All-Ireland U-20 FC semi-final Down v Kildare Saturday, Parnell Park, 7pm (Live on TG4) By Michael McMullan IT was a disappointing day for Down on Sunday in Clones, but their u-20s can kick the county back on track in Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final. The Ulster champions take on last year’s All-Ireland runners-up Kildare who have seven […]
By Michael McMullan WHEN Conor Laverty talks football, there is very little fluff. He gets to the point. The words are clear. You immediately see how players buy into what he is selling. The boom box vibes were echoing from behind the Down dressing door in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s Ulster final win over […]
ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL Armagh v Down Sunday, Clones, 4pm By Niall Gartland THEY say that a week is a long time in politics and the very same maxim could be applied to the dog-eat-dog world of inter-county football. It wasn’t long ago that Armagh were being written off as a contender to the big prizes […]
IT’S just minutes after Down’s win over Donegal. The sun is out and the fans pour on. Ceilum Doherty had that pleasant smile across his boyish face. For a footballing fanatic, life is more than good. This is living. These are the days you kick against the gable wall for. Soaking up every nugget of […]
DOWN teams have always historically been associated with a certain type of football: fast ball, kick-passing, good scoring forwards, playing on the front foot – some people would describe it as swashbuckling. The rise of Down started with their 1960 All-Ireland football win, Down had a level of team-play never seen before at Croke Park, with even […]
Ulster SFC quarter-final Down v Donegal Sunday, Páirc Esler, 2pm By Michael McMullan WHAT a difference two years can make. Donegal were facile winners, 2-25 to 1-12, over Down in Páirc Esler in the 2021 championship opener. A lot has changed. Declan Bonner was Donegal’s manager. Paddy Tally was in charge of the Mourne County […]
THE Ulster championship continued to deliver last weekend with a pulsating encounter between old rivals Monaghan and Tyrone. The game was an absolute cracker that had everything you want from the game of football. This was a massive one for Vinny Corey and his players. When you consider their league campaign and the amount of […]
By Niall Gartland DOWN u-20 coach Declan Morgan hopes they can carry the momentum of a truly impressive victory over Tyrone into Wednesday’s Ulster Championship semi-final against Monaghan. The Down youngsters pulled off a shock upset against the reigning All-Ireland champions when they claimed a thoroughly deserved 2-9 to 1-8 victory, the four-point margin of […]
BY KIERAN LYNCH THE Down minors get their Ulster Championship campaign underway with a trip to Clones (1pm) to take on Monaghan this Saturday. Speaking at the Ulster Minor Championship media launch in Dungannon on Monday night, Down assistant manager Sean Cunningham looked ahead to the clash, and discussed what manager Benny Coulter brings to […]
By Shaun Casey IT’S just four weeks since Down and Tyrone crossed paths in the Leo Murphy Cup u-20 Development League and the Red Hands came out on top with two-points to spare. Down coach Darragh O’Hanlon says his side won’t read too much into that game, as everything has been geared towards their championship […]
