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When you strip it all back, the All Ireland Intermediate and Junior competitions aren't really fit for purpose. The sentiment at the time of their creation was in the right spirit. But when you look at it, both competitions operate on a skewed playing field. There are huge disparities in how counties run their internal competitions.

Down was linked and was based on your league finishing position up until COVID then it changed.

Down probably have the most honest Championship structure in Ulster, maybe Ireland. Our Junior teams are proper Junior teams. There are very few if any anomalies. That's why our record is so poor at Ulster JFC level.

Newry Mitchels, winners of four Down SFC titles in the 60's and the home club of the great Sean O'Neill are now defunct and out of being. Similarly, Ballykinlar, a team who reached Down SFC finals in the 60's and won a few JFC titles in the 90's are now folded too. Again, the club of Paddy 'Mo' Doherty as well.

[Ulster IFC5/11/23 - Preliminary Round]

Ulster IFC

5/11/23 - Preliminary Round

Teemore (Fermanagh) v Liatroim (Down)

12/11/23 - Quarter Finals

Glenullin, Banagher (Derry) v Glenravel (Antrim)

Ballyhaise (Cavan) v Downings (Donegal)

Pomeroy, Moy (Tyrone) v Cullyhanna (Armagh)

Killanny, Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v Teemore/Liatroim (Fermanagh/Down)


Ulster JFC

29/10/23 - Preliminary Round

Ballyhegan (Armagh) v Fintona (Tyrone)

5/11/23 - Quarter Finals

Ballymaguigan (Derry) v Arva (Cavan)

Na Rossa (Donegal) v Lisnaskea (Fermanagh)

Blackhill (Monaghan) v Rasharkin (Antim)

Ballyhegan, Fintona (Armagh/Tyrone) v Drumaness (Down)

With the Red High winning the Mageean a few years back, has the core of that team emerged as yet with the Ards teams in the SHC?

It has the makings of a very strong Ulster IFC this year. Down's Liatroim have won their first IFC in 25 years and are stacked with a lot of talent including a couple of county players. Would imagine Arva would be big favourites for the JFC.

[Ulster IFC5/11/23 - Preliminary Round]

Ulster IFC

5/11/23 - Preliminary Round

Teemore, Derrylin (Fermanagh) v Liatroim (Down)

12/11/23 - Quarter Finals

Glenullin, Banagher (Derry) v Glenravel (Antrim)

Ballyhaise (Cavan) v Downings (Donegal)

Pomeroy, Moy (Tyrone) v Cullyhanna, St Paul's (Armagh)

Killanny, Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v (Fermanagh/Down)


Ulster JFC

29/10/23 - Preliminary Round

Ballyhegan (Armagh) v Fintona (Tyrone)

5/11/23 - Quarter Finals

Moneymore, Ballymaguigan (Derry) v Arva (Cavan)

Na Rossa (Donegal) v Lisnaskea (Fermanagh)

Blackhill, Tyholland (Monaghan) v Rasharkin (Antim)

Ballyhegan, Fintona (Armagh/Tyrone) v Drumaness (Down)

All Britain champions John Mitchels done well in 09 and 15, getting to the All Ireland Junior Club Final, only to lose on both occasions by a point to Kerry opposition. They won the Lancashire again there at the weekend.

[Ulster IFC5/11/23 - Preliminary Round]

Ulster IFC

5/11/23 - Preliminary Round

Teemore, Derrylin (Fermanagh) v Rostrevor, Liatroim (Down)

12/11/23 - Quarter Finals

Glenullin, Drumsurn, Greenlough, Banagher (Derry) v Glenravel (Antrim)

Ballyhaise, Denn (Cavan) v Downings, Malin (Donegal)

Pomeroy, Derrylaughan, Moy, Clonoe (Tyrone) v Cullyhanna, St Paul's (Armagh)

Cremartin, Killaney, Monaghan Harps, Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v (Fermanagh/Down)


Ulster JFC

29/10/23 - Preliminary Round

Ballyhegan (Armagh) v Fintona, Drumragh (Tyrone)

5/11/23 - Quarter Finals

Moneymore, Glack, Ballymaguigan, Ballerin (Derry) v Knockbride, Arva (Cavan)

