In what was effectively a relegation play-off, Down defeated Meath 2-28 to 2-19 in Ballycran.

The Royals took a slender 0-16 to 2-11 lead into the break at McKenna Park but couldn't go the distance with the Mourne men and have been demoted to the third-tier after five defeats from as many outings.

Down forward Barry O'Hagan has rowed back on a comment lamenting the Tailteann Cup as "pointless" and said that they were made in the heat of the moment.  Speaking in the aftermath of the Mourne County’s 0-23 to 2-07 Ulster loss to Monaghan, the Clonduff man didn’t hold back on his view of the tier-two competition.

"For me personally, I don’t know about the group, I have very little interest in it, to be honest," said O’Hagan after that Farney defeat that ensured Down would be a participant.  With a few weeks to reflect, and a first-round clash with Cavan to look forward to following Monday’s draw, O’Hagan admitted that his outlook had changed.

"Well, that was probably within five minutes of our defeat against Monaghan, a heavy defeat," he said of those scathing comments.  "My own performance that day was bitterly disappointing. I thought maybe if I had kicked even two or three we might have been in it at that stage.

"Look, it was probably emotions and stuff like that that got into my head. I was a wee bit disappointed and one of the questions I was asked was, 'would you rather be in the Tailteann Cup or an All-Ireland qualifier?' So that's what made me make that comment and go down that route.

"At the end of the day, we are where we currently are at this moment in time with Down. If we put our heads together for this cup and try to develop our team, it can be beneficial for us in the long run and that's what our stand is now and hopefully it will go that way."

Following hot on the heels of O’Hagan’s comments were even more volatile remarks from Kilcoo’s Eugene Branagan when he was named AIB Club Footballer of the Year having played a starring role in the Magpies’ first-ever All-Ireland title.  Indicating that he had no desire to pull on the famous red and black jersey, Branagan questioned the mentality that existed in the Down squad.  "I’ve no ambition to play for the county. I was brought up with the club. If the county had a winning mentality, maybe you would think about joining but at the moment I can’t see that and I haven’t seen it in the past few years and I would say it is a thing for most Kilcoo players."

O’Hagan said that Branagan was entitled to his opinion but disagreed with his view of the camp’s mentality.  "Freedom of free speech, if that’s what Eugene thinks, I am not going to comment on that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  "If that’s what he thinks, that’s fair. It hasn’t got inside our camp and we are all pretty happy - and that’s part of it."

Since the Monaghan loss, a raft of Down players have exited the squad including Caolan Mooney, Ryan McEvoy, Gerdie Collins, Cory Quinn and Charlie Smyth.  Those departures were further blows for manager McCartan who had considered his own position after a breach in squad discipline at a training weekend ahead of the Monaghan championship game.

Add all those elements together, along with relegation to Division 3, and it feels like an annus horribilis for the five-time Sam Maguire champions. O'Hagan, however, took issue with such a suggestion.

"I wouldn't say the season has been a complete failure.  "If you go back through the stats throughout the league, I think we introduced something in the region of 22 players this year through league football. We had seven debutants that day against Monaghan. So again, that's all youth and well-being for the development of Down.

"Yes, on paper, we might not have won a game but at the same time we developed players and putting those players through that aspect of having those defeats might boost them for later on down the line that when we do start to get this ball rolling properly, that they're well equipped for it and that they're able to then share the dreams of victories then."

And for O’Hagan, such victories are hopefully just around the corner – starting with Cavan in two weeks’ time and ending at Croke Park as the first-ever Tailteann Cup champions.

"You’d never turn your nose down at silverware. Last year with the club we did a league [delayed 2020 league] before the very start of the league [2021 league]. It was a chance to win some silverware and we went with open arms to try and take it and thankfully we did.

"This is a chance of more silverware. When you win you gel better as a team, or so I’m told, I haven’t experienced that yet.

"It brings a good bit of momentum and with a bit of momentum you never know where you could go. Hopefully that starts with Cavan."

The draw for the Preliminary Round and Round 1 of the inaugural Tailteann Cup took place this morning.

The Mournemen were drawn away against Cavan in the first round of the new Tailteann Cup.

Down were playing at a higher level than Cavan in this year's League, but the Breffnimen earned promotion up to Division Four and were fairly impressive in their Ulster SFC semi-final loss against Donegal, whereas the Mournemen were well-beaten by Monaghan.

The first teams drawn have home advantage, with the semi-finals and final to be played at Croke Park.

