2023 Down county football team season

Down county football team 2023 football season

Down county football team2023 season

Manager| Conor Laverty
Stadium| Páirc Esler, Newry
NFL D3| 3rd
Tailteann Cup| Runner-up
Ulster SFC| Semi-finalist
Dr McKenna Cup| Semi-finalist

← 2022

2024 →

The following is a summary of Down county football team's 2023 season, which was its 120th year. On 9 August 2022, Conor Laverty was appointed Down manager.[1]

## Competitions

[edit]

Down will compete in the pre-season McKenna Cup tournament, with the main season consisting of the National Football League Division 3, the Ulster Championship and the Tailteann Cup.

## Dr McKenna Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Dr McKenna Cup

The McKenna Cup group draw took place on 15 December 2021.[2]

### Table

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PR | Pts | Qualification

|
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1  |  Down | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 36  | 25  | 1.440  | 4  | Advance to semi-final
2  |  Monaghan | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 27  | 29  | 0.931  | 2  |
3  |  Donegal | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2  | 26  | 35  | 0.743  | 0

Source: Ulster GAA

### Fixtures

[edit]

Monaghan v  Down 4 January 2023 (2023-01-04) Group Stage | Monaghan | 0-12 – 2-10 |  Down | Castleblayney |

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19:30 GMT (UTC)  |  |  |  | Venue: St Mary's Park
|  | Report |  |

Down v  Donegal 8 January 2023 (2023-01-08) Group Stage | Down | 2-14 – 1-10 |  Donegal | Newry |

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13:30 GMT (UTC)  |  |  |  | Venue: Páirc Esler
|  | Report |  |

Down v  Derry 15 January 2023 (2023-01-15) Semi-Finals | Down | 3-09 – 1-15
(2–3 pen)  |  Derry | Newry |

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13:30 GMT (UTC)  |  |  |  | Venue: Páirc Esler
|  | Report |  |
|   | Penalty shootout
|   |

## National Football League Division 3

[edit]

Main article: 2023 National Football League (Ireland)

Down will compete in Division Three of the National League in 2023. The GAA released the fixtures for the league season on 8 December 2022.[3][4][5]

### Fixtures

[edit]

Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed/Cancelled

Date  | Round  | Home  | Score  | Away  | Ground  | Ref

|
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Saturday 28 January  | Group  | Tipperary | 1-11 v 2-11  | Down | Semple Stadium, Thurles | [6]
Saturday 4 February  | Group  | Down | 2-18 v 2-17  | Antrim | Páirc Esler, Newry | [7]
Sunday 19 February  | Group  | Fermanagh | 2-14 v 3-10  | Down | Brewster Park, Enniskillen | [8]
Saturday 25 February  | Group  | Down | 1-10 v 0-11  | Westmeath | Páirc Esler, Newry | [9]
Sunday 5 March  | Group  | Cavan | 2-14 v 1-10  | Down | Breffni Park, Cavan | [10]
Sunday 18 March  | Group  | Down | 1-19 v 1-14  | Longford | Páirc Esler, Newry | [11]
Sunday 26 March  | Group  | Offaly | 0-09 v 1-18  | Down | O'Connor Park, Tullamore | [12]

### Table

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
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|

1  |  Fermanagh | 7  | 6  | 0  | 1  | 114  | 94  | +20  | 12  | Advance to NFL Division 3 Final and
promotion to 2024 NFL Division 2
2  |  Cavan | 7  | 5  | 0  | 2  | 130  | 94  | +36  | 10
3  |  Down | 7  | 5  | 0  | 2  | 129  | 114  | +15  | 10  |
4  |  Westmeath | 7  | 4  | 0  | 3  | 135  | 79  | +56  | 8
5  |  Offaly | 7  | 4  | 0  | 3  | 105  | 115  | −10  | 8
6  |  Antrim | 7  | 2  | 0  | 5  | 124  | 158  | −34  | 4
7  |  Longford | 7  | 1  | 1  | 5  | 104  | 142  | −38  | 3  | Relegation to 2024 NFL Division 4
8  |  Tipperary | 7  | 0  | 1  | 6  | 83  | 128  | −45  | 1

