Down 2010

[Begbie]

On sunday watching the game I was actually desperate for Kildare to win. In many ways they have become our adopted second team. I actually turned the game off as soon as the final whistle went, I had no desire to listen to the post match reaction of any pundits. Thankfully Aston Villa were at the touch of a button and held on for a 1-0 victory against Everton. It was a timely escape.

I have always said I would always support the Ulster team in any All-Ireland Final. In 1994 when Down won the All-Ireland I went to the Carrickdale and was delighted to see them win. I could relate to Down interms of classmates, school teachers, relatives etc. Strange how 16 years on I'd prefer to go to Dingle than the Carrickdale if Down are victorious on September 19th.

When you look to the provincial dominance of our county over the last decade, the 7 ulsters in ten years, Crossmaglen winning 4 All-Ireland clubs, it's amazing to think that Down can emulate THAT teams one All-Ireland in a couple of weeks. No Ulsters, no club championships but a serious chance to achieve in terms of All-Irelands exactly what our golden era of footballers achieved. It's sickening.

Regularly on this site people often speak of their contempt for Tyrone. I never have had any nor never will have. It all depends on where in the county you are based. However with Downs recent success I can understand it. I don't think I could listen to Down men, especially those who tag onto the coat tails of success. This indeed is something which lessoned my love for Armagh in the earlier part of the decade. The true fans never bother me but its the slabbers who go to games drunk or sit in the pub and still say Oisin was MOTM whenever he was taken off after 10 minutes.

I think every man who follows sport comes out with gibberish at one stage or another, some more than others and I'll hold my hands up. However, if Down are victorious my love for Armagh will return to it's peak. Strange but true.

I actually do believe Down will win the All-Ireland because I don't see that Cork team as anything special nor never have over the last 5 years when the country seemed to always say "Cork this year." For once I hope it is Cork this year and they overcome the Down challenge in Croker. For some this may sound like a bitter rant and in many ways it is. Indeed it is largely to do with the fact that we had one of the best most consistent group of players in the country for the large part of a decade and only managed one All-Ireland. That is probably what annoys me most. How many men on that Down team would have got their place in 99-06?

Enter 2011 and lets hope Armagh can give it a rattle because in truth there are no super powers out there at the minute and certainly nothing near what Armagh were in 2002 or a few years either side of it.

For the time being Corcaigh Abu.

[bjmk]

It would be a disgrace if Down won the All-Ireland if you compare the work they have done (2 months) compared with the work we done (1999-2006) with both teams having won one all-ireland in the end. At least if Cork won you could say they deserve it because they have been there or thereabouts. This Down team are average in my opinion yet I have the fear that everythings going for them and they could end up doing it
Up the rebels!!!

[Number5]

Fair f**ks to Down you have to make the most of the chances you get, they have Armagh didn't.

Although I dont think there is the same clique of 3-4 really top teams above and beyond any other county anymore, just a lot of average teams! The fact an average Cork have been branded as favourites or a big team over the last 4-5 years proves this.

Its Downs to lose, they might be mouths but so are we, would always rather see an Ulster team win when it comes to it.

(And if there's anything worse than listening to Down fans mouthing off, its listening to Armagh fans whinging and crying bout other teams success!!! Boo hoo!!!)

[borderfox]

Agree with everything Begbie just said.

[Rma13]

I was at the match yesterday & was cheering Kildare on as loudly as I would cheer on Armagh (& believe me that's loud lol) while my Dad sat beside me cheering whole heartedly for Down. I was supporting Kildare purely because of Geezer & Aidan O'Rourke's involvement & would have loved to see them reach the All Ireland Final, unfortunately it wasn't meant to be & the red & black is back. It was hard to watch a team we had thumped in the League & a team we'd beaten in the League Final competing for a place in the All Ireland Final, when we exited so long ago, but maybe this ignites a bit of extra belief that we're not as far away from being back at the top as was originally thought, playing Division 1 football next year will give us a much better indication. I had someone behind me spouting about Down never being beaten in Finals in Croke Park, I was seriously tempted to say that he was wrong, we'd beaten them in the Divison 2 National League Final, but I was sure he'd have the last word regarding that piece of information!!!

