Fixtures<\/p>\n
All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Louth v Mayo, 6pm<\/p>\n
Tailteann Cup final: Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4 (HT)<\/p>\n
Full-time: Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-21<\/p>\n
WICKLOW ARE TAILTEANN CUP CHAMPIONS! How the hell did that happen? Another major second half comeback from McConville\u2019s men and this is a massive day for Wicklow football. <\/p>\n
69 Mins: Down have it again, running right at Wicklow. Murdock takes it on again, but his right-footed effort tails wide from short range. He holds his hands to his head. A minute and fifteen left. Down win the kickout. McCormack hits the shot and it drops in, and everyone misses it and it\u2019s a goal kick. 26 seconds now. Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-20<\/p>\n
68 Mins: Big gaps in the Wicklow defence but Down panic in front of goal again, and Murdock\u2019s fisted effort falls way short and Wicklow carry it out. Just two minutes left to hold on for them. Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-20<\/p>\n
66 Mins: Down go for a slow attack to try and expose the missing defender. Annett drives through and has a goal chance, but tries to take the smart choice, only to hit the post for a point! Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-20<\/p>\n
64 Mins: Here come Wicklow again and O\u2019Toole tries to get through. He is crowded out, but Daniel Guinness jumps on the ball on the floor and it\u2019s a handy one for Eoin Darcy. Wicklow lead for the first time. Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-20<\/p>\n
63 Mins: Pat Havern totally rushes a point attempt and misses. Down win the kickout and it\u2019s moved up after Dean Healy does not concede the required metres. No shot though, as Down hold the ball. Surely a goal now, but no! What a block on the line by Daragh Fee after a perfect ball across the square. <\/p>\n
Black card for Wicklow. Tom Moran has been black carded now for a pull down. He made a silly decision to grab Pat Havern\u2019s leg there and he will miss the rest of the game. The full-forward misses the free though, shockingly! Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-19<\/p>\n
60 Mins: Wicklow are forcing Down to go long now, but they have it. They work it in and Eamon Brown has a great chance, but Stone pulls the ball away superbly. Wicklow come now but Prendergast skews it wide. Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-19<\/p>\n
58 Mins: There\u2019s a great score by Ruairi McCormack on his right foot. Wicklow take it up and win a free just outside the 45\u2032, so this is a huge one for Mark Jackson, which should suit him. Let\u2019s see. He slots it brilliantly. Mark Kenny is on for Gavin Fogarty. Down 2-16 Wicklow 1-19<\/p>\n
57 Mins: Miceal Rooney gets a score all too easily to put Down back in front. This has been a hell of a second half. Down have it back now and look to slow it up. Down 2-15 Wicklow 1-17<\/p>\n
55 Mins: Guinness beats a couple of men but lets off a terrible effort in the end on his left boot. Down win the kickout but there\u2019s some incredible tackling by Carlin to win it back. <\/p>\n
GOAL for Wicklow! Dean Healy makes a mazy run through the defence and buries it into the corner beyond Burns. Down 2-14 Wicklow 1-17<\/p>\n
53 Mins: Dean Healy gets a great score after a blazing run through. Cian Deering is on for Eoin Murtagh. Down 2-14 Wicklow 0-17<\/p>\n
52 Mins: Free in for Down for some careless tackling by Malachy Stone. McGeough is off for Ruairi O\u2019Hare. Haven hits the free over. Down 2-14 Wicklow 0-16<\/p>\n
51 Mins: That is a picture perfect two-pointer from Ois\u00edn McGraynor. What a strike on his left foot, curling it in. Jack Kirwan is off with a knock now, but Joe Prendergast is in. Down 2-13 Wicklow 0-16<\/p>\n
49 Mins: Poor turnovers from both sides, and it gives Rooney a good chance for a point, but it strikes the post under pressure. Wicklow take it up and Kevin Quinn misses on his left foot for a point. Eamon Brown gets a score for Down, but it looks like he might have fouled his man off the ball there. Down 2-13 Wicklow 0-14<\/p>\n
47 Mins: Down go for a slow attack and it looks like it has worked brilliantly, with Daniel Guinness having a clear shot, but it drops short. Wicklow work it up and Christopher O\u2019Brien strikes it over from a mile out. That\u2019s just four points in it now. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-14<\/p>\n