Competing teams had been assigned to Northern and Southern sections in advance of the draw which was made by GAA president Larry McCarthy. New York will compete in the Southern Section when they enter at the quarter-final stage. first team drawn having Home Advantage.

The new second-tier football championship will be officially launched in Croke Park later today, with confirmation of throw-in times and venues to be announced afterwards.

Northern section

First round
Longford v Fermanagh
Leitrim v Antrim
Sligo v London
Cavan v Down

Southern section

Preliminary round
Wexford v Offaly
Wicklow v Waterford

First round
Wexford/Offaly v Wicklow/Waterford
Carlow v Tipperary
Laois v Westmeath

By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park, RTÉ Sports reporter
14 May Carlow 2-251-19 Down
Netwatch Dr Cullen Park

Carlow's hopes of qualifying for the Joe McDonagh Cup final remain alive after they comfortably accounted for rivals who have traditionally given them trouble.

The home side got off to a flying start at Netwatch Cullen Park today when John Michael Nolan fired over a point and with the Carlow forwards looking sharp and alert, Marty Kavanagh, Sean Murphy, Conor Kehoe and Chris Nolan all added points to give them momentum.

Down hit back with a Paul Sheehan free and Marc Fisher also fired over two long range efforts.

Carlow created a number of half goal chances but overcooked passes from Fiachra Fitzpatrick and Kavanagh let Down off the hook. At the break Carlow looked to be in pole position when leading 0-15 to 0-07.

The visitors were never going to allow their rivals to dominate for the entire game and they hit back with a succession of early second half frees from Fisher.

The first goal arrived on 42 minutes when Daithi Sands pulled first time on a loose ball and found the net.

The Barrowsiders lost their way a little and Down brought the deficit down to two points. Three Kavanagh frees settled the home side but they had Brian Tracey, their goalkeeper, to thank when he saved with his foot from Sands.

Perhaps, that was the fright which spurred them on and Conor Kehoe scored a goal when rising high to collect a long delivery he let fly from the left for what was essentially a game clinching three-pointer.

Kavanagh added a second for the numerically disadvantaged Carlow side who lost Jack Kavanagh to a second yellow on 62 minutes.

Down hit back with three points, but the home side had the last word with scores from John Michael Nolan and Sean Murphy which could be important when they face Offaly in their final group game next week.

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Jack McCullagh, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack Kavanagh; Kevin McDonald, Richard Coady (0-1); Sean Murphy (0-5), Chris Nolan (0-1), Conor Kehoe (1-2); Paul Coady, John Michael Nolan (0-3), Marty Kavanagh (1-13 10fs 65).

Subs: Gary Lawlor for McCullagh (53), Jon Nolan for C Nolan (56), Ted Joyce for M. Kavanagh (68), Ciaran Kavanagh for P Coady (72).

Down: Stephen Keith; Michael Hughes, John McManus, Marc Fisher (0-11 9fs 2-65s); Tom Murray, Matt Conlon, Caolan Taggart; Pearse Og McCrickard (0-1), Darragh Mallon; Liam Savage, Paul Sheehan (0-3), Ryan McCusker (0-1); Daithi Sands (1-1), Eoghan Sands, Tim Prenter.

Subs: Chris Egan (0-1) for Sheehan (blood 29-permanent at h/t), Barry Trainor for Hughes (h/t), Conor Cassidy for Mallon (h/t), Oisin McManus for Savage (42), Gerald Hughes for McCrickard (49), Padraig Doran (0-1) for Prenter (68).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary).

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn of the death of Kathleen Quinn wife of Jackie, Referee and Referee Assessor, we extend our deepest sympathy to her husband Jackie and her children, John, Caroline, Teresa and Michael, at this sad time.

Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship round two: Down 0-12 Monaghan 5-13

From Elaine Ingram at Pairc Esler for the irish News

THE old adage that goals win games proved true in Pairc Esler on Saturday afternoon, where Monaghan hit the net five times, to progress to the next round of the Ulster Minor Championship, at Down’s expense.

Monaghan were ruthless in front of goal and while Down had their fair share of the ball, certainly until the game was gone, it was the Farney boys who made the most of their chances throughout.

Monaghan full forwards Max McGinnity and Eoghan McFarland scored 4-8 between them and that in itself tells the tale of this match.

The Mourne County were reduced to 14 men, when Patrick Brady was sent off with a black card, 20 minutes into the first half. Although they trailed 1-4 to 0-4 at that stage,  Down were able to contain their opponents for the first eight of those 10 minutes. They kept the ball well until  McGinnity, who had scored the opening goal for Monaghan, found a gap and fired into the net. Seconds later it was 3-4 to 0-4 when Bobby McCaul picked out McFarland to the left of goal and he palmed home.

