The following arrangements have been confirmed for the 2024 Scór na nÓg competitions:

• Friday 4th October - Deadline for submission of entries.

• Down Competition Dates will be confirmed once the number of Entries have been received, it is hoped that there will be qualifying competitions ahead of the County Final.

• Weekend 9th/10th November - Down Scór na nÓg Final.

Entries should be submitted by Friday, 4th October 2024 to irishculturalofficer.down@gaa.ie or secretary.scor.down@gaa.ie - see your Club Secretary for further information

• The Quiz (Trath na gCeist) will be a stand-alone event at a date to be confirmed.

• Participants must be Under 17 on 1st January 2024 ie born on/after 1st January 2007.

The Parador Lodge intermediate final will be contested by two sides who plied their trade in division three this year as Drumgath and Clann Na Banna won through in their semi finals over the weekend.

Drumgath got the action for the weekend underway with their game against Darragh Cross on Friday night. The first 25 minutes saw little separate the sides and a Shane Murray goal gave them Darragh an unlikely lead but in the moments before half time Cathal Tumilty’s flicked goal gave the Gath a significant boost going in at the break.

A flurry of early second half points which saw ‘keeper Ronan Burns bring his personal tally to four left Drumgath in charge and they plundered two late goals through Shea Byrne to seal the win in style with the final score coming in at 3-11 - 1-6.

On Saturday afternoon Clann Na Banna upset the odds against Rostrevor. A goal in either half from Conor Leneghan proved too much for the Seasiders to recover from with no standout, consistent scoregetter stepping up over the hour. There were moments of individual class from Ardghal McMahon, Hugh Pat McGeary and Shaun Parr among others for Rostrevor but as the game wore on the influence of Donal and Niall Scullion at key moments massively helped in relieving the pressure on the Clann Na Banna rearguard and their net minder Michael McAllister also played a key role with a standout double save to deny Conor Rock’s and Peter Magee as his side finished strongly to claim a four point win; 2-8 - 0-10.

For the third time in four years the Morgan Fuels senior championship final will be played between Burren and Kilcoo. The Magpies are in the decider for a thirteenth year on the spin following their 0-17 - 0-10 win over Glenn. Much of their work was done in the first half, a thirty minutes at the end of which they led 0-10 - 0-2.

As ever, Kilcoo has a wide range of scorers, ten in all with their joint top scorers in the game Paul Devlin and Niall Kane who each converted three points. Kane was in action at the other end too, repeatedly keeping Glenn at bay, his second half save from Shay Millar was key in sustaining the comfort Kilcoo were enjoying in the game.

In the second half Glenn showed more ambition with Millar repeatedly on target and driving bursts from defence from the likes of Patrick Brooks typifying their performance. In the end though, Kilcoo had the work done and were a constant menace on the counter attack, Sean Og McCusker reminding people of that with their final breakaway point as they sealed passage to another final.

They will play Burren in that final after the St Mary’s side beat Carryduff by a goal on Sunday evening; 1-10 - 0-10 the final score. It may not have been a classic but that won’t matter too much to the Burren men. After a tit for tat start a rather fortuitous James Guinness goal gave them a significant leg up. If Donal O’Hare was at fault for the concession of the goal he more than made up for it with a trio of fine points from dead balls.

Burren led by the slenderest of margins - a single point at the break and, right through the second half there remained virtually nothing between the sides. John McGeough helped push Carryduff forward while Burren launched retaliatory counters. In the end it was a stabbed Ronan Kelly finish from point blank range that gave Burren enough breathing space to be able to see the game out which gives the club celebrating its 100th year a chance to prepare for a county final in this landmark season.
 

