very dour manager.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 291 - 24/04/2023 14:23:21    2473275

All this talk about how great the Derry 20's were…. Well done Down, great result

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1632 - 26/04/2023 21:45:39    2474119

germac (Down) - Posts: 556 - 27/04/2023 18:00:13    2474286

Always up against it today so will not go to town on the squad. Truth is when the game is clearly over with twenty minutes to go then it's very easy to ship a heavy score as we did.

I'm reluctant to single anyone out so will keep this brief. For next season, we need to find a keeper.

Gifts to Fermanagh and Armagh under high balls have cost us dearly this year.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1794 - 30/04/2023 17:44:13    2474750

No real complaints today, as the better team won but we put 3 of their goals on a plate for them and we dropped at least 4 or 5 into keepers arms ,Anyway with 20s goin well and Laverty in charge its only a matter of time before were back at the top table

germac (Down) - Posts: 556 - 30/04/2023 21:22:33    2474826

See Marty Clarke denying any unrest in the camp, what's supposed to have happened?

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1143 - 22/05/2023 08:23:46    2480282

Seen the video circulating other apps of the game last Wednesday evening, absolutely no excuse and he should be punished for his actions and offer to to pay the lad for any work he needs done, but this sort of stuff is the normal all over the country. I'm a hurling man and I've witnessed some absolutely vile action's myself from the lads that wear the green down the ards and very rarely anything is done about it.

I only hope this dosnt get in the way of the lad in questions county football or any other lad for that matter, down are building and I'm here for it. Yes he should be punished, I hope lav can get him together to apologise and move on, things happen on the field that shouldn't carry on off it

Antrimroad (Down) - Posts: 119 - 23/05/2023 23:15:20    2481101

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 332 - 24/05/2023 16:32:14    2481332

Very disappointing result and performance. Just when Down seemed to have a little bit of momentum that was a bad day at the office. Ten wides in the second half and sixteen overall tell the tale. Down didn't lack for possession but definitely lacked accuracy. Out of a score line of 1-9, only 1-2 was scored from open play and the goal came from Odhran Murdock a midfielder. The forward line scored two points from open play between them. A win would also have given Down a home quarter final. Hard to understand such a low scoring performance when Down have been in the habit of posting excellent scorelines recently. Just one of those days I hope. It's still early days in Laverty's managerial reign, hopefully the players put that performance behind them and get back to winning ways.

Newmitch (Down) - Posts: 97 - 03/06/2023 17:39:45    2483756

can't kick 17 wides and win a game, some poor efforts and silly shot selections.
Play in general wasn't to bad just the end product was the issue, we were a number of one times so close to breaking through but just the final slick hand pass didn't to to the man.

I think we need to play Pat closer to the goal as he was at start of season thats were he was really causing problems for our opponents, if you look at our forward line the lads our seriously talented but not prolific scores at there clubs.

O hagans injury has really hurt us as he was the main man who was a prolific scorer, also Ryan johnston was a big loss yesterday as he was really playing well in previous games.

Brannigan and Murdock both had strong games and i expect a big performance next week, all is not lost lets get out next week and get behind the lads.

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 730 - 04/06/2023 12:01:38    2483891

germac (Down) - Posts: 556 - 10/06/2023 22:23:39    2485396

So Cavan, Limerick or Antrim away for the boys.
Bench last night made a serious impact coming on scored i think 1-04 plus great to see Gilmore back.
First half we looked poor enough goal was disaster we conceded but credit to kane he made 2/3 outstanding saves to keep us in it.
Cavan would be the team we want to avoid really personally i would like a crack at limerick , onwards we go.

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 730 - 11/06/2023 14:13:40    2485493

I went to the match and was very impressed with the substitutes but more importantly they all played for their clubs the night before

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1685 - 11/06/2023 16:00:49    2485524

Toughest draw we could have got away to Cavan, but should be no lack of motivation to overturn the result in the league. Hopefully we can get injuries cleared up and put best foot forward here. Down will have to be at their absolute best to come out the right side of this one, but I'm hoping the gap between these 2 sides has narrowed somewhat since that league defeat......

Looking forward to what is essentially a proper championship match and hopefully Down supporters will travel in numbers. This competition won't be easy won but would be a huge step to get over this one......An Dún abu

Mourne.Identidy (Down) - Posts: 20 - 12/06/2023 13:00:09    2485812

Do GAA teams have bogey teams like soccer teams? If they do then Down are playing their own bogey team in Cavan in this Tailteann Cup quarter final. Although Down were still in the hunt late in the game against Cavan in the National League they just couldn't bridge the gap that day. As Michael Murphy commenting on the match that day for the BBC noted in the second half the only way he could see Down getting back into the game was with goals. They did go goal hunting but were unsuccessful.

The game also exposed Down's weaknesses, lack of height all over the field but especially in midfield and the inability to win the ball in the air. Down also had no answer to Gearóid McKiernan who easily won any high ball kicked into the Down defence who either stood off him or didn't even challenge him in the air. It was all too easy and I'd expect a much better performance on Saturday. At least challenge him and make it a contest because McKiernan pulling down high ball gave the Cavan team and supporters in Breffni Park a huge boost. I can still hear the crowd noise when I picture it. It also is huge deflating for Down and it's supporters. At the very least let him know he's not getting any ball without a fight.

Cavan again just looked more powerful and stronger than Down, players like their midfielder Smith just brushed past weak challenges from Down players as if they weren't even there. Down must be much better in the physical battle.

This game will tell us if Down are making significant progress. It's a Division Two team against a Division Three team and Cavan are much further ahead in their development and should be strong favourites in the betting. It's a home for Cavan, they are in good form, so they seem to hold all the cards. It would be a big upset if Down won.

Newmitch (Down) - Posts: 97 - 16/06/2023 12:56:28    2486853