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There's been some amount of clubs in Down who have dabbled in the small ball over the years at one point or another. Some of them got on very well with it, too.

For one reason or another, a lot of them have disappeared.

If anyone is able to add to the list, please do.

- Kilcoo
- Ardglass
- Rostrevor
- Darragh Cross
- Banbridge
- Saval
- Mayobridge
- Glenn
- Annsborough (Aughlisnafin)
- An Ríocht
- Downpatrick
- Saul
- Clann na Boirce (Bryansford)

To the best of my knowledge St Paul's, Holywood had underage hurling in the not so distant past- but it never took off at senior level.

Out of these former Down hurling clubs, a number have reintroduced hurling at underage in recent years.

From what I know, there was something of a drive in the late 70s/80s to encourage and promote hurling in 'football clubs.'

If anybody knows of any other clubs that used to put out hurling teams, has memories of any defunct hurling teams, or knows anything about them, it would be very interesting to hear.

Anyone know anything about Sean Martin's in the Short Strand?

Been talking about it a bit lately with someone, but there's very little to actually read or look into.

Know a couple lads who played for them years ago- one of them says he remembers playing in County Down. Was the club a Down club or an Antrim club?

To the best of my knowledge the club colours were maroon and white.

Think I'm right in saying the club finished up sometime in the 90s? What were the reasons which led to the disappearance of the club?

I know St Malachy's would be the local team nowadays, but a lad from the Strand told me there would be people in the area play for Davitts, Ardoyone, and the like.

Where did the club play out of?

East Belfast never really took off in the Strand to the best of my knowledge.

Interesting to think about the club when discussing the GAA in Belfast.

Somebody showed me Rostrevor's 5 Year Development Plan.

An interesting read- well, I suppose if you're into that kind of thing- but there was one thing in particular that stood out to me.

Strategic Goal # 3.7:
Explore expansion into other codes.

I was very pleased to read that.

Before the plan, there is an article about the history of the GAA in Rostrevor. There are several mentions of hurling, camoige, and handball in the parish. It does not only make a reference to the ghosts of the small ball, but it talks about the hurling and camogie success of previous years with great fondness, and talks about Rostrevor's reputation as "a thriving, multicode GAA club" with great pride.

Again, I was very pleased to read that.

The plan does not promise to restore hurling by 2030.

Instead, it sets out that they intend to 'examine the feasibility of the reintroduction of hurling and camogie' and 'survey the interest to offer handball and rounders.' All subject to facility enhancements. Of course.

I think this is a great approach from Rostrevor. I don't know if hurling will return to Rostrevor as soon as that. I hope so. But I can appreciate the challenges it will face. But I do think this is a great, pragmatic, sensible approach from a 'football club' who seem to be willing to engage with the other codes.

Too often I hear in football clubs 'sure no one would want to play that.' An insufferable argument.

According to the article, Rostrevor has 841 playing members. I'd say they could get 15 for a junior hurling/camogie team.

Rostrevor last won a hurling championship in 1994- well within living memory for many people. There is a tradition. Perhaps not the tradition of Portaferry or Ballycran; but there is a tradition nonetheless.

If every club was at least open to the possibility of providing hurling and camogie like Rostrevor seem to be, it would be a huge step in the right direction.

Best of luck to Rostrevor. Let's hope we see the small ball back at the foot of the Mournes before too long.

Regarding the handball and rounders- I know nothing about them. But I do think as part of Irish culture they deserve to be preserved and promoted in their own right.

Surely every club- hurling, football, or dual- could offer handball?

I'm not having any issues understanding how it happened, but by that logic, would it not be apt to argue that Loughgiel or Ballygalget should enter Ulster Intermediate as they're the second best teams in their respective counties? Or that Dunloy and Ballycran should be entering the Ulster Junior Championship as the third best teams in Antrim and Down?

Best of luck to Down Senior hurler, Oisín MacManus in the Ulster Hurling Final this evening.

An Armagh fella told me when he transferred across the Clanrye the biggest change he noticed was the physicality in Down hurling compared to that of Armagh hurling.

I know though that some of the Down fellas say the same when they hop over the Lagan and head up into Antrim.

I would agree- Down have been physically dominated at times in the Joe McDonagh, and it'll be tough dealing with what is coming in the likes of Clare and Dublin in Div 1.

Hopefully it will be a learning curve and will stand in good stead in the long run as Down try to cement themselves in Division 1 in the coming years.

It's been spoken about to death- but I wonder why Down players are, on average, across both hurling and football, typically on the smaller side? It's not as though there are many giants of players in the county just not making the cut. It just seems on average players in Down are of smaller stature.

