The GAA have again reiterated their commitment to the ongoing educational development of its players and members by announcing details of the 2018/2019 GAA National Student Bursary scheme.

Now in its eleventh year, the GAA has invested over €2million in the past decade that the Bursary Schemes have been in existence.

The scheme is open to members of the Association who are only attending a full-time Higher Education course.

The schemes are administered by the respective Provincial Councils and recipients will again be selected based on a range of criteria, including their playing, coaching or administrative commitments to the GAA. A number of awards in each province will be reserved for those excelling in the areas of coaching and administration.

Ulster GAA welcomes applications from those students from our province regardless whether their attendance is at a college inside or outside of Ulster. Applicants must:

– be attending a full time undergraduate course at a University or third level College;
– be eligible, under Comhairle Ardoideachais Constitution and Bye Laws, to play in Higher Education GAA Competitions;
– be in their second year of study, or above, i.e. ‘freshers’ are ineligible to apply;
– not be in receipt of any other Bursary/Scholarship or Sports Academy Scholarships, where they are in receipt of ‘in kind’ benefits;
– be actively involved in their Higher Education GAA Club;

Students who have received an award from the Ulster GAA Student Bursary Scheme in the past are ineligible to apply for a second award.

Senior Inter-County players who were on their County’s Senior Panel in 2018 should apply for Bursaries via the Gaelic Players Association; further information at www.gaelicplayers.com.

Applications in Ulster for the scheme will be considered by a sub-committee of the Ulster Council.

Application forms for this year’s scheme are available to download below. Students should apply using the relevant application form to the Provincial Council of their home GAA Club.

All completed forms should be returned to the relevant details on the application form and the closing dates for applications is Friday October 5th.

Application forms can downloaded here

Three Down Clubs were recently announced by Ulster GAA as successfully achieving Club Maith accreditation at the relevant standard;

St Joseph’s Ballycran – Gold
St Patrick’s Mayobridge – Platinum
Liatroim Fontenoys – Platinum

Each club received their certificate of accreditation from Ulster GAA President Michael Hasson at a presentation event held in Market Place Theatre, Armagh on Thursday 23rd August.

Speaking at the event the Ulster GAA President commented that:
“This is a significant achievement for each of the clubs involved and is not only an endorsement of the high standards of governance in place but will also be of great importance for future club development.”

A Club Maith award makes a clear, proven statement about the quality of a club right across five core areas of GAA club business: Governance; Duty of Care; Community Enhancement; Culture and Heritage; and Coaching and Games Development.

The assessment process involves the submission of a club portfolio to the Club Maith assessors at the Ulster Council which must demonstrate how the club matches up to the governance standards set out in the Club Maith framework. The portfolio is then assessed and as part of the overall assessment, Assessors also visit the club to review coaching standards and discuss the portfolio with the relevant club officers.

There are many benefits to going through Club Maith for your club. Feedback from clubs who have gone through the process say they have been able to make huge improvements in their club by going through Club Maith without having to spend a lot of money, or having to completely over-haul how they conduct their business. Clubs have reported that they have recruited new volunteers into the club as a result, and the club has become a more relevant place for members of their community who would have stayed away from the club.

Ulster GAA will support clubs through the process but ultimately a club’s application should be developed by the Club so as to be relevant to the club’s needs.

Should your club have any queries regarding Club Maith please email
fionntan.odowd.ulster@gaa.ie and support will be on hand.

All-Ireland football final will remain a September event in 2019.

By rule, the All-Ireland finals must now be completed by the end of August, but because September 1 is the 35th Sunday in the year, it must be played on this date to fall in line with the GAA's existing fixtures schedule.

Age is just a number when it comes to Down legend Mickey Linden. The evergreen 55-year-old is still going strong and added a Reserve medal to his collection at Pairc Esler yesterday.

The 1994 Texaco Footballer of the Year came off the bench to kick an “outrageous point from 50 yds” in Mayobridge’s 1-15 to 0-7 final win over Burren...

Down Hurlers will open their 2019 league campaign at home to Derry on Sunday 27th January.

Here is the provisional fixtures for Down Hurling in next years Allianz League.

