2020 Down county football team season

The following is a summary of Down county football team's 2020 season, which was its 117th year. The season was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The season resumed in mid-October of the same year.[2]

Down county football team
2020 season
ManagerPaddy Tally
StadiumPáirc Esler, Newry
NFL D32nd (promoted)
All-Ireland SFCDid not qualify
Ulster SFCSemi-finalist
Dr McKenna CupSemi-finalist

Kits
Home
Away

Competitions

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed/Cancelled

Dr McKenna Cup
Main article: 2020 Dr McKenna Cup

The draw for the 2020 Dr McKenna Cup was made on 4 December 2019.[3][4]

Fixtures
DateRoundHomeScoreAwayGroundRef
29 December 2019GroupFermanagh0-07 v 1-11DownBrewster Park, Enniskillen[5]
8 January 2020GroupDown2-17 v 0-15AntrimPáirc Esler, Newry[6]
12 January 2020Semi-finalTyrone2-16 v 1-10DownAthletic Grounds, Armagh[7]

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PR Pts Qualification
1 Down 2 2 0 0 37 21 1.762 4 Advance to semi-final
2 Antrim 2 1 0 1 28 36 0.778 2
3 Fermanagh 2 0 0 2 20 28 0.714 0
Updated to match(es) played on 8 January 2020. Source: Ulster GAA

Reports
Group Stage
Fermanagh 0-07 - 1-11Down
L Kerr (1-03), R McGarry (0-01), P Havern (0-03), J Flynn (0-01), C Poland (0-01), L Middleton (0-01), R Carr (0-01) Report R Jones (0-01), G Jones (0-01), C Jones (0-03), D McGurn (0-02)
Group Stage
Down 2-17 - 0-15Antrim
B O'Hagan (1-02), P Havern (0-05), C Quinn (1-03), D OHagan (0-02), L Kerr (0-02), D Hughes (0-01), C Maginn (0-01), D McGuinness (0-01) Report P McBride (0-06), E Fyfe (0-01), E Walsh (0-01), R McCann (0-03), C Duffin (0-02), A Loughran (0-02)
Semi Final
Tyrone 2-16 - 1-10Down
B Gallen (0-1), R McNamee (0-1), B McDonnell (0-1), F Burns (0-1), D McCurry (0-7), C McCann (1-2), R O'Neill (0-2), R McHugh (1-1) Report D O'Hagan (0-1), C Poland (0-3), C Quinn (1-0), S Dornan (0-1), P Havern (0-2), L Kerr (0-1), D O’Hare (0-1) R McGarry (0-1)

National Football League Division 3
Main article: 2020 National Football League (Ireland)

Down competed in Division Three for the 2020 National League season. Fixtures were published by the GAA on 26 November 2019.[8][9][10]

On 12 March 2020, the GAA suspended the National League in mid-March due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.[11] Games resumed in October 2020.[2]

Fixtures
Date Round Home Score Away Ground Ref
Saturday 26 January Group Tipperary 0-10 v 0-10 Down Clonmel GAA Ground, Clonmel [12]
Saturday 1 February Group Down 0-14 v 0-12 Derry Páirc Esler, Newry [13]
Sunday 9 February Group Cork 0-16 v 1-08 Down Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [14]
Saturday 22 February Group Down 2-13 v 1-14 Longford Páirc Esler, Newry [15]
Sunday 1 March Group Offaly 0-09 v 0-17 Down O'Connor Park, Tullamore [16]
Saturday 14 March Group Down P v P Leitrim Páirc Esler, Newry [17]
Sunday 22 March Group Louth P v P Down Drogheda Park, Drogheda [18]
Saturday 17 October Group Down C v C Leitrim Páirc Esler, Newry [19]
Sunday 25 October Group Louth 3-14 v 0-16 Down Drogheda Park, Drogheda [20]

