Crunch time

Crunch time

11 June 2025

DOWN’S fate will rest in their own hands when they battle it out with Monaghan for a place in the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Championship in Armagh on Sunday. 

The two sides enter the final group stage match with perfect records, having each won their first two games, and while they will both have their sights set on direct passage to the last eight, there will be contrasting emotions come full-time.

The Mourne Men and their Oriel County opponents have left winless Clare and Louth in their wake, setting up a grandstand finish to the group phase.

Monaghan, who have been riding the wave of their National League Division 2 title win, are skating on confidence following a six-point success over Louth and a nine-point margin of victory against Clare.

Meanwhile, Down are hitting form at the right time, bouncing back from league relegation and an Ulster Championship semi-final exit in morale-boosting style.

They produced the perfect response in their opening Sam Maguire series fixture, walking all over Clare in their own back yard and storming to a resounding 3-27 to 1-16 triumph.

Doubt was cast on their ability to follow up against Louth, and understandably so. After all, Down were on the receiving end of a haymaker against their neighbours earlier in the season.

Their 2-17 to 0-22 defeat may not have been the knockout blow on the day, but it did have huge ramifications at the conclusion of the league campaign, significantly contributing to Down’s demotion to Division 3.

Further question marks were raised when star man Daniel Guinness was ruled out through injury, yet Conor Laverty’s men stood tall in the face of adversity at Páirc Esler.

They were head and shoulders above their rivals in the first-half, surging into a nine-point lead at the break.

The Wee County threatened to derail the hosts’ All-Ireland campaign with a spirited second half performance and there could not have been a more dramatic final play.

Louth pulled themselves to within a single point, with the scoreline sitting at 0-25 to 0-24, and as Tommy Durnin took aim with an attempt that surely would have snatched victory, Adam Crimmins threw his body on the line with a block that spared Down’s blushes.

Arguments could now be made for both Down and Monaghan deserving top spot and as they each chase perfect group stage records, only one side can progress straight to the quarters.

The teams that finish in second and third will instead have to rely on preliminary quarter-finals to continue their hunt for the Sam Maguire, but Laverty and his players will be keen to avoid such a scenario.

The good news is, Down’s superior point difference means a draw will be enough to see them through, while anything short of victory will leave Moanghan disappointed.

Throw-in is scheduled for 2pm at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on Sunday and the Down Supporters Club will be running a bus to . 

The bus will leave Castlewellan Upper Square at 11am, stopping at Kilcoo Vivo shop (11.05), Hiltown Square (11.15), Mayobridge (11.25) and Newry Courthouse (11.35).

The cost of the fare is £12 for adults and £8 for children.

Tickets can be purchased through the Down GAA app and by contacting Eamon O’Hare (07733 439191) or PJ Quinn (07902 044990).