Spirit of Breen Morgan Award Goes to Damien Rafferty

Tuesday 07th December, 2010

The Spirit of Breen Morgan trophy for 2010 was awarded to Newry Shamrocks' corner back Damien Rafferty. The award which was presented at the Club Down Celebration Night on Friday, was voted for by Club Down members, for the player who has consistently displayed attributes of spirit, courage and determination. Characteristic of the performances and...

All-Stars tour: Cregg's heroics not enough for 2010 side

Sunday 28th November, 2010

Roscommon's Cathal Cregg scored 4-2 for the 2010 football All-Stars in yesterday's exhibition game in Kuala Lumpur, but still finished on the losing side as the 2009 team prevailed after a penalty shootout.2009 All Stars 10-82010 All Stars 9-11(2009 All-Stars won 4-1 on penalties)The Western Gaels player, who was a 2010 replacement All-Star, was named...

Down Stars depart for All-Stars tour of Kuala Lumpur

Saturday 27th November, 2010

The GAA Football All-Stars sponsored by Vodafone departed for Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday as part of their one week tour.The showpiece event of the tour sees the best footballers from the last two championships go head to head under the watchful eyes of Conor Counihan and Down manager James McCartan.Stars such as 2010 Footballer of the Year, Bernard Brogan...

Clarke not ruling out AFL return

Saturday 27th November, 2010

Down's Martin Clarke isn't ruling out the possibility of returning to the AFL after next season.Currently in Kuala Lumpur with the All-Stars, the former Collingwood star said: "I will definitely be playing Gaelic football in 2011."In 2012 I might still be at it or I might be in Australia. I'd like to leave my options open. It wouldn't feel right to go back to...

McCartan and Hughes pick up Ulster GAA Writers Awards

Saturday 20th November, 2010

Almost 600 people attended last nights Ulster GAA Writers Awards in Cavan. The awards cover almost all aspects of Gaelic Games.Down Senior Football Manager James McCartan was named the Personality of the Year, while Danny Hughes was named Footballer of the Year. Hughes got the nod ahead of team-mates Marty Clarke, Benny Coulter, Brendan McVeigh and Kalum...

Clarke committed to another year

Monday 08th November, 2010

All Star Martin Clarke has committed for at least one more year to the Red and Black of Down. Clarke has been linked to a return to the AFL with Collingwood, but senior manager James McCartan has confirmed that "Clarke will remain for one more year at the least", he has consistently told me that "He will be here next year. He is definitely committeed"....

Keeping pace with the long and the short of it

Sunday 07th November, 2010

AMONG the lobbyists favouring Alan Quirke for an All Star over rival Brendan McVeigh one point reigned supreme: the quality and superiority of his kick-outs. Taken from Irish Indepentent The purist might declare it unacceptable that this discipline be placed ahead, even alongside, the core fundamentals of protecting the goal. But the tactical...

Five Down players in GPA Football team of the year

Thursday 04th November, 2010

Five Down players have been named on the Gaelic Players Association's Football team of the year.Down's four Allstar winners Brendan McVeigh, Daniel Hughes, Martin Clarke and Benny Coulter are joined in the GPA select by Kevin McKernan.All-Ireland winners Cork, who won four Allstars, have three players in the GPA team - Michael Shields, Paudie Kissane...

Mournemen seek clearance to play Exiles

Wednesday 03rd November, 2010

Beaten All-Ireland finalists Down will travel to New York next week as a reward for their endeavours this year.Manager James McCartan is hoping to take in a challenge match against Seamus Sweeney's New York team at Gaelic Park next Thursday, but like Kildare last year, the Mournemen will require special permission from Croke Park given that the GAA's...

Coulter nominated for Opel GPA Footballer of the Year award

Friday 22nd October, 2010

Dublin's Bernard Brogan has been nominated along with Down's Benny Coulter and Johnny Doyle of Kildare for the Opel GPA Footballer of the Year award.Brogan collected the All-Stars version last Friday night and is expected to make it a double when the Opel GPA award winners are announced early next month.A total of 45 players have been shortlisted for the...

Down G.A.A. Team Training Fund Prize Winners

Monday 18th October, 2010

"Five Sams" Draw Winners - Each wins £1000Mrs John Markey, c/o St Mary's BurrenCollie Quinn, c/o RGUSián Sullivan, 22 Grove Gardens, Killyleague, Co DownConer Savage, c/o St Johns GACJohn Morgan, Dundrum, Co DownDown G.A.A. 1960 Draw1st Prize £1000 Liam McCarthy 15 Chestnut Grove, Newry2nd Prize £500 Peggy Murphy 106 Tandragee...

Hughes puts award down to consistency

Sunday 17th October, 2010

Danny Hughes believes the consistency he showed throughout 2010 won him his first All-Star award.Hughes has been also been shortlisted for the Footballer of the Year award along with Dublin's Bernard Brogan and Michael Shields of Cork after playing a starring role in Down's march to last month's All-Ireland final."A big thing for me is consistency," he...