2019 Allianz Hurling League Provisional Fixtures
Saturday 26 January
Division 2B round 1
(2.0): Warwickshire v Wicklow

Sunday 27 January
Division 2B round 1
(2.0): Donegal v Kildare
(2.0): Down v Derry

Sunday 3 February
Division 2B round 2
TBC Derry v Donegal
(2.0): Kildare v Warwickshire
TBC Wicklow v Down

Sunday 17 February
Division 2B round 3
(2.0): Donegal v Wicklow
(2.0): Kildare v Derry
(2.0): Warwickshire v Down

Sunday 24 February
Division 2B round 4
(2.0): Down v Donegal
(2.0): Warwickshire v Derry
(2.0): Wicklow v Kildare

Sunday 3 March
Division 2B round 5
(1.0): Derry v Wicklow
(1.0): Donegal v Warwickshire
(1.0): Kildare v Down

Down have been handed four home games and three away trips in the provisional fixtures for next years Allianz Football League Fixtures. Down open their campaign with a home fixture against Westmeath on Saturday 26th January, while the following week they travel to Sligo.

On Saturday 9th February Laois will travel to Pairc Esler, while a fortnight later Down will travel to Longford (Sunday 24th Feb). On Saturday 2 March Down host Offaly, while on Saturday 16 March Down will travel to take on Turlough O’Brien Carlow side. Down's last game is against Louth on Sunday 24 March.

Down's 2019 Division 3 Allianz Football League Provisional Fixtures

Saturday 26 January: Division 3 round 1 (7.0): Down v Westmeath
Sunday 3 February: Division 3 round 2 (2.0): Sligo v Down
Saturday 9 February: Division 3 round 3 (7.0): Down v Laois
Sunday 24 February: Division 3 round 4 (2.0): Longford v Down
Saturday 2 March: Division 3 round 5 (7.0): Down v Offaly
Saturday 16 March: Division 3 round 6 (2.0): Carlow v Down
Sunday 24 March: Division 3 round 7 (2.0): Down v Louth

Full 2019 Division 3 Allianz Football League Provisional Fixtures

Saturday 26 January
Division 3 round 1
(7.0): Down v Westmeath

Sunday 27 January Division 3 round 1
(2.0): Carlow v Sligo
(2.0): Offaly v Laois
TBC Louth v Longford

Saturday 2 February Division 3 round 2
(7.0): Laois v Carlow

Sunday 3 February Division 3 round 2
(2.0): Longford v Offaly
(2.0): Sligo v Down
(2.0): Westmeath v Louth

Saturday 9 February Division 3 round 3
(7.0): Down v Laois

Sunday 10 February Division 3 round 3
(2.0): Carlow v Longford
(2.0): Offaly v Louth
(2.0): Westmeath v Sligo

Saturday 23 February Division 3 round 4
(7.0): Laois v Westmeath

Sunday 24 February Division 3 round 4
(2.0): Longford v Down
TBC Louth v Sligo
TBC Offaly v Carlow

Saturday 2 March Division 3 round 5
(7.0): Carlow v Louth
(7.0): Down v Offaly

Sunday 3 March Division 3 round 5
(2.0): Sligo v Laois
TBC Westmeath v Longford

Saturday 16 March Division 3 round 6
(2.0): Carlow v Down
(2.0): Longford v Sligo
(2.0): Louth v Laois
(2.0): Offaly v Westmeath

Sunday 24 March Division 3 round 7
(2.0): Down v Louth
(2.0): Laois v Longford
(2.0): Sligo v Offaly
(2.0): Westmeath v Carlow

Central Council have, once again, given their approval to the establishment of a second-tier All-Ireland Football Championship.

At a meeting on Saturday, there was widespread approval, in principle, for a new competition that would run concurrently with the main Championship, finishing on the same day as the All-Ireland final and displacing the traditional minor final curtain-raiser in Croke Park.

The structure has yet to be worked out, but counties will be invited to make submissions to the Central Competitions Controls Committee (CCCC) who will consider a new format to be sent to next year's Congress.

A second-tier Championship is the stated aim of current GAA President John Horan during his three-year term. But it is an ambitious move considering how badly it failed when it was previously set for Congress in 2016 and was withdrawn prior to the weekend because of a lack of support.

