2020 Down county football team season

Down county football team

2020 season
Manager	Paddy Tally
Stadium	Páirc Esler, Newry
NFL D3	2nd (promoted)
All-Ireland SFC	Did not qualify
Ulster SFC	Semi-finalist
Dr McKenna Cup	Semi-finalist
←  2019 2021  →

The following is a summary of Down county football team's 2020 season, which was its 117th year. The season was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[1] The season resumed in mid-October of the same year. ^[2]

Kits

Home

Away

Competitions

  Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed/Cancelled

Dr McKenna Cup

Main article: 2020 Dr McKenna Cup

The draw for the 2020 Dr McKenna Cup was made on 4 December 2019. ^{[3] [4]}

Fixtures

Date	Round	Home	Score	Away	Ground	Ref
29 December 2019	Group	Fermanagh	0-07 v 1-11	Down	Brewster Park, Enniskillen	[5]
8 January 2020	Group	Down	2-17 v 0-15	Antrim	Páirc Esler, Newry	[6]
12 January 2020	Semi-final	Tyrone	2-16 v 1-10	Down	Athletic Grounds, Armagh	[7]

Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PR	Pts	Qualification
1	Down	2	2	0	0	37	21	1.762	4	Advance to semi-final
2	Antrim	2	1	0	1	28	36	0.778	2
3	Fermanagh	2	0	0	2	20	28	0.714	0

Updated to match(es) played on 8 January 2020. Source: Ulster GAA

Reports

29 December 2019

14:00

Group Stage

Fermanagh	0-07 - 1-11	Down
L Kerr (1-03), R McGarry (0-01), P Havern (0-03), J Flynn (0-01), C Poland (0-01), L Middleton (0-01), R Carr (0-01)	Report	R Jones (0-01), G Jones (0-01), C Jones (0-03), D McGurn (0-02)

Brewster Park, Enniskillen

8 January 2020

20:00

Group Stage

Down	2-17 - 0-15	Antrim
B O'Hagan (1-02), P Havern (0-05), C Quinn (1-03), D OHagan (0-02), L Kerr (0-02), D Hughes (0-01), C Maginn (0-01), D McGuinness (0-01)	Report	P McBride (0-06), E Fyfe (0-01), E Walsh (0-01), R McCann (0-03), C Duffin (0-02), A Loughran (0-02)

Páirc Esler, Newry

12 January 2020

14:00

Semi Final

Tyrone	2-16 - 1-10	Down
B Gallen (0-1), R McNamee (0-1), B McDonnell (0-1), F Burns (0-1), D McCurry (0-7), C McCann (1-2), R O'Neill (0-2), R McHugh (1-1)	Report	D O'Hagan (0-1), C Poland (0-3), C Quinn (1-0), S Dornan (0-1), P Havern (0-2), L Kerr (0-1), D O’Hare (0-1) R McGarry (0-1)

Athletic Grounds, Armagh

National Football League Division 3

Main article: 2020 National Football League (Ireland)

Down competed in Division Three for the 2020 National League season. Fixtures were published by the GAA on 26 November 2019. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

On 12 March 2020, the GAA suspended the National League in mid-March due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games. ^[11] Games resumed in October 2020. ^[2]

Fixtures

Date	Round	Home	Score	Away	Ground	Ref
Saturday 26 January	Group	Tipperary	0-10 v 0-10	Down	Clonmel GAA Ground, Clonmel	[12]
Saturday 1 February	Group	Down	0-14 v 0-12	Derry	Páirc Esler, Newry	[13]
Sunday 9 February	Group	Cork	0-16 v 1-08	Down	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork	[14]
Saturday 22 February	Group	Down	2-13 v 1-14	Longford	Páirc Esler, Newry	[15]
Sunday 1 March	Group	Offaly	0-09 v 0-17	Down	O'Connor Park, Tullamore	[16]
Saturday 14 March	Group	Down	P v P	Leitrim	Páirc Esler, Newry	[17]
Sunday 22 March	Group	Louth	P v P	Down	Drogheda Park, Drogheda	[18]
Saturday 17 October	Group	Down	C v C	Leitrim	Páirc Esler, Newry	[19]
Sunday 25 October	Group	Louth	3-14 v 0-16	Down	Drogheda Park, Drogheda	[20]

Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Cork (P)	7	7	0	0	132	90	+42	14	NFL Division 3 champions and promotion to 2021 NFL Division 2
2	Down (P)	7	4	1	2	87	87	0	9 [lower-alpha 1]	Promotion to 2021 NFL Division 2
3	Derry	7	4	1	2	110	95	+15	9 [lower-alpha 1]
4	Longford	7	3	1	3	96	90	+6	7 [lower-alpha 2]
5	Tipperary	7	3	1	3	99	104	−5	7 [lower-alpha 2]
6	Offaly	7	2	1	4	102	111	−9	5
7	Leitrim (R)	7	1	1	5	90	109	−19	3	Relegation to 2021 NFL Division 4
8	Louth (R)	7	1	0	6	105	135	−30	2

Updated to match(es) played on 25 October 2020. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are involved, the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the competition 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Head-to-head result: Down 0-14 – 0-12 Derry.
2. Head-to-head result: Longford 3-12 – 3-7 Tipperary.

