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Down GAA thread

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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: 92 - 22/04/2023 22:27:11    2472576

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Replying To Newmitch:  "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."
I hope your not in the changing room giving the team talk

germac (Down) - Posts: 486 - 23/04/2023 10:27:31    2472648

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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: 1778 - 23/04/2023 16:12:03    2472776

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Replying To germac:  "I hope your not in the changing room giving the team talk"
Germac.. i think I have more confidence in Down football than Newmitch.

Great result for Down - well done. Armagh are no great shakes, no reason why you can't go and win it to bring yourselves to an Ulster final

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 255 - 24/04/2023 09:34:36    2473061

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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: 73 - 24/04/2023 11:00:41    2473133

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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: 51 - 24/04/2023 14:23:21    2473275

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

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1508 - 26/04/2023 21:45:39    2474119

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Replying To ahsure.:  "All this talk about how great the Derry 20's were…. Well done Down, great result"
A great result from a very well drilled Down team , All credit to Laverty and his back room team, and players of course , looking foward to Kildare game in a couple of weeks,

germac (Down) - Posts: 486 - 27/04/2023 18:00:13    2474286

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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: 1778 - 30/04/2023 17:44:13    2474750

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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: 486 - 30/04/2023 21:22:33    2474826

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

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1054 - 22/05/2023 08:23:46    2480282

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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: 116 - 23/05/2023 23:15:20    2481101

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Replying To Antrimroad:  "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 - I'm out of the loop, what are you talking about?

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 255 - 24/05/2023 16:32:14    2481332

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