Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn of the death of Hugh McNamara. Hugh was a former County Footballer making his championship debut in 1951 and being a regular in the Down defence up to the end of the 1957 Championship. 

An outstanding servant to his Club Loughinisland,  as player and administrator, Hugh would then in 1961 manage Newry Shamrocks to win the Down Senior Football Championship, defeating local rivals Mitchels in a Final, which was not played until 1962.

In 1970 Hugh became the first Principal of St Marks High School and from the outset he ensured that Gaelic Games and Gaelic Culture would be at the centre of school life, under the leadership of Hugh McNamara, St Mark's would become the dominant Vocational School in Down, Ulster and on four occasions in Ireland, many of its past pupils would go on to wear the Red and Black. Hugh McNamara encouraged the promotion of Gaelic Football, Hurling and Camogie, he had a passionate interest in seeing players develop to be the best that they could be, standards were set and a culture of sportsmanship and integrity was encouraged.

In 1985 Hugh chaired what was known as the Newry Football Commission looking at all aspects of Gaelic Games in the area, indeed many of the suggestions made by the commission as to future developments are as relevant today, and still need to be addressed as they were in 1983, he was at all times a man of vision.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his daughters Ann and Grainne, his sons in law, Kevin and Tom, his grandchildren Kelly -Ann, Mark, Peter, Anna, Páraic and the entire family circle. We also extend our condolences to the Gaels of Loughinsland and the School Community of St Marks on the loss of a man who made a difference to the lives of many.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam

Joe McDonagh Cup, 20^th Apr 2024, McKenna Park Ballycran

Report Dermot Donelly  Photo Philip Walsh 

Down 3-24   Meath 0-25

An eight-point win doesn’t really tell the dominance of Down second half display, as Meath trailing by five points at the break, were kept to just two points from play for the remainder of the game. Padraig O’Hanrahan gave a near flawless exhibition in free taking throughout the day, with an impressive 16 dead ball conversions from all angles and distances, as he kept Meath in the contest when their attack had sputtered and faltered to a halt, as their hosts teamwork & defensive unit performance built a winning platform as very happy Ronan Sheehan heaped praise on his charges after the game.

“The boys were excellent! They used the ball really well to create five clear goal chances”, “Overall our defence was excellent, particularly the full backs with Matt Conlon outstanding, highlighted by the fact we only allowed Meath to just two points from play in the second half”.

Meath opened the scoring when the lively Eamon Óg Ó Donnchadha slotted over from the narrowest of angles inside the first minute. Pearse Óg McCrickard levelled shortly after from a free, before Meath’s Padraig O’Hanrahan had his first placed ball completion to help the visitors to a slight advantage, that is until Tim Prenter sprinted clear after fifteen minutes to smash high to the Meath net and level the contest, 1-3 to 0-6. From there Down never looked back and points from the Sands brothers, Paul Sheehan and half backs Tom Murray & McCrickard gave Down a well-deserved 1-15 to 0-13 half time lead.

O’Hanrahan & Finn Turpin traded scores in the opening few seconds of the second half, but when Prenter raised a second green flag with two minutes played, Down was now out of sight. Nicky Potterton & Simon Ennis got second half scores for the Royals, but as Downs free count started to escalate, O’Hanrahan kept the Royals within pouncing distance with another ten placed balls to Keep Meath alive. Sheehan said “We’d be disappointed with the free count and our discipline needs to be better.” “I think if the game had been closer than some of those frees probably wouldn't have been called, but no doubt we can't concede 15 frees the next day out”.

Although looking stronger as the game approached the final quarter the hosts still only had a four advantage, until Paul Sheehan played a cross field ball to Daithí Sands, who despite being heavily marshalled by Sean Geraghty managed to slip free and get his shot in passed Charlie Ennis for Down’s third green flag and a comfortable seven-point cushion.

Looking forward to next weeks’ trip to Tralee Down manager said “It looks like we have clean bill of health from today and Pearse Óg got some game time, after his injury against Laois whilst we are hoping to have Danny Toner and John McManus back for the trip”. He went on to add “but, I’m delighted with the win today, it’s a massive step towards our primary goal of McDonagh Cup safety”.

