2024 Down county football team season

Down county football team 2024 football season

Down county football team2024 season

Manager| Conor Laverty
Stadium| Páirc Esler, Newry
NFL D3| 1st (Runner-up in final)
Tailteann Cup| Winners
Ulster SFC| Semi-Final
Dr McKenna Cup| Group stage

<- 2023

2025 ->

The following is a summary of Down county football team's 2024 season, which is its 121st year.

## 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 either the All Ireland Senior Football Championship or the Tailteann Cup.

## Dr McKenna Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2024 Dr McKenna Cup

The draw for the 2024 Dr McKenna Cup took place on 14 December 2023. [1] [2]

### Table

[edit]

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

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1  |  Derry | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 28  | 23  | +5  | 4  | Advance to semi-final
2  |  Down | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 31  | 31  | 0  | 2  |
3  |  Cavan | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2  | 31  | 36  | −5  | 0

Source: Ulster GAA

### Fixtures

[edit]

Derry v  Down 6 January 2024 Round 2|  Derry | 0–13 – 0–10|  Down | Derry

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18:00 IWT (UTC) | Shane