2024 Down county football team season

Last updated

Down county football team
2024 season
Manager Conor Laverty
Stadium Páirc Esler, Newry
NFL D3 1st (Runner-up in final)
Tailteann Cup Winners
Ulster SFC Semi-Final
Dr McKenna Cup Group stage
  2023
2025  

The following is a summary of Down county football team's 2024 season, which is its 121st year.

Contents

Competitions

Down will compete in the pre-season McKenna Cup tournament, with the main season consisting of the National Football League Division 3, the Ulster Championship and either the All Ireland Senior Football Championship or the Tailteann Cup.

Dr McKenna Cup

The draw for the 2024 Dr McKenna Cup took place on 14 December 2023. [1] [2]

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Derry.svg Derry 22002823+54Advance to semi-final
2 Colours of Down.svg Down 2101313102
3 Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan 2002313650
Source: Ulster GAA

Fixtures

6 January 2024Round 2 Derry Colours of Derry.svg 0–13 – 0–10 Colours of Down.svg Down Derry
18:00 IWT (UTC)Shane McGuigan 0–3 (0–3f), Paul Cassidy 0–2, Conor Doherty 0–2, Niall Loughlin 0–2 (0–2f), Diarmuid Baker 0–1, Chrissy McKaigue 0–1, Gareth McKinless 0–1, Declan Cassidy 0–1 Report Pat Havern 0–3 (0–2f), Daniel Guinness 0–1, Odhran Murdock 0–1, Johnny Flynn 0–1, Ceilum Doherty 0–1, James Guinness 0–1, Liam Kerr 0–1 (0–1f), Andrew Gilmore 0–1 (0–1f)Stadium: Celtic Park
Referee: Enda McFeely
10 January 2024Round 3 Down Colours of Down.svg 2–15 – 1–15 Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan Newry
19:30 IWT (UTC)Pat Havern 0–5, Rory Mason 1–1 (0–1f), Odhran Murdock 1–1, Oisin Savage 0–2, Pearse McCabe 0–1, Pierce Laverty 0–1, Gareth McKibben 0–1, Liam Kerr 0–1, Jack McCartan 0–1, Pól Quinn 0–1 Report Oisin Brady 0–7, Brían O'Connell 1–0, Paddy Lynch 0–3 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), James Galligan 0–1, Padraig Faulkner 0–1, Tiarnan Madden 0–1, James Smith 0–1, Jack Tully 0–1Stadium: Páirc Esler
Referee: Diarmuid Boylan

National Football League Division 3

Down will compete in Division Three of the National League in 2024. The fixtures were confirmed on 6 December 2023. [3] [4]

Fixtures

  Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed/Cancelled

DateRoundHomeScoreAwayGroundRef
Saturday 28 JanuaryGroup Wicklow 0-13 v 0-18 Down Aughrim County Ground [5]
Saturday 3 FebruaryGroup Down 3-16 v 0-09 Limerick Páirc Esler, Newry [6]
Sunday 18 FebruaryGroup Antrim 1-06 v 1-15 Down Corrigan Park [7]
Saturday 24 FebruaryGroup Down 4-12 v 2-14 Offaly Páirc Esler, Newry [8]
Sunday 3 MarchGroup Down 2-17 v 1-08 Sligo Páirc Esler, Newry [9]
Sunday 17 MarchGroup Westmeath 0-13 v 1-10 Down Cusack Park, Mullingar [10]
Sunday 24 MarchGroup Down 3-15 v 1-10 Clare Páirc Esler, Newry [11]
Saturday 30 MarchFinal Down 0-13 v 2-10 Westmeath Croke Park, Dublin [12]

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Down.svg Down 761014588+5713Advance to NFL Division 3 Final and
promotion to 2025 NFL Division 2
2 Colours of Westmeath.svg Westmeath 75119583+1211
3 Colours of Clare.svg Clare 750210695+1110
4 Colours of Sligo.svg Sligo 741210396+79
5 Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 730494106126
6 Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly 7214111100+115
7 Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 710678126482Relegation to 2025 NFL Division 4
8 Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick 700777115380
Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Reports