Down: S Keith, M Conlan, C Cassidy, D Mallon, T Murray (0-1), R McCrickard (0-1), C Taggart (0-1), D Hughes (0-1), L Savage (0-1), P Sheehan (0-5, 3f), P Óg McCrickard (0-3, 2f), E Sands (0-3), D Sands (1-2), F Turpin (0-1), T Prenter (2-2)

Sub: C Egan for P Og McCrickard, P Savage for Turpin, O MacManus (0-2, 1f) for E Sands, M Fisher (0-1) for Sheehan, B Trainor for Prenter

Meath: C Ennis, J Ennis, S Geraghty, D Shine, K Gorman, J Toher (0-1), J Kelly, S Ennis (0-2), N McLarnon (0-1), T Shine, S Quigley, S Martin (0-1), P O’Hanrahan (0-17, 15f, 1 65’), N Potterton (0-1), E Óg Ó Donnchadha (0-2)

Sub: A Kelly for Martin, J Walsh for T Shine, M Burke for J Ennis, L Leavy for McLarnon

Referee – Colm McDonald (Antrim).

Recap as Down grind out hard-fought four-point win over Antrim

The Mournemen will face Fermanagh or Armagh in the Ulster SFC semi-final after edging out the Saffrons in Newry

By Paddy Tierney  Photo Louis McNally 

Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final: Down 0-13 Antrim 0-9

Down are through to the last four of the Ulster Championship after a thoroughly unconvincing four-point win over Antrim in a tempestuous game in Páirc Esler on Saturday.

When the teams met in the League, Down came away from Corrigan Park with a nine-point victory.

Antrim’s hopes of closing the gap suffered a hammer blow midweek when Ruairi McCann of Aghagallon, who scored the vital goal against Wicklow in round seven, was ruled out after having an operation to remove his appendix and Antrim lacked a focal point in attack.

As the teams broke from the pre-match parade, Down midfielder Odhran Murdock barraged into Antrim goalkeeper Mick Byrne and a series of mini scuffles broke out before throw-in.

Barry Cassidy booked Murdock and Joe Finnegan before the game got under way.

Down made the brighter start with early points from Ryan McEvoy and a free from Pat Havern.

However, playing into a strong breeze, they overhit several passes and couldn’t assert themselves on the game and could have fallen behind when Finnegan went through on goal after 10 minutes with John O’Hare making a smart save at the expense of a 45, which Byrne converted.

A cracking point from play from the lively Ryan McQuillan drew Antrim level before Down replied with points from Miceal Rooney and Murdock.

Down were good value for a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at half-time with Ryan Johnston splitting the posts with a fine point from a mark while Antrim defender Kavan Keenan was slightly fortunate to avoid a second booking moments after his first when he caught Johnston with a high challenge.

As the teams went in at half-time, there was an altercation between a member of the Antrim backroom team and Down’s Conor Francis, who wasn’t part of their match-day squad.

Cassidy issued a red card to Brendan Murphy, Antrim’s strength and conditioning coach, although the Saffrons were adamant the Derry whistler had singled out the wrong man.

Points from Daniel Guinness and Oisin Savage moved Down into a five-point lead as the game slipped away from Antrim in the early stages of the second half.

In such the same manner as the first, some wayward shooting and poor decision-making from Down left the door ajar for Antrim and McEntee’s side reduced the deficit to three on two occasions with Eoghan McCabe and Marc Jordan landing good scores.

Despite nine minutes of injury-time owing to a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Antrim full-back Eunan Walsh, the Saffrons couldn’t engineer a goal chance as Down progressed to the Ulster semi-final where they’ll face Fermanagh or Armagh in a fortnight’s time.

DOWN: J O’Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy 0-1, C Doherty 0-1; M Rooney 0-1, P Laverty, D Guinness 0-2; C McCrickard, O Murdock 0-1; S Johnston, L Kerr 0-1, R Johnston 0-1 (0-1m); B O’Hagan, P Havern 0-1 (0-1f), D Magill.

Subs: O Savage 0-3 (0-2fs, 0-1m) for Havern (23), E Brown for McCrickard (47), S Annett (0-1) for O’Hagan (52), R Magill for S Johnston (61), R Mason for Magill (74).

ANTRIM: M Byrne 0-1 (0-1 45); R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; D Lynch, J Finnegan, D McAleese; C Hynds, M Jordan 0-1; C Hand 0-1, P McBride 0-1 (0-1f), E McCabe 0-1; R McQuillan 0-3 (0-2fs), R McCann 0-1 (0-1f), D McEnhill.