With clubs seemingly doing all their business early, whats the managememt landscape looking like for 2026? Please update the list if I am wrong

Bredagh - D Bunting
Carryduff - ?
Glenn - ?
Kilcoo - M Corey & J McMahon
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
CPN - P Feeney
RGU - ?
Clonduff - G Adams
Burren - C Holmes
Mayobridge - ?

Castlewellan - T Wilson & S Ward
Bryansford - M Copeland
An Riocht - P Shields
Longstone - ?
CNB - J Boyle
Annaclone - D Morgan
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Saul - J Magorrian
Rostrevor - T Franklin & M Farrell
Saval - M O'Rourke

Drumgath - D O'Hanlon
St Johns - J Lynch
Dromara - E Toner & R Brady
Attical - B Coulter
East Belfast - ?
Darragh Cross - B Mason
Teconnaught - J Clarke
Bosco - L Howlett & A Murray
Liatroim - S Curran
Shamrocks - A Rogers

Ballymartin - T Bagnall & A Carr
Kilclief - A Burns
Tullylish - ?
St Michaels - ?
Aghaderg - ?
Drumaness - ?
Glasdrumman - ?
Ardglass - ?
St Pauls - ?
Dundrum - M Fitzsimons & J Hurley
Aughlisnafin - C O'Neill
Bright - ?

Mayobridge - barry dillon
downpatrick - micheal walsh
tullylish- davy corbett

Bredagh - D Bunting
Carryduff - ?
Glenn - ?
Kilcoo - M Corey & J McMahon
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
CPN - P Feeney
RGU - M Walsh
Clonduff - G Adams
Burren - C Holmes
Mayobridge - B Dillon

Castlewellan - T Wilson & S Ward
Bryansford - M Copeland
An Riocht - P Shields
Longstone - ?
CNB - J Boyle
Annaclone - D Morgan
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Saul - J Magorrian
Rostrevor - T Franklin & M Farrell
Saval - M O'Rourke

Drumgath - D O'Hanlon
St Johns - J Lynch
Dromara - E Toner & R Brady
Attical - B Coulter
East Belfast - ?
Darragh Cross - B Mason
Teconnaught - J Clarke
Bosco - L Howlett & A Murray
Liatroim - S Curran
Shamrocks - A Rogers

Ballymartin - T Bagnall & A Carr
Kilclief - A Burns
Tullylish - D Corbett
St Michaels - ?
Aghaderg - ?
Drumaness - ?
Glasdrumman - ?
Ardglass - ?
St Pauls - ?
Dundrum - M Fitzsimons & J Hurley
Aughlisnafin - C O'Neill
Bright - ?

Bredagh - D Bunting
Carryduff - ?
Glenn - ?
Kilcoo - M Corey & J McMahon
Loughinisland - C O'Toole
CPN - P Feeney
RGU - M Walsh
Clonduff - G Adams
Burren - C Holmes
Mayobridge - B Dillon

Castlewellan - T Wilson & S Ward
Bryansford - M Copeland
An Riocht - P Shields
Longstone - ?
CNB - J Boyle
Annaclone - D Morgan
Ballyholland - S Mulholland
Saul - J Magorrian
Rostrevor - T Franklin & M Farrell
Saval - M O'Rourke

Drumgath - D O'Hanlon
St Johns - J Lynch
Dromara - E Toner & R Brady
Attical - B Coulter
East Belfast - ?
Darragh Cross - B Mason
Teconnaught - J Clarke
Bosco - L Howlett & A Murray
Liatroim - S Curran
Shamrocks - A Rogers

Ballymartin - T Bagnall & A Carr
Kilclief - A Burns
Tullylish - D Corbett
St Michaels - ?
Aghaderg - ?
Drumaness - G Burden & C Morgan
Glasdrumman - K Trainor & A McCartan
Ardglass - ?
St Pauls - ?
Dundrum - M Fitzsimons & J Hurley
Aughlisnafin - C O'Neill
Bright - P Turley/A Robinson/K Gracey



I believe S Clarke is remaining with Glenn but needs a coach and P O'Shea will likely stay at Ardglass although these are not confirmed, just what I've heard

J Kelly- East Belfast.

To the best of my knowledge are Clarke and O'Shea not staying with Glenn and Ardglass respectively?

[I think it's very hard though to say their physicality doesn't play a role in their game though.]

