Down’s Niamh King named LGFA Player of the Month for June

DOWN’S Niamh King has been named the Croke Park Hotel/LGFA Player of the Month for June 2024.

The Castlewellan forward has shone for the Mourne County as they progressed to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-finals.

Ulster champions Down safely navigated the group stages of the All-Ireland Intermediate series, 19-year-old King shone in the victories over Cavan and Westmeath.

She scored 1-5 against Cavan and two points in the Westmeath win as Down booked an All-Ireland quarter-final slot against Ulster rivals Monaghan.

“It was tough on my mum and dad. I knew I was self-destructing. And I also knew the next phase of that, if I had carried on, it was not being here. I was in a very dark place...” - the life and times of Caolan Mooney

Dungannon sweep Carrickmore aside to claim Tyrone league title

In that last-eight victory over the Farneywomen, King scored four points to help Down through to the semi-finals.

However, that is where the journey ended for King and the Mourne County in this year’s championship as they came up against another Ulster opponent in the shape of Tyrone last Sunday.

King still managed to contribute three points however that was not enough as they were still doomed to a three-point defeat by the Red Hands.

After winning the junior title last year, beating Limerick 1-7 to 0-8 points in the final, and gaining promotion to Intermediate Championship football last year, Down more than held their own in the higher grade.

This title will seem bitter-sweet to King, who scored 16 points overall in this year’s championship, as her and the Mourne County go back to the drawing board to attempt to go further next year.