By Michael McMullan DOWN minor manager Benny Coulter feels there is little to choose between the top seven teams in Ulster but knows it’s crunch weekend for his side. Donegal come to Páirc Esler on Saturday and it’s a must win game for Down if they are to have any chance of making the quarter-finals. […]
KIERAN McGeeney and Conor Laverty has named his side for Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final clash (Clones, 5.15pm). It’s an unchanged Armagh team from the win over Fermanagh but goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty has been named on the bench. Greg McCabe has also made a return ahead of what it a repeat of last year’s semi-final won […]
THE Ulster Championship last weekend felt like an extension of the National League – poor crowds, soft pitches and windy, wintery conditions. It was a far cry from the summer sod, when the sun is shining, the straw hats are out and the football is fast and intense. Down’s game with Antrim on Saturday was […]
In our latest look at the GAA scene overseas, we take a look at the story of four Down men and Shunde Gaels in China By Michael McMullan IT’S a long way from Castlewellan to Shunde, south of Guangzhou and north west of Shenzhen on the Southern tip of China. That’s where Castlewellan’s Ciarán McCann, […]
ULSTER SFC Down 0-13 Antrim 0-9 By Michael McMullan THREE points from Oisin Savage helped Down steer clear of Antrim on Saturday night in Páirc Esler. Advertisement The Saffrons won the toss and played with the wind but went in at half-time 0-6 to 0-3 in arrears. There were yellow cards for Joe Finnegan and […]
Dermot McAleese missed six games in the middle of last season but is back in full flow and hoping for a complete Antrim performance on Saturday in Newry. He spoke with Michael McMullan DERMOT McAleese has always been the same. Quiet and modest off the pitch. Inside the whitewash, he is always front and centre. […]
By Michael McMullan THE Down and Antrim teams have been named ahead of Saturday’s Ulster SFC clash in Páirc Esler. Conor Laverty has made three changes from the team that lost to Westmeath including Ryan Johnston, Barry O’Hagan, who sustained a knee injury in their NFL win over Antrim in Newry last year, is on […]
Mayobridge’s Charlie Smyth recently signed for NFL side New Orleans Saints. Michael McMullan spoke with two men who know him well, clubmate Tom O’Hare and former coach Philip McEvoy CHARLIE Smyth is in dreamland. Five years ago, a fresh-faced 17-year-old punched send on an email asking for a shot at the NFL. It took a […]
By Michael McMullan CONOR Laverty has named an unchanged team for Saturday’s National League final against Westmeath at Croke Park (7.15pm). It’s a rematch of the recent drawn encounter in Mullingar when a late Ryan McEvoy points earned Down a share of the spoils. McEvoy is one of seven players to have started all of […]
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 […]
