Down have emerged from the depths of despair to challenge once again for Ulster football glory.

He would have been entitled to feel smug or wag a finger in the general direction of his detractors after a torrid 18 months, but Eamonn Burns instead used his winning platform to heap praise on his unfancied Down team after they pulled off the county’s first Ulster championship win over Armagh in 25 years.

Derry 1-07 - Down 1-15: Down boss Eamonn Burns was thrilled after watching his side destroy Derry to chalk up successive National League victories and move clear of the bottom two in Division Two.

Down 1-13 Meath 0-14: It was a long time coming, so Eamonn Burns was relieved to get Down over the winning line as they picked up a first Allianz League victory in almost two years.

Longford have upset the form guide with a Qualifier win over a vulnerable Down side at Pairc Esler, striking two killer goals in extra-time to book their place in Monday’s Round 2 draw.

Monaghan 2-22 Down 0-9: So much for the ultra-competitive Ulster championship.

Down 1-7 Dublin 1-15: Still holding a flawless record as they stride towards the Allianz League semi-finals may suggest Dublin are passing through the spring without being road tested. Jim Gavin, however, insists that the ride has been “a little bit bumpy”.

The Dubs made virtually certain of a National Football League semi-final place with a comfortable if unspectacular eight points win over Down at Pairc Esler.

Roscommon continued their impressive National League campaign as they were nine-point winners over bottom side Down in Pearse Park, Longford.

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has backed Paul Murphy to shine again at centre-forward, though he accepts that tomorrow’s Allianz FL Division 1 clash with Donegal in Tralee will represent a different challenge for the Rathmore man than Down did last week.

Aidan Walsh of St Mary’s makes his league debut as Kerry make seven changes for tomorrow’s Allianz FL Division 1 clash with Down at Páirc Esler in Newry (2pm).

Monaghan 0-13 Down 0-11: Monaghan just about held out in a frenetic finish to make it two wins from two outings but they were pushed all the way by a resurgent Down who were a transformed side from their opening weekend drubbing by Donegal.

Down 0-7 Donegal 3-15: Rory Gallagher wants Donegal’s established players to feel the heat from the next generation, and there were loads of positives for him to take from Saturday night’s emphatic league win in Newry.

Donegal 1-11 Down 0-11: Frank McGlynn’s goal, after only 68 seconds, fired Donegal to a useful opening-day win over Down, in the Dr McKenna Cup, at Ballybofey.

Down 3-12 Laois 1-15: Down’s ability to find the net helped them clinch promotion back to Division One while Laois maintained their league status despite defeat in Pairc Esler yesterday.

Allianz Football League leaders Cork have included all three O’Driscoll brothers for Sunday’s table-topping clash with Mayo.

Down 0-11 Kildare 1-18

Kildare booked their place in Round 3B of the All-Ireland football qualifiers thanks to a 1-18 to 0-11 victory over Down in Newry.

Down 4-18 Leitrim 0-9

Down scored their biggest ever win in the All-Ireland qualifiers when they dished out a drubbing to an understrength Leitrim side at Pairc Esler in Newry.

Tyrone 2-11 Down 3-8

Brian McIver last night closed the door on Eoin Bradley returning to the Derry squad for this summer’s championship.

Laois 1-16 Down 2-10

Galway 1-12 Down 0-08

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has dismissed suggestions last Sunday’s defeat to Mayo was another example of a Kerry second-half fadeout.

Westmeath manager Paul Bealin is optimistic his outfit will stay the course against All-Ireland champions Dublin on Sunday.

Derry 0-13 Down 1-5

Derry 0-13 Down 1-05

Donegal 0-12 Down 0-9

Tipperary manager Eamon O’Shea concedes Lar Corbett is facing a race against time to be fit to start Sunday week’s Munster semi-final against Limerick.

Down 3-13 Kildare 1-12

Donegal 0-12 Down 0-7

Down 1-08 Tyrone 1-11

Down 0-13 Monaghan 1-12

Cavan 0-12 Down 1-11

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

Cork 2-17 Down 1-12

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.

Allianz Football League Division 1: Cork 4-11 Down 0-10

Down 1-10 Donegal 1-9

HOLDERS Derry booked their place in the Dr McKenna Cup final at the Athletic Grounds, where six Conleth Gilligan points helped secure victory.

Fermanagh 0-13 Down 0-10