Down needed extra-time to overcome their neighbours at Pairc Esler on a 0-11 to 0-8 score line this evening.

A late point from Armagh's Conor Doherty made it 0-07 apiece and forced extra-time.

Armagh's Eoin Woods opened the scoring in the first few minutes, but Austin Clarke responded for Down, with Sheelan Johnstown firing over the next two points to put Down 0-03 to 0-01 in front after ten minutes.  Ryan Connolly (Down) and Armagh's Conor Doherty exchanged points.  On the 20th minute mark Armagh's Louis Hughes closed the gap to a point. 

Down lifted their game with their defence on top and were moving the ball well from defence through to midfield and Justin Clarke fired over the next two points to leave the score Down 0-06 Armagh 0-03.  Before half time Armagh's James McCormack and Down Sheelan Johnston added points to leave the half time score Down 0-07 to Armagh's 0-04.

Within 1 minute of the restart Eoin Woods opened the scoring for Armagh to reduce the gap to two points, and it looked to the 1500 crowd that it was game on.  However over the next 28 mins neither side scored with both sides missing various scoring opportunities.  Finally on the 29th minute Eoin Woods reduced the score to within a point and less than a minute later Conor Doherty equalised the tie at 0-07 apiece and force the game into extra time, with Down not scoring in the second half.

Shealan Johnston scored two points in the additional period, while Adam Crimmins and Sheelan Reavey were also on target as James McCartan's charges eventually prevailed on a score line of Down 0-11 Armagh 0-08.

Down qualify to Round 2, where they will play Tyrone, while Armagh play Derry in the qualifiers.

Round 2 Electric Ireland Ulster Football Minor Championship:

Saturday 12 May / Sunday 13 May
(1) @FermanaghGAA  V (2) @CavanCoBoardGaa
(3) @OfficialDownGAA V (4) @TyroneGAALive
#Ulster2018

Ulster GAA today announced details of the forthcoming Championship schedule, ahead of next week's formal launch.

Whilst the dates of the senior fixtures have been known for some time, the Council confirmed that the EirGrid U-20 Football Championship, in accordance with GAA rules, will also be played over the summer months (the U-21 Championship was previously played in the spring). Additionally, the creation of a 'back door' system for the Electric Ireland Minor Football Championship has meant that Ulster GAA have had to show both creativity and flexibility in the scheduling of curtain raisers for Ulster Senior Football Championship fixtures.

There will be an Electric Ireland Minor Championship curtain-raiser to the Senior Championship games on 13th May and 20th May, while the Lory Meagher Hurling game between Fermanagh and Cavan will act as the curtain-raiser for the Fermanagh versus Armagh senior game on 19th May. EirGrid U-20 Football Championship matches will feature as the curtain-raisers for all other games, with the U-20 final preceding the senior final on 24th June.

Explaining the changes Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary Brian McAvoy said:

"The Ulster Championship will have a different feel to it this year. As well as it being run off over just seven weeks, the new time slot for the Eirgrid U-20 Championship and the change of format for the Electric Ireland Minor Championship, where teams now get a second chance, has meant that we've had to be flexible in our approach to curtain raisers.

"Consequently the identity of the teams participating in the curtain-raisers on 13th and 20th May won't be known until earlier games have been played but, where possible, we will endeavour to match at least one of the teams up with a participating senior county.

"There will be a break in the Electric Ireland Minor Championship after 20th May and it will resume at semi-final stage at the end of June, after state examinations have concluded. From the last weekend in May until our provincial final on 24th June the new Eirgrid U-20 Championship fixtures will whet the appetite for the senior encounters to follow. All told it promises to be a novel, historic and exciting championship."

Ulster GAA have also announced their ticket prices for this year' Championship, with an increase which effectively brings the prices back to 2008 prices (there was a reduction in prices in 2009 due to the economic downturn and prices have remained frozen ever since). Pre-match day prices for all games up to and including semi finals will see an adult stand ticket priced at €28 (up from €25) and a terrace ticket priced at €18 (up from €15), while for the Ulster Final an adult stand ticket will cost €35 (up from €30) and a terrace ticket will cost €22 (up from €18). There will be the usual concessions for senior citizens and students and family tickets will again be available through County Committees. Juvenile tickets will be priced at £5/€5 for all games.

Brian McAvoy said:
"As I stated in my annual report to the Ulster Convention in January, it was likely that there would be an increase in admission charges for the 2018 Football Championship. With ticket prices actually lower in 2017 than they were in 2007, an analysis showed that we were out of kilter with the other provinces in terms of our pricing structure. In relation to terrace tickets we were almost 40% below that being charged elsewhere in the other provinces.

"These price adjustments still present good value for money and the usual concessions will continue to apply in certain sectors. These will apply at all stages of the competition though patrons should be aware that concessions for senior citizens, students and family tickets are only available from clubs and county committees. The over-riding message to patrons however is to purchase tickets in advance to receive best value."