Sleacht Néill are without doubt one of the most technically skilful teams in Ulster- if not Ireland. Their touch, their striking, their decision making, their reading of the game; are all phenomenal. There's a great slowed down video going about at the moment of McKaigue taking a touch on the outside heel of the hurl and putting the sliotar over the bar, for example.

I don't think it's right to say that commentary on their physicality is lazy.

Perhaps some of it is. Perhaps some of it is people saying their dual status gives them 'double the results,' or something to that effect. But with any serious interest will know SN are where they are due to playing hurling very well.

I think it's very hard though to say their physicality doesn't play a role in their game though. At the end of the day, the ability to win ball over their opponents, to break tackles, and to shoot from almost anywhere on the field at times, have all played massive factors in their success.



It is not the reason for their success, but it is no doubt useful to them and has not been a bad thing. Part of the reason that SN have been so competitive with the likes of Ballygunner, Ballyhale, Na Piarsaigh, etc., is becuase they have the physical ability to live with them.

You are spot on though- their primary reason for success is due to the high quality hurling they play, followed by a series of very good managers.


Great year for St John's. Upset the odds time and time again this year. No reason they can't be competitive with Slaughtneil and Loughrea. We will see.

Some valid points but you seem to be agreeing and disagreeing about it.

Hurling is a physical game, moreso than football.

I never hear anybody stating that Na Fianna, Ballyhale or Ballygunnar etc. are physical teams. It's never mentioned.....ever. But always brought up about SN. As I say, it's lazy analysis.

They have fantastic hurlers and this has been proven year after year. I think people need to give them more credit for their hurling ability, moreso than their S&C and strength etc.

I'm not agreeing and disagreeing- I'm thinking about it comprehensively.

The 2 factors are not exclusive and both can be simultaneously correct.

Slaughtneil have talented hurlers. Slaughtneil are a physically dominant team. Both things are true at once. Both factors have contributed to their success.

Their hurling ability obviously is the most fundamental reason for their success. If anyone says otherwise they haven't seen Slaughtneil perform. That doesn't mean their physicality hasn't been an additional component to their game plan.

Are Slaughtneil more skilful than Dunloy? Personally I don't think so, although the two teams play different styles of hurling and it's hard to compare.

Oddly enough, the one team Slaughtneil struggled with for many years was Cushendall- arguably the other most physical team in Ulster.

Were Slaughtneil more skilful than Portaferry in the semis? Maybe. There's certainly an argument for it. Personally, I don't think they necessarily were. I firmly believe Slaughtneil won the right battles; won the right puck outs, broke the right tackles, made the right decisions. An element of that stems from the physicality and that it is simply difficult for Portaferry to curtail certain players.

I obviously can't comment on what you've heard regarding other teams, but I have certainly heard people discuss the physicality of other sides. Ballyhale, not so much. Na Fianna, I've never heard it mentioned at all, but it has certainly been discussed in regards to Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner. It's said regularly in the championship about Ballygunner and their conditioning. Na Piarsaigh it has certainly been said, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall it being said when Na Piarsaigh beat Slaughtneil (ironically enough) about the physical ability of the Limerick men, particularly through the likes of Dowling, O'Donoghue, etc.

Interestingly enough, one of the things that people made comment on after Slaughtneil lost out to Ballygunner was how the Derry men had had the physical ability to compete with them.

Indeed, it was talked about a lot from 2020 until maybe 2022 or 2023 that teams were struggling to match the intensity and physicality of the Limerick Senior Hurling team.

I'm not diminishing the hurling ability of Slaughtneil. An extraordinarily talented team, who have achieved what they have achieved primarily based on their outstanding ability at playing hurling. But you can't pretend that the sheer size of their players, the intensity that they bring, and the fitness that they carry, hasn't helped them become the dominant force in Ulster Hurling.

This isn't why they win. But it is a factor on how they play. And it doesn't always guarantee success. The Ulster Final against Dunloy in 2022 is a prime example of that.

But take their performance in Ulster in 2021, where they swatted away both Dunloy and Ballycran with ease. Was their hurling ability that much more than that of their Antrim and Down counterparts? Maybe it was, but I personally recall in the Ulster Final Brendan Rogers running through the Ballycran defence with players bouncing off him as he scored the goal which put the game to bed.

I don't think it's lazy analysis. Maybe some people do use it as something which can cover all. They probably aren't that interested in the actual hurling.

But you can't deny it hasn't attributed to their success over the years. If the Slaughtneil players were 12 inches shorter and 2 stone lighter would they have had the success they have had.