Source: GAA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

### Reports

[edit]

28 January 2023

18:00

Round 1

Tipperary | 1-11 - 2-11| Down

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C Sweeney (0-4, 3fs), T Doyle (1-00), M Russell (0-02), D Leahy (0-02), J Kennedy (0-01f), (0-01), S O’Connor (0-01f) | Report | P Havern (1-04, 0-01f, 0-01m), C Francis (1-00), A Gilmore (0-03, 2fs), E Brown (0-02), O Murdock (0-01), B O’Hagan (0-01f)

Semple Stadium, Thurles

Referee: C Maguire (Clare)

4 February 2023

18:00

Round 2

Down | 2-18 - 2-17| Antrim

|
|

Andrew Gilmore (1-04, 0-02f), Conor Poland (1-00), Odhran Murdock (0-03), Liam Kerr (0-03), Barry O’Hagan (0-03, 0-01f), Pat Havern (0-02), Eamon Brown (0-01), Shay Miller (0-01), Niall Kane (0-01) | Report | Ruairí McCann (2-01), Conor Stewart (0-03), Dominic McEnhill (0-03), Michael Byrne (0-02, 0-01f), Patrick Finnegan (0-02), Ryan Murray (0-02, 0-01f), James McAuley (0-01), Joseph Finnegan (0-01), Adam Loughran (0-01), Ruairí McCann (0-01, 0-01f)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)

19 February 2023

14:00

Round 3

Fermanagh | 2-14 - 3-10| Down

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|

Darragh McGurn (0-05,1f), Conor McGee (1-0), Sean Quigley (1-00), Ryan Lyons (0-02f), Ultan Kelm (0-02), Aidan Breen (0-01), Ronan McCaffrey (0-01), Shane McGullion (0-01), Ryan Jones (0-01), Conor McShea (0-01) | Report | Pat Havern (0-5,2f), Odhran Murdock (1-00 pen), Pierce Laverty (1-00), Conor Francis (1-00), Niall Kane (0-01), Shane Annett (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01f), Shay Millar (0-01), Andrew Gilmore (0-01)

Brewster Park, Enniskillen

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)

25 February 2023

18:00

Round 4

Down | 1-10 - 0-11| Westmeath

|
|

Andrew Gilmore (0-04, 0-01f), Pat Havern (0-03, 0-03f), Odhran Murdock (1-00, 1-00pen), Ceilum Doherty (0-02), Eamon Brown (0-01) | Report | John Heslin (0-06, 0-04f), Senan Baker (0-02), Sam McCartan (0-01), David Lynch (0-01), Conor McCormack (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: D Gough (Meath)

5 March 2023

14:00

Round 5

Cavan | 2-14 - 1-10| Down

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Paddy Lynch (2-05, 4f), Gearoid McKiernan (0-02, 1m), Dara McVeety (0-02, 1m), Cian Madden (0-02), Brandon Boylan (0-01), Raymond Galligan (0-1f), James Smith (0-01) | Report | Pat Havern (0-05, 3f), Micheál Rooney (1-0), Andrew Gilmore (0-03f), Donnacha McAleese (0-01m), Ryan McEvoy (0-01f)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)

19 March 2023

19:00

Round 6

Down | 1-19 - 1-14| Longford

|
|

Liam Kerr (1-05, 1-00pen, 0-03fs), Pat Havern (0-05, 0-02fs), Ryan Johnston (0-02), Miceál Rooney (0-02), Jerome Johnston (0-01), Michael Ireland (0-01), Conor McCrickard (0-01), Niall Kane (0-01, 0-01 '45), Eamon Brown (0-01) | Report | Dylan Farrell (0-05, 0-03fs), Dessie Reynolds (1-01), Michael Quinn (0-01), Jack Macken (0-01), Darren Gallagher (0-01), Daniel Mimnagh (0-01), Oran Kenny (0-01), Keelin McGann (0-01), D O’Brien (0-01), F Sheridan (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: S Laverty (Antrim)

