Down's long drought is finally over with Derry win 

The long wait for a Down inter-county win, stretching back to the Division Two National League victory over Laois on the first weekend of April 2015, is over.

McCartan: Top players dropping out is real worry 

The formation of the new Club Players' Association has understandably switched the focus onto the vast majority of playing participants whose welfare, needs and aspirations are about to be addressed in a more structured and formal manner.

Magee steps into the spotlight as Down get off on right foot 

It took Down just over 70 minutes yesterday to go some way towards erasing the hurt triggered by a painful statistic compiled over the entire course of 2016.

The future looks bright for Burren after classy Ulster Minor success 

The glory days could be about to return for Burren following their deserved 4-8 to 3-5 Ulster Minor Club final win over Kilrea at the St Paul's complex on Shaw's Road, Belfast yesterday.

Burren eager to honour late Murphy with Ulster title 

When Burren take the field in tomorrow's Ulster Club Minor football final against Derry outfit Kilrea, they will do so buttressed by a steely determination to honour the memory of club stalwart Danny Murphy, who died earlier this month.

Burns is determined to put new spring in the Down step 

Just as the battle for this year's All-Ireland football title was hotting up, Down were beginning to take stock of a season - if you could call it that - which had delivered only heartbreak.

McArdle is keen for Mournemen to restore a bit of pride in 2017 

Just over 20 years ago, Down were the kingpins of Gaelic football, revelling in the glory of two All-Ireland titles (1991 and '94) and boasting a conveyor belt of talent that was the envy of practically every other county on the island.

Carrs driven to find a route to victory for Warrenpoint 

The best part of eight decades will separate two members of the same family who are totally focused on seeing St Peter's, Warrenpoint win the Paul McGirr Memorial Trophy tomorrow.

McGrath gets boost as players stand up for Ulster 

Ulster team manager Peter McGrath has no intention of wringing his hands in despair because some notable players happen to be unavailable for the forthcoming inter-provincial football championship.

Jody Gormley galvanising Bredagh for surprise Ulster bid 

When former Tyrone player Jody Gormley took over the reins at the Bredagh club in south Belfast, he thought it might take some time to unearth and then nurture playing talent.

Irish World Cup dream is hit by Frazer injury 

Ireland's chances of reaching the 2018 World Cup finals have been dealt a massive blow with confirmation that team captain Megan Frazer could miss the entire qualifying process through injury.

Ulster sides' hopes set to be boosted by fixtures shake-up 

It's coincidental, perhaps, but the fact that the GAA has just released an updated version of its proposals to restructure the All-Ireland Football Championship will surely help focus minds even more sharply at the end of what was one of the longest championships on record.

Laverty’s award a boost for Kilcoo’s glory quest 

He may have stepped aside from inter-county action after nine years with Down but Conor Laverty nonetheless continues to make the headlines.

Brothers in arms aim to fire Kilcoo to Ulster title 

The family flavour that is indigenous in most GAA teams is perhaps rather more pronounced in the Kilcoo side that is currently focused on breaking new ground.

Kilcoo hit high five but McIver seeks more 

Just why Kilcoo roared to their fifth Down senior football championship title on the trot and a place in the history books became abundantly clear within minutes of referee Neil Cousins having sounded the final whistle at Pairc Esler in Newry yesterday.

O'Hanlon can be spot on in Kilcoo's drive for fantastic five 

Darragh O'Hanlon could prove the man on the spot in more ways than one when Kilcoo bid to land what would be a fifth successive Down Senior Football Championship title tomorrow.

Kilcoo keen to strike a big blow for Down pride on Ulster stage 

Whisper it softly but Kilcoo's ambitions have extended beyond landing a possible fifth Down Senior Football Championship title on the trot.

Poll: Dublin or Mayo - Who will win Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final? 

Can Mayo win a first All Ireland title in 65 years by beating a Dublin side regarded by many as the greatest the game has ever seen? We want you to tell us who you believe will leave Croke Park as champions on Sunday.

Johnston duo back to put an extra spring in Kilcoo title step 

Kilcoo have received the perfect boost as they focus on landing their fifth consecutive Down senior football championship title.

Returning trio to keep Kilcoo wedded to title success 

Kilcoo are experiencing a honeymoon period in more ways than one as they become even more focused on landing a fifth consecutive Down Senior Football Championship title.

Ulster Council can pave way: Danny Murphy 

Outgoing Ulster Council chief executive and secretary Danny Murphy is urging the governing body of the GAA here to further extend its tentacles into the wider community.

Kilcoo sink Loughinisland to keep high five in sights 

Kilcoo remain on course for a possible fifth Down senior football championship title on the trot following an impressive 0-18 to 0-6 win over Loughinisland yesterday.

Burns gets Down to business for even bigger test 

Down certainly did not have their sorrows to seek this year, a seven-match losing streak that culminated in relegation in the league being followed by a summary dismissal from the Ulster championship at the hands of Monaghan and expulsion from the qualifiers in Longford.

The end of an era as Ulster chief Murphy to step down 

Ulster GAA Chief Executive and Provincial Secretary Danny Murphy is to retire from his role in February after 16 years at the head of operations.

Red-hot Arthur McConville fires title warning to Kilcoo 

The race to land the Down Senior Football Championship title is already beginning to hot up.