Best of luck to the Aghaderg Camogs in the Ulster Junior Camogie Final tomorrow- the last of the Down small-ball representatives in Ulster after Portaferry, Liatroim, Castlewellan, Clonduff, and Ballyholland all fought the good fight and gave it a lash.

Sleacht Néill are without doubt one of the most technically skilful teams in Ulster- if not Ireland. Their touch, their striking, their decision making, their reading of the game; are all phenomenal. There's a great slowed down video going about at the moment of McKaigue taking a touch on the outside heel of the hurl and putting the sliotar over the bar, for example.

I don't think it's right to say that commentary on their physicality is lazy.

Perhaps some of it is. Perhaps some of it is people saying their dual status gives them 'double the results,' or something to that effect. But with any serious interest will know SN are where they are due to playing hurling very well.

I think it's very hard though to say their physicality doesn't play a role in their game though. At the end of the day, the ability to win ball over their opponents, to break tackles, and to shoot from almost anywhere on the field at times, have all played massive factors in their success.

It is not the reason for their success, but it is no doubt useful to them and has not been a bad thing. Part of the reason that SN have been so competitive with the likes of Ballygunner, Ballyhale, Na Piarsaigh, etc., is becuase they have the physical ability to live with them.

You are spot on though- their primary reason for success is due to the high quality hurling they play, followed by a series of very good managers.


Great year for St John's. Upset the odds time and time again this year. No reason they can't be competitive with Slaughtneil and Loughrea. We will see.

Disappointed for Portaferry.

Came down to the wire. I think it really could have gone either way, and was in the  melting pot up until Slaughtneil's goal in the last ten minutes.

It wasn't as spectacular a game as we have seen in recent years, but that's the nature of these types of battles.

McGrattan obviously a huge loss. Coleman was very impressive.

Portaferry may feel certain decisions went against them, but the fact of the matter is the Ports had chances and unfortunately, they weren't able to capitalise at the right times.

SN are a serious side. The physicality they bring is very, very difficult to live with. Their ability to win ball goes a long way in helping their game. That is before even commenting on the quality hurling they play.

Portaferry will be disappointed. But I do think it is important to take a step back and look at how they have come on in recent years.

In 2022, Portaferry were put out of Ulster in the semi finals by SN- losing by almost 20 points. 3 years later and they have clearly shown they have caught up with the Derry men. It is massive progress in a short period of time.

I know that won't be much comfort to them over the winter, but it is well worth noting.

Portaferry are still very much the team to beat in Down and no doubt there's more to come from this team.

Best of luck to Slaughtneil now in Ulster. I'd say they should win the Ulster Final, but I do think it would be great to see St John's get over the line. Setentna weren't absolutely blown away in the other semi final, so hopefully they stick up in the Senior Championship for next year. Great to have more teams and more games.

Hard luck also to Clonduff camogs. Game was far closer than final score line might suggest (they lost by 7, but were a point or 2 behind Loughguile for the majority of the game). It is great to see them competing with teams like Loughguile, and hopefully there is more to come.

Portaferry are a serious outfit and will win Ulster in the next year or 2. hard luck to them at the weekend but they need a bit more off the bench going forward.

You need 20 plus hurlers capable of coming on and making a difference and there's no doubting Tom McGrattan is one they will need next year, but their need is further down the field and I don't see who that is coming from their bench and I've seen plenty of their juveniles and seconds the last several years.

They're still hot favourites to come out of Down as our needs are far greater than theirs.

Anyone I've spoken to reckons SN will beat St Johns with something to spare. I can't see how it can be so though, as it wasn't as if they got an easy route out of Antrim and I wouldn't bet against them, but SN's physicality and fitness is something to behold.

There are plenty of good backs in Portaferry, but I don't think they have a real marquee name the outside of one or two more established players, and they don't seem to have an obvious solution coming.

That is unless someone focused on developing as a real man marking defender, but I don't know how feasible that would really be.

I think SN should win Ulster now, but anyone thinking St John's won't put it up to them would do well to look back over their record up until now. They'll give Slaughtneil their fill of it, but SN's physicality and experience should see them over the line.

Would it make sense to move reserve football away from Saturday ? The local soccer leagues are every Saturday, which may help participation.

I would strongly agree. I think Saturday is the worst time for reserves.

The nature of reserve football means there is a lot of young players, many still in school, university, apprenticeships, etc., who typically work on Saturdays. Say what you want, but it's hard for a lad to routinely turn down a few pound on a Saturday night because he's off to play reserves.

There is probably an argument that many treat reserves as a social occasion, and Saturday is probably not going to accommodate this very well.

