By Shaun Casey THERE were plenty of hugs and slaps on the back dished out at full time last Sunday in Letterkenny. O’Donnell Park was awash with red and black jerseys as Down celebrated one of their most impressive victories in recent years. The biggest hug handed out was from an Armagh man. Tony McEntee […]
Donnelly hoping Down’s underdog tale pays off
April 21, 2026
By Shaun Casey IT always seems impossible until it’s done. Down against Donegal. Division Three champions against Division One winners. The Mourne men still aren’t 100 per cent sure of their championship path. They could end up in the Tailteann Cup. On Sunday, at Letterkenny, they come up against the frontrunners for Sam Maguire. You […]
Improving Down out to upset the odds
April 11, 2026
By Shaun Casey FOR a county with such a proud tradition, it’s almost unimaginable that Down have gone over 30 years without tasting provincial glory. They’re reached finals alright but just haven’t got over the line since 1994. They’re building nicely under Conor Laverty and he certainly has them in a better place now than when […]
Croker win can give Down confidence as championship approaches says Mickey Donnelly
April 1, 2026
By Shaun Casey WINNING in Croke Park is a good habit to get into. Climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand and raising some silverware, no matter what level, is important. Not every player gets to experience that feeling. While Down have bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks, with Division One league champions […]
Down can only focus on the here and now
March 25, 2026
By Michael McMullan A NATIONAL title is up for grabs but Saturday’s Division Three final brings a level of uncertainty for Down and Wexford. With Kildare relegated from Division Two but still guaranteed a ticket to the Sam Maguire race, the winners from this game will have their fingers crossed. Should any team below them […]
“We want be playing in Sam Maguire football”: Donnelly
January 30, 2026
By Shaun Casey DOWN made the perfect start to their Division Three promotion push last weekend with a home win over Clare and will look to go two from two against Limerick on Saturday, which won’t be easy, says coach Mickey Donnelly. The Mourne men trailed by five points at half time of their league opener but […]
Donnelly: Down excited by 2026 prospects
December 31, 2025
By Shaun Casey IT’S probably the hardest way possible to kickstart the season, with ties against Armagh and Tyrone coming up in early January, but Down are looking forward to those battles, says coach Mickey Donnelly. The Mourne men haven’t won the McKenna Cup since 2008. This season, they get things up and running against […]
Down’s previous deep cuts leaves Donnelly wary ahead of Brewster trip
April 18, 2025
By Shaun Casey DOWN will be favourites when they line out at Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Saturday to take on Fermanagh, but that won’t matter much when the ball is in the air. Mickey Donnelly and the Mourne men have been stung before. Two years ago, when Conor Laverty first took charge of his native county, […]
Tailteann Cup revamp could improve spectator appeal – Donnelly
June 13, 2024
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 […]
Donnelly well aware of Orchard talent as neighbours set to meet
April 27, 2024
By Shaun Casey NO one has to inform Mickey Donnelly of the talent that’s inside the Armagh changing room. He’s got to witness it first-hand having worked closely with a number of their players and even helped develop them as footballers. During his years teaching at St Ronan’s College, Lurgan, he’s got to witness up close […]