45 Mins: That\u2019s a lovely move from Wicklow, and Eoin Darcy puts it over. Their supporters are back in voice again, and now it\u2019s another goal chance, but another wide! Burns got out quickly and Quinn put it wide. They win the kickout again and O\u2019Toole plays in Quinn, and this time he fists it over. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-12<\/p>\n
43 Mins: P\u00e1draig O\u2019Toole takes on the man again and gets it over. Then Down throw away possession and Johnny Carlin has a go at goal, drawing another save from Burns, but McGraynor mnages to get it over in the end. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-10<\/p>\n
41 Mins: Ceilium Doherty skins his man and puts the ball over under pressure for a great score. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-8<\/p>\n
40 Mins: That\u2019s a super score for O\u2019Toole, jinking his man and slotting it over on the left boot. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-8<\/p>\n
39 Mins: There\u2019s a great two-pointer for Eoin Darcy, after Kevin Quinn did good work to hold onto the ball. That\u2019s the first time Wicklow have scored twice in a row. A poor Doherty miss gives them the ball again now. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-7<\/p>\n
37 Mins: P\u00e1draig O\u2019Toole and Dean Healy combine to get the most straightforward Wicklow score of the day. That\u2019s more like it from them. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-5<\/p>\n
36 Mins: Shane Annett gets the first score of the second half for Down. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-4<\/p>\n
Some great analysis on The Sunday Game by Niall Morgan on the performance of Ronan Burns in that first half. He says Burns kept his back studs on the line, but he was clearly off his line for the penalty. That being said, it could easily have not been given at all, with the replays showing it to be a pretty soft peno.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the second goal of the first half, with John McGeough touching it beyond Jackson.<\/p>\n
34 Mins: Last attack of the half, and Wicklow force a goal attempt where they could have easily had a point. <\/p>\n
Half-time: Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4<\/p>\n
32 Mins: Another Wicklow attack and another poor shot, this from Dean Healy. They win the break, but the next effort is blocked down. Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4<\/p>\n
30 Mins: Down\u2019s press is working so well, making Wicklow keep the ball for about a minute before they finally break out of their half. Wicklow win a free just inside the arc on the right hand side, but McGraynor puts it wide. Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4<\/p>\n
28 Mins: GOAL for Down! Murdock lines the two-pointer up, but it drops short and Jackson can\u2019t get to it before John McGeough. Caolan Mooney is on for Down. Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4<\/p>\n
27 Mins: Mark Jackson finally gets his first score from the 45\u2032 after the penalty. At the other end, Daniel Guinness goes for a fisted point and shovels it wide. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-4<\/p>\n
26 Mins: Penalty for Wicklow! P\u00e1draig O\u2019Toole gets in behind after a strong Wicklow turnover, and he is tackled high by Guinness in the area. Eoin Darcy will take.<\/p>\n
SAVE! Two great saves from Burns, covering the rebound brilliantly. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-3<\/p>\n
25 Mins: What a solo run from Quinn, beating two men and having a go at goal that\u2019s tipped over by Burns. Wicklow can\u2019t keep the ball up there though because of the quick Down kickouts. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-3<\/p>\n
23 Mins: Another aimless attack from Wicklow. Then Down scamper through the heart of the Wicklow defence, with Doherty slipping another over. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-2 <\/p>\n
21 Mins: Ronan Burns gets his second two-pointer from a free. Down continue to be hard for Wicklow to break down, but eventually Kevin Quinn takes it on and curls over short range effort. Down 1-9 Wicklow 0-2<\/p>\n
18 Mins: Mark Jackson trots up for his third effort, this a 45\u2032, and he misses again. Not a good day for him so far. Down 1-7 Wicklow 0-1<\/p>\n