I think it has a great deal to do with age & circumstance whether or not you cheer for other Ulster teams when our own county is out. My Dad comes from the era when Ulster teams where getting thumped on a regular basis when they visited Croke Park so he supported any Ulster team that got to Croke Park & won, the Down team of 1960 marking the breakthrough for the "wee six". I on the other hand have lived through an era where Ulster teams have gone & continued to go to Croke Park & succeed, especially when it comes to All Ireland Finals, therefore I feel no real necessity to cheer on Down & more specifically Tyrone (a senior team I could never support, whatever the circumstances).

I'm not sure what way I'll go come All Ireland Final Day, will I cheer on the Ulster team? I'm not sure as yet, but hey I've still a couple of weeks to decide. The question is can I really bear listening to Down supporters harping on about 6 All Irelands, flip Tyrone & their 3 is bad enough!!!!

[himself]

no you did' not beat down inthe 2div NFL and no other team did either.
If only 1 team was to be promoted it would not have been armagh
you won 2 div cup but not league on points

[DóireNúis]

cork for sam i hate those down pricks..hope cork do to down what kerry did to cork last year in the final

[PatMustard]

I understand what you say, Begbie. Armagh have won 14 Ulster titles, 7 which was in the space of 10 years. The most successful period in Armagh history, and that was unfortunately when those bloody Qualifiers were in place! Had the qualifiers not been in place, Armagh would have won at least 2 or 3 All Irelands - no doubt about that. Its very unfortunate from an Armagh perspective.

I can understand alot of you not being able to support Down, just in the same way as I couldn't possibly support Tyrone. But watching Tyrone win in 2005 and 2008, a very very very small part of me was hoping they'd win. The fact being, that Ulster teams have had the **** kicked out of them for years when they went to Croke Park, and they weren't helped by referees who stood by and let it happen. Then, when Ulster sides started to get a bit of success, there was an anti-Northern media propaganda started, which was f**king sickening to say the least!

Some Ulster players were repeatedly targetted for lengthy bans, whereas at the same time Ciaran "Karate Kid" Whelan was continually getting away with disgraceful 'tackles', and Darragh O'se and Paul Galvin, among others, doing likewise. Then you have arses like Jack O'Connor writing a book and saying what he said about Armagh and Tyrone. There is no doubt an 'us and them' mentality in the south. This is exactly why I was cheering on Down on Sunday.

In the closing stages, I was as nervous as I've probably been at any Armagh match to be honest. After the match, I turned around to the guys behind me and shook their hands and congratulated them, and told them I hoped they would win Sam. They were grateful for that, and I would hope they would've done the same had it been the other way round (depending on their proximity to the Armagh border though!).

Begbie, I agree that this Cork team is very average indeed. I think it would be a shame for Gaelic Football if they won the All Ireland. They have been terrible to watch all year. But, maybe it says alot for this year's championship that they have played poorly throughout, yet are in the final. But, Down are in the final on merit, as they've beaten what was put in front of them. They've also beaten the reigning champions in convincing style, and also a very good Kildare side.

In truth, Down have come out of nowhere this year, just like they did in 1991 and 1994. I can't see Armagh doing the same next year, but you never know.

[Rma13]

no you did' not beat down inthe 2div NFL and no other team did either.
If only 1 team was to be promoted it would not have been armagh
you won 2 div cup but not league on points

If this was in reply to my post I think you'll find that I didn't say we beat Down in the NFL Division 2, I stated that we beat them in the Division 2 NFL Final, which I think you'll find is correct & accurate.

[AFS]

Begbie, I agree that this Cork team is very average indeed. I think it would be a shame for Gaelic Football if they won the All Ireland. They have been terrible to watch all year. But, maybe it says alot for this year's championship that they have played poorly throughout, yet are in the final.

I'm hearing a lot of stuff like this recently. For me, their underperformance has been exaggerated. They haven't dazzled like many, maybe including myself, thought they would, but they've been far from terrible. They've dished out as many thrashings as Down have, and scraped through as many tight encounters. I reckon their strength in depth will be too much for Down in the final.