#Last20Years: Down's best team from the last two decades
Cahair O'Kane from the Irish News selects his best 15 footballers to represent Down over the past 20 years.

Cahair O'Kane
04 December, 2019

1. Brendan McVeigh
IT had to be a McVeigh, but the question is which one? Mickey had been a magnificent custodian from 1995 until 2007, and was incredibly unfortunate not to win an Allstar. But Brendan stepped in and was inspirational in Down’s run to the 2010 All-Ireland final, when he did win the Allstar. It seems cruel to pick one over the other, but Brendan just edges it.

2. Darren O’Hagan
DURING what has largely been a lull period for Down football, Darren O’Hagan has stood out as someone that would have taken his place on any of the county’s great teams. He’s been trusted with the big man-marking roles by successive managers, but occasionally he gets let off the leash to go and play at wing-back, where he can cause teams serious trouble going the other way.

3. Dan Gordon
THERE were days when he could rule the edge of his own square, yet it almost feels harsh to judge Gordon solely on his performances at full-back. It was only ever a makeshift that he was asked to fill in 2010, which just so happened to bring the scrutiny of a run to the All-Ireland final. He was known to be effective at full-forward – remember particularly that drawn Ulster final against Tyrone – and was seen around midfield too. Never let the side down no matter which job he was given.

4. Damien Rafferty
ONE of the more unsung members of the Mourne side that reached the 2010 All-Ireland final, Rafferty was held in the greatest of esteem by his team-mates. A teak-tough corner-back, he was the man James McCartan entrusted with so many of the big jobs, not least trying to shackle Colm Cooper in the famous quarter-final win over Kerry. His career was cut short by a recurring groin injury that forced him to retire in 2012. Edges out Benny McArdle.

5. Caolan Mooney
THE early part of his career was lost to the AFL after Collingwood plucked him from the successful St Colman’s teams and took him away from Down. But since his return in 2014, he’s been arguably the one man on the Down team that opposition teams get themselves into a twist trying to stop. His pace is truly frightening and his eye for a score makes him a menacing wing-back. Squeezes in ahead of Declan Rooney.

6. Liam Doyle
AS was the case with just too many of that Down generation, Liam Doyle was an outstanding talent who was simply tormented by injury. Having captained the minors to an All-Ireland in ’99, he would retire in 2015 but spent so much of the time in between sidelined. He was the ideal man for the troublesome number six shirt and when he was fit, there were none better. From 2007 until 2011, he played very little football, missing the 2010 run altogether. Kept trying and only gave in at the age of 33.

7. Conor Garvey
FOR the few years when he was a regular in the team, Down had no better defender than Conor Garvey. Between 2009 and 2013, he was one of the best about. Although he could have comfortably done a job in the full-back line, he played the majority of his football at number seven. Always good for a score, he lost a chunk out of his career after suffering a serious eye injury in 2013, but came back to briefly play in the red and black again after recovering.

8. Kevin McKernan
MARKED himself out as a superb talent during the 2010 season, where he threatened to follow in the footsteps of his father Brendan in winning an All-Ireland. Excelled at centre-back that year, and returned there in 2019, but has played all manner of roles in the time in between. Always loved a good Hollywood score off the outside of the right boot, a technique he perfected. An outstanding reader of the game.

9. Ambrose Rogers
THE biggest regret that hangs over Down football from 2010 is that Ambrose Rogers wasn’t fit to play because of a cruciate injury. He was such a guiding figure at midfield for the Mournemen and in such good form before the injury that in the context of a one-point defeat, they have a good case to rue his absence. Called in at 19 by Paddy O’Rourke, his performances saw him emerge from his great father’s shadow and become an outstanding footballer in his own right - but another whose injuries took away the best of him.

10. Danny Hughes
DANNY Hughes always felt that he was more of a natural finisher than ending up out at number 10, where he played most of his county football. But he bought into the wing-forward role in a big way in 2010, and was outstanding. Fanatical about his conditioning, Hughes scored three points in the All-Ireland final that year and picked up an Allstar for his displays.