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Cork (P) 7 7 0 0 132 90 +42 14 NFL Division 3 champions and
promotion to 2021 NFL Division 2
2 Down (P) 7 4 1 2 87 87 0 9[lower-alpha 1] Promotion to 2021 NFL Division 2
3 Derry 7 4 1 2 110 95 +15 9[lower-alpha 1]
4 Longford 7 3 1 3 96 90 +6 7[lower-alpha 2]
5 Tipperary 7 3 1 3 99 104 −5 7[lower-alpha 2]
6 Offaly 7 2 1 4 102 111 −9 5
7 Leitrim (R) 7 1 1 5 90 109 −19 3 Relegation to 2021 NFL Division 4
8 Louth (R) 7 1 0 6 105 135 −30 2
Updated to match(es) played on 25 October 2020. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are involved, the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the competition 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head result: Down 0-14 – 0-12 Derry.
  2. Head-to-head result: Longford 3-12 – 3-7 Tipperary.

Reports
Round 1
Tipperary 0-10 - 0-10Down
Conor Sweeney (0-05), Evan Comerford (0-02), Steven O'Brien (0-01), Jack Kennedy (0-01), Liam Boland (0-01) Report Donal O'Hare (0-03), Owen McCabe(0-02), Rory Burns (0-02), Barry O'Hagan (0-01), Cory Quinn (0-01), Pat Havern (0-01)
Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow)
Round 2
Down 0-14 - 0-12Derry
Conor Poland (0-01); Barry O’Hagan (0-02), Owen McCabe (0-01), Jerome Johnston (0-02), Cory Quinn (0-01), Donal O'Hare (0-06), Daniel Guinness (0-01) Report Shay Downey (0-01), Chrissy McKaigue (0-01), Benny Heron (0-01), Shane McGuigan (0-07, Alex Doherty (0-01), Christopher Bradley (0-01)
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh)
Round 3
Cork 0-16 - 1-08Down
Liam O'Donovan (0-01), Thomas Clancy (0-01), Tadhg Corkery (0-01), Ian Maguire (0-02), Brian Hartnett (0-01), Ruairí Deane (0-01), John O’Rourke (0-01); Damien Gore (0-03), Ciarán Sheehan (0-01), Cathail O'Mahony (0-03), Luke Connolly (0-01) Report Darren O'Hagan (0-02), Owen McCabe (0-02), Paul Devlin (0-01), Donal O’Hare (0-02), Jerome Johnston (1-01)
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)
Round 4
Down 2-13 - 1-14Longford
D O'Hagan (0-01), J Flynn (0-02), B O'Hagan (0-03), K McKernan (0-01), L Kerr (0-02), D O'Hare (0-02), C Quinn (1-02), J Guinness (1-00) Report P Collum (0-02), D Gallagher (0-05), D Reynolds (0-01), P Lynn (0-02), L Connerton (1-01), D Mimnagh (0-03)
Referee: C Reilly (Meath)
Round 5
Offaly 0-09 - 0-17Down
Eoin Carroll (0-1), Michael Brazil (0-1), Anton Sullivan (0-2), Bernard Allen (0-1), Ruairi McNamee (0-3), Aaron Leavy (0-1) Report James Guinness (0-3), Barry O'Hagan (0-6), Ceilum Doherty (0-1), Liam Kerr (0-3), Cory Quinn (0-2), Owen McCabe (0-1), Connaire Harrison (0-1)
Referee: J Bermingham (Cork)
Round 6
Down w/o - concLeitrim
Report
Round 7
Louth 3-14 - 0-16Down
D Campbell 0-01, J Clutterbuck (0-01), T Durnin (0-01), B Duffy (0-01); L Jackson (0-01), C Keenan (1-01), C McKeever (1-00), S Mulroy (1-07, 0-06f) Report D Ward (0-02), R Johnston (0-04), P Devlin (0-06, 0-04f), B O’Hagan (0-04, 0-04f)
Dowdallshill, Dundalk
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

Ulster Senior Football Championship
Main article: 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship took place on 9 October 2019.[21][22][23] On 26 November 2019, it was confirmed that Down would face Fermanagh on 24 May 2020.[24] This date was then changed to 8 November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Fixtures
DateRoundTeam 1ScoreTeam 2GroundRef
8 November 2020Quarter FinalFermanagh0-11 v 1-15DownBrewster Park, Enniskillen[25]
15 November 2020Semi FinalCavan1-14 v 1-13DownAthletic Grounds, Armagh[26]

