DOWN’S 2024: A season of ups and downs

1 Down heading up

SINCE Conor Laverty took the reins in the Mourne County, Down have been slowly but surely improving. While they missed out on promotion in 2023, and lost the Tailteann Cup final to Meath, they ticked off both those objectives in a superb 2024 season. They topped the Division Three table but were second best against Westmeath in the league decider, although gaining promotion was the big thing. They reached the Ulster semi-finals, falling short against the eventual All-Ireland champions Armagh by the minimum of margins, but went all the way in the Tailteann Cup and defeated Laois at Croke Park to book their spot in the race for Sam Maguire next year. It looks like they’ll have to do it without Liam Kerr, who is off to Australia, but Down are certainly in a good place.

2 Kilcoo kings of
Down again

KILCOO’S dominance on the Down club scene doesn’t look like it’s going to fade at any stage in the near future. This year, the Magpies waltzed through the Mourne County championship without as much as a glove being laid on them. Once again on the provincial scene, Karl Lacey’s side showed they remain one of the top dogs, qualifying for the Ulster final. They battled by Crosserlough in the first round, wiped the floor with Scotstown in the semi-final and came up short against Errigal Ciaran in the final, losing by the minimum of margins on the day. For the second season in succession, Kilcoo’s Ulster dream ended with a one-point defeat and no doubt they’ll continue to compete at that level for the next few years as well.

3 Ladies continue
to grow

THE Down Ladies were crowned All-Ireland Junior champions in 2023 and this year, competing at a higher level, showed they could live at the Intermediate grade. The Mourne ladies picked up an Intermediate Ulster title, beating Cavan and Antrim to set up a winner takes all battle with Monaghan in the decider. Down edged that titanic tussle with the Farney County at Clones, by one-point, before embarking on the All-Ireland stage. Unfortunately for the girls in red and black, they didn’t make it back to Croke Park, but did reach the last four, where they came up short against Tyrone, losing out by three-points, 2-11 to 1-11. Managers Peter Lynch and Caoibhe Sloan stepped down at the end of the campaign, which is surely a massive blow, but Down will hope their withdrawal doesn’t set them back too much and they can continue on their upward curve in 2025.

4 The star of
the County Down

WHILE Down fans and camogie followers across Ulster alike would love to see Niamh Mallon wearing the red and black jersey once again, it was in the Galway strip that she showed the country her phenomenal talent this season. The Portaferry player relocated to the west of Ireland due to work commitments and finally made the call to sign the transfer form and link up with Galway this season. She was a sensation in the maroon and white and helped Galway make it all the way to the All-Ireland Senior Camogie final, hitting 1-21 across the five championship outings. Galway ultimately came up short, losing to Cork by a goal, but Mallon’s displays were rewarded in the form of an All-Star award at the end of the year, and she will once again be aiming to go one better next season, and get her hands on an All-Ireland Senior medal, having helped Down earn Junior and Intermediate titles in years gone by.

5 Portaferry’s
battle with the top

PORTAFERRY are getting closer and closer to making the breakthrough and getting their hands on another Ulster title, but unfortunately for Gerard McGrattan’s side, their campaign once again ended in heartache. Last year, in the semi-final, they just came up short against Cushendall having led with only a few seconds remaining. A late Neil McManus goal brought the game to extra time and the Antrim champs ended up winning and getting their hands on the Ulster crown. This year in the final, they did almost everything right, but just couldn’t withstand the Sleacht Néill onslaught in the second half and ended up losing by three in the end, having been eight clear at the break. While it’s no consolation at this stage, they have showed their right at the top of the game in Ulster and a provincial title is certainly within their grasp.