17 Mins: Down set up a slow attack, and Murdock skins two men superbly and kicks it high, but maybe not over. HawkEye says no, that\u2019s a bad miss for Murdock. Down 1-7 Wicklow 0-1<\/p>\n
15 Mins: GOAL for Down! Mark Jackson was still trotting back from the kick, and Daniel Guinness decided to hoof it up. Jackson cannot find it in the air, and nor can his defenders, so it\u2019s Pat Havern who palms it in. Down 1-7 Wicklow 0-1<\/p>\n
After missing a two-pointer at one end Mark Jackson can’t get back to his goal quick enough and is caught by a lovely ball by Daniel Guinness, which Patrick Havern punches home. <\/p>\n
Watch live on RT\u00c9 2 & RT\u00c9 Player or listen live on RT\u00c9 Radio 1. #SaturdayGame<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OhBi0TBiyJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 14 Mins: God, Wicklow really need to get their nerves sorted, because their handling under no pressure has been dodgy. Down are hunting them in packs, but that leaves a gap and the Garden County nearly get in for a goal, but for a good tackle. Mark Jackson cannot emulate Burns from the 45\u2032. Down 0-7 Wicklow 0-1<\/p>\n 13 Mins: Another free for steps, and O\u2019Toole chucks the ball away, so Ronan Burns is up to take a two-point free. A few steps back and he glides it straight over the black spot. Down 0-7 Wicklow 0-1<\/p>\n 12 Mins: Wicklow back on it, but Down are doing a great job of keeping them from getting inside. Then some blind luck after a fumble gives P\u00e1draig O\u2019Toole a goal chance, but Down do well to win it back, before overcarrying. McGraynor taps that over and Wicklow are off and running. Down 0-5 Wicklow 0-1<\/p>\n 9 Mins: A poor wide by Eamon Brown and a good kickout by Mark Jackson gives Wicklow some respite. This attack needs to be a lot more dangerous, but instead there\u2019s an awful kick pass that presents it back to Down. Down 0-5 Wicklow 0-0<\/p>\n 7 Mins: A really speculative effort from Kevin Quinn drops well short. At the other end Miche\u00e1l Rooney looks like he was aiming for a long ball, but it floats all the way over for two. So the wind must be going towards the Canal End. Down 0-5 Wicklow 0-0<\/p>\n 6 Mins: Down are winning the Wicklow kickout right now, and it results in another score for the Ulster men; Daniel Guinness on the scoreboard. Dean Healy sees yellow for a high tackle. Down 0-3 Wicklow 0-0<\/p>\n 4 Mins: Down should have had a goal there from Pat Havern, but his effort is blazed over. That came from a terrible pick up and a quick solo and go. Bit of a nervy start for both teams, with Down coughing up the ball easily, and then Wicklow handing it right back, letting Ceilium Doherty get a score. Down 0-2 Wicklow 0-0<\/p>\n 2 Mins: We\u2019re off and running in the Tailteann Cup final. Down have the first attack, but Wicklow do well to win it back. Wicklow hold the ball for a while, but then overcarry and Down have it back. Nothing major so far. Down 0-0 Wicklow 0-0<\/p>\n One of the major things going for Wicklow though, is their manager Ois\u00edn McConville, who has a seriously impressive record in finals both as a player and manager. He told Ian O\u2019Riordan that he\u2019s been encouraging his charges to enjoy the occassion, without being distracted by it.<\/p>\n [Ois\u00edn McConville wants Wicklow to embrace Tailteann Cup final\u2019s big-day atmosphere<\/a>]<\/p>\n Okay, let\u2019s focus in on the Tailteann Cup now, with only ten minutes til throw-in. Here\u2019s my preview for the final now, as two teams in very different places meet, in Down and Wicklow. With Down in Division 2 next year, while Wicklow will start on the bottom rung, you\u2019d have to think the Ulster side\u2019s to lose today.<\/p>\n [Wicklow\u2019s progress has been rapid, but Down challenge might be too soon in Tailteann Cup final<\/a>]<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a funny few years for Louth in managerial terms, with Mickey Harte, Ger Brennan and Gavin Devlin all being appointed in rapid succession, but somehow each has advanced the team to new heights. Malachy Clerkin charts that journey.<\/p>\n [Gavin Devlin\u2019s long road from Mickey Harte\u2019s lieutenant to Louth leader<\/a>]<\/p>\n From just up the road in Monaghan, Conor McManus\u2019s view is that Louth\u2019s appearance in the last four of the All-Ireland should not be a shock to anyone. He documents their steady rise to reach their first semi in nearly 70 years. <\/p>\n