For years we were always accused of putting the club over the county. Imagine if john mc Entee came out with what Brannigan said!
ULSTER FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2K22
- Thread starter PutTheHighBallInLow
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Armaghball
Well-Known Member
At the end of the day your club should always come first. County is nice and a great honour, but it’s the lads from your club that you made your communion with, will be at your wedding and will carry your coffin.
In Branagans case I’d say the standards at training and discipline wise in Kilcoo are at a higher level than Down.
In Branagans case I’d say the standards at training and discipline wise in Kilcoo are at a higher level than Down.
Rufus T Firefly
Well-Known Member
Club of course should always come first, but that need not be at the expense of County pride. I've no love for Down, but I'd have to say I'd get angry at such an attitude, even in another County.
I've often read on different forums that Kilcoo are not popular in their own county and reading this I'd be prepared to believe that.
No question that club comes first but county is vital too. I may not always agree with how the county team is run but I always want to see them doing well. I was only lucky enough to play underage for the county but I was very proud of it.
This attitude of Kilcoo is disappointing and somewhat arrogant and insular. I would be of the opinion that what should be in their mind is work with the county and try to raise the mindsets of the other players as opposed to think they are better than them. Down GAA will always be there, Kilcoo’s success won’t and this won’t be forgotten come the cut and thrust of club championship
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
I’d say he’s gearing up for someone like Conor Lavery to take over Down seniors within a few years. They’d be a force to be reckoned with rather than a laughing stock if he came in and got the Kilcoo lads onboard and managed to keep the other good players from falling out with them.
Kilcoo probably closer to the required standards of a county team these days than Down are, but I know from speaking to anyone from Down that Kilcoo are absolutely despised by an awful lot of people in Down and with very good reason at times.
And will be even less popular now. 15 years ago nobody would have knew who kilcoo were once you went past castlewellan or hill town! Short memories.
Thought it was very disrespectful to the county and it should galvanise the other clubs in down to raise their game and knock kilcoo of their perch, so to speak!
MrMaguire2002
Well-Known Member
Besides the point but I do not think that Kilcoo would massively improve the Down team.
Ryan McEvoy is a good player but told James McCartan to "F##k off". Dylan Ward looked like a player at one stage but not convinced at club level now let alone intercounty. Paul Devlin decent but doesn't stand out at intercounty. The Johnston's aren't intercounty quality for me and never have been.
From a Down perspective admittedly the Branagan's were the biggest loss in terms of intercounty but they are pushing on in years so wouldn't have the major impact they once may have had.
Young players walked away before the championship started like Finn McElroy and Liam Kerr. Down football is in tatters.
The one man I feel sorry for is Darren O'Hagan. The best footballer in Down for a decade. Fond memories of his battles with Jamie Clarke. Darren O'Hagan (outside of Down) will not be remembered because he won nothing of note.
Branagan shouldn't be opening his mouth about a set up that has absolutely nothing to do with him if asked to join the panel or not.
Personally I'll not lose any sleep over them. They don't worry too much about us when things aren't going as planned. Indeed many of them take great enjoyment from it.
Ryan McEvoy is a good player but told James McCartan to "F##k off". Dylan Ward looked like a player at one stage but not convinced at club level now let alone intercounty. Paul Devlin decent but doesn't stand out at intercounty. The Johnston's aren't intercounty quality for me and never have been.
From a Down perspective admittedly the Branagan's were the biggest loss in terms of intercounty but they are pushing on in years so wouldn't have the major impact they once may have had.
Young players walked away before the championship started like Finn McElroy and Liam Kerr. Down football is in tatters.
The one man I feel sorry for is Darren O'Hagan. The best footballer in Down for a decade. Fond memories of his battles with Jamie Clarke. Darren O'Hagan (outside of Down) will not be remembered because he won nothing of note.
Branagan shouldn't be opening his mouth about a set up that has absolutely nothing to do with him if asked to join the panel or not.
Personally I'll not lose any sleep over them. They don't worry too much about us when things aren't going as planned. Indeed many of them take great enjoyment from it.
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
Is there a link to what was said?
MrMaguire2002
Well-Known Member
Kilcoo's Branagan: I've no ambition to play for Down
Kilcoo's Eugene Branagan has no plans to commit to the Down senior football team as he aired frustrations about the absence of a "winning mentality" within the group.
PatMustard
Well-Known Member
Armagh around 1995-97 were probably as low as what Down are now. But I do believe that Cross winning Ulster’s and All Ireland’s ultimately instilled confidence within the county setup.
Some of those Cross players could have turned their noses up at playing for Armagh, especially when it looked like we were nowhere near winning an Ulster title, never mind an All Ireland.
As someone pointed out, who even heard of Kilcoo 15 or so years ago? It’s very easy to stay with club football when your All Ireland champions. But what if Kilcoo went downhill over the next couple of years, will he pack it in with the club too?
Surely a winning mentality built up by the Kilcoo players can only benefit the county team, should they get involved.
Some of those Cross players could have turned their noses up at playing for Armagh, especially when it looked like we were nowhere near winning an Ulster title, never mind an All Ireland.
As someone pointed out, who even heard of Kilcoo 15 or so years ago? It’s very easy to stay with club football when your All Ireland champions. But what if Kilcoo went downhill over the next couple of years, will he pack it in with the club too?
Surely a winning mentality built up by the Kilcoo players can only benefit the county team, should they get involved.
ragingbull
Well-Known Member
Why Cork vs Kerry game in Cork's 2nd ground when Ed Sheeran is performing in Limerick?
Armaghball
Well-Known Member
Lavery has 5 lads and the Branagans have something like 10 or 12 between them ffs! I see them as similar to Cross in that success breeds success and they’ll never be far away in Down.
I do think the Kilcoo lads will go to the county under Lavery sooner rather than later.
Two more and he'd have the full 7
Geezersleftfoot
Active Member
Cavan also showing what can be done when you challenge the kick out
We have oisin, crealy, jarly og, Kelly, and Rian all big me that can win ball
DOUGIE
Member
Unbelievable, it's a simple game
