By Michael McMullan THE million-dollar question for Down on Sunday was how they step out of the rubble of their Ulster exit at the hands of Armagh. With Westmeath’s win over Kildare, it combined to leave Conor Laverty’s side back in the Tailteann Cup. It was a tough day at the office as Armagh eased […]
Armagh were a machine there today: Laverty
May 3, 2026
By Michael McMullan WHAT a difference a week can make. Ask Down. Ask Conor Laverty. From the highs of beating Donegal to Sunday’s chastening defeat at the hands of Armagh. “We are gutted now,’ he said, facing up the media despite their 3-33 to 0-14 defeat. “Listen, it’s hard to put your finger on that. […]
Ceilum Doherty happy to play any role as Down get set for Armagh
May 2, 2026
By Michael McMullan CEILUM Doherty was the glue in Down’s performance as they ousted back-to-back champions Donegal from the Ulster Championship. Despite their impressive performance in Letterkenny, every hour counts this week as they tune their engines for a tilt at Armagh on Sunday in Clones. Standing in the middle of O’Donnell Park, Doherty takes […]
MATCH PREVIEW: Crunch time at Clones for Armagh and Down
May 2, 2026
By Shaun Casey STANDING side by side at a recent underage game in Ballymacnab, Kieran McGeeney and Conor Laverty were able to shoot the breeze. They weren’t inter-county managers on that sunny Sunday morning, just two fathers watching their children play as Kilcoo made the journey to the mid-Armagh club. Two weeks on from that […]
Laverty hoping for Down momentum to continue
May 1, 2026
By Michael McMullan THERE are two stories going into Sunday’s Ulster semi-final showdown in Clones. Firstly. Armagh are going in with one day extra of recovery having had a comfortable win over Fermanagh. On the flip side, Down had the rollercoaster of chinning the Ulster champions in their own backyard. Advertisement Sunday’s result will write […]
Laverty praises the Down players’ thirst for preparation
April 26, 2026
By Michael McMullan CONOR Laverty praised his side’s level of desire to improve after Down’s win over champions Donegal in O’Donnell Park on Sunday. In the last two seasons, Down pushed eventual All-Ireland champions Armagh and Donegal all the way before coming up short. Speaking after both games, Laverty pointed to the level of preparation […]
Training camp leaves Donegal in good stead
April 25, 2026
BY RYAN FERRY DONEGAL senior football manager Jim McGuinness says their recent training camp in Portugal has left the team in good stead ahead of the Ulster Championship. McGuinness’s charges have enjoyed a super season so far after winning both the Dr McKenna Cup and the National Football League. Now it’s time for the next […]
Down squad named ahead of Sunday’s clash with champions Donegal
April 24, 2026
By Michael McMullan DOWN have named their squad for Sunday’s Ulster Championship quarter-final with Donegal in O’Donnell Park. Conor Laverty’s side added the league title to their promotion back to Division Three and look ahead to the championship. There are three changes from their victory over Wexford in the league decider. Advertisement Paddy McCarthy comes […]
Champions Donegal fancied for winning start as Down visit Letterkenny
April 24, 2026
Ulster SFC Quarter-final Donegal v Down Sunday, O’Donnell Park, 3pm By Michael McMullan THE last time Donegal lost an Ulster Championship game it was Down who knocked them out. In a difficult season, Paddy Clarke had been pushed out as manager with Aidan O’Rourke and Paddy Bradley left to pick up the pieces. Advertisement Daniel […]
Improving Down out to upset the odds
April 11, 2026
By Shaun Casey FOR a county with such a proud tradition, it’s almost unimaginable that Down have gone over 30 years without tasting provincial glory. They’re reached finals alright but just haven’t got over the line since 1994. They’re building nicely under Conor Laverty and he certainly has them in a better place now than when […]