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Armagh-Down

Crowds attending the 2023 Ulster Semi-final between the counties
Location	County Armagh County Down
Teams	Armagh Down
First meeting	Down 1-6 - 0-4 Armagh 1906 Ulster Quarter Final (6 May 1906)
Latest meeting	Armagh 0-13 - 2-6 Down 2024 Ulster Semi-final (13 April 2024)
Stadiums	Athletic Grounds (Armagh) Páirc Esler (Down)

The Armagh-Down Gaelic football rivalry concerns the Ulster teams of Armagh and Down. The two counties are neighbours and, between them, they have won 26 Ulster Senior Football Championships and 7 All-Ireland Senior Football Championships.

Background

Armagh and Down first met in the Ulster Senior Football Championship in 1904.

The rivalry has been described as a derby.

Ulster Finals

The first Ulster Senior Football Championship final between Armagh and Down in 1961, with subsequent finals in 1981 and 1999.

1961

1981

1999

National League Finals

In the National Football League, 1983 National League Final and the 2010 National League Division 2 Final.

1983 - Division One

2010 - Division Two

Miscellaneous

• The sides have met a number of times in the All-Ireland Qualifiers, notably being the first two teams drawn out for the first qualifier series in 2001.

• Down’s home ground, Páirc Esler, is located in County Armagh.

• James McCartan Jnr, an All-Ireland winner with Down in 1991 and 1994, attempted to switch his allegiance to Armagh in 2001.

• Paddy O'Rourke, who captained Down to the All-Ireland title in 1991, managed both Down (2002-06) and Armagh (2009-12).

References

1. "Armagh have the quality to beat Down in derby clash". Belfast Telegraph.
2. "Ulster SFC: Armagh v Down – Match Preview, Pivotal Players and Previous Meetings". Ulster GAA. Armagh displayed an insatiable appetite for this local derby
3. Breheny, Martin (4 June 2001). "Ulster big guns clash in historic 'back door' race to All-Ireland glory". Irish Independent. p. 25. Retrieved 14 January 2025. Both Armagh and Down ... would have preferred to avoid each other in the open draw but they were first out of the draw drum
4. Smyth, Faolan. "Down County Board Put Their GAA Stadium In The Wrong County". Balls.ie.
5. "GAA: Former Co Down star applies for place with Armagh". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
6. "Former Down ace O'Rourke is Armagh's new manager". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 January 2025.

• Armagh county football team rivalries
• Down county football team rivalries