The hurling reserves (Betsy Gray) took place on a Wednesday this year and I think that worked great. Footballers should try something similar.

Disappointed for Portaferry.

Came down to the wire. I think it really could have gone either way, and was in the  melting pot up until Slaughtneil's goal in the last ten minutes.

It wasn't as spectacular a game as we have seen in recent years, but that's the nature of these types of battles.

McGrattan obviously a huge loss. Coleman was very impressive.

Portaferry may feel certain decisions went against them, but the fact of the matter is the Ports had chances and unfortunately, they weren't able to capitalise at the right times.

SN are a serious side. The physicality they bring is very, very difficult to live with. Their ability to win ball goes a long way in helping their game. That is before even commenting on the quality hurling they play.

Portaferry will be disappointed. But I do think it is important to take a step back and look at how they have come on in recent years.

In 2022, Portaferry were put out of Ulster in the semi finals by SN- losing by almost 20 points. 3 years later and they have clearly shown they have caught up with the Derry men. It is massive progress in a short period of time.

I know that won't be much comfort to them over the winter, but it is well worth noting.

Portaferry are still very much the team to beat in Down and no doubt there's more to come from this team.

Best of luck to Slaughtneil now in Ulster. I'd say they should win the Ulster Final, but I do think it would be great to see St John's get over the line. Setentna weren't absolutely blown away in the other semi final, so hopefully they stick up in the Senior Championship for next year. Great to have more teams and more games.

Hard luck also to Clonduff camogs. Game was far closer than final score line might suggest (they lost by 7, but were a point or 2 behind Loughguile for the majority of the game). It is great to see them competing with teams like Loughguile, and hopefully there is more to come.

Best of luck to the Clonduff Camogs in the Senior Ulster Final today against Loughgiel.

Best of luck to Portaferry in the Ulster Semi Final against Slaughtneil this weekend.

Very hard to call. Slaughtneil won Derry at a canter- they're only getting going now. This is their first real game of any meaning since they were pipped by the narrowest of margins by Sarsfields from Cork last year in the All Ireland Series.

Portaferry won the Senior Championship convincingly at the end, but they made hard enough work of it, and at half time I really fancied Ballygalget to kick on and shock them. Portaferry did what Portaferry do and found that next level and were well out of sight by the end of the game. The Slaughtneil crowd down in Newry that day didn't look too impressed, but they won't be taking the Ports lightly. It still feels more like Portaferry lost last year's Ulster Final than Slaughtneil won it, and they'll be eager to get that back.

Portaferry probably aren't just as strong as they were, but I don't think Slaughtneil are either. This is undoubtedly the tougher side of the draw, and whoever comes out of this will have to fancy themselves for Ulster. Slaughtneil will be more wary of Portaferry, but the Ports have shown they are no flash in the pan and are amongst the best in Ulster. Should be a good days hurling.

Liatroim and Castlewellan will be disappointed with how their respective years ended.

The intermediate final was a lot closer than I had anticipated, and Carryduff looked heartbroken. Losing 5 finals in a row is sickening. They have improved massively though in that period, and should really be looking at making it to the next stage of the senior championship in my opinion.

Liatroim very much seemed as though they had bigger things on their mind, as alluded to in the speech after the final. However they probably had the unkindest draw and came up just short against a very strong Glenariffe side away in Antrim. I'd have said those two teams would have been the strongest intermediate sides in Ulster. Liatroim probably didn't have the year they would have wanted, but I don't think many would have tipped them to win the Intermediate at the start of the championship given their performances.

There's a couple players from both Liatroim and Carryduff who in my opinion should be involved with Down going forward.

Castlewellan won the Junior Final in the most dominant display we've seen in years. Not really sure what happened to Kilclief. They were reminiscent of Cork in the second half of the All Ireland Final with a complete break down in play, scoring only 2 points in the second half.

Castlewellan will feel they should have won that championship 4 or 5 years ago. It will be a massive money off their back and I feel like they have the potential to establish themselves as a serious intermediate team, and with the work being done at underage in the club, they could kick on even further.

Kilclief will no doubt be there or there abouts next year. Next year's JHC should be a good spectacle, with Clonduff coming down, leaving it as open as it's been in a number of years, with no clear favourite as of yet.

Castlewellan couldn't deal with Burt in the first round of Ulster, but it's been well discussed the flaws in having a team of Burt's quality in the Junior Championship. Castlewellan likely would have beat the Donegal Junior Champions, Letterkenny, well, but it is what it is. Looking forward to seeing how Castlewellan fare in Div 1 now next year.