Round 1
Wicklow Colours of Wicklow.svg 0-13 - 0-18Down Colours of Down.svg
Chris O’Brien (0-05), Kevin Quinn (0-04), Brian Nesbitt (0-03), JP Nolan (0-01) Report Pat Havern (0-05), Daniel Guinneas (0-04), Rory Mason (0-02), Pierce Laverty (0-01), Finn McElroy (0-01), Odhran Murdock (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-03), Oisin Savage (0-01)
Aughrim County Ground, Aughrim
Referee: A Coyne (Westmeath)
Round 2
Down Colours of Down.svg 3-16 - 0-09Limerick Colours of Limerick.svg
Odhran Murdock (2-03), Pat Havern (0-05), Daniel Guinness (1-01), Liam Kerr (0-03), Shealan Johnston (0-02), Oisin Savage (0-01), Peter Fegan (0-01) Report Peter Nash (0-05), Cillian Fahy (0-02), Robbie Childs (0-01), Shane Costello (0-01)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Referee: J Henry (Mayo)
Round 3
Antrim Colours of Antrim.svg 1-06 - 1-15Down Colours of Down.svg
Dominic McEnhill (0-03), Paddy McAleer (1-00), Michael Byrne (0-02), Joseph Finnegan (0-01) Report Pat Havern (0-06), Ceilum Doherty (1-01), James Guinness (0-02), Oisin Savage (0-02), Danny Magill (0-01), John O'Hare (0-01), Odhran Murdock (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01)
Corrigan Park, Belfast
Referee: E McFeely (Donegal)
Round 4
Down Colours of Down.svg 4-12 - 2-14Offaly Colours of Offaly.svg
Pat Havern (0-06), Liam Kerr (2-00), Ryan Johnston (1-01), Odhran Murdock (1-01), Miceal Rooney (0-01), Caolan Mooney (0-01), Danny Magill (0-01), Ryan Magill (0-01) Report Jack Bryant (1-05), Keith O’Neill (1-02), Anton Sullivan (0-03), Dylan Hyland (0-02), Cathal Flynn (0-01), Jordan Hayes (0-01)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)
Round 5
Down Colours of Down.svg 2-17 - 1-08Sligo Colours of Sligo.svg
Pat Havern (0-07), Ceilum Doherty (1-02), James Guinness (1-01), Daniel Guinness (0-02), John O’Hare (0-01), Ryan McEvoy (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01), Danny Magill (0-01), Oisin Savage (0-01) Report Sean Carrabine (0-04), Nathan Mullen (1-00), Patrick O’Connor (0-01), Alan McLaughlin (0-01), Cian Lally (0-01), Niall Murphy (0-01)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)
Round 6
Westmeath Colours of Westmeath.svg 0-13 - 1-10Down Colours of Down.svg
R Forde (0-04), L Loughlin (0-03), M Whittaker (0-01), J Dolan (0-01), R Connellan (0-01), J Lynam (0-01), K Martin (0-01), R O’Toole (0-01) Report P Havern (0-04), D Guinness (1-00), D Magill (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), O Murdoch (0-01), J Guinness (0-01), R McEvoy (0-01), C Doherty (0-01)
Cusack Park, Mullingar
Referee: J Molloy (Galway)
Round 7
Down Colours of Down.svg 3-15 - 1-10Clare Colours of Clare.svg
C Doherty (1-02), D Magill (1-02), P Havern (0-05), O Murdock (1-00, pen), L Kerr (0-03), D Guinness (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), M Rooney (0-01) Report C Downes (0-04), A Griffin (1-00), M McInerney (0-02), S Ryan (0-01), E McMahon (0-01), D Coughlan (0-01), D O’Donnell (0-01)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)
Final
Down Colours of Down.svg 0-13 - 2-10Westmeath Colours of Westmeath.svg
Pat Havern (0-07), Liam Kerr (0-03), Miceal Rooney (0-01), Oisin Savage (0-01), Odhran Murdock (0-01) Report Jonathan Lynam (2-00), Sam McCartan (0-04), Robbie Forde (0-03), David Lynch (0-01), Conor Dillon (0-01), Luke Loughlin (0-01)
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2024 Ulster Championship took place on 21 October 2023. [13] [14]

