An Riocht

For Down to stand a chance of survival against seasoned operators such as Laois and Carlow, they need everyone available to them. And, for the first time this season, manager Ronan Sheehan has got good availability for this evening’s relegation face-off with Kildare – a team they know intimately. “We’ve played Kildare over the last few seasons and there’s never been a point or two in it between us,” said Sheehan, “and I fully expect that to be the same on Saturday.” Key attackers Eoghan and Daithi Sands have more minutes in their legs after their respective sabbaticals while young Finn Turpin is running into good scoring form at wing-forward, hitting five points from play in last Sunday’s defeat to Carlow. Even though they leaked six goals, Sheehan accentuated the positives from the Carlow game, noting the 28 scores they racked up and the fact that they won the second half against arguably the best team in this year’s McDonagh series. James Burke is back in the Lilywhites attack while Killian Harrington has been promoted from the bench after his good showing against Laois last weekend. It’s win-or-bust for both sides in Hawkfield tonight. If the Down defence can break even and keep the goals out, they might just surprise their hosts who have struggled just as much as their visitors to date.  

AIB Ulster Junior A Camogie Club Championship TEAM manager Rodney Kerr was talking up the positives after watching his Brídíní Óga charges battle their way through to the Ulster Junior club final after a 2-7 to 0-7 win over Down champions An Ríocht in Kilkeel on Saturday.

Former Down star Veronica 'Bonny' MacGreevy selects her top Camogie 15

Kilmacud Crokes captured their sixth Londis All-Ireland Senior Football Sevens title, and a first since 2015 in Stillorgan on Saturday.

A CO Down GAA footballer has been convicted of an on-pitch assault during which an opponent's jaw was broken.

Back in the day: 20 years ago today..a look at some of the sports stories making the headlines on this day 

THE post-mortem carries on in the queue at Starbucks near Banbridge. It’s the week after Down were crushed in Clones, the memories of the previous summer’s heroics mercilessly trampled into the dirt by Donegal boots.

FROM then second you sit down with Dianna Clare, it becomes clear that An Riocht would have taken a bit of beating to the Irish Language Club Initiative of the Year award.