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 […]
By Shaun Casey THE pitch-black evenings and the swamp-like football fields all around the country can only mean one thing. Pre-season. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year but December, and the few months after, are certainly the most dreaded time of the year for club and county footballers alike. Racing around the […]
By Niall McCoy DOWN defender Niall McParland believes the Mourne County will never return to the heights of the past unless they install some stability in the entire operation. Recent times have been dominated by a revolving door when it comes to players and something similar in terms of managers, with seven over the last […]
By Shaun Casey DOWN’S 2022 intermediate champions Saval have endured a frustrating season to date but make their return to the top tier this weekend as they take on Glenn. The loss of a number of key men has hindered their campaign and boss Danny Hughes (right), an All-Star winner with Down in 2010, explains […]
By Shaun Casey LOUGHINISLAND may not be able to win the league on Friday evening, but they can certainly lose it when they take on table-toppers Carryduff away from home. The league leaders are currently one point clear of Kevin Duffin’s Loughinisland ahead of the final round of fixtures. “If you take care of your business […]
By Niall Gartland WHILE Down couldn’t have been any more convincing winners in their Tailteann Cup semi-final rout of Laois, Conor Laverty acknowledged that it’s unlikely to be quite so simple in their final clash against Meath in a fortnight’s time. Down banged in eight goals in a supreme attacking performance against Billy Sheehan’s Laois, […]
By Niall McCoy DOWN defender Niall McParland has said that the Mourne County need to end their long wait for silverware as they look ahead to a Tailteann Cup campaign that has them ear-marked as one of the favourites. Down went out at the first stage last year as they lost heavily to Cavan, but […]
By Shaun Casey ARMAGH have no major injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s semi-final showdown with arch-rivals Down says Orchard coach Ciaran McKeever. Armagh welcomed Andrew Murnin, Conor O’Neill and Jarly Óg Burns back into the starting line up as they saw off Cavan with five points to spare, with all three having missed the preliminary […]
Down U-20 star Odhran Murdock has not been named as part of the senior panel to play Donegal in Sunday’s Ulster Championship quarter-final at Pairc Esler. As a result of the new rule preventing players turning out for U-20 and senior teams within seven days of each other, senior manager Conor Laverty was forced into […]
THERE’S a feel-good factor around the Mourne County in the build up to their Ulster Championship opener this weekend. Conor Laverty’s Down host Donegal on Sunday afternoon, a side they haven’t beaten in the championship since 2010. Donegal have dominated the recent history between the two teams, winning the last four meetings, including the opening […]