Na Rossa, Moville, Muff (Donegal) v Aughnadrumsee, Lisnaskea (Fermanagh)

Blackhill, Tyholland (Monaghan) v Rasharkin (Antim)

(Armagh/Tyrone) v Drumaness, Ardglass (Down)

[Ulster IFC5/11/23 - Preliminary Round]

Ulster IFC

5/11/23 - Preliminary Round

Teemore, Irvinestown, Derrylin, Tempo (Fermanagh) v Rostrevor, Liatroim (Down)

12/11/23 - Quarter Finals

(Derry) v Glenravel, All Saints (Antrim)

Ballyhaise, Denn (Cavan) v Termon, Downings, Malin, Fanad Gaels (Donegal)

(Tyrone) v Cullyhanna, Belleeks, Tir ná nÓg, Pearse Og, Wolfe Tones, Keady, St Paul's, Derrynoose (Armagh)

Cremartin, Killaney, Monaghan Harps, Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v (Fermanagh/Down)


Ulster JFC

29/10/23 - Preliminary Round

Ballyhegan (Armagh) v Fintona, Drumragh (Tyrone)

5/11/23 - Quarter Finals

(Derry) v Knockbride, Arva (Cavan)

Na Rossa, Moville, Lifford (Donegal) v Aughnadrumsee, Lisnaskea (Fermanagh)

Drumhowan, Eire Og, Blackhill, Tyholland (Monaghan) v O'Donnell's, Rasharkin (Antim)

(Armagh/Tyrone) v Drumaness, Ardglass (Down)

Ardglass v Drumaness in the Down JFC final. Drumaness would have been pre-competition favourites as they played their league football in Division 3 this year, albeit they got relegated. Ardglass have done extremely well to get to the final and will surely give it their all.

Liatroim and Rostrevor are into the Down IFC final. Rostrevor lost to Saval in the final last year so they will be looking to go one better this year. Liatroim have a serious amount of talent and a close final is in prospect.

Down's JFC reps for Ulster won't be anywhere near the same level as the usual suspects, Cavan, Monaghan and Tyrone. Our IFC reps should be competitive.

Ballycran in the early 90's had established themselves as a decent Division 3 outfit in football and had picked up a right few victories in the IFC.

[Ulster IFC5/11/23 - Preliminary Round]

Ulster IFC

5/11/23 - Preliminary Round

Teemore, Maguiresbridge, Derrylin, Donagh, Newtownbutler, Tempo, Irvinestown, Belcoo (Fermanagh) v Annaclone, St John's, Rostrevor, Liatroim (Down)

12/11/23 - Quarter Finals

(Derry) v Sarsfields, Glenravel, All Saints, St Teresa's(Antrim)

Ballyhaise, Shercock, Killinkere, Denn (Cavan) v (Donegal)

(Tyrone) v Cullyhanna, Belleeks, Tir ná nÓg, Pearse Og, Wolfe Tones, Keady, St Paul's, Derrynoose (Armagh)

Cremartin, Emyvale, Killaney, Castleblayney, Monaghan Harps, Carrickmacross (Monaghan) v (Fermanagh/Down)


Ulster JFC

29/10/23 - Preliminary Round

Ballyhegan, Clonmore, Corrinshego (Armagh) v Fintona, Drumragh, Cookstown, Aghaloo (Tyrone)

5/11/23 - Quarter Finals

(Derry) v Shannon Gaels, Knockbride, Drumalee, Arva (Cavan)

(Donegal) v (Fermanagh)

Drumhowan, Oram, Eire Og, Killeevan, Blackhill, Tyholland, Currin (Monaghan) v O'Donnell's. Eire Og, Rasharkin, St Malachy's (Antim)

(Armagh/Tyrone) v East Belfast, Kilclief, Drumaness, Dromara, Ardglass (Down)

CCC were probably genuinely looking to give the JFC sides as many Championship games as they could, broadly in line with the IFC and JFC. But the format, while not completely meaningless, only eliminates two teams after the first phase of fixtures. With Division 4 having given 11 games and the two new split sections hosting an additional 5 games minimum, I'd say most JFC teams would have been happy with a straight knockout championship. Two preliminary round games to eliminate two teams then quarters, semis and final.