Ballela plotting an upwards curve


By Michael McMullan IT’S a very different year for the hurlers of Ballela who lock horns with Ballinascreen in Sunday’s Ulster Junior semi-final. Last year, the Down side had single figures out training on occasions and that’s morphed into a steady 25 most nights. It’s helped them land the county titles and to victory over […]


Kilcoo’s Doherty is wary of Crosserlough threat


By Shaun Casey AFTER a four-week break following their county final victory over Burren, Ceilum Doherty and Kilcoo have recharged the batteries and are ready to go once again ahead of the Ulster Championship campaign. The Magpies have been the dominant force in the Mourne County for a fair while now and continued that trend […]


Ulster players named on the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year


THERE are six Ulster players names on the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year including five from champions Down. Antrim’s Kavan Keenan is a selection in his first season of intercounty football and is preparing for All Saints’ intermediate final on Saturday. Conor Laverty’s Down were winners and are represented by Pierce Laverty, Ryan McEvoy […]


Gaelic Life team of the week


WITH the club championships getting more serious as the weeks pass, we look at some of the players who are putting their hands up with key performances. Here is the latest Gaelic Life team of the week 1 JAMES GRIBBIN Newbridge On the scoresheet and denied Diarmuid Baker in a narrow win over Steelstown. Advertisement […]


Niamh Mallon shortlisted for camogie award


FROMER Down player Niamh Mallon has been shortlisted for a PwC Camogie All-Star Award. It comes after the list of nominations were released and Mallon – who played with Galway – is one 11 of their All-Ireland final team to be listed. All-Ireland champions Cork lead the way with 11 awards. Mallon has been playing […]


Dromara determined to continue winning form -Fegan


By Shaun Casey COMING into the championship campaign as Division Four league winners, Dromara carried all that confidence and momentum into the group stages and have already qualified for the quarter-finals. Having picked up three victories on the trot over Aughlisnafin, Glasdrumman and Aghaderg, John Fegan’s men have one game of the round robin series […]


Down’s big hitters lock horns


By Shaun Casey ALL the big hitters made it through the opening round of the Down Senior Championship unscathed, and a few will have to lock horns this weekend to continue their unbeaten journeys. The big fixture in round two is arguably Burren’s meeting with Mayobridge, but Kilcoo’s clash with Clonduff in a repeat of […]


Clarke’s eyes turn to championship after Glenn triumph


By Shaun Casey BOUNCING right back to Division Two football was the main objective for Glenn at the start of the season and Stevie Clarke’s side have done so in impressive fashion. After 18 games, his side were unbeaten and have the league title safely stored away. They drew with Annaclone last Friday evening but were […]


It is still all to play for in Down


By Shaun Casey WITH three games remaining in the Division One league, it looks like it’s going to come down to a two-horse race between the reigning champions Carryduff and championship kingpins Kilcoo. The ball is pretty much in the court of Finnian Moriarty’s side at present as they lead the way by the minimum of […]


Laverty savours Tailteann Cup triumph


By Niall Gartland DOWN boss Conor Laverty recognises that it was crucial they successfully put a halt to their losing streak in finals as he reflected on Saturday’s Tailteann Cup final triumph over Laois. All the positive psychology in the world couldn’t gloss over the fact that they’d endured a miserable record in finals not […]