Messages

Kilcoo - K Lacey
Burren - E McCartan
CPN - J Boyle
Clonduff - G Adams
Mayobridge - B Murray
Carryduff - F Moriarty
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
Bredagh - ?
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Castlewellan - C McCabe

Longstone - C Brannigan
Bryansford - J Magorrian
RGU - K Duffin & C McCrickard
Rostrevor - DJ Morgan
Saval - P Morrison
Saul - D Lynch
Liatroim - P Murray
Shamrocks - DJ Kane
An Riocht  - C Kelly
St John's - S Curran

Glenn - S Clark?
Drumgath - P Hynes
Annaclone- J Clarke
Ballymartin- Barry Cunningham
Attical - M Rafferty
Tullylish - R McShane
Drumaness - L Sloan
Banbridge- P Feeney
Bosco - M McVeigh
Finn - M Copeland


Darragh - B Mason
St Paul's- P Hannigan
Bright - Aidan Clark
Dromara - J Fegan
Teconnaght - C Laverty
Kilclief - S Curran
Ardglass - K Smyth
Dundrum - R McCartan
East Belfast - C O'Neill
Aghaderg - K Blaney
St Michael's - L McAlinden
Glasdrumman - N McKibben


Would this list of Down senior football club managers for 2024 above be correct??

Any substance to the rumours Darragh Cross have been relegated to ACFL Div 4 while Drumaness will remain in ACFL Div 3?

What is the reason for that?

It is alleged Darragh played an unregistered player throughout the 2023 league campaign. If points gained while the unregistered player was playing are removed it may see them finish below Drumaness in the league and therefore relegated. The big question will be, are they also relegated to the Junior Championship with their wins in the Intermediate now being scratched also?? 

Any substance to the rumours Darragh Cross have been relegated to ACFL Div 4 while Drumaness will remain in ACFL Div 3?

Is there a start date for the leagues this year and are the fixtures out yet?

Start date is 2nd April.

Am hearing Div 4 will play 2 matches before the rest of the leagues begin. Sunday 2/4 & Thursday 6/4 with the rest starting on Fri 14/4

I see a proposal to include Burren & Carryduff 2nds in the ACFL has been released.
The wording of the conclusion certainly does not portray a neutral stance awaiting a vote.
Reading it would suggest a deal has already been done behind closed doors to include these teams.
If these parishes have grown so big that 1 club cannot accommodate the playing numbers then maybe its time to form a 2nd club within the parish with its own youth structure, committee, pitch, and facilities therefore giving them the right to compete with junior clubs and grow accordingly.
Junior clubs work hard to maintain stand alone facilities and provide Gaelic games in challenging circumstances with limited numbers. The last thing these clubs need is to have moral sapping defeats at the hands of clubs who are drawing players from all areas. There is a real risk of junior clubs failing to field ( as we have seen with Mitchels ) when players walk away following such defeats. Adult players will be lost to other sports with underage players having no footsteps to follow, with the potential for smaller clubs going the way of Ballykinlar and Killyleagh.
We should protect the weak and not allow these superpowers to steamroll our smaller clubs.
Conclusion: Down GAA will lose a lot more from the smaller clubs than the 20 plus players wanting to represent Burren & Carryduff who could quite easily go back to play for their home clubs.

Are there many senior teams throughout the league still searching for a management team?

Tough Leagues in Down for 2023.
Division 2 will be extremely competitive.

Division 1 (10 Teams)    
Kilcoo                     
Burren                         
Mayobridge                
Clonduff                         
Loughinisland                 
Carryduff                         
Bryansford                     
Warrenpoint                 
Bredagh                     
Longstone

Division 2 (10 Teams)                        
RGU   
Ballyholand
Castlewellan
Rostrevor
Saval
Glenn
Saul   
Liatroim
Drumgath   
Newry Shamrocks   
         
Division 3 (10 Teams)    
An Riocht                        
Darragh Cross                 
Annaclone                         
St Johns                         
Ballymartin             
Tullylish                     
Clann na Banna                 
Attical                         
St Pauls                     
Drumaness             

Division 4 (13 Teams)                                
Teconnaught                                 
Newry Bosco                                 
Aughlisnafinn
Bright
Dundrum   
Kilclief
East Belfast
Dromara
Ardglass   
Aghaderg   
Glassdrumman   
St Michaels
Newry Mitchels   

The lads had to improvise at what was going on in front of them, most of it was barely worth a mention. Well done to them both. 👏

If rumours are true and James has stood down, could Micky Moran be talked into becoming the next Down manager with Conor Laverty on board?

