2020 Down Senior Football Championship

2020 Down Senior Football Championship
Tournament details
CountyDown
ProvinceUlster
Year2020
TrophyFrank O'Hare Cup
SponsorMorgan Fuels
Teams16
Defending championsKilcoo
Winners
ChampionsKilcoo (18th title)
Qualify forNone (due to COVID-19 Pandemic)
← 2019
2021 →

The 2020 Down Senior Football Championship was the 112th official edition of Down GAA's premier Gaelic Football tournament for senior clubs in County Down, with 16 teams competing. The tournament operated a double elimination format for the opening two rounds of the championship, with the winners and early round losers rejoining at the quarter final stage.

Kilcoo were the holders after defeating Warrenpoint in the 2019 final.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, relegation from the S.F.C. was not tied to this year's Down Football League. Instead, a Relegation Play-off was implemented within this year's S.F.C. format. Darragh Cross were relegated to the 2021 I.F.C. after losing their Relegation Play-Off. Saul will replace them after they claimed the 2020 I.F.C. title.

Team Changes

[1] [2]

The following teams have changed division since the 2019 championship season.

[3]

Participating teams

The following teams take part in the 2020 edition of the Down Senior Football Championship.[4]

Round 1

The 16 participating teams were placed into an open draw. Winning sides moved to Round 2A while losing sides went into Round 2B.

13 August 2020 Round 1 Ballyholland Harps 1–18 1–07 Darragh Cross Kilcoo  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Eoghan Rua
Referee: Michael Moore


14 August 2020 Round 1 Rostrevor 3–11 0–16 RGU Downpatrick Castlewellan  
18:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: St Malachy's Park
Referee: Brian Higgins


14 August 2020 Round 1 Kilcoo 1–13 0–08 Mayobridge Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Ronan Barry


15 August 2020 Round 1 Bredagh 1–14 0–12 Castlewellan Darragh Cross  
14:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: St Mochai's Park
Referee: Adrian Sharvin


15 August 2020 Round 1 Longstone 2–09 1–08 Loughinisland Downpatrick  
17:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Tomás Ruséil
Referee: Ciarán Branagan


16 August 2020 Round 1 Bryansford 1–08 1–07 Glenn Newry  
15:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Paul Faloon


16 August 2020 Round 1 Warrenpoint 3–11 1–10 Burren Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Con Reynolds


17 August 2020 Round 1 Carryduff 1–09 4–11 Clonduff Newry  
19:45 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Brendan Rice


Round 2

Round 2A

Round 2A featured the eight winning sides from Round 1, with an open draw to determine the fixtures. The winning sides progress directly to the quarter final, with the losing sides moving into Round 3.

21 August 2020 Round 2A Rostrevor 0–12 0–08 Bredagh Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Ciarán Branagan


22 August 2020 Round 2A Longstone 0–08 2–10 Ballyholland Harps Burren  
15:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: St Mary's Park
Referee: Darren O Hare


23 August 2020 Round 2A Clonduff 0–17 2–15
(a.e.t.)
Bryansford Newry  
15:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Con Reynolds


23 August 2020 Round 2A Warrenpoint 0–10 0–09 Kilcoo Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Paul Faloon


Round 2B

Round 2B sees the eight losing sides from Round 1 compete for a place in Round 3. The losing sides from this round will be eliminated from the competition, and will have to play a relegation play-off to attempt to retain their Senior status for 2021.

22 August 2020 Round 2B Darragh Cross 0–07 0–10 Loughinisland Downpatrick  
16:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Tomás Ruséil
Referee: Colm Gribben


23 August 2020 Round 2B Castlewellan 0–08 0–14 Burren Mayobridge  
17:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: St Patrick's Park
Referee: Kevin Mc Grath


24 August 2020 Round 2B Glenn 1–11 1–13 Mayobridge Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Brendan Rice


Round 2B RGU Downpatrick 0–00[a] W/O Carryduff  


a RGU Downpatrick were unable to field due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the squad. Carryduff were awarded the victory.

Relegation Semi-finals

The 4 losers of Round 2B play each other in the Relegation Semi-finals. The 2 winners will secure their Senior status for 2021, while the 2 losers will face-off in the Relegation Final.

12 September 2020 Relegation Play-Off Semi Final Castlewellan 0–17 2–11
(a.e.t.)

(4–3 pen)
Glenn Mayobridge  
17:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: St Patrick's Park
Referee: Brendan Rice
    Penalty shootout
 
13 September 2020 Relegation Play-Off Semi Final Darragh Cross 0–06 0–12 RGU Downpatrick Bright  
16:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Bright GAC
Referee: Colm Gribben


Relegation Final

The winner of the Relegation Final will maintain their Senior status into 2021, while the loser will be relegated to the 2021 Down I.F.C.

19 September 2020 Relegation Play-Off Final Glenn 0–13 0–12 Darragh Cross  


Darragh Cross relegated to 2021 Down Intermediate Football Championship

Round 3

Round 3 is a supplementary round for teams to have a second chance at reaching the quarter final. This round features teams that have lost once so far in this year's Championship, either winning in Round 1 and losing in Round 2A, or losing in Round 1 but winning their Round 2B fixture. Losing sides in this round are eliminated from this year's competition.

This round is seeded, meaning in each fixture a Round 2A losing side will face a Round 2B winning side.


28 August 2020 Round 3 Bredagh 2–08 1–18 Loughinisland Newry  
19:45 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Gavin Finnegan


30 August 2020 Round 3 Clonduff 2–11 0–16 Mayobridge Newry  
15:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Adrian Sharvin


30 August 2020 Round 3 Kilcoo 1–11 0–09 Burren Newry  
19:45 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Con Reynolds


1 September 2020 Round 3 Longstone 1–12 3–10 Carryduff Newry  
19:45 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Brendan Rice


Quarter-final

The quarter final sees the two brackets rejoin, with the earlier Round 2A winners facing a Round 3 winner for a Semi Final spot.

5 September 2020 Quarter Final Ballyholland Harps 1–14 0–16
(a.e.t.)
Loughinisland Castlewellan  
16:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: St Malachy's Park
Referee: Brendan Rice


6 September 2020 Quarter Final Rostrevor 2–11 2–17 Kilcoo Newry  
15:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Ronan Barry


6 September 2020 Quarter Final Warrenpoint 0–20 3–11
(a.e.t.)

(4–2 pen)
Clonduff Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Gavin Finnegan
    Penalty shootout
 
7 September 2020 Quarter Final Bryansford 0–11 3–15 Carryduff Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Ciarán Branagan


Semi-final

The semi final will see the four winning sides face off for a place in this year's final. This round is an open draw from the four Quarter Final winners.

13 September 2020 Semi-final Carryduff 2–13 1–15
(a.e.t.)
Ballyholland Harps Newry  
15:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Ciarán Branagan


13 September 2020 Semi-final Kilcoo 1–18 2–06 Warrenpoint Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler
Referee: Con Reynolds


Final

The final was played between the two Semi Final winners, and took place at Páirc Esler, Newry.

20 September 2020 Final Carryduff 0–09 0–16 Kilcoo Newry  
19:30 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Páirc Esler


References

  1. ^ "Down Recorder Archives". Irishnewsarchive.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Down HoganStand". Hoganstand.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  3. ^ "2020 Down GAA Senior Football Championship". downgaa.net. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 Down GAA Senior Football Championship". downgaa.net. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.

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