11. Marty Clarke
TO all intents and purposes, Marty Clarke played one full season for Down at the peak of his powers. But given the season that it was, and the impact he had on it, it’s impossible not to include him in the team. While his GAA career was largely lost to the AFL, Clarke returned home in 2010 and took over as playmaker and free-taker. They would never have been in an All-Ireland final without him. Only played fleetingly beyond his second return from the AFL as he struggled with illness that eventually forced him to retire.

12. Conor Maginn
THERE’S not much room in the modern game for the archetypal centre-forward, but Conor Maginn continues to defy the sport’s attempts to get rid of him and his kind. A very deft footballer, Maginn has dictated so much of Down’s attacking play in recent years. Rarely finished a game without a score, but it was largely his playmaking ability that marked him out.

13. Donal O’Hare
IN 2017, when The Irish News compiled a list of the top championship scorers still playing in Ulster, Donal O’Hare was 11th. But of them all, his average points per game came second to only Sean Quigley. The Burren forward is a deadly marksman, and indeed this year was arguably his best ever in Down colours. With a keen eye for goal, his numbers speak for themselves.

14. Benny Coulter
PROBABLY Down’s best player of the last 20 years, Coulter was just one of those unmarkable talents. The pace, the willingness to take men on, and the finishing to back it up, he tormented defenders across the land. Has scored the most goals in the history of the Ulster Championship. Made his senior debut as a minor and went on to captain the county play in five International Rules series’ for Ireland.

15. Mark Poland
MADE his championship debut against Sligo in 2006 but it took him a while thereafter to establish himself. He only really came to prominence in 2010, helped by that goal in the first minute against Kerry, but from there until the end of his career in 2017, he was one of their most inventive attacking resources. Had the ability to carve defences open with his vision, and was a good finisher.

Croke Park today confirmed Pairc Esler as the venue for the All Ireland Hurling Semi-final between Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) and Slaughtneil (Derry).  The game will take place on Sunday 5th Janurary at 2pm.  The second semi final between St Thomas (Galway) and Borris-Ileigh (Tipperary) will take place in LIT Gaelic Grounds at 4pm.

Both matches will be televised live on TG4. 

Sunday 5 January
All-Ireland club SHC semi-finals
Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) v Slaughtneil (Derry), Pairc Elser, 2pm - TG4
St Thomas (Galway) v Borris-Ileigh (Tipperary), LIT Gaelic Ground, 4pm - TG4

Ulster GAA has launched its plans for 2020 Club Officer Training which is set to take place in January for all club officers across Ulster’s nine counties.

This year, Ulster GAA is aligning with the National Leadership Programme.  This will streamline all training for club officers to minimise the demands on the time of club volunteers, while still providing high quality essential training to empower club officers in their roles going forward in 2020.

The training will be delivered across four clusters and will include two training sessions.  The first session is role specific training for people new to their roles in 2020 or any officer wishing to update their skills and knowledge.  The second session is topic specific workshops which will deal with key issues facing GAA clubs in 2020 open to all Club Officers/Volunteers.

All clubs are encouraged to ensure that their club is represented at all these training sessions.

Club Officers: Role Specific Training

Ulster GAA in association with Croke Park are offering Club Officers new to their role in 2020 and any club officer wishing to update their skills and knowledge of their role, the opportunity to undertake role specific training.

Role Specific Training is available for:

1. Chairperson

2. Secretary

3. Treasurer

4. PRO

5.  Development Officer

6. Coaching Officer (all coaches welcome)

7. Irish Language & Culture Officer

The schedule for delivery of this training across Ulster is as follows, all training takes place from 6:30pm-9pm:

Cluster 2: Armagh, Down – St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook – Thursday 9th January

Club Officers: Development Training

The Club Officer Development Training provides club officers with topic specific workshops to prepare them for their duties over the coming year.  All clubs are asked to send at least 4 representatives to their cluster event.

The schedule for these training sessions and workshops available are as follows, all training takes place from 6:30pm-9pm:

Cluster 2: Armagh, Down – St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook – Thursday 23rd January

·         Creating a Safe Club

·         Doing Things Right – Good Governance in your GAA Club

·         Upholding disciplinary rules and procedures

·         Health & Wellbeing

Registration is essential as places are limited for all workshops.