26 March 2023

14:00

Round 7

Offaly | 0-09 - 1-18| Down

|
|

Nigel Dunne (0-3, 3f), Bernard Allen (0-2), Cian Donohoe (0-1), Anton Sullivan (0-1), Jack Bryant (0-1), Cian Farrell (0-1, f) | Report | Liam Kerr (1-0), Conor McRickard (0-3), Eugene Branagan (0-3), Ryan Johnston (0-2), Danny Magill (0-2), Pat Havern (0-2), Rory Mason (0-2, 1f), Antony Morgan (0-1), Niall Kane (0-1, f), Ryan McEvoy (0-1), Miceal Rooney (0-1)

O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Referee: S Mulhare (Laois)

## Ulster Senior Football Championship

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2023 Ulster Championship was made on 15 October 2022.[13][14]

### Fixtures

[edit]

23 April 2023

14:00

Quarter Final

Down | 2-13 - 1-11|  Donegal

|
|

P Havern (1-03, 1-0 pen, 3f), R Johnston (0-03, 2m), L Kerr (1-00), D Guinness (0-02), A Gilmore (0-02, 1f), D Magill (0-01), E Brannigan (0-01), C Poland (0-01) | Report | J McGee (1-01), D O Baoill (0-03), C Thompson (0-02, 2f), C O’Donnell (0-02), O Gallen (0-01), S Patton (0-01, ’45), C Ward (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)

30 April 2023

16:00

Semi Final

Down | 0-12 - 4-10|  Armagh

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Pat Havern (0-6), Ryan McEvoy (0-02), Ryan Johnston (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01), Patrick Branagan (0-01), Andrew Gilmore (0-01) | Report | Ciaran Mackin (1-00), Shane McPartlan (1-00), Rian O’Neill (1-00), Andrew Murnin (1-00), Jason Duffy (0-02), Conor O’Neill (0-01), Aidan Forker (0-01), Jemar Hall (0-01), Rory Grugan (0-02), Stefan Campbell (0-01), Aidan Nugent (0-01), Callum Cumiskey (0-01)

St Tiernach's Park, Clones

Referee: C Lane (Cork)

### Bracket

[edit]

Preliminary round

* v
* t
* e

| | | Quarter-finals | | | Semi-finals | | | Final |

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |  Fermanagh | 2–8 | | |
| | | |  Derry | 3–17 |
| | | | | | |  Derry | 1–21 |
| | | | | |  Monaghan | 2–10 |
| | | |  Tyrone | 1–18 | | | |
| | | |  Monaghan | 2–17 |
| | | | |  Derry | 1–15 (3) |
| | | | | | |  Armagh | 0–18 (1) |
| | | |  Down | 2–13 | | | |
| | | |  Donegal | 1–11 |
| | | | | | |  Down | 0–12 |
| | | | | |  Armagh | 4–10 |
| | | |  Cavan | 0–12 | |
|  Armagh | 0–20 | | |  Armagh | 1–14 |
|  Antrim | 1–8 | |

## Tailteann Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Tailteann Cup

Due to their National League ranking and because they never progressed to the Ulster Championship final, Down will enter the Tailteann Cup in 2023 for the 2nd time. The draw for the 2023 competition was made on 2 May with Down being drawn into Group B with Meath, Waterford and Tipperary.[15]

### Group 2

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
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1  |  Meath | 3  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 62  | 40  | +22  | 6  | Advance to quarter-final
2  |  Down | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 56  | 29  | +27  | 4  | Advance to preliminary quarter-final
3  |  Tipperary | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 34  | 62  | −28  | 2  |
4  |  Waterford | 3  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 42  | 63  | −21  | 0

Source: GAA

### Knockout stage

[edit]

| Preliminary quarter-finals | | | Quarter-finals | | | Semi-finals | | | Final |

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |  Cavan | 0–15 | | |
|  Down | 1–20 | | |  Down | 1–17 |
|  Longford | 1–12 | | | | | |  Down | 8–16 |
| | | | | |  Laois | 2–12 |
| | | |  Limerick | 0–14 | | | |
|  Fermanagh | 1–9 | | |  Laois | 1–14 |
|  Laois | 1–11 | | | |  Down | 0–14 |
| | | | | | |  Meath | 2–13 |
| | | |  Meath | 2–23 | | | |
|  Offaly | 2–14 | | |  Wexford | 0–12 |
|  Wexford | 1–22 | | | | | |  Meath | 2–16 |
| | | | | |  Antrim | 2–14 |
| | | |  Antrim | 1–19 | |
|  Carlow | 0–15 | | |  Carlow | 1–15 |
|  New York | 0–10 | |

