GAA's CCCC has been informed that Longford will not be fulfilling their Allianz Football League fixture with Cork this weekend.

As a result Down have sealed promotion to Division 2 after the Mourne County themselves recieved a walkover from Leitrim last weekend. 

Down who are due to play Louth this weekend currently have 9 points, while third placed Derry sit on 7 points.  If Down were beaten by Louth this weekend and Derry won - Derry would move to 9 points level with Down, but Down would gain promotion due to winning their head to head clash in February.

Allianz Football League Roinn 3

The GAA has confirmed that all U20 and Minor inter-county competitions will be paused from tomorrow until further notice.

The association today received clarification from the Department of Sport that underage games would not be allowed to go ahead under the government’s Level 5 restrictions which come into effect from midnight tonight.

It means that Saturday’s All-Ireland U20 football championship final between Galway and Dublin is now called off, along with a host of other fixtures that were due to take place across both codes this weekend.

This evening's three Leinster U20 hurling championship games are permitted to go ahead as scheduled. 

In a statement released this afternoon, the GAA also confirmed that Longford would not be fulfilling this Saturday’s ‘dead rubber’ fixture against Cork in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League.

“Following clarification from the Department of Sport around the staging of inter-county fixtures, the GAA can confirm that as of midnight this evening, all minor and U20 inter-county competitions are paused until further notice. 

“Accordingly, Saturday’s scheduled EirGrid GAA U20 football final meeting of Dublin and Galway will not take place. 

“This evening’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U20 hurling fixtures will proceed. 

“Additionally, the GAA's CCCC has been informed that Longford will not be fulfilling their Allianz Football League fixture with Cork this weekend.”

Allianz Hurling League Division 2B Final: DOWN 2-16 DERRY 0-17
By Dan Bannon at the Athletic Grounds (GAA.ie)

Photos by Louis McNally

Down waited a long time to avenge their January loss to Derry and the Mourne men also claimed the Allianz Division 2B Hurling league title in the process.

The final was decided by the goals in either half from Eoghan Sands and Pearse Óg McCrickard. The majors gave Down the confidence required to express themselves and they held on for victory.

A scrappy opening to the occasion failed to even produce a score or scoring opportunities as both sides first touch struggled in the first exposure to a competitive environment in months. Such was the struggle, Cormac O’Doherty would open the games account with a free in the 10th minute.

Down’s full forward Eoghan Sands goal came completely against the run of play, stunning the Derry rearguard with a fine fetch and barreling finish. Derry responded through Midfielder Eamon McGill, who landed two points to push the Oak Leafers two ahead at the water break.

Phelim Savage’s wonderful strike from distance ignited Down’s best passage of play as Ronan Sheehan’s side struck four in a row, all from distance as they punished some sloppy Derry play around the midfield.

O’Doherty soon began to flow from placed balls and steadied his side before half time with three free’s to leave the final poised 1-8 to 0-9 at the turn.

Eoghan Sands and McManus combined with two quick points upon the resumption to give Derry a mini mountain to climb in the decider. MacManus was even allowed the luxury of missing three attempts from frees as Derry grew more passive by the minute.

Pearse Óg McCrickard pounced for the killer blow on the 55th minute. Sensing the lethargy after the water break Eoghan Sands had a huge turnover in his own corner back position and still had the vision to set up McCrickard to finish to the net and effectively the game.

Four scores in a row did bring Derry right back into contention, substitutes Paul Cleary and Odhran McKeever with the pick of them, on a day the Derry forwards failed to fire. The situation got worse for Derry, having used all of their substitutes, they had to finish with 14 men when Richie Mullan had to go off injured.

Conor Woods relieved Down’s pressure with a well taken free as they too would end the game with 14 men, replacement Marc Fisher receiving a swift red card. The numerical advantage had no bearing in the finish as captain Stephen Keith got to grips with the new normal to raise the cup.

Scorers for Down: Oisín MacManus 0-5 (5fs) Eoghan Sands and Pearse Óg McCrickard 1-2 each, Dathí Sands 0-3, Phelim Savage 0-2, Conor Woods (f) and Tim Prenter 0-1 each
Scorers for Derry: Cormac O’Doherty 0-11 (10fs), Eamon McGill and John Mullan 0-2 each, Odhran McKeever and Paul Cleary 0-1 each.

DOWN: Stephen Keith; Tom Murray, Caolan Taggart, Michael Hughes; Barry Trainor, Conor Woods, Liam Savage; Matt Conlon, Phelim Savage; Ronan Costello, Pearse Óg McCrickard, Donal Hughes; Oisín McManus, Eoghan Sands, Daithí Sands.
Subs: Niall McCusker for Costello (HT), Tim Prenter for MacManus (58), Marc Fisher for Hughes (66), Darragh Mallon for Murray (78).

*DERRY: *Seán Kelly; Paddy Kelly, Seán Cassidy, Darragh Cartin; Mark Craig, Brian McGilligan, Conor Kelly; Richie Mullan, Eamon McGill; Chris Henry, Cormac O’Doherty, Mark McGuigan; Fintan Bradley, Se McGuigan, Eoghan Cassidy.
Subs: John Mullan for Henry (12), Odhran McKeever for E Cassidy (HT), Paul Cleary for C Kelly (50), Thomas Brady for M McGuigan (53), Jerome McGuigan for Bradley (58).
REFEREE: James Clarke (Cavan).

The Down Leitrim match might be off - but we thought that you might be interested in still reading the Match Day programme which we had produced

View and download from:

https://www.flipsnack.com/DownGAA/afl-programme-down-v-leitrim.html

Teams for Under 20 Hurling Championship meeting of Down and Antrim at Ballycran at 2pm - Saturday 17th Oct.

Inter-county is back. And so are the match programmes.
Get yours at https://dbapublications.ie
It’s Allianz Hurling League finals this Sunday.

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Leitrim have conceded a walkover to Down in today’s Allianz Football League Division 3 clash scheduled for Pairc Esler, Newry.

Leitrim GAA confirmed the walkover this morning by releasing the following statement:

“Unfortunately, due to the greater health situation that has gripped the country, Leitrim GAA has found itself having to concede our Allianz League encounter versus Down today,” it read.

“A number of players are awaiting test results and unavailable to travel. Other factors also prevented further players from being available, considering this greater health situation, and in this course of action, we must respect this situation.

“In summation, we are unable to field a team. We are living through very difficult times in an ever-increasing pandemic situation. Leitrim GAA is acutely aware of the efforts that have been made to get the inter-county season up and running. However, on this occasion, we cannot fulfill this fixture which is regrettable.

“We are hopeful that our situation will have resolved itself before next weekend’s fixture versus Tipperary.”

It means Down move up to nine points before fellow promotion rivals Longford and Derry even kick a ball at Celtic Park later today (throw-in 4.30pm).

Along with Tipperary, Leitrim are currently on three points as they bid to avoid the drop with one round remaining.

Coiste Chontae an Duin have been informed by Leitrim that they cannot fulfil the Allianz Football League Fixture today due to lack of playing numbers available to travel. 

The fixture is thus conceded and will not now take place.