By Shaun Casey IT’S small margins at the highest level and just over two months ago, Down proved their quality against Armagh in the Ulster semi-final, with the Orchard County shading the contest by the minimum of margins. On the same day that Down compete in their second Tailteann Cup final in as many seasons, […]
Down aiming for better Croke Park outing
By Michael McMullan DOWN manager Conor Laverty feels his side are made for the open spaces of Croke Park but is hoping they do themselves justice on Sunday. Last year’s beaten finalists face Sligo in the second half of a Tailteann Cup semi-final double header that includes Antrim’s clash with Laois. Headquarters hasn’t been a […]
Down strong favourites to advance
By Niall Gartland DOWN have been rampant in the Tailteann Cup to date and it could be a considerable surprise if their momentum doesn’t carry them through Saturday’s quarter-final clash against outsiders Wicklow at Páirc Esler. Conor Laverty’s side have been scoring for fun from the outset of their campaign, racking up 1-20 against Limerick, 1-24 against […]
Laverty announces Down team for Wicklow visit
Conor Laverty has named his Down panel for Saturday’s Tailteann Cup quarter-final clash with Wicklow. The Mourne men reached the final of the Tailteann Cup last season but lost out to Meath at Croke Park. They will enjoy home advantage this time around however as they welcome Oisin McConville’s side to Pairc Esler, a curtain […]
Tailteann Cup revamp could improve spectator appeal – Donnelly
By Niall Gartland THE Tailteann Cup doesn’t seem to have captured the imagination of the paying public, and Down selector Mickey Donnelly believes the GAA need to look at ways of making the competition more palatable for fans. Plummeting football championship attendances hit a new low a fortnight ago when fewer than 100 spectators watched the […]
Top spot on the cards for Mourne footballers
By Niall Gartland DOWN are odds on favourites to cement a top-place finish as they gear up to take on Offaly at Kingspan Breffni in their third and final group stage match this Sunday. Conor Laverty’s side have won both their matches to date while Offaly having nothing to show for themselves after successive losses to […]
Down footballers primed for trip to Ruislip
By Niall Gartland BOTH Down and London claimed 14-point victories in their first Tailteann Cup outings of the year, so both camps will be high on confidence ahead of their meeting at Ruislip this Saturday. Conor Laverty’s Down side claimed a comfortable victory over Limerick last weekend, a professional performance that saw them get back […]
Collins calls time on 10-year Mourne career
By Michael McMullan GERARD Collins has announced his retirement from inter-county football Gaelic Life can confirm. The RGU Downpatrick man made his debut in 2015 in a comfortable win over Westmeath in Mullingar before making his first championship appearance against Monaghan the following year. While part of the Down squad this season and making substitute […]
All-Ireland selection process has element of unfairness says Down coach Donnelly
By Niall Gartland DOWN coach Mickey Donnelly believes that the process of splitting teams between the All-Ireland series and Tailteann Cup is overly complicated and doesn’t necessarily reward teams who have excelled in the early part of the season. The Mourne County have been left in a precarious position following their Division Three final defeat […]
PREVIEW: Down can end wait for silverware
By Niall Gartland IT was quite a line – last weekend Leitrim boss Andy Moran issued a defiant rebuttal to those who call for the league finals to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Moran, whose team play in the Division Four showdown this Saturday, said “I heard a lot of noise during the […]