By Shaun Casey DOWN defender Caolan Taggart says his side can play with freedom when they head south this weekend in their Division 1B league clash with 2024 All-Ireland winners Clare. Ronan Sheehan’s side have lost both their opening round ties, against Leinster opposition in Carlow and Wexford, but are excited by the prospect of […]
Wexford on way to Ballycran
By Shaun Casey THINGS don’t get too much easier for Ronán Sheehan’s Down following last week’s first-round defeat to Carlow as they now take on Wexford on Sunday afternoon, but home advantage could aid their cause. It’s a long time since the Mourne men competed in Division 1B so hosting a top team like Wexford, […]
Down hurlers eye late league return for McGrattan
By Michael McMullan DOWN manager Ronán Sheehan is full of praise for Tom McGrattan’s efforts in recovery and hopes to see him in action by the end of the league. The Portaferry ace sustained an ACL injury in training last season and missed crunch games for club and county. “He’ll hopefully feature in the final […]
An exciting new challenge for Down
By Michael McMullan THE Down camp are excited about this weekend’s return to top-flight hurling but manager Ronan Sheehan is aware of the challenge ahead. The Down manager says they will be favourites for relegation and underdogs in all their games, beginning on Saturday afternoon in Carlow. Sheehan also feels even though they beat Kildare […]
Review of the year in Down: More to come from Mourne men
Mourne men on the rise RONAN Sheehan has done an absolutely fantastic job with Down hurlers, and while the championship didn’t go to plan for them, 2025 was still a year they will reflect on fondly. Next season, they will compete against the elite of hurling as they earned promotion to Division 1B, having won […]
Down’s Joe McDonagh status hangs on the final weekend
By Michael McMullan DOWN know what their final game of the Joe McDonagh Cup looks like this Saturday. A win over Kildare in Newbridge and they are safe. Four points will be their best tally since they made the step up. Ronan Sheehan’s side were winners over Kerry on Saturday and should Westmeath beat the […]
Antrim and Down still searching for their first points
THE two top-ranked hurling teams in Ulster are still searching for their first positive result after three rounds of championship action. Antrim and Down have nothing to show for their efforts after three rounds of action in their respective competitions, and with only two games remaining, relegation could be in the pipeline for both teams. […]
Down focus shifts to McDonagh run-in
By Michael McMullan DOWN manager Ronan Sheehan said the focus is on getting at least four points from their remaining three games in the Joe McDonagh Cup. After defeats to Carlow and Laois, the frontrunners for the title, Down face Westmeath on Saturday in Mullingar on the back of conceding 12 goals in two fixtures. […]
Sheehan hopes for full McGrattan recovery
By Michael McMullan DOWN hurlers were dealt a significant blow with the loss of Tom McGrattan but manager Ronan Sheehan looks at the bigger picture. The Portaferry man, named on this year’s Gaelic Life hurling team of the season, sustained a season-ending ACL injury in training. McGrattan missed their Joe McDonagh Cup defeat to Laois. […]
Down hurlers must bounce back with the visit of Laois
By Michael McMullan DOWN hurlers don’t have much time to lick their wounds after shipping five second half goals in defeat to Carlow on Saturday as the Joe McDonagh Cup swung into action. They’ll host Laois on Saturday afternoon in Ballycran (1.30pm) hoping to pull their championship ambitions back on track. Ronan Sheehan’s side went […]









