Down return not on Smyth’s radar


By Shaun Casey NEW Orleans Saints’ kicker and former Down shot-stopper Charlie Smyth doesn’t see a return to the red and black jersey happening anytime soon as he targets a starting spot as an American football placekicker. Smyth, who signed a three-year contract with the Saints in March 2024, kicked two field goals for his […]


Attical will “give it a rattle” says Coulter


By Shaun Casey BENNY Coulter’s Attical side are heading into their round two clash with Clann na Banna as massive outsiders but the former Down forward says his side will “give it a rattle” as they look to advance to the next stage. Clann na Banna were beaten in last year’s Intermediate Championship final and defeated […]


PREVIEWS: Another weekend of action beckons in Down


HERE are this weekend’s Down  fixtures. Details are correct at the time of writing. Check the Down website for any changes before making your journey. DOWN SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE BALLYGALGET V LIATROIM Advertisement Saturday, Ballygalget, 5pm BALLYGALGET are two from two already in the competition and once again look the team most likely […]


Saval’s underdog story


By Shaun Casey TO the outside world, Saval were simply going to make up the numbers in the 1995 Down Intermediate Championship final. Despite winning the competition just seven years previous, with a host of experienced heads remaining, Saval were massive underdogs. Newry Bosco were expected to coast through and claim the crown. Championship titles […]


Down unveil team to take on Galway


DOWN have named their team to take on Galway in Sunday’s All-Ireland Preliminary quarter-final which will be staged at Páirc Esler. There is one change to the starting line-up from last weekend’s narrow defeat to Monaghan in the group stage finale, with Eugene Branagan named in place of Adam Crimmins. The team is as follows, […]


Laverty chasing Down momentum


By Shaun Casey DOWN’S round three defeat to Monaghan means the Mourne men could possibly be playing three weeks on the bounce, if they reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals for the first time since 2012, but boss Conor Laverty doesn’t mind. His side put in a solid shift and were leading heading into the final quarter […]


Carr excited by Galway visit to Páirc Esler


By Shaun Casey CHAMPIONSHIP clashes between Down and Galway are few and far between. In fact, Sunday’s encounter will be the first since the All-Ireland semi-final in 1971, when Galway won by seven points. Aidan Carr never faced the Tribesmen in the championship during his years in the red and black shirt, but he did […]


Laverty pleased with Mourne men’s progress


WHILE Conor Laverty and his Down team believed they would see out the group stages with three wins from three, they can taking plenty of learnings from their hectic tie with Ulster rivals Monaghan, which ended in a narrow defeat. Midway through the second period, the Mourne men were four-points ahead and looked like the […]


The draw for the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals has been made


By Michael McMullan WITH 12 teams left in the race to get their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup, the pairings for this weekend’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final are how known. Ulster champions Donegal, winners over Mayo on Sunday, will face Louth. Down finished second to Monaghan in their group and have been drawn to play […]


McHugh and Tyrone welcome Westmeath in top of the table clash


By Michael McMullan TYRONE ladies welcome Westmeath to Stewartstown on Sunday with top spot in their All-Ireland Intermediate group up for grabs. Both have beaten Down so far. For Tyrone, it was a reverse of their defeat to Down in Ulster. Tyrone also have the hurt of last year’s All-Ireland final defeat to Leitrim still […]