To register log onto www.ulster.gaa.ie/officertraining

Please note, this programme is part of the GAA’s National Club Officer Leadership Programme, Ulster GAA’s Volunteer Development Pathway and meets a requirement of Club Maith.

Ulster GAA are currently undertaking an audit of all GAA units to get an accurate picture of the sheer volume of work that our clubs are carrying out across the Province.

This audit, of all of our clubs, has been commissioned to present an accurate picture of the health of the GAA in Ulster.

The information gathered from the audit will help:

• Set the baselines and inform our local councils, sports council and other funding agencies when your county and clubs make presentations for support
• Clubs to get a snapshot of where they are in a number of key areas and is so doing assess the gaps and then develop the plans to provide support in areas identified.

The audit will focus on a number of key areas for clubs across the province:

1. Memberships – (numbers of boys, girls, nursery, juvenile, youth adult, disabilities)
2. Volunteers – (active volunteers who help out in the club and committee members)
3. Safeguarding – (training and vetting – Access NI / Garda vetting)
4. Facilities and activities offered within the club
5. Coaching – (active coaches, coaching levels)
6. Scór and Irish language activity
7. Health and Wellness activity
8. Financial health of the club.

A member of staff from your county or from Ulster GAA will be in touch with each club within the province over the coming weeks to arrange completion of the audit.

Down hurling manager Ronan Sheehan has been the GPA representative on the Fixture Task Force and he confirms that discussions are ongoing between the two bodies.

"I think we have to be sensible here," says Lloyds Bank business development manager Sheehan. "County players are also club players, so there has to be common ground. As a Task Force, we feel we have come up with recommendations that have the interests of all players at heart.

"The measures which we are suggesting in relation to the playing of club fixtures will be seen as a mechanism whereby existing governance can be tightened up. It is important that players at club level are given every chance to play, particularly at what are viewed to be prime periods of the summer from a GAA perspective."

Sheehan also stresses that streamlined club fixtures structures are essential if the GAA is to retain its players.

"We shouldn't forget that players can still enjoy recreational soccer on Saturdays without having to engage in some of the demands such as strength and conditioning that are made on them in Gaelic games," adds Sheehan.

The Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup competition ticket 2020 is now available for sale!

Priced at £18/€20 the card is not county specific so patrons can attend any fixture within the competition, including both Semi-Finals and the Final.

Place your order today by contacting Ulster GAA on 02837521900

#BOIMcKennaCup

The Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup competition ticket 2020 is now available for sale!

Priced at £18/€20 the card is not county specific so patrons can attend any fixture within the competition, including both Semi-Finals and the Final.

Place your order today by contacting Ulster GAA on 02837521900

#BOIMcKennaCup

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The official competition launch and draw for the 2020 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup took place on Wednesday 4th December at Riddel Hall, Belfast.

Players and officials from each of the competing nine counties attended the draw along with a large media presence.

The draw was conducted by Ulster GAA President Oliver Galligan and Terry McCrudden, on behalf of competition sponsors Bank of Ireland.

Oliver Galligan, Ulster GAA President commented:

“The Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup gives our county teams the opportunity to get back to much needed competitive action ahead of the National League.

‘‘Our supporters also enjoy getting back out to follow their teams after the inter-county off-season. Over 45,000 supporters attended our games last December and January and we expect another series of exciting matches in the 2020 competition.”

Terry McCrudden, Regional Manager, Bank of Ireland added:

“We’re delighted to sponsor the Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup for another year and see our partnership continue to go from strength to strength.  Our purpose as a Bank is to help our customers, colleagues and communities to thrive, and so we recognise the importance of supporting everyone involved in making a competition like this so successful. We’re looking forward to another exciting season of competition fixtures between the Counties. We wish everyone taking part the very best of luck!”

The draw was as follows:

•          Section A: Muineachán, Dún na nGall, Doire

•          Section B: Aontroim, An Dún, Fear Manach

•          Section C: Ard Mhacha, An Cabhán, Tír Eoghain

Semi Finals Draw:

•          Section C Winner v Section B Winner

•          Best Runner-Up v Section A Winner