### Fixtures

[edit]

13 May 2023

18:00

Round 1

Down | 2–14 – 1–6|  Waterford

|
|

Pat Havern 0–5 (0–2f, 0–1m), Andrew Gilmore 0–4 (0–2f), Eamon Brown 1–0, Odhran Murdock 1–0, Donagh McAleenan 0–2, Anthony Morgan 0–1, Shealan Johnston 0–1, Eugene Branagan 0–1 | Report | Conor Murray 1–0, Jason Curry 0–2 (0–2f), Darragh Corcoran 0–2, Jason Gleeson 0–1 (0–1f), Dermot Ryan 0–1

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

21 May 2023

13:45

Round 2

Tipperary | 0-06 - 2-18|  Down

|
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Jack Kennedy, 0-4 (01f), Sean O’Connor 0-2 | Report | Pat Havern 0-6 (0-5f), Shealan Johnston 1-1, Danny Magill 0-3, Odhran Murdock 1-0, Ceilum Doherty 0-2, Eamon Brown 0-2 (0-2f), Conor Francis 0-1, Ryan Johnston 0-1, Andrew Gilmore 0-1, Ross Carr 0-1

Semple Stadium, Thurles

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)

3 June 2023

13:00

Round 3

Meath | 1–11 – 1–9|  Down

|
|

Jordan Morris 1–3 (1–0 pen, 0–1m), Daithi McGowan 0–2 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), James McEntee 0–2, Jack Flynn 0–1 (0–1f), Donal Lenihan 0–1 (0–1f), Jack O'Connor 0–1, Matthew Costello 0–1 | Report | Pat Havern 0–5 (0–5f), Odhran Murdock 1–0, Liam Kerr 0–2 (0–1f), Niall Kane 0–1 (0–1 '45), Daniel Guinness 0–1

Parnell Park, Dublin

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)

10 June 2023

19:00

Preliminary Quarter-final

Down | 1-20 - 1-12|  Longford

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Pat Havern 0-6 (0-2f), Andrew Gilmore 0-3, (0-1f), Danny Magill 1-0, Rory Mason 0-3 (0-2f), Eugene Branagan 0-2, Ross Carr 0-2 (0-1m), Patrick McCarthy 0-1, Liam Kerr 0-1, Ceilum Doherty 0-1, Donach McAleenan 0-1 | Report | Joe Hagan 1-3, Keelin McGann 0-2, Dylan Farrell 0-2, (0-1 45’, 0-1f), Darragh Doherty 0-2 (0-1f), Patrick Fox 0-1, Ryan Moffett 0-1, Dessie Reynolds 0-1

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

17 June 2023

17:15

Quarter-final

Cavan | 0-15 - 1-17|  Down

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Oisin Brady 0–8 (0–4f, 0–2m), Padraig Faulkner 0–2, Gearóid McKiernan 0–1 (0–1f), Oisín Kiernan 0–1, Cian Madden 0–1, Tiarnan Madden 0–1, Brandon Boylan 0–1 | Report | Pat Havern 0–5 (0–2f, 0–1m), Rory Mason 0–4 (0–1f), Liam Kerr 0–4, Danny Magill 1–1, Patrick McCarthy 0–1, Ryan Johnston 0–1, Shane Annett 0–1

Breffni Park, Cavan

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)

25 June 2023

16:00

Semi-final

Down | 8–16 – 2–12|  Laois

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Liam Kerr 3–2, Danny Magill 2–0, Pat Havern 1–3, Rory Mason 1–1 (0-1f), Odhrán Murdock 1–1, Eugene Branagan 0–3, Ceilum Doherty 0–2 (0-1m), Patrick Branagan 0-2, Niall Kane 0–1, Ryan Johnston 0–1 | Report | Mark Barry 1–6 (1–0 pen, 4f, 1m), Kevin Swayne 1-0, Eoin Lowry 0–2 (0-1m), Paul Kingston 0–1, Evan O'Carroll 0–1, Killian Roche 0–1, Dylan Kavanagh 0-1