Reports

26 January 2020

14:00

Round 1

Tipperary	0-10 - 0-10	Down
Conor Sweeney (0-05), Evan Comerford (0-02), Steven O'Brien (0-01), Jack Kennedy (0-01), Liam Boland (0-01)	Report	Donal O'Hare (0-03), Owen McCabe(0-02), Rory Burns (0-02), Barry O'Hagan (0-01), Cory Quinn (0-01), Pat Havern (0-01)

Clonmel GAA Ground, Clonmel

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow)

1 February 2020

19:00

Round 2

Down	0-14 - 0-12	Derry
Conor Poland (0-01); Barry O’Hagan (0-02), Owen McCabe (0-01), Jerome Johnston (0-02), Cory Quinn (0-01), Donal O'Hare (0-06), Daniel Guinness (0-01)	Report	Shay Downey (0-01), Chrissy McKaigue (0-01), Benny Heron (0-01), Shane McGuigan (0-07, Alex Doherty (0-01), Christopher Bradley (0-01)

Páirc Esler, Newry

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh)

9 February 2020

14:00

Round 3

Cork	0-16 - 1-08	Down
Liam O'Donovan (0-01), Thomas Clancy (0-01), Tadhg Corkery (0-01), Ian Maguire (0-02), Brian Hartnett (0-01), Ruairí Deane (0-01), John O’Rourke (0-01); Damien Gore (0-03), Ciarán Sheehan (0-01), Cathail O'Mahony (0-03), Luke Connolly (0-01)	Report	Darren O'Hagan (0-02), Owen McCabe (0-02), Paul Devlin (0-01), Donal O’Hare (0-02), Jerome Johnston (1-01)

Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)

22 February 2020

19:00

Round 4

Down	2-13 - 1-14	Longford
D O'Hagan (0-01), J Flynn (0-02), B O'Hagan (0-03), K McKernan (0-01), L Kerr (0-02), D O'Hare (0-02), C Quinn (1-02), J Guinness (1-00)	Report	P Collum (0-02), D Gallagher (0-05), D Reynolds (0-01), P Lynn (0-02), L Connerton (1-01), D Mimnagh (0-03)

Páirc Esler, Newry

Referee: C Reilly (Meath)

1 March 2020

14:00

Round 5

Offaly	0-09 - 0-17	Down
Eoin Carroll (0-1), Michael Brazil (0-1), Anton Sullivan (0-2), Bernard Allen (0-1), Ruairi McNamee (0-3), Aaron Leavy (0-1)	Report	James Guinness (0-3), Barry O'Hagan (0-6), Ceilum Doherty (0-1), Liam Kerr (0-3), Cory Quinn (0-2), Owen McCabe (0-1), Connaire Harrison (0-1)

O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Referee: J Bermingham (Cork)

17 October 2020

15:30

Round 6

Down	w/o - conc	Leitrim
	Report

Páirc Esler, Newry

25 October 2020

14:00

Round 7

Louth	3-14 - 0-16	Down
D Campbell 0-01, J Clutterbuck (0-01), T Durnin (0-01), B Duffy (0-01); L Jackson (0-01), C Keenan (1-01), C McKeever (1-00), S Mulroy (1-07, 0-06f)	Report	D Ward (0-02), R Johnston (0-04), P Devlin (0-06, 0-04f), B O’Hagan (0-04, 0-04f)

Dowdallshill, Dundalk

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

Main article: 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship took place on 9 October 2019. ^{[21] [22] [23]} On 26 November 2019, it was confirmed that Down would face Fermanagh on 24 May 2020. ^[24] This date was then changed to 8 November due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[2]

Fixtures

Date	Round	Team 1	Score	Team 2	Ground	Ref
8 November 2020	Quarter Final	Fermanagh	0-11 v 1-15	Down	Brewster Park, Enniskillen	[25]
15 November 2020	Semi Final	Cavan	1-14 v 1-13	Down	Athletic Grounds, Armagh	[26]