"All Ulster GAA revenues continue to assist with the funding of various programmes and initiatives throughout the province as we strive to benefit the Association at club and county level."

Down team to play Armagh

1. Dean Sheridan

2. Darragh Fegan

3. Lorcan Toal

4. Rowan Tumilty

5. Patrick Brooks

6. Gareth Fitzpatrick

7. Laurence Brannigan

8. Anthony Morgan

9. Matthew Cunningham

10. Sean Campbell

11. Justin Clarke

12. Peter McMullen

13. Tom Close

14. Ryan Connolly

15. Sheelan Johnston

16. Mathhew Sherry

17. Eoin McCrickard

18. Tiarnan Fettes

19. Brandon Boyd

20. Paul Quinn

21. Tiarnan Saul

22. Eamon Brown

23. Adam Crimmins

24. Tom Smyth

Feast of hurling at Down GAA Feile Na nGael 2018

The Down Feile Na nGael sponsored by Peninsula-Sports took place in Portaferry on Saturday last, 21^st April, and the large crowd in attendance witnessed some fine hurling from the 9 teams taking part. The prizes on offer included the opportunity to represent Down at the National Feile in Connaught in June.

The teams were divided into two Divisions with Liatroim, Ballycran, Bredagh, Ballygalget and Portaferry competing in Division 1 while Carryduff, Ballyvarley, Castlewellan and Warrenpoint played in Division 2.

After the round robin games Portaferry were unbeaten in Division 1 and qualified for the final. Ballygalget beat Bredagh in the semi-final to join their Ards neighbours in a repeat of last year’s final.

 The final was a tense affair played in bright sunshine in front of a large crowd and at the break Portaferry led by 5 points to no score. Ballygalget battled hard to get back into the game but in the end Portaferry ran out convincing winners and retained the George Conway Cup for another year.  Final score, Portaferry 3-9 0-0 Ballygalget.

Castlewellan and Warrenpoint contested the Division 2 final with the “Point” holding on to win by 2-5 to 0-1.

Portaferry, Ballygalget and Warrenpoint will all represent Down at the National Feile Na nGael in Galway in over the weekend 8^th, 9^th, 10^th June.

Ballygalget B Feile Winners                                                                                      Bredagh vs Ballycran

Castlewellan                                                                   Liatriom

Portaferry Cup Winners

DOWN GAA CENTRE AT BALLYKINLAR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

ADVERTISEMENT AND NOTICE FOR APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING CONSULTANT

Down GAA are seeking to develop a Centre at Ballykinlar to include playing pitches, changing rooms, administration headquarters and multi-purpose indoor facilities. It is our intention to submit a full planning application before the end of December 2018. To this end we are now seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified Planning Consultants.

Applications are invited from Planning Consultants to undertake the lead role on the various stages necessary to deliver a successful planning application on behalf of Down GAA, and work in parallel with a separately appointed design team. Any planning consultant acting on a project of this nature and scale should carry a £5m Professional Indemnity Cover and a £10m Employers Liability Cover.

A short-list of Consultants will be compiled and invited to submit bids for this commission. The commission will be for Planning Consultant and work will be for an initial period of approximately 6 months and will commence during the summer of 2018.

The estimated total project cost for the new facility is in the region of £6m excluding VAT.

The last date for receipt of your expression of interest and any additional information requested at the address below is 26th April 2018.

Mr. Seán Óg McAteer
County Secretary Down GAA

DOWN GAA CENTRE AT BALLYKINLAR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

ADVERTISEMENT AND NOTICE FOR CONSULTANTS

Applications are invited from a Lead Consultant/Consortium to make a single appointment of a multi-discipline design team, under the terms of the NEC3 Professional Services Contract, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a select list for the Down GAA Participation Centre at Ballykinlar.

A short-list of Consultants will be compiled and invited to submit bids for this commission. The commission will be for an Architecturally led Design team commencing in the Summer of 2018, targeting the submission of a Full Planning Application with a suitably developed design, satisfying the statutory requirements, by the end of December 2018.

The estimated total project cost for the new facility is in the region of £6m excluding VAT.

Further details will be available in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Pack (PQQP) which will be issued on receipt of formal request by email quoting Down GAA Participation Centre to the address below.

Mr. Seán Óg McAteer
County Secretary Down GAA

The last date for receipt of your expression of interest and any additional information requested at the address below is 26th April 2018.

Seán Óg Mac Antsaoir, Runaí Coiste Chontae An Dúin

Sean Og McAteer, Down GAA County Secretary,

Down County Office, The Grove Building, 46-48 Main St, Castlewellan, BT31 9DP
Tel: 028 4377 0880          Mob: 077 3970 0705          E-mail: secretary.down@gaa.ie