Orchard county Armagh in full blossom but Down are outclassed 

There were mixed fortunes for Armagh and Down on the All-Ireland camogie stage at the weekend.

Red Hands end trophy drought in final thriller 

Redemption! Tyrone were crowned Ulster women’s intermediate champions — a first piece of silverware for the O’Neill county since 2009 after several years in the doldrums.

Down lack that little bit extra but Burns sees better times up ahead 

Down boss Eamonn Burns spoke of his disappointment after his side were knocked out of the All-Ireland qualifiers with an extra-time defeat to Longford at Pairc Esler on Saturday.

It could be a Long day in Mournes for Down's Longford clash 

When Monaghan went for their pre-Championship training break, they had five nights in Portugal, sharing the sun loungers with the Worcester Warriors rugby team.

Down left in a daze by mighty Monaghan 

Down manager Eamonn Burns eventually emerged from the dressing room after his side were handed their heaviest ever Ulster Championship defeat by Monaghan and said: "Confidence comes from winning games, we came here full of confidence."

We're not that far behind best, insists Down manager Eamonn Burns 

Asked to comment on the clear widening gap that is appearing in the Ulster field, Down manager Eamonn Burns acknowledged: "If you are analysing the last three or four games that would be the case but we feel on any given day, and obviously today was not one of them,...

Clarke puzzle as sad Down are crushed 

Down manager Eamonn Burns has pledged his team will "keep battling" as they face the All-Ireland football Championship qualifiers draw tomorrow.

Johnston is set for family feud as Down march ahead 

Down hurling boss Mickey Johnston laughed, "It'll be some craic round the dinner table!" after his side's seven-point win over Roscommon at Ballycran. It was a victory that set up an all-Ulster Christy Ring Cup semi-final against Antrim - and a father against sons battle for a...

Down show their clinical edge to leave Derry in a relegation scrap 

Down ended Derry's Christy Ring hopes with a hard-fought 1-18 to 1-15 win at Owenbeg.

Down give Burns some reasons to be cheerful 

Down manager Eamon Burns said he was proud of the spirited performance his men produced at McHale Park in Castlebar to force Mayo to dig deep for the win which ensured their survival in the top flight.

Cork add to Down's woes with sixth straight defeat 

It's now six losses from six for Down in the Allianz National Football League after another tough day out in Cork on Sunday.

Armagh's ruthless young guns trounce poor Down side 

Armagh's fortunes at senior level may be at a low ebb but the county's U21 side illuminated the gloom with a flourish when they overwhelmed Down in the Ulster Championship quarter-final at Pairc Esler, Newry last night.

Relegation looms for Derry but Down march on 

The agony goes on for Derry in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League. Tom McLean's side suffered a fourth defeat yesterday at the hands of London, which looks certain to consign his men to relegation.

Down defeated but relegation fight goes on 

The tentacles of relegation may have tightened their grip on Down after their 1-15 to 1-07 defeat to Dublin, but not to the extent that all is already lost.

Benny Coulter out as Down are crushed by the Rossies 

We could have seen the last of Benny Coulter in a Down shirt after manager Eamonn Burns confirmed he had withdrawn from the inter-county panel following their fourth league defeat of the season.

Eamonn Burns has no regrets over taking the Down job 

Down manager Eamonn Burns has been left in no doubt as to what his priority is as he contemplates Sunday's must-win league game against Roscommon.

Down in dumps as Kerry run riot 

The spectre of relegation from Division One of the Allianz Football League now looms large over a Down side that hit rock-bottom in terms of commitment, endeavour and pride in this clinical execution at the hands of Kerry.

Down made to dig deep by rugged Armagh 

Down just managed to hold off the feisty challenge of Armagh to capture an early brace of points in Division 2B of the Allianz Hurling League at the Athletic Grounds yesterday.

Derry boss Barton on a high but Down's Burns struggles 

With just two rounds of the Allianz Football League completed, it could be said that the competition is still in its infancy.

Down... and already out but Burns must be given time 

Excuse us while we perform the knee-jerk of all knee-jerks, but it's not too early to say that Down's season - in both league and Championship - is a write-off.

Donegal leave shocked boss Eamonn Burns feeling down 

Shell-shocked Down manager Eamonn Burns took almost three-quarters of an hour to emerge from the dressing room and talk to reporters. After this 17-point mauling, he looked as if he had needed every minute of it and he wasn't in any particular mood for talking.

Dr McKenna Cup: Down manager Burns tastes the first Mournemen victory 

It was scores galore at Pairc Esler as Down crushed St Mary's in the Dr McKenna Cup with a scintillating second-half display to pick up their first win under Eamonn Burns.

Ernemen eye last four as Down humbled 

The fare on offer may have been some distance removed from Allianz League expectations and even further away from Championship standards but Fermanagh manager Peter McGrath was happy to embrace the positives as his side took a decisive step towards the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup semi-final at Down's expense yesterday.

Down manager Burns taking selection one step at a time 

Down manager Eamonn Burns is stepping up the drive to acquire a settled side before his team embark on what promises to be a hugely challenging campaign in Division One of the Allianz League that embraces attractive home matches against Kerry, Dublin and Donegal.

Eamonn Burns cannot wait to tackle the big hitters 

Eamonn Burns will hardly have a moment to digest his first Dr McKenna Cup as the new Down manager before he is thrown into what might be the Mournemen's highest-ever profile league campaign in Division One.