Subs: N Burns for McEnhill (HT) P McAleer for Boyle (52), E Hynds for Walsh (67), P Shivers for McQuillan (76).

REFEREE: B Cassidy (Derry).

Round 7: Down v Clare

Páirc Esler, Newry - Sunday 24/03/2024 - 2pm

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Report BBC Sport - Photo Louis McNally 

Westmeath and Down played out a pulsating 0-13 to 1-10 draw in their Division Three game at Cusack Park.

Down led 0-4 to 0-3 at the break after a low scoring first half, before the second half exploded into life after Daniel McGuinness's goal.

It was nip-and-tuck right up to the closing stages, with Ryan McEvoy's late point rescuing a draw for Down.

Both teams remain unbeaten, with promotion to Division Two to be decided on the final weekend of fixtures.

Down need to avoid defeat against third-placed Clare next weekend to go up, whilst Clare need a win in Newry to seal promotion which would condemn the Mourne County to another season of Division Three football if Westmeath win in Sligo.

In the top of the table clash at Cusack Park, Westmeath made the better start to the game and registered the first point of the game on eight minutes, with Jonathan Lynam curling home from the right hand side.

Robbie Forde clipped over their second point, before Pat Havern's free got Down on the scoreboard for the first time after 18 minutes.

The Mourne County's sluggish opening to the game was epitomised by a number of wides they hit from good positions with the likes of Havern, Caolan Mooney and Odhran Murdock culpable.

They drew level when James McGuinness curled over their second point of the game, 10 minutes after the first.

A minute later, Danny Magill fisted over a third to edge them in front when he could have gone for goal.

James Dolan levelled for Westmeath, before a point from Havern from a tight angle gave the away side a narrow lead at the interval.

End-to-end second half

Whist the first 35 minutes was cagey, the second half was much more open at each end.

An early free from Havern stretched Down's lead to two points, before Forde pointed to bring the hosts back to within one.

Guinness' well-taken goal on 43 minutes nudged the visitors further ahead, before the points at each end started to flow.

Westmeath claimed the next three through Ryan O'Toole, Forde and Luke Loughlin from a free, to keep them in touch, before Ceilum Doherty re-established Down's advantage.

Kieran Martin and Havern exchanged points, with Mattie Whittaker and Ray Connellan both splitting the posts to haul Westmeath level.

Murdock and Ryan Johnson pushed Down two points ahead again, before Loughlin and Forde replied for the hosts in this end-to-end encounter.

A great point from Loughlin looked to have snatched the victory for Westmeath, before an equally impressive effort from McEvoy late in the game snatched a draw for Laverty's men.

THE SIDES

Down: J O’Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy (0-1), C Doherty (0-1); M Rooney, P Laverty, D Guinness (1-0); N McParland, C Mooney; D Magill (0-1), L Kerr, R Johnston (0-1); O Murdoch (0-1), P Havern (0-4, 3f), J Guinness (0-1).

Subs: J Flynn for McParland (h-t), A Gilmore for Mooney (inj., 42), S Annett for J Guinness (46), C Francis for D Magill (58), R Mason for Johnston (69).

Westmeath: J Daly; D Scahill, K Maguire, J Dolan (0-1); A McCormack, D Lynch, N Harte; R Connellan (0-1), J Lynam (0-1); K Martin (0-1), R O’Toole (0-1), S McCartan; C Dillon, L Loughlin (0-3, 2f), D McCartan.

Sunday 17th March

Report Kevin Eagan, Photo Ray McManus Sportsfile 

A Daithí Sands hat-trick helped Down to a comfortable 3-19 to 1-16 win over Meath on Saturday, securing a second trip to Portlaoise in this campaign and an opportunity to improve on their 2-18 to 0-17 defeat last month.

A Jack Walsh goal for Meath gave the Royals a great start but they fell away in the second quarter, coughing up a seven-point lead thanks to the first two goals that were scored by Sands.

With the scores at 2-9 to 1-10 there wasn’t much between them and when Down’s Eoghan Sands received a red card early in the second half there was further opportunity for Meath to try and put pressure on their hosts, but another goal from Daithí Sands soon after sucked the life out of their challenge and they faded away.

Round 5: Down v Meath

McKenna Park, Ballycran - Saturday 16/03/2024 - 2pm

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Round 6: Westmeath v Down

TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar - Sunday 17/03/2024 - 2pm

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