Bracket

	Preliminary round					Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
						Donegal		1-13
						Tyrone		1-11
											Donegal		1-22
											Armagh		0-13
						Derry		0-15
						Armagh		0-17
																Donegal		0-12
																Cavan		1-13
						Fermanagh		0-11
						Down		1-15
											Down		1-13
											Cavan		1-14
						Antrim		0-9
	Monaghan		1-17			Cavan		0-13
	Cavan		2-15

Reports

8 November 2020

13:30

Quarter Final

Fermanagh	0-11 - 1-15	Down
C Corrigan (0-1) D McGurn (0-1), T Corrigan (0-6), D Teague (0-1), Jones (0-1), P McCusker (0-1)	Report	C Mooney (0-2), B O'Hagan (0-4), J Johnston (0-2), D O'Hare (1-4), C Quinn (0-1), R Johnston (0-2)

Brewster Park, Enniskillen

Attendance: 0

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

15 November 2020

13:30

Semi Final

Cavan	1-14 - 1-13	Down
P Faulkner (0-01), K Clarke (0-01), C Brady (0-01), K Brady (0-01), M Reilly (1-00 (pen), G McKiernan (0-03), T Galligan (0-03, 1m), S Smith (0-01), C Madden (0-03)	Report	P Delvin (0-03), J Johnston (0-04), D O'Hare (0-04), C Doherty (1-01), S Johnston (0-01)

Athletic Grounds, Armagh

Attendance: 0

Referee: M McNally (Monaghan)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Main article: 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, the GAA announced that there would be no back-door route into the All-Ireland Championship. Therefore, because Down did not win the Ulster Championship, they did not qualify for the 2020 All-Ireland Championship.

References

1. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ . 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
2. Ryan, Eoin (25 September 2020). "Leinster bides time as GAA confirms 2020 inter-county fixtures". RTÉ . Retrieved 25 September 2020.
3. "McKenna Cup: Holders Tyrone drawn against Armagh and Cavan". BBC . Retrieved 4 December 2019.
4. "McKenna Cup draw: holders Tyrone grouped with Armagh and Cavan". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
5. "Dr McKenna Cup: Wins for Monaghan, Armagh and Down on opening day". BBC . Retrieved 29 December 2019.
6. "Dr McKenna Cup round-up: Tyrone remain on course for title defence". RTÉ . 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
7. "Dr McKenna Cup: Tyrone set up Monaghan final with 2-16 to 1-10 win over Down". BBC . Retrieved 12 January 2020.
8. "GAA Master Fixture schedule for 2020 published". GAA . Retrieved 26 November 2019.
9. "Football League and All-Ireland Club SFC dates confirmed as GAA release fixture schedule". BBC . Retrieved 26 November 2019.
10. Ryan, Eoin (26 November 2019). "Dubs and Kerry to renew battle in Allianz Football League opener". RTÉ . Retrieved 26 November 2019.
11. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ . 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
12. Brophy, Shane (26 January 2020). "Down forced to settle for draw with 14-man Tipp". RTÉ . Retrieved 26 January 2020.
13. Bannon, Dan (February 2020). "Late surge sees Down overcome Derry in Newry". RTÉ . Retrieved 1 February 2020.
14. Hurley, Denis (9 February 2020). "Cork in cruise control as they dispatch Down to make it three from three in Division 3". RTÉ . Retrieved 9 February 2020.
15. O'Flaherty, Deniese (22 February 2020). "Guinness strikes late to give Down a priceless victory". RTÉ . Retrieved 22 February 2020.
16. "Down on track for promotion as Offaly swatted away". RTÉ . March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
17. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ . 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
18. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ . 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
19. Lawlor, Damian (17 October 2020). "Leitrim unable to field and concede Division 3 game to Down". RTÉ . Retrieved 17 October 2020.
20. Bannon, Dan (25 October 2020). "Louth finish campaign on high with victory against Down". RTÉ . Retrieved 25 October 2020.
21. "Donegal and Tyrone to clash in 2020 Ulster SFC Quarter-Finals". GAA . Retrieved 9 October 2019.
22. "Donegal to take on Tyrone in 2020 Ulster SFC quarter-finals". Irish Times . Retrieved 9 October 2019.
23. "Ulster SFC: Fierce rivals Donegal and Tyrone clash in quarter-finals". BBC . Retrieved 9 October 2019.
24. "Fixture details confirmed for the Ulster Senior Football Championship". Gaelic Life. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
25. McLaughlin, Gerry (8 November 2020). "Down overcome depleted Fermanagh to reach Ulster semi".
26. Mooney, Francis (15 November 2020). "Cavan overturn ten-point deficit to reach Ulster final".