Fixtures

Quarter Final
Down Colours of Down.svg 0-13 v 0-09 Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim
O Savage (0-03), D Guinness (0-02), R McEvoy (0-01), C Doherty (0-01), M Rooney (0-01), O Murdock (0-01), L Kerr (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), P Havern (0-01), S Annett (0-01) Report R McQuillan (0-03), R McCann (0-01), M Jordan (0-01), C Hand (0-01), P McBride (0-01), E McCabe (0-01), M Byrne (0-01)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Attendance: 5,429
Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)
Semi-Final
Armagh Colours of Armagh.svg 0-13 v 2-06 Colours of Down.svg Down
R Grugan (0-05), R O'Neill (0-03), A Forker (0-02), A Nugent (0-01), O O’Neill (0-01), J Duffy (0-01) Report R Magill (1-01), P Burns (1-00, og.), P Havern (0-02), R Johnston (0-01), D Guinness (0-01), D Magill (0-01)
St Tiernach's Park, Clones
Attendance: 12,116
Referee: L Devenney (Mayo)

Bracket

Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals Final
Colours of Down.svg Down 0-13
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 0-09
Colours of Down.svg Down 2-06
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 0-13
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh 0-09
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 3-11
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 0-20 (5)
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal 0-20 (6)
Colours of Derry.svg Derry 0-17
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal 4-11
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal 0-18
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan 1-12 Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone 0-16
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan 3-12 Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan 3-16
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone 1-23*

Tailteann Cup

Due to their National League ranking and because they never progressed to the Ulster Championship final, Down will enter the Tailteann Cup in 2024 for the 3rd time. The draw for the 2024 competition was made on 30 April with Down being drawn into Group 4 with Offaly, Limerick and London. [15] Down proceeded onto a second Tailteann Cup final in a row against Laois on 13 July 2024 and went on to win the final by two points winning their first Tailteann Cup. [16]

Group 4

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Down.svg Down 33007841+376Advance to quarter-final
2 Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick 32014541+44Advance to preliminary quarter-final
3 Colours of London.svg London 31024659132
4 Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly 30034270280
Source: GAA

Knockout stage

Preliminary quarter-finals Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Colours of Down.svg Down 1-18
Colours of Leitrim.svg Leitrim 1-11 Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 0-12
Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 2-15 Colours of Down.svg Down (a.e.t.)1-20
Colours of Sligo.svg Sligo 2-15
Colours of Sligo.svg Sligo 2-20
Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick 1-18 Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick 0-9
Colours of Tipperary.svg Tipperary 1-10 Colours of Down.svg Down 0-14
Colours of Laois.svg Laois 2-06
Colours of Kildare.svg Kildare 0-12
Colours of Laois.svg Laois 1-13 Colours of Laois.svg Laois 2-11
Colors of New York.svg New York 1-9 Colours of Laois.svg Laois 3-12
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 1-13
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh 0-11
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 3-11 Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 1-11
Colours of London.svg London 1-10

