The men’s senior team qualified for the Shay Murtagh Senior Football Final for 2026 following a comprehensive win against Moate All-Whites. No doubt motivated by the minor’s impressive win over Shandonagh in the hour before, the lads ripped into the semi-final and executed a composed and professional hour of football to be in with a chance of defending the Flanagan Cup. The Downs scored the opening goal through a marauding run through the middle of the park by Charlie Drumm who roofed the ball into the Moate net following a powerful run from the half-back line. Moate responded with a goal of their own, a fortuitous effort by Tobby Conteh who looked like he was shooting for a point. The Downs response was immediate as Moate had barely registered their only goal of the half when Luke Loughlin drove at the All Whites defence and riffled the ball into the Moate net. The half-time score read 2- 10 to 1-03 .Moate came out rejuvenated and put the pressure on scoring a further 1-10 in the second half. A Robbie Forde goal being the pick of the scores. The gap was reduced to 5 points mid-way through the second half but further goals from Ian Martin and two from Niall Mitchell meant that the Downs had qualified for their third consecutive county final in two weeks’ time on a score-line of 5-17 to 2-13. The opposition will be provided by St. Lomans who won their semi-final against Coralstown Kinnegad on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations to Dermot Power, Eoghan Carroll, Barry Conroy and the backroom team. We wish them the best of luck with the preparations in the next two weeks. 

 

This win topped off a seriously successful weekend for The Downs GAA who qualified for both Senior and Junior county finals and were crowned 2026 Division 1 minor champions. Na Dúnta Abú

 

On Friday evening our junior men travelled to Kinnegad for this year’s eagerly anticipated JFC semi final vs Kilbeggan. This was our first appearance in the semi-final stage of the competition since 2023. Under the lights in Kinnegad scores were hard to come by  in the opening minutes before  Adam Conneely opened our account after a fine move from play. Jack Carroll then got his first of the game after eight minutes. From the resultant play Matthew Cunningham opened his account with a fine point from  play which kick started his dominance in the game. In a spell from the tenth to the fifteen minute Cunningham registered a further 1-03 to his account, the goal an exquisite finish to the net along with a fine 2 pointed effort. The lively Eoinie Mullin also registered a fine score in this period which saw the black and ambers lead on the 15th minute on a scoreline of  1-7 to 0-0. Kilbeggan were struggling to get going  though they had good possession of the ball, they just could not manufacture a scoring chance until a Nigel scally free opened there account on the 25th minute with the  ball being brought forward 50- metres by the referee from some dissent form the downs men . Tadhg Nolan continued to pull the strings from centre forward with Jack Carroll and Adam Conneely adding further scores either side of Scally’s free. Kilbeggan pointed via scally once again where a goal threatened after a high ball into The Downs square. After a strong first half showing The Downs led on a score-line of 1-9 go 0-2 at halftime. Kilbeggan started the second half the better and a Darragh Coffey 2 pointer opened their  account for the second half after two minutes of play. The downs responded well to this score and in a ten minute period the downs hit 1-3 without reply. Tadhg Nolan struck for 1-1 within the space of a minute and the highly influential Darragh Smith chipped in with his only score of the match. After Nolan’s goal on the 43rd minute The Downs led by 14 points on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-4 but Kilbeggan were not done yet. From the resultant kickout Kilbeggan worked the ball up the field only to find Nigel scally who hammered home to The Downs net to close the gap immediately back to 11 points. The momentum now swung in favour of the Kilbeggan men and another point from Scally aswell  as a goal from David Fennel who made a great impact off the bench reduced the gap back to just 7 points with 15 to play. Eoin Mullin and Tadhg Nolan pointed for The Downs men via a couple of frees before that man again David Fennel found himself in on goal  in which he made no mistake with his finish to reduce the gap once again. The impressive Nigel Scally then added a 2 pointed free from the next play to bring the gap back to four points with five minutes to play - Game On-. The Downs now under some serious Kilbeggan pressure never wilted and with some excellent defending aswell as another Cunningham point a long with a couple of injury time frees from sub Sean Colgan sealed the victory for The Downs men on a score-line of 2-17 to 3-7. The always energetic and highly impressive Taylor Daly drove The Downs on from the middle of the field all  game along with midfield partner Andrew Cunningham and the support of the backs in transitioning the ball up the field gave the team the platform needed in order to get the performance necessary. In a game in which we led by 14 points at one stage was now back to 4 points with five minutes to go. The lads deserve some serious credit for the grit, determination and commitment shown to get the win and progress to the county final. The lads now look forward to the junior county final on the weekend of October 24th versus St. Joseph’s. This will be a first junior county final since 1964, a time when the clubs first team was playing in the junior ranks. Congratulations to the management team of Joe O’Sullivan, Martin Murtagh and Michael Moloney on a fantastic achievement.

 

The Downs Minor footballers produced the performance of a life-time to claim the Paddy Walsh Minor Cup for 2026 following a sensational game in TEG Cusack Park last Saturday afternoon. The Downs got off to a flying start with two two pointers from the influential Pádraig Monaghan (free) and Aaron Connaire and a goal that was palmed into the net by Odhran McColgan. Further scores in the first half were from Aaron Connaire (two pointer), Pádraig Monaghan (3, a two pointer and a free) and a one point attempt from Adam Kiernan. Shandonagh opened their scoring after 11 minutes with a Will Scahill two pointed free and added a further 6 points to their tally to leave the half-time score at 1-10 to 0-08. The second half was nip and tuck the whole way through. Shandonagh reduced the gap to one point through a Séan Graham goal early on and drew level with a Scahill free to leave the score at 1-10 a-piece. Pádraig Monaghan restored The Downs lead with two well struck frees and a 45. Shandonagh fought back again levelling the score at 1-13 each with seven minutes left on the clock. But it was the captain Pádraig Monaghan who had the final say when he converted a free on 60 minutes which turned out to be the winner. Shandoagh had a couple of chances to level the scores and force a replay however that didn’t happen and The Downs were crowned 2026 minor champions after a tumultuous battle. Pádraig Monaghan accepted the cup from Tommy Kelly much to the delight of the black and amber supporters. Many congratulations to all the players and the management team of Paddy Monaghan, Steven Cleary, Paddy Walsh, Declan Lynam, Maor Uisce Joe Daly, Darragh Monaghan and Physio Caoimhe Monaghan. Na Dúnta Abú!

Shop

Club shop open for all your county final needs this Friday October 2nd from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Hats, flags, headbands jerseys and jumpers. Please contact Carmel on 0879496347 for any inquiries. 

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