From Francis Mooney at O'Neills Healy Park
29 March, 2023 20:30
Tyrone's Ruairi Canavan looks to break free of Down's Patrick McCarthy.

EirGrid Ulster U20 Football Championship quarter-final
Tyrone 1-8 Down 2-9

DOWN shocked All-Ireland U20 champions Tyrone with a four-point win at O’Neills Healy Park as the holders went crashing out of the series.

The Red Hands fielded with almost half of last year’s triumphant team, but were outplayed by an adventurous, confident opponent that defended superbly and struck for goals at crucial stages.

The Mourne defensive strategy was key to this shock result, with the Red Hand danger-men stifled, and Patrick McCarthy holding ace attacker Ruairi Canavan scoreless from play.

Down were able to pick holes in the home defence as they raced into an early lead through Oisin Savage and Oran Cunningham.

The Red Hands drew level with scores from Oisin Gormley and Oisin Miller, but they were repeatedly frustrated by a Mourne defence in which Callum Rodgers, Patrick McCarthy and Thomas Hardy were excellent.

Centre back Rodgers drove through for the lead point, but they were level at the end of the opening quarter, with Ronan Cassidy on target at the other end.

Both sides had goal chances early in the second quarter. First Gavin Potter crossed for Miller to punch against the crossbar, then Jason Morgan got on the end of a Hardy pass to bring a fine save from Conor McAneney.

But in the 18th minute, Down did hit the net, and it was Oisin Savage who gave McAneney no chance with a crisply struck finish.

And they added a second goal three minutes before the break, Tiarnan Ryan and Rodgers heavily involved in the move that ended with Morgan striking low to the net for a 2-4 to 0-4 interval lead.

Ruairi Canavan, frustrated in the opening half by the tight-marking McCarthy, moved to full forward, and almost created a goal for Gavin Potter, who had to settle for a point.

Canavan pulled back a couple of points from frees, but was denied goals by a Finn Murdock intercept and a superb block by McCarthy.

Tyrone pressed in numbers, getting two within four points with a Conor Cush ’45, but were vulnerable on the counter-attack, with Callum Rodgers picking off his second score of the evening, and goalkeeper Oisin Treacy converting a brilliant free from close to the sideline.

Tyrone C McAneney; M Rafferty, E McCaffrey, B Hughes; G Potter (0-1), F Taggart, B Cullen; R McHugh, F Hayes; C Cush (0-2, 1 ’45), O Gormley (0-1), R Canavan (0-2, 2f); S O’Donnell, O Miller (0-1, m), R Cassidy (0-1).

Subs J Donaghy for Hayes, E McElholm (1-0) for Gormley, S O’Hare for Cassidy, O Brolly for Miller, C Daly for Hughes

Down O Treacy (0-1, f); P McCarthy; R Magill, F Murdock; T Hardy, C Rodgers (0-2), C Cunningham; O Murdock, F McAvoy; J Morgan (1-0), O Cunningham (0-1), H Magill; T McCarroll, O Savage (1-4 (3f), T Ryan.

Subs J Kelly for C Cunningham, E Loughran (0-1) for Morgan, J Doran for O Cunningham, Z Murdock for Rodgers

Referee A Marron (Monaghan).

As you know we host Donegal in Pairc Esler on Sunday 23^rd of April and it is a Double Bill Fixture with the Minors playing Donegal @ 12.00 and Senior Game then at 2.00pm. 

We are asking if people would be willing to volunteer and act as Stewards inside the Ground on the day of the 23rd.

Stewards would have to be willing to be in place from 10.00am on the morning of the game and would be on duty until patrons have safely left the ground in and around 4.00pm. 

Breakfast,  Snacks and Match Programme would be provided for all Stewards. 

Stewards must be over 16 years of Age and Training would be provided in advance of the Game.

If you are willing to Steward at the Down v Donegal Ulster Championship Game on 23^rd of April, can you please send an email to secretary.down@gaa.ie with your name and contact details, on or  before Friday 7^th April.

