Burren, Kilcoo and Clonduff qualify for SFC Semi Finals

The Morgan Fuels Down GAA SFC Quarter Finals took place over the weekend with Burren, Kilcoo and Clonduff all winning to qualify for the semi-finals which will be played on the weekend of the 22nd October.  The final spot will be taken by either Ballyholland or Glen who play this evening in Pairc Esler at 7.15pm.  That game is also being streamed live on DownGAA.TV

In the Sunday evening game Burren overcame Mayobridge 1-15 to 2-08, but the game could have gone either way until the dying minutes when Odhran Murdock hit the net in injury-time to book Burren's place in the last four.

Burren led by 0-09 to 0-03 at the break and looked in complete control.  During the second half Mayobridge fought back and regrouped by the second water break to bridge the gap to 4 points 0-11 to 0-07.  Early in the last quarter Mayobridge were awarded a penalty which Corey Quinn duly smashed into the net to reduce the gap to 1 point.

Burren once again went 3 points up before Mayobridge's Aaron Magee shot past Cillian Burns to level it with normal time up. With time up and the crowd expecting extra time Burren’s Danny Migill picked out Odhran Murdock who fired past Charlie Smyth to put Burren back in the lead and into the semi-finals along Clonduff and Kilcoo.  The draw for the semi-finals will take place after tonight’s last Quarter Final between Ballyholland and Glenn.

On Saturday afternoon current Champions Kilcoo were taken into extra time by Carryduff before they came out with a one-point victory over last year's beaten finalists to book a semi-final spot.

Kilcoo 1-18 Carryduff 3-11 (aet).

By half time Kilcoo had opened up 1-07 to 0-05 lead.  Carryduff continued to chip away at the Kilcoo lead after the break and reduced the gap to two-points before Kilcoo once again opened up a four-point lead with Ceilum Doherty and Shealan Johnston points with less than 10 minutes of normal time left.

James Guinness' scored the first of his two goals to reduce the gap to one, but once again Kilcoo stretched their lead back to three points.  Josh Connery in the dying minutes of second-half injury buried the ball into the back of the Kilcoo net to force the game into extra time.

During the first period of extra time the sides swapped points and at half time the score was 2-11 to 1-14.

During the second period of extra time Kilcoo fired over 4 unanswered points from Paul Devlin, Anthony Morgan, Jerome Johnston and Dillon Ward before Carryduff's James Guinness once again fired to the net to reduce the gap to 1 point, however time was up and Kilcoo advanced to the semi-finals.

On Sunday afternoons game Clonduff overcame RGU Downpatrick 1-15 to 0-12.  By the 1st water break Clonduff led 0-6 to 0-01, however by half time the sides were level at 0-08 apiece.

Clonduff opened up a three-point lead soon after the restart and, although Downpatrick did their best to stick the pace, a Ross Carr point and a brilliantly fashioned goal which was finished off by Barry O'Hagan confirmed Clonduff's superiority.

The draw for the semi-finals will be made following tonight's final quarter-final clash between Ballyholland and Glenn (7.15pm) which can be viewed on DownGAA.TV.

There will be FIVE live games on Down GAA TV this weekend as the senior football championship reaches the quarter-final stage. There will also be one game from the relegation semi-finals as Loughinisland take on Bryansford.

The pick of the bunch for many, will be Saturday’s quarter-final showdown between Kilcoo and Carryduff. The two clubs renew acquaintances in the championship after meeting in 2020’s final. Kilcoo retained their title on that occasion and 2021 sees them looking for their ninth title in ten years. 2020 was Carryduff’s first final at senior level and a massive breakthrough for the club. A knockout win on Saturday over kingpins Kilcoo would be another huge step forward. Find out if they can do it at 5pm.

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the Family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn of the death of Jimmy Joe Brannigan, Jimmy Joe was a great and loyal friend to Down GAA, a man who came from a family steeped in the GAA and the Bryansford Club in particular,  for many years Jimmy Joe was  as a member of our Team of Gatemen who give freely of their time to ensure that patrons are able to gain entry to games.

 This was an unseen role that had to be filled and, on all occasions, and in all weathers, Jimmy Joe was always reliable, he would have been there well in advance of start time and like his colleagues was often the last to leave, his quiet, pleasant demeanour endeared him to many who he met in this role.

We offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to his wife Marie, his daughter Attracta and Son Liam, grandchildren, great grandchildren and his sisters Teresa, Deirdre, Sheila and brother Aidan, and the Gaels of Bryansford on the loss of a husband, father and brother and a true Gael.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn of the death of Charlie Flynn in recent days.

Charlie Flynn was a Vice President of Drumaness and a former chairperson of the Club who had great vision for the Club, when he played a lead role in the founding of the Social Club. Charlie loved his Club, he had played for Drumaness, he had managed teams at all ages and then he had served too on the committee, he truly was a man who gave of his time for the betterment of others, a man who made a difference to the Club and the Community in Drumaness. We extend our sympathy to the Flynn family and to the Gaels of Drumaness on the loss of a True Gael. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA would like to extend our sympathies to the families of recently deceased, Joe McGrath and Mary McFarlane.

Joe McGrath was the President of Ardglass GAA and was a man who gave great service to the Club over many years, we extend our sympathy to Mary, Anne and Gerard on the loss of their father and to the Gaels of Ardglass on the loss of their Club President. Funeral Arrangements for Joe are as follows 

Funeral from his late residence 24 High Street Ardglass on Tuesday, 28th September 2021 at 12:45 pm for 1pm Requiem Mass in Saint Nicholas’ Church Ardglass. Interment afterwards in the adjoining Calvary cemetery.

Mary McFarlane was the mother of Malcolm, Chairperson of Bredagh and member of the East Down Committee, we extend our sympathies to Malcolm , the entire Mc Farlane family and to the Gaels of Bredagh. Funeral Arrangements for Mary are as follows :

Funeral from her late residence 74 Knockbracken Manor, Four Winds on Monday 27th September 2021 at 1.30pm for 2 pm Requiem Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Carryduff. Interment afterwards in Saint Joseph's Cemetery Ballycruttle.

2021 Down GAA Clubs Draw

• September 2021 RESULTS –

Congratulations to the winners in the September Draw

Club Winners (£200 each)

• Drumgath                       21DH117      Michael & Mairead McArdle
• Mayobridge                   21OL213      Rita McPolin
• Shamrocks                     21SS031       Damien McKeown
• Tullylish                           21TH047      Felix McCartan

Prize Winners (Draw 5 - 5 x £1,000)

• Bright                         21BT038                   Jude McCrissican
• Bright                         21BT152                   Nicola Magee
• Kilcoo                         21KO086                  Barry Russell
• St Pauls                     21SP181                   Martin Noonan
• An Riocht                  15AR111                  Gerard Rooney