Congratulations to all our winners in our September 2024 Draw and our Super Draw. An Ríochts - Nicky Doran was the main Super Draw prize winner, winning £5000.00 - Congratulations Nicky.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDownGAA/videos/1040707600703955/

FULL RESULTS:

Draw 6 - SEPTEMBER RESULTS

SPECIAL CLUB DRAW £200.00:
21AS051 Ardglass - Kieran Shields
22BT139 Bright - John Beattie
24GL020 Glenn - Danny McHugh
24OL049 St Michael’s - Billy Drake

5 Monthly Prizes of £1000.00:
24KO038 Kilcoo - Kerry Hynes
24BA014 Ballela - Owen McGreevy
23AN056 Aughlisnafin - Gerard O'Hare
24SJ118 St Johns - Jonathan Addis
23DK163 Downpatrick RGU - Sean & Ryan Conway


SUPER DRAW RESULTS
£1000.00 Winners:
243SS030 Newry Shamrocks - Gareth Loughran
24BS061 Ballyholland - Paul McAteer
24BD011 Bryansford - Eoin Murray
24MI003 St Michaels - David McCabe
24BD215 Bryansford - Bryansford GAC

£2000.00 Winners:
24CB186 Clann na Banna - Ciaran Bradley
24ME208 Mayobridge - Sharon Fitzpatrick
24CL106 Clonduff - Blaithn Shields
24PY037 Portaferry - Brian McNally
24CPN300 Cumann Pheadair Naofa - Ronan Gray

£5000.00 Winner:
15AR178 An Ríocht - Nicky Doran

Down GAA are delighted to be partnering with Pittsburgh Steelers and American Football Ireland to bring an exciting American Football Ireland Youth Camp to Páirc Esler, Newry on Saturday 28th September!

We will be joined by a host of U14 boys and girls from the clubs of Down GAA who will partake in a series of American Football based games and activities led by the Steelers and American Football Ireland coaches and former players.

Down GAA have signed a new three year Partnership Agreement with their official gear supplier O'NEILLS Irish International Sports Company. The Agreement, which will run to the end of 2027, includes plans for a new jersey to be launched within the coming months.

O'NEILLS will also be the new title sponsor for the Club Championship Allstars and the Annual Club and County Awards, which will be presented at the County Dinner in Newry on Saturday, 16 November. The Allstar scheme recognises the outstanding performances from across the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football and Hurling Championships in 2024. The annual awards dinner will also recognise the outstanding County Hurler and County Footballer of the Year, the Club of the Year and the Hall of Fame recipient.

Pictured today at the signing of the new contract are Paul Towell (Financial Director, O'Neills Irish Sports Company) and John Devaney (Chairperson, Down GAA).

Down GAA are now welcoming nominations from clubs who would like to send forward players for the 2024 U14 “Be Better” Hurling Programme.

This initiative is open to any player who is of proper U14 playing age in 2024 (U12 players not permitted).

The programme will commence on Saturday 5th October 2024 at 12.30pm in St Malachy’s HS Castlewellan and will run for 5 weeks. The sessions will finish around 2pm.

Over the coming weeks, participants will take part in a series of training sessions led by Down Senior Hurling players and coaches.

The programme will finish with a blitz style event on the final week in Pairc Esler, with Kilcormac Killoughey and Dunloy visiting.

One application must be submitted for each participant, via the link below.
https://forms.office.com/e/V8x7VfvQfe

The link will close at 12noon on Monday 30th September. 

Down GAA are seeking expressions of interest in the role of Athletic Development Internship with focus on strength and conditioning.

This is an opportunity to work with our best players in football and hurling.

Successful applicants will facilitate coaching and deliver strength, power, speed, agility and conditioning sessions for GAA athletes (pathway to senior) while developing experience and enhancing their professional development.

The role is an opportunity to avail of personal development, Down GAA will support successful candidate to obtain a strength and conditioning qualification as part of ongoing CPD development.

You will work alongside a skilled multidisciplinary team.

A full job description is attached on this image but can be requested as a PDF by emailing administrator.down@gaa.ie

Expressions of Interest via CV/cover letters must be sent to secretary.down@gaa.ie by 3pm on Thursday 26th September 2024.