The tournament operated a double elimination format for the opening two rounds of the championship, with the winners and early round losers rejoining in the quarter final stage.
Kilcoo Owen Roe's were the defending champions after they defeated Castlewellan 3-10 to 0-11 in the 2015 final. On 25 September 2016 they successfully defended their title and claimed a "5 in a row" of Down S.F.C. titles when they defeated Clonduff 3-11 to 0-9 in the final in Pairc Esler.[1]
Loughinisland and Ballymartin return to the senior grade after claiming the Down IFC and IFL titles respectively. Loughinisland made the straight bounce back to the senior grade after being relegated in 2014.
Annaclone and Rostrevor are relegated to the 2017 I.F.C. after finishing outside the top 15 ranked teams in the Down football leagues for 2016.
Team Changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2015 championship season.
Stephen McConville 0-5f, Rian Brannigan 1-0, Barry O'Hagan and Patrick O'Hagan 0-2 each, Aidan Carr, Paul Lively, Jason Brown (0-1 '45), Conor Og O'Hagan 0-1 each
Pairc Esler Referee: Neil Cousins (An Riocht) Man of the Match: Daryl Branagan
Martin Devlin 0-4, Daryl Branagan 1-0, Ceilum Doherty 1-0, Aaron Morgan 1-0, Paul Devlin 0-2 (0-1f), Darragh O'Hanlon (0-1f), James McClean, Ryan Johnston, Conor Laverty, JJ McLoughlin 0-1 each