The GAA have formally granted permission for Croke Park and Casement Park to be included in a formal bid for Euro 2028.  Five months ago, 14 stadiums were announced as part of a joint UK and Ireland bid for the 2028 Euros.

These venues included Croke Park and Casement Park.  Over the weekend the GAA's Central Council and Management Committee met to formalise their inclusion.

The rejuvenation of the 34,000 capacity Casement Park in Belfast has been stalled for years because of legal and planning issues.  With those finally dealt with, the next step is the financing of the project.  Originally, the cost was in the region of €90.3m.  Around €72.8m was set to come from local government with the GAA confirming a contribution of over €17m.

However, the delay caused by a court challenge combined with rising inflation rates may see the final cost reach over €110 million.  The Northern Ireland executive has already overseen the redevelopment of Windsor Park and Ravenhill.  Ulster GAA remain hopeful of having games played there in late 2025, despite construction costs.

Meanwhile, at the Central Council and Management Committee meetings, it was also decided to prohibit the promotion of charities and campaigns on playing gear.

They also reaffirmed the decision taken at a previous gathering that as the Maor Foirne is no longer permitted, selectors must sit in their designated area.

Division 3
Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Longford v Antrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm
Offaly v Down, Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, 2pm
Westmeath v Tipperary, 2pm

In Division 3, 50% of the promotion picture and the entire relegation story has been decided before a ball has been thrown in today.  At the top, Cavan are guaranteed to move to Division 2 regardless of what happens at home to Fermanagh.  Even if they lose to the Erne County, they have the head-to-head advantage over whoever wins between Offaly and Down in Tullamore.

Offaly do have something to play for, even if their Mourne opponents do not. Wins for Offaly and Cavan would see Fermanagh dropping out of the promotion spots given that the Faithful County edged Fermanagh by a point early in the season.  Down, however, lost to the Erne County by the minimum and given that they were defeated by Cavan, their promotion hopes are dead in the water. A win may draw them level with the second-placed side, but the head-to-head rule scuttles them.

At the bottom, Longford and Tipperary, both on a single point from six games, are already preparing for life in Division 4.  Antrim’s safety was secured with their nail-biting win over Cavan last weekend while Westmeath have nothing to play for after successive defeats in Ulster over the last two rounds, against Down and Fermanagh.

Congratulations to the winners in the March Draw

Club Winners (£200 each)
• Castlewellan 22CN015 Brian O’Neill
• Darragh Cross 22DC100 Tom McMahon
• Dromara 22DA058 Dromara GAC
• Loughinisland 22OL152 Michelle Holland

Prize Winners (Draw 12 - 5 x £1,000)
• St John Bosco 22BO155 St John Bosco Senior Team
• Ballela 22BA063 Dermot McCusker
• Clann na banna 22CB276 Gerard & Patricia Donaghy
• Liatroim 22LM091 Aidan Rice
• St. Michaels 22MI099 Charlie McCullagh

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for supporting the 2022 Clubs Draw.

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn today of the death of one of our favourite sons, Dr Martin Walsh. Martin was a man who gave outstanding service to Down over many decades, he was a man who made a difference to the lives of many in his professional life and in the sporting world where he used his expertise to the benefit of Club, School, and County players not just in Down but throughout the Country.

Martin was a trusted confidant to many players who sought his advice and guidance, he helped prolong the playing careers of many and he was for us in Down GAA a man that we were very proud to say was one of our own. For over six decades where Red and Black was worn, Martin Walsh was there, advising, guiding, treating and most importantly, in his own gentle manner, caring for those that he came into contact with. He was a gentleman and a man who was innovative in the world of Sports Medicine in Ireland, and he will always have a special niche in the history of Down GAA.

