By Shaun Casey AS a teenager at St Colman’s College, Newry, Danny Magill would compete in cross country events. Anyone that has witnessed the Burren clubman in full flight, with a Gaelic football under his arm, won’t be overly surprised by that fact. An All-Ireland Senior Cross Country winner for the school in 2019, that blistering […]
McKernan looking forward to Louth visit
May 29, 2025
By Shaun Casey A huge home crowd in Newry with the Leinster champions coming to town, excitement is certainly at fever pitch ahead of Down’s round two clash with Louth and Kevin McKernan can understand why. The former Down defender, now coaching Dundalk Gaels in the Wee County, has a firm grasp of the feel-good […]
Must-win clash for Mourne men
March 13, 2025
By Shaun Casey WHEN Down players and supporters leave the Páirc Esler ground on Saturday evening, they’ll have a clearer picture of where their survival hopes sit. A defeat to Westmeath could send them spinning back to Division Three after just one season in the second tier. It wouldn’t be confirmed there and then, but […]
Warrenpoint aiming to maintain Division One status
July 3, 2024
By Shaun Casey DESPITE sitting fourth in the Division One league table with six games left to play, Warrenpoint still aren’t mathematically safe from relegation and achieving that remains their main focus, says manager John Boyle. Having won six of their 12 league outings, and drawn another, Warrenpoint sit on 13 points, seven behind league leaders […]
All-Ireland U20 ‘B’ success a boost for Down says joint-boss Coulter
May 23, 2024
By Niall Gartland ALL-IRELAND titles don’t grow on trees so Down u-20 joint-manager Neil Coulter says that their Tier Two success should be appreciated by the Mourne County. They came out on top of a close-fought encounter against Westmeath last Saturday, ensuring Down football’s first All-Ireland title of any description since landing minors honours back […]
GList: An Orchard dominated rivalry
April 25, 2024
Down may be well ahead when it comes to the Sam Maguire roll of honour, but Armagh have won seven of the last 10 championship meetings against their neighbours… By Niall McCoy 2023 Armagh 4-10 Down 0-12 Advertisement DOWN fans arrived at a rain-sodden Clones full of expectation after an impressive win over Donegal, but […]
Familiar faces are set to clash on the Ulster stage
April 12, 2024
Ulster SFC Down v Antrim Saturday, Newry, 6pm By Michael McMullan THE last time the Antrim bus pulled out of Páirc Esler, one topic would’ve dominated the sombre mood on board. How did they lose? The Saffrons pulled defeat from the jaws of victory. In a game they controlled, a scrappy Conor Poland goal in […]
All-Ireland selection process has element of unfairness says Down coach Donnelly
April 11, 2024
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 […]
Pierce Laverty: The pressure is off Down as they eye up Croke Park title
March 28, 2024
By Shaun Casey DOWN’S target at the start of the season was to confirm their spot in Division Two for next year, and ahead of Saturday’s Croke Park showdown with Westmeath, they’ve achieved their goal. Six wins from seven outings and a convincing final day victory over Clare in what was more or less a […]
Morgan: Meenagh a welcome addition to the Mourne brain trust
January 5, 2024
By Shaun Casey WHEN Down and Derry clashed in last year’s McKenna Cup semi-final at Páirc Esler, Ciarán Meenagh was in the red and white corner, helping the Oakleaf County secure a penalty shootout win on their way to winning the competition for the first time since 2011. This time around however, the Tyrone native […]