Bracket
Preliminary round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Donegal 1–13
Tyrone 1–11
Donegal 1–22
Armagh 0–13
Derry 0–15
Armagh 0–17
Donegal 0–12
Cavan 1–13
Fermanagh 0–11
Down 1–15
Down 1–13
Cavan 1–14
Antrim 0–9
Monaghan 1–17 Cavan 0–13
Cavan 2–15

Reports
Quarter Final
Fermanagh 0-11 - 1-15Down
C Corrigan (0-1) D McGurn (0-1), T Corrigan (0-6), D Teague (0-1), Jones (0-1), P McCusker (0-1) Report C Mooney (0-2), B O'Hagan (0-4), J Johnston (0-2), D O'Hare (1-4), C Quinn (0-1), R Johnston (0-2)
Attendance: 0
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
Semi Final
Cavan 1-14 - 1-13Down
P Faulkner (0-01), K Clarke (0-01), C Brady (0-01), K Brady (0-01), M Reilly (1-00 (pen), G McKiernan (0-03), T Galligan (0-03, 1m), S Smith (0-01), C Madden (0-03) Report P Delvin (0-03), J Johnston (0-04), D O'Hare (0-04), C Doherty (1-01), S Johnston (0-01)
Attendance: 0
Referee: M McNally (Monaghan)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Main article: 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, the GAA announced that there would be no back-door route into the All-Ireland Championship. Therefore, because Down did not win the Ulster Championship, they did not qualify for the 2020 All-Ireland Championship.

References
  1. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  2. Ryan, Eoin (25 September 2020). "Leinster bides time as GAA confirms 2020 inter-county fixtures". RTÉ. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. "McKenna Cup: Holders Tyrone drawn against Armagh and Cavan". BBC. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  4. "McKenna Cup draw: holders Tyrone grouped with Armagh and Cavan". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  5. "Dr McKenna Cup: Wins for Monaghan, Armagh and Down on opening day". BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  6. "Dr McKenna Cup round-up: Tyrone remain on course for title defence". RTÉ. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  7. "Dr McKenna Cup: Tyrone set up Monaghan final with 2-16 to 1-10 win over Down". BBC. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  8. "GAA Master Fixture schedule for 2020 published". GAA. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  9. "Football League and All-Ireland Club SFC dates confirmed as GAA release fixture schedule". BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. Ryan, Eoin (26 November 2019). "Dubs and Kerry to renew battle in Allianz Football League opener". RTÉ. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  11. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  12. Brophy, Shane (26 January 2020). "Down forced to settle for draw with 14-man Tipp". RTÉ. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  13. Bannon, Dan (February 2020). "Late surge sees Down overcome Derry in Newry". RTÉ. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  14. Hurley, Denis (9 February 2020). "Cork in cruise control as they dispatch Down to make it three from three in Division 3". RTÉ. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  15. O'Flaherty, Deniese (22 February 2020). "Guinness strikes late to give Down a priceless victory". RTÉ. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  16. "Down on track for promotion as Offaly swatted away". RTÉ. March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  17. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  18. "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  19. Lawlor, Damian (17 October 2020). "Leitrim unable to field and concede Division 3 game to Down". RTÉ. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  20. Bannon, Dan (25 October 2020). "Louth finish campaign on high with victory against Down". RTÉ. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  21. "Donegal and Tyrone to clash in 2020 Ulster SFC Quarter-Finals". GAA. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  22. "Donegal to take on Tyrone in 2020 Ulster SFC quarter-finals". Irish Times. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  23. "Ulster SFC: Fierce rivals Donegal and Tyrone clash in quarter-finals". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  24. "Fixture details confirmed for the Ulster Senior Football Championship". Gaelic Life. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  25. McLaughlin, Gerry (8 November 2020). "Down overcome depleted Fermanagh to reach Ulster semi".
  26. Mooney, Francis (15 November 2020). "Cavan overturn ten-point deficit to reach Ulster final".
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