Martin’s involvement in Gaelic Games came first when he went to St Colmans College as a Boarder in 1941, a native of Banbridge there was no GAA activity in his home town at that time. Inspired by Fr McGovern and former County player Dr Jim Fitzsimmons, the young student excelled at Gaelic Football and with a strength in athletics, he progressed to captain St Colmans to a first Mac Rory Cup Final in 1945, where they alas, lost to St Pats Armagh for whom the late great Iggy Jones would score 3-5 on that day. Later that year Martin would star alongside Iggy Jones on the Ulster Colleges Team in the Inter PRO series of 1945 and 46.

Martin was left full forward on the Down Junior Team beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland Junior Final of 1949 and  would make his Senior Championship debut for Down in 1952 when Down went under to Cavan in a game played in St Patricks Park and remarkably whilst studying at QUB, Martin had in fact played in seven Sigerson Cup competitions.

Having qualified as a Doctor, Martin came to practice in Newcastle and with a great interest in Sports Medicine, he soon came to the attention of the late Maurice Hayes and soon was persuaded to join the Team Management in 1959. It is a remarkable fact that with every Down Football Team that won an All-Ireland Title bar 1946 when he was still at school,  Martin Walsh played a key role either as a selector or as a Team Doctor, with the Senior Team in 1960,61,68,91 and 94, with the Under 21 Team of 1979 and with the Minor Winning Teams of 1977,87,99 and 2005. Martin was a constant presence, a support for Players, Team Management, County Board and in many cases for parents and family members.

Martin sought no limelight; he rarely spoke in public of his work or even in dressing rooms, his work was done quietly. In 2005 as the Minor Footballers took on Galway in an All-Ireland Quarter Final in Carrick on Shannon and the backs were to the wall at half time,  Martin asked Team Management if he could say a few words, those few words were delivered calmly and yet with determination and a belief in a group of young men in the Red and Black.

History shows Down went on to win the game and to win the All-Ireland. Martin Walsh had spoken, and people had listened, he had the great capacity to transcend generations and to be that trusted friend to Down players from the 1950s right through to the recent years.

We in Down were so lucky to have Dr Martin Walsh in our ranks, he gave of his time without question and with the great support of his late beloved wife Roisin and his family and we think here too of his son Peter who died so suddenly and who too had worn the Red and Black of Down. For Dr Walsh reward was seeing Down, St Colmans College, QUB or Bryansford triumph, he sought no fame nor glory and in 2009 we in Down GAA acknowledged his outstanding contribution and inducted Martin into the Down GAA Hall Of Fame.

Martin was also a man of great faith and had a wonderful singing voice and we recall also when Martin sang at the GAA Congress Mass in Newcastle in 2010 and many were moved by his rendition of Panis Angelicus. It was a very special moment on a weekend where the world of the GAA acknowledged the Down history makers of 1960 and 61.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his daughter Roisin, his sons Paul, Brian, Mark, John,  his grandchildren, great grandchildren, the entire Walsh and McNamara family circle and the Gaels of Bryansford and Clann na Banna. We remember too at this time his late wife Roisin and sons Peter, Gerard, and Martin.

Today Down GAA is a poorer place with the loss of a Dr Martin Walsh and yet we were privileged to have had him amongst our ranks, to have shared many great times with him and just to have known the man and all that he was, for Martin was truly a man who made a difference to the lives of so many. For that we say Thank you – Ar dheis De go Raibh a anam.

2022 Down GAA Clubs Draw
- March Super Draw Results:

£5000 winner
• Newry Shamrocks 22SS079 Cormac Canavan

5 x £2,000 winners
• Aughlisnafin 22AN096 John Morgan
• Saul 18SL023 John Hampton
• Kilcoo 22KO181 Paul Grant
• Drumaness 22DS006 Drumaness GAC
• Ballycran 22BC099 Eamonn & Joan Gilmore

5 x £1000 winners
• Cumann Pheadair Naofa 22CPN377 Cathal McAnulty
• Saul 20SL015 Philip Traynor
• Liatroim 22LM047 Raymond & Helen Madine
• Clann na Banna 22CB165 Evie Keenan
• Bright 18BT058 Sharon McLaughlin

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for supporting the 2022 Clubs Draw.