ARMAGH

Derry 0-13 Down 1-5

Derry 0-13 Down 1-05

2012 All-Star Mark McHugh will line out for Donegal in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final showdown with Down at Kingspan Breffni Park (throw-in 2pm).

The sun was shining, the pitch was in pristine shape, and conditions were perfect for Championship football — yet an unmistakable air of melancholy hung around Celtic Park on Sunday.

Derry 1-15 Down 2-17

Derry 1-15 Down 2-17

Ambrose Rogers, Conor Laverty and Championship debutant Niall Madine has been named in the Down team for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry at Celtic Park (throw-in 2pm).

Down 1-17 Cork 3-12

Donegal 0-12 Down 0-7

There will be players tasting Allianz League action for the first time on both sides when Down host Ulster rivals Tyrone in Newry tomorrow night (throw-in 7pm).

Both the Down SHC and SFC holders lost their titles at the weekend.

A decade on from the introduction of the qualifiers and the extended championship structure is still bringing some counties together for the first time.

Mayo manager James Horan has promised his team will be “fresh and hungry” for tomorrow evening’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Down at Croke Park.

Amid the hysteria at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones yesterday afternoon as Donegal celebrated their first retention of the Ulster championship as only they can, manager Jim McGuinness got a quiet chance to reflect.

Donegal 2-18 Down 0-13

Down 1-14 Monaghan 1-13

Aidan Carr has vivid enough memories of 1994 and the role his father played in Down’s last All-Ireland success.

Benny Coulter has vowed to play through the pain barrier in order to fulfil his dream of winning an Ulster SFC title.

Fermanagh 1-8 Down 2-10

Arthur McConville will make his Championship debut for Down when they take on Fermanagh in Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final at Brewster Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Benny Coulter will find out on Friday if he has a chance of playing for Down in the championship this summer.

Influential midfielder Ambrose Rogers has been chosen as captain of the Down senior footballers for the 2012 Championship.

As GAA trends go it’s been a curious one. When the dejection at losing the 2010 All-Ireland final had dissipated, Down could at least reflect that they were not far from the top with one point separating themselves and Cork at the final whistle.

Down’s Greg McCartan feels his county’s recent poor run of results against Cork is largely down to their players being dwarfed by Conor Counihan’s totemic side.

Laois 0-10 Down 2-11, Portlaoise

After a nightmare week for Armagh, there was more than a touch of irony about Ciarán McKeever’s late heroics which helped the Orchard county snatch a precious league victory on Saturday night.

Pat Gilroy pointed to a lack of intensity as the reason why Dublin slipped to a second Allianz League defeat yesterday.

Down 0-15 Dublin 1-10

A game that began with Mayo as overwhelming favourites to maintain their unbeaten record ended with Down tearing up the form book and the referee being escorted from the field by local stewards.

Mayo 0-11 Down 1-13

DOWN manager James McCartan, who had 12 e players unavailable prior to last Sunday’s NFL Division 1 opener against Donegal, has been handed a considerable boost prior for this weekend’s clash with Cork.

Bryansford were crowned Blue September Kilmacud Sevens champions for the first time since 1994 at Glenalbyn this evening.

Down manager James McCartan said that his side were on the end of 'a footballing lesson' at times during yesterday's All-Ireland qualifier loss to Cork.

Down are set to field an unchanged team when they clash with Cork in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC fourth round qualifier at Croke Park (throw-in 6pm).

James McCartan has acknowledged that the manner of last year's All-Ireland SFC final defeat will provide motivation for Saturday's rematch with Cork.

Forwards Benny Coulter and Conor Maginn have been added to Down's injury list ahead of their All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Clare.

The Down team to face Armagh in tonight's Ulster SFC quarter-final shows just one change to the side that lost last year's All-Ireland final to Cork.

All-Star corner forward Benny Coulter says he is on course to line out for Down in their Ulster SFC quarter-final showdown with Armagh on Saturday, May 28.

THE good news for Down supporters and Gaelic football fans everywhere is that Martin Clarke will be wearing the famed red and black again next year. The bad news is that he may not do so again in 2012.

THE morning after the nightbefore and James McCartan isleaning against a wall in one of the few quiet corners the Citywest Hotel has to offer ruminating over what came to pass and what might have been.

DOWN boss James McCartan has kept faith with the starting 15 that saw off Kildare in last month’s All-Ireland semi-final for tomorrow’s Croke Park decider against Cork.