Central Council now feel, however, that the mood has changed, and with All-Ireland final day billing it would have the status that it needs to succeed.

By Declan Bogue September 10 2018 - Belfast Telegraph
 

Down's camogs found themselves in a similar position to defeated senior counterparts Kilkenny after the All-Ireland finals, left fuming at what they believe were some poor refereeing decisions, with Sarah-Louise Carr dismissed at a crucial stage of the second half.

Reacting in the immediate aftermath to their Intermediate final loss to Cork, Down manager Martina Rooney grumbled: “There are no words right now. “We were going well in fits and starts. We seemed to get things a lot tougher than the opposition. They were getting maybe frees a lot easier than we were.

“As for the sending off… It’ll be interesting to see that again. I don’t think either one of them were yellow cards, not to mind the second one — I thought it was a free for us. A yellow card offence, most definitely not.

“We never gave up, we fought to the bitter end and kept at it. I suppose Dearbhla (Magee) going off (with a blood injury) unsettled us a wee bit. We had come out of the blocks really well.” Down were bidding to reverse a poor league campaign, in which they had to win a play-off against Kildare to stay up, but things started to turn for the good when Rooney took over as manager in mid-season.

After winning the Ulster Championship by beating Derry, they beat the same Cork side in the All-Ireland Championship group stages by 12 points, but this game had taken on a very different shade after they jumped into an early lead.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Down showed great intent from the off. Rooney had moved captain Fionnuala Carr up into the full-forward line where she partnered sister Sarah-Louise, while Naomh Mallon was moved out to become more involved in the half-forward line. In Fionnuala Carr’s absence, Dearbhla Magee moved into centre-back and the tall Ballygalget girl was immense until a bad fall forced her off for a blood sub on 15 minutes.

Sarah-Louise Carr opened the scoring with one from range after skipping inside two challenges and after Amy McAleenan produced a mazy run through the heart of the Cork defence, Fionnuala Carr dished off to Saoirse Sands to put Down two up.

Their lead was wiped by two Saoirse McCarthy points. She is just out of minor camogie but showed she will be a senior star for years to come with her excellent touch and speed, while her striking was the best on show.

Naomh Mallon added two more points for Down, converting a free she was fouled by Laura Callanan herself before an inspirational effort from close to 60 metres. Paula Gribben then stepped up with a straightforward point to leave the Mourne girls 0-5 to 0-2 up.

That was as good as it got, however. Catherine Collins contributed three points, two of them from the dead ball and Caroline Surgue finally got her eye in after a number of early misses. The first half drew to a close with an excellent catch, run and strike on the run by Saoirse McCarthy and left the Rebellettes 0-7 to 0-5 in front at the break.

Down opened the second half brightly with the first two scores, a Mallon free followed by a lovely movement down the Hogan Stand side and pointed at the Davin End by Saoirse Sands to level it again.

But Cork began to take control and after having put so much into the first half, it was inevitable that the Down effort would fade.

Two Catriona Collins frees gave them a platform and Sugrue made it three before the game’s decisive score.

From Maria McNally’s puckout, it was fielded by Siobhan Hutchinson and after Fionnuala Neville rounded Dearbhla Magee she was able to offload the perfect handpass to Catriona Collins, who lashed to the net.

Down needed a goal, but against a side who hadn’t conceded a single goal this year, that was always going to be a huge task.

A hard day was made even worse by the unfair sending off of Sarah-Louise Carr. She fastened onto a loose ball and when she came to straightening up Jennifer Barry was straight in front of her. Inevitably, contact came, but referee John Dermody decided it was worthy of a second yellow card.

From then on, the result was never in doubt, despite the best efforts of Naomh Mallon, who was by some distance Down’s most involved and dangerous player, but who struggled against a wind in the second half.

The game ebbed away from Down, but their gutsy challenge deserved more in the way of fair play while the dismissal of Carr was most unfortunate. “I’m incredibly proud of the girls,” added Rooney.

“I couldn’t ask any more of them. Not all fairytales have happy endings. To be here and part of it is amazing. We’ll not appreciate it today, but the girls will look back on this and learn from it and come back stronger.” Belfast Telegraph