By Shaun Casey CONOR Laverty perhaps faces the most difficult period of his short managerial career this weekend as Down welcome Westmeath to Newry. The Mourne men are coming off a horrendously harsh defeat to Fermanagh and have to bounce back with a six day turnaround. It’s the first time Laverty’s side have tasted defeat […]
Down footballers set to take on ‘Mourne select’
CONOR Laverty’s Down will play a special one-off match against a ‘Mourne’ select on Saturday, March 11 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the opening of Holy Cross Park at Atticall. Under the helm of legendary former Down boss Pete McGrath, the five teams of Atticall, An Riocht, Ballymartin, Glassdrumman and Longstone will come together […]
Erne County set for Down
By Niall Gartland FERMANAGH paid the price for their wastefulness in front of goals in their last day out against Offaly, and they’ll know they’ll need to produce a better performance if they’re to consign Down to defeat in Ederney this weekend. Kieran Donnelly’s side racked up ten wides across the hour, indicative of a […]
Magill braced for another provincial derby
By Shaun Casey THE Ulster derbies are coming thick and fast in Division Three. Fresh off the back of a smash and grab victory over Antrim, Down take on Fermanagh this weekend with the aim of extending their winning streak, while a clash with Cavan is coming down the tracks as well. “You have four […]
Down leave it late to seal second league win
Down 2-18 Antrim 2-16 Down left it late, but they sealed their second win of the league campaign in dramatic fashion against Antrim this evening. The Saffrons led for the majority of the game, but in the dying moments Conor Laverty’s men produced the goods and displayed a never say die attitude that eventually paid […]
Winning momentum huge for resurgent Down
By Shaun Casey WINNING is a habit, and that may be a cliched statement but for the Down footballers, that sentiment is seemingly ringing true. Conor Laverty’s side got their league campaign up and running with a win over Tipperary last weekend, although it was closer than it needed to be going down the stretch. […]
Down well placed for trip to Tipp
By Shaun Casey IT’S a long way to Tipperary, but it’s a longer trip home if the journey isn’t worthwhile. That’s how Down fans will feel this weekend as they flock in their droves towards Munster to support their team, and finally things are starting to look up. After a bleak, winless 2022, the Mourne […]
Wins for Down, Armagh and Tyrone in the McKenna Cup
THE Dr McKenna Cup began on Wednesday night with three group games to get the county scene up and running for 2023. Conor Laverty got his Down senior manager career off to a winning start with a 2-10 to 0-12 win over holders Monaghan in Castleblayney. Andrew Gilmore’s 15th minute goal had Down 1-6 to […]
McKenna Cup gets off to a midweek start
THE 2023 inter-county football season gets underway in Ulster on Wednesday night with three group games (all at 7.30pm) in the Dr McKenna Cup Castleblayney will host a clash between two managers cutting their teeth at inter-county level. Vinny Corey begins life as the Farney senior manager, with new Down manager Conor Laverty in the […]
Review of the year – Down
1 Things can only get better Things literally couldn’t have gone worse for Down last season and all of the Mourne County fans will be glad 2022 has run its course. James McCartan was appointed manager, filling the gap that couldn’t be filled, and had a torrid time at the helm. Down were relegated to […]