Down responded with a free from James Savage, his third point of the game, but with Monaghan leading by eight points 3-4 to 0-5 at the half-time whistle, Pat Cunningham’s players had a mountain to climb.

It was essentially game over at the start of the second half when, almost from throw-in Charlie McQuillan delivered a high ball into the small square for the unmarked McFarland who scored Monaghan’s fourth goal of the afternoon. Savage replied with a well-taken point, but the Mark Counihan’s boys hit three in a row to make it a 13-point game 4-7 to 0-6 , with six minutes of the half played.

Down kept the scoreboard ticking over, with five of the next seven points but during that spell DJ McElvaney ghosted in and scored goal number five, putting the game to bed with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

That made it 5-9 to 0-11 and while both sides played right up to the final whistle, Monaghan fully deserved their 5-13 to 0-12 victory.

DOWN: N Howlett; P Brady, M McGuinness, S McEvoy; C Gribben (0-3, 0-2 free), B Christie (0-1 free), C McDevitt; C McLeod, D Murdock; L Green, L Fallon, Eoin Murray, ;Brian Grant, James Savage (0-7, 0-4 frees), Taidgh O’Hanlon

Subs: Dara Og McCoy for O’Hanlon (35mins), Callum Woods for Fallon (37mins), Niall Burden for Murdock (41mins), Odhran Donaldson (0-1) for Murray (41mins), Declan McArdle for McDevitt (48mins)

MONAGHAN: Oran Finnegan (0-1,’45); Conor Curran, Niall Meehan, Jake McDonnell; Johnny Lavelle, Charlie McQuillan, Packie Doogan-Burke; DJ McElvaney (1-0), Sahl Arya; Finlay Foye (0-1), Tommy Mallen (0-3, 1f), Shea Casey; Max McGinnity (2-6,all frees), Eoghan McFarland (2-2), Bobby McCaul

Subs: Canice Murphy for Casey (42mins), Sean O’Connell for Foy (45mins), Shane Freeman for Arya (48mins), Nathan McGeough for McFarland (55mins), Jack Lynch for Curran (59mins)

Referee:  Ryan Walshe (Donegal)

Kilcoo's Eugene Branagan was officially announced as the AIB GAA Club Footballer of the year in recognition of his outstanding exploits in Kilcoos victorious 2021/22 club campaign.

The news comes as the full football for the AIB GAA Club Player Awards were unveiled in Croke Park and where the All-Ireland champions were strongly represented with seven slots.  Kilcoo dynamo Branagan was instrumental at ensuring that the Down champions steady progress in recent years finally saw them reach the Promised Land of All-Ireland glory after a titanic struggle with Kilmacud Crokes. His all-action style and ability to be in the right place at the right time made him an invaluable resource for the club football kingpins.

Kilcoo goalkeeper Niall Kane was the unanimous choice, and he is joined in defence by Ryan McEvoy, Miceal Rooney and Daryl Branagan.

Eugene Branagan was a credible choice in a multitude of positions such was his roving role and influence, but he is named at left half forward and in doing so completes an impressive all-Kilcoo three quarter line with Ceilum Doherty and Jerome Johnston.

Veteran Kilmacud Crokes star Rory O’Carroll is named at centre back and is joined by three more colleagues from the Stillorgan club in the versatile Dan O’Brien, strong running Craig Dias and forward star Dara Mullin.

Cork and Munster champions St Finbarr’s have had their memorable march to the All-Ireland semi-finals recognised in awards for Sam Ryan in the full-back line and in full-forward Steven Sherlock.

Roscommon and Connacht champions Padraig Pearse’s are represented by powerful midfielder Niall Daly and sharp inside forward Paul Carey.

The teams were selected by a panel of national Gaelic games correspondents from across, print, broadcast and digital media.

AIB GAA CLUB PLAYER AWARDS - FOOTBALL TEAM 2022
Niall Kane (Kilcoo)
Sam Ryan (St Finbarr’s)
Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo)
Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes)
Miceal Rooney (Kilcoo)
Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
Daryl Branagan (Kilcoo) *Previous winner in 2020
Craig Dias (Kilmacud Crokes)
Niall Daly (Pádraig Pearse’s)
Ceilum Doherty (Kilcoo)
Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo)
Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo)
Dara Mullin (Kilmacud Crokes)
Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)
Paul Carey (Pádraig Pearse’s)

AIB GAA CLUB FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR – Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo)