Recent Meetings: Down v Armagh

Down's Ryan Johnston looks to escape the clutches of Armagh's Jason Duffy.

2023: Armagh 4-10 Down 0-12

Twelve months ago, Down and Armagh met in the same venue at the same stage of the Ulster Championship as they will this weekend.

Although Armagh came into the game as favourites, Down were full of confidence after they knocked Division 1 side Donegal out at the quarter-final stage. However, played in the lashing rain in front of an impressive crowd of 22,500 spectators, goals proved to be decisive, as Armagh smashed in four en route to a 10-point win.

Shane McPartlan celebrates his first half goal against Down in their 2023 meeting.

Down’s full back line struggled under a high ball all afternoon, and they were made to pay dearly through goal scorers Andrew Murnin, Shane McPartlan, Ciaran Mackin and Rian O’Neill, with two goals in each half.

The Mourne County had opportunities of their own, but missed 15 shots, with 11 wides and four dropping short.

The win saw Armagh book their place in the Ulster final for the first time since 2008.

2019: Down 3-13 Armagh 2-17 (AET)

Down's Darren O'Hagan and Armagh's Rory Grugan pictured ahead of their 2019 Ulster Championship meeting. Pic: Ulster GAA

The neighbours’ meeting in 2019 had it all and was certainly the most dramatic Down v Armagh encounter of recent years.

Played in Newry, Armagh came into the game as favourites after they finished mid-table in Division 2, whilst Down failed to earn promotion from Division 3. The Orchard County did get the win – their first in the provincial Championship since 2014 – but they were made to work for it.

The two counties’ main marksmen in recent years, Pat Haven and Rian O’Neill, both made their Championship debuts in this game, with the Crossmaglen man finishing with 0-8, whilst Havern netted a first half goal.

That score helped the hosts lead 1-5 to 0-7 at the break. However, after Caolan Mooney was shown a red card and goalkeeper Rory Burns was shown a black, Armagh controlled the second half and looked to be out of sight with a five-point lead late on.

But Down had other ideas, as Conor Francis pointed, Donal O’Hare hit the net and James Guinness pointed in stoppage time to take the game into extra-time.

The introduction of Andrew Murnin in extra-time proved to be the catalyst for Armagh, as he scored 1-1 and gave them a four-point lead. Down’s Paul Devlin scored a late, late goal, but it wasn’t enough and Armagh held on for a 2-17 to 3-13 win.

2017: Down 0-15 Armagh 2-7

Whilst goals were the key to victory for Armagh in 2023, in 2017 it was points that got Down over the line for their most recent Championship win over Armagh, and their only one since 1992.

Down hit the first four points of the game, but Armagh responded with two first half goals, via Mark Shields and Andrew Murnin – the same two players who raised green flags for Armagh in the 2019 meeting.

That had Armagh 2-4 to 0-9 ahead at the interval, but the Orchard County’s attack went to sleep in the second half, with just three points scored, as Down’s Darren O’Hagan, Gerard McGovern and Kevin McKernan kept the likes of Jamie Clarke and Stefan Campbell quiet.

At the other end, Darren O’Hanlon and Caolan Mooney did the damage on the scoreboard and had Down ahead 0-15 to 2-6 in the dying seconds. Clarke had an opportunity to score a last-gasp goal, but his attempt was fired over the bar and Down held on for the win.