Down Claim Four All Stars

Thursday 14th October, 2010

Down have been awarded for their sterling endeavours this year with four Vodafone All Stars awards. Brendan Mc Veigh, Danny hughes, Martin Clarke and Benny Coulter were selected and all Down fans feel that their rewarding is totally just having lit up the 2010 Championship spectacularly. These are the first All Stars to head to Co Down since Down...

Counihan and McCartan to manage All-Stars teams

Sunday 10th October, 2010

Cork manager Conor Counihan and his Down counterpart James McCartan will take charge of the 2009 and 2010 Vodafone football All-Stars teams for their exhibition game in Kuala Lumpur next month.As manager of last year's All-Ireland champions Kerry, Jack O'Connor was due to manage the 2009 All-Stars, but as he was not in a position to travel to Malaysia,...

Seven Down players are shortlisted for GAA All Stars

Thursday 23rd September, 2010

Seven Down players have been shortlisted for GAA Allstars following the county's All-Ireland Final defeat.Brendan McVeigh, Dan Gordon, Kevin McKernan, Kalum King, Danny Hughes, Martin Clarke and Benny Coulter have made the list of 45 nominees.Cork supply the largest contingent with 11 players while Pascal McConnell, Joe and Justin McMahon and Philip...

Clarke staying as Rogers undergoes surgery

Wednesday 22nd September, 2010

Martin Clarke has indicated that he will choosing his native Down over Collingwood next season.The An Riocht clubman's future has been the subject of intense speculation since the Mourne County's loss to Cork in last Sunday's All-Ireland final. Clarke starred for this year's AFL Grand Finalists before refusing a second three-year contract and...

St Patrick's PS Newry Shows it's Colours!!!!

Wednesday 22nd September, 2010

On Friday 17th September 2010, St Patrick's PS Newry was the venue for a huge Red and Black celebration as County Down prepared for its first All Ireland Senior Final in 16 years.The staff and Pupils were joined by a host of special guests including Mayor of Newry, Mick Murphy and the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Catriona Ruane.The event which...

Coulter: We'll be back

Tuesday 21st September, 2010

A defiant Benny Coulter is in no doubt that Down will bounce back from their All-Ireland final heartbreak.The Down captain vowed: "It is not just going to be one year and that's it. This team will be back. They are good lads. All the lads are young, fresh and raring to go. They will be back, I'll be back, I can't wait to get back."The Mayobridge clubman revealed...

Highest TV audience for All Ireland football final in five years

Tuesday 21st September, 2010

RTÉ Sport's comprehensive coverage of the 2010 GAA Championship came to a climax yesterday with live coverage of this year's All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final attracting the highest television audience for the event in the last five years. The epic encounter attracted a peak audience of over a million viewers (1.064 million*) on RTÉ Two...

Down team welcomed home after defeat by Cork in final

Monday 20th September, 2010

Over 6000 Thousand of fans gave the Down team a rapturous welcome in Newry on Monday evening on its return home after the All-Ireland final defeat by Cork.The homecoming event at Pairc Esler was followed by a number of short stops in towns and villages including Mayobridge and Castlewellan.Down forward Daniel Hughes paid tribute to the Mourne fans in...

HOMECOMING - PLANS

Monday 20th September, 2010

The Down Team Homecoming will take place tonight (Monday 20th Sept) as follows NEWRY - 4.30pm - Páirc Esler, Newry will host the Major Home-Coming event this evening. The gates to the venue will be open from 4 30pm and live entertainment will be provided in the stadium until the team bus arrives later in the evening (eta 1800 hrs). All supporters are...

Down manager James McCartan is proud of Mourne players

Sunday 19th September, 2010

Down manager James McCartan says his players should be proud of their efforts this season despite losing by a point to Cork in the All-Ireland final."I told the players to be proud of what they have achieved this year and to take in the bad feeling so that they don't want to experience it again."We are disappointed but the players can hold their heads high."We...

McCartan: We don't want to be one-year wonders

Sunday 19th September, 2010

James McCartan says the big challenge facing Down next season is to prove they aren't a "one-year wonder".Speaking after the Mourne County's agonising All-Ireland final defeat to Cork, the rookie manager said: "I suppose the thing I would like is that we wouldn't be one-year wonders and we'll try and ensure that we won't be."We think we have a squad that can...

All-Ireland SFC final: Rebels squeeze past Down

Sunday 19th September, 2010

Daniel Goulding struck nine points as Cork beat Down by 0-16 to 0-15 in an epic contest at Croke Park.Between them, Goulding and Donnacha O'Connor contributed all but one of the Rebel County's scores as Conor Counihan's men utilised their squad to good effect to finish strongest.James McCartan will be wondering how this one slipped away as Down looked like...

All-Ireland SFC Final: Cork 0-16 0-15 Down

Sunday 19th September, 2010

Cork produced a second-half comeback to edge out Down by a point in a thrilling All-Ireland football final.The Rebels missed early goal chances but Down settled to take a 0-7 to 0-2 lead although Cork reduced the margin to 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time.Down then led 0-9 to 0-5 and 0-10 to 0-7 but Cork hit seven of the next eight scores to lead 0-14 to 0-11.The Ulster side...