Can someone please explain the Junior Championship format? Are Teconnaught, Drumaness and Aghaderg/Glassdrumman straight into 1/4 Finals?

What is the rush to get back to 10 teams per division???
We currently have 43 teams in the county and if Ballykinlar return it will be 44.
Is there anything wrong with have 4 x 11 team divisions with the odd team getting a bye each week?
Forget about taking a break in July and play twice a week if required.

You can't go changing league structures every 5 minutes. The leagues were set to 10 teams a few years ago and the only reason we have this situation is due to Covid. As with everything in the world, completely out of the ordinary and may take something uncomfortable or extraordinary to resolve the issue. Never going to suit everyone.

It was just a question! Keep your hair on! 
Seems like the Down leagues have been chopped and changed plenty over the years and now the idea of a Div 4a and 4b would appear to be a back handed attempt to shoehorn Premier Reserve teams into the ACFL. 

And I was just replying to the question, which had 3 question marks suggesting bemusement! So now you have the context.

Any answer to the question asking if there is anything wrong with 4 divisions of 11 teams in 2023?
Does it really have to be something extraordinary and uncomfortable in order to get the 10 team divisions or would a phased return be best?

What is the rush to get back to 10 teams per division???
We currently have 43 teams in the county and if Ballykinlar return it will be 44.
Is there anything wrong with have 4 x 11 team divisions with the odd team getting a bye each week?
Forget about taking a break in July and play twice a week if required.

You can't go changing league structures every 5 minutes. The leagues were set to 10 teams a few years ago and the only reason we have this situation is due to Covid. As with everything in the world, completely out of the ordinary and may take something uncomfortable or extraordinary to resolve the issue. Never going to suit everyone.

It was just a question! Keep your hair on! 
Seems like the Down leagues have been chopped and changed plenty over the years and now the idea of a Div 4a and 4b would appear to be a back handed attempt to shoehorn Premier Reserve teams into the ACFL. 

What is the rush to get back to 10 teams per division???
We currently have 43 teams in the county and if Ballykinlar return it will be 44.
Is there anything wrong with have 4 x 11 team divisions with the odd team getting a bye each week?
Forget about taking a break in July and play twice a week if required.

With Preseason under way, what club teams do you think will take the next step this year?

Would there be many Teams back training? Too early surely?
Stepping up!
Longstone & Bredagh From 2 to 1
Ballymartin & Shamrocks 3 to 2
Drumaness & Dundrum 4 to 3

Club Managers for 2022 Please update where missing

ACFL Division 1 (12 teams)

CPN Warrenpoint (SFC) - S Mullholland
Clonduff (SFC) - C McBride
Mayobridge (SFC) - S Poacher
Burren (SFC) - J McCorry
Carryduff (SFC) - F Moriarty
Cill Chua (SFC) - M Moran
Ballyholland (SFC) - R Murtagh
Bryansford (SFC) - C Deegan
Rostrevor (IFC) - B Coulter
Loughinisland (SFC) -K Duffin
RGU Downpatrick (SFC) - K Gracey
Castlewellan (SFC) - B Grant

ACFL Division 2 (10 teams)

Longstone (SFC) -
Glenn John Martins (SFC) - T Bagnall
An Riocht (SFC) - D Mussen
Darragh Cross (IFC) - DJ Kane / E Gormley
Bredagh (SFC) - B Mason
Sabhaill Naomh Pádraig (SFC) C O'Toole
Annaclone (IFC) - J Haughey
St John's Drumnaquoile (IFC) - C Burns
Liatroim (IFC) - F Fitzsummins
Saval (IFC) - D Hughes

ACFL Division 3 (12 teams)

Newry Shamrocks (IFC) - M Rafferty
Ballymartin (IFC) - C Brannagan
Tullylish (IFC) - D Corbett
Drumgath (IFC) - J Lynch
Attical (IFC) -
Aughlisnafin (IFC) - J Morgan
St John Bosco (IFC) - M McVeigh
Clan na Banna (IFC) - P Feeny
Teconnaught (JFC) - H Greene
Bright (IFC) - F Toner
Dromara (JFC) -
St Pauls (IFC) -

ACFL Division 4 (9 teams)

Kilclief (JFC) -
Dundrum (JFC) - J Clarke
Ardglass (JFC) -
East Belfast (JFC) -
St Colman's Drumaness (JFC) -
Glasdrumman (JFC) -
Aghaderg (JFC) -
St Michaels (JFC) -
Newry Mitchels (JFC) -