Fixtures

Group Stage
Down Colours of Down.svg 1-20 v 1-06 Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick
D Guinness (1-00), P Havern (0-03), E Brown (0-03), R McEvoy (0-01), P Fegan (0-01), O Murdock (0-02), J McGovern (0-02), G McKibben (0-02), G McKibben (0-02), D Magill (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), R McEvoy (0-01), P Fegan (0-01) Report P Nash (1-04), J Naughton (0-02)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)
Group Stage
London Colours of London.svg 0-10 v 1-24 Colours of Down.svg Down
Ciaran Diver (0-05), Shay Rafter (0-02), Tighe Barry (0-01), Joshua Obahor (0-01), Ruairi Rafferty (0-01) Report Patrick Havern (0-06), Daniel Guinness (0-06), Miceal Rooney (0-05), Odhran Murdock (1-01), Danny McGill (0-02), Conor McCrickard (0-01), Gareth McKibben (0-01), Ryan McEvoy (0-01), Ryan Magill (0-01)
McGovern Park, South Ruislip
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)
Group Stage
Down Colours of Down.svg 2-22 v 3-13 Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly
Paul Quinn (0-4), Oisin Savage (1-0), Ryan Magill (1-0), Conor McCrickard (0-3), Danny Magill (0-2), Shane Annett (0-2), James Guinness (0-2), Gareth McKibben (0-2), Shealan Johnston (0-1), Rory Mason (0-1), Ben McConville (0-1), Miceal Rooney (0-1), Caolan Mooney (0-1), Jack McCartan (0-1), Paddy McCarthy (0-1) Report Nigel Dunne (0-4), Daire McDaid (1-1), John Furlong (1-0), Cormac Egan (1-0), Keith O'Neill (0-2), Jack Bryant (0-2), David Dempsey (0-1), Lee Pearson (0-1), Cathal Flynn (0-1), Jordan Hayes (0-1)
Breffni Park, Cavan
Referee: K Eannatta (Tyrone)
Quarter-final
Down Colours of Down.svg 1-18 v 0-12 Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow
P Havern (0-06), S Johnston (0-04), J McGovern (1-00), D Guinness (0-02), L Kerr (0-02), R McEvoy (0-01), D Magill (0-01), O Savage (0-01), C Doherty (0-01) Report K Quinn (0-04), M Jackson (0-03), C O'Brien (0-02), P O'Keane (0-01), O McGreynor (0-01), P O'Toole (0-01)
Pairc Esler, Newry
Referee: F Kelly (Longford)
Semi-final
Down Colours of Down.svg 1-20 v 2-15 (a.e.t.) Colours of Sligo.svg Sligo
Pat Havern (0-07), Odhran Murdock (1-00), Liam Kerr (0-03), Ryan McEvoy (0-02), Pierce Laverty (0-02), Shealan Johnston (0-01), Daniel Guinness (0-01), Miceal Rooney (0-01), John McGovern (0-01), Caolan Mooney (0-01), Danny Magill (0-01) Report Sean Carrabine (0-04), Patrick O'Connor (1-01), Canice Mulligan (1-00), Niall Murphy (0-03), Lee Deignan (0-02), Darragh Cummins (0-02), Eddie McGuinness (0-01), Nathan Mullen (0-01), Mark Walsh (0-01)
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: D O Mahoney (Tipperary)
Final
Down Colours of Down.svg 0-14 v 2-06 Colours of Laois.svg Laois
Odhran Murdock (0-03), Pat Havern (0-03), Danny Magill (0-02), Caolan Mooney (0-01), Jonny Flynn (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01), Ryan Johnston (0-01), Peter Fegan (0-01), Shealan Johnston (0-01) Report Mark Barry (1-02), Seamus Lacey (1-00), Evan O'Carroll (0-01), Paul Kingston (0-01), Conor Heffernan (0-01), Killian Roche (0-01)
Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: B Griffin (Kerry)

References

  1. "2024 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup fixtures confirmed". Ulster GAA. 14 December 2023.
  2. "2024 Dr McKenna Cup fixtures: Mickey Harte to make Derry managerial debut against Cavan". Belfast Live. 14 December 2023.
  3. "Allianz Football League fixtures confirmed for Armagh and Down". Newry Reporter. 6 December 2023.
  4. "Your complete guide to the 2024 GAA inter-county fixtures list". Irish Independent. 6 December 2023.
  5. "Down start league in style with victory over Wicklow". RTE. 28 January 2024.
  6. "Odhran Murdock on the double as indisciplined Limerick pay penalty against Down". RTE. 3 February 2024.
  7. "Down notch another win as Antrim challenge fades". RTE. 19 February 2024.
  8. "Kerr double helps lead Down past Offaly in goalfest". RTE. 24 February 2024.
  9. "Down extend winning streak as Sligo put to the sword". RTE. 2 March 2024.
  10. "Division 3 high-fliers Westmeath and Down draw". RTE. 18 March 2024.
  11. "Down seal place in Division 2 as final beckons". RTE. 24 March 2024.
  12. "McCartan masterclass seals Westmeath's Division 3 title". RTE. 30 March 2024.
  13. "2024 Ulster Senior Football Championship Draw". Ulster GAA . 21 October 2023.
  14. "Ulster SFC draw pairs Jim McGuinness against Mickey Harte". RTE . 21 October 2023.
  15. "2024 Tailteann Cup draw". GAA.ie. 30 April 2024.
  16. "Down survive late Laois rally to win Tailteann Cup". RTE. 13 July 2024.