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)

Main article: 2023 Tailteann Cup final

15 July 2023

15:00

Final

Down | 0–14 – 2–13|  Meath

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Pat Havern 0–4 (0–3f), Niall Kane 0–2 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), Liam Kerr 0–2, Ryan Johnston 0–2, Ceilum Doherty 0–1, Odhran Murdock 0–1, Shealan Johnston 0–1, Andrew Gilmore 0–1 | Report | Jack O'Connor 1–2, Jack Flynn 0–4, Ronan Jones 1–1, Matthew Costello 0–3 (0–2f), Cathal Hickey 0–2, Jordan Morris 0–1

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Conor Laverty announced as new Down senior football manager". Sky Sports. 9 August 2022.
2. ^ "2023 Dr McKenna Cup draw throws up intriguing early-season fixtures". Belfast Live. 14 December 2022.
3. ^ "GAA publish Master Fixtures Schedule for 2023". GAA.ie. 8 December 2021.
4. ^ "GAA announces 2023 fixture schedule for all competitions with later dates for All-Ireland finals". Irish Independent. 8 December 2021.
5. ^ "All-Ireland finals pushed back one week as GAA Master Fixtures Plan for 2023 announced". Sky Sports. 9 December 2022.
6. ^ "Down regain winning feeling after edging past Tipperary in Division 3 opener". RTE. 28 January 2023.
7. ^ "Antrim come unstuck by Down's frenzied finish". RTE. 4 February 2023.
8. ^ "Sean Quigley strikes late as Fermanagh edge Down in thriller". RTE. 19 February 2023.
9. ^ "Second-half surge from Down sees them defeat Westmeath". RTE. 25 February 2023.
10. ^ "Cavan recover from slow start to defeat Down and edge closer to promotion". RTE. 5 March 2023.
11. ^ "Longford relegated as Down pull away late on". RTE. 19 March 2023.
12. ^ "Second-half domination sees Down sign off in style away to Offaly". RTE. 28 March 2023.
13. ^ "2023 Ulster Senior Football Championship Draw". Ulster GAA. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
14. ^ "2023 All-Ireland SFC draws RECAP as Ulster champions Derry are pitted against Fermanagh". Belfast Live. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
15. ^ "All-Ireland draw: Mayo and Cork in tough-looking Group 1". RTE. 2 May 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Down county football team

* Honours
* All Stars
* Managers
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* Records and statistics

Stadium|

* Páirc Esler

Key historical figures|

* Seán O'Neill
* Kevin Mussen
* Paddy Doherty
* Joe Lennon
* James McCartan Snr
* Paddy O'Rourke
* D. J. Kane
* Greg Blaney
* Mickey Linden
* James McCartan Jnr
* Ambrose Rogers
* Brendan Coulter

Rivalries|

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Competitions|

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All-Ireland SFCs|

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Seasons

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* v
* t
* e

2023 GAA season

« 2022

2024 »

Football|

| Championship|

* Connacht SFC
* final
* Leinster SFC
* final
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* final
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* final

* All-Ireland Series:
* All-Ireland round-robin
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|

League (NFL)|

* Division 1
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Preseason competitions|

* Dr McKenna Cup
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|

Under-17|

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County team seasons|

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* * *

Hurling|

| Championship
Tier 1|

* Leinster SHC
* final
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* final

* All-Ireland Series:
* Championship
* final

|

Tiers 2 to 5|

* Joe McDonagh Cup
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League (NHL)|

* Division 1 (Group A · Group B)
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Preseason competitions|

* Walsh Cup
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Other adult competitions|

* Club Championship
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Youth competitions|

| Under-20|

* All-Ireland
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|

Under-17|

* All-Ireland
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County team seasons|

* Tipperary

Football All Stars • Hurling All Stars
*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PR]: Point ratio
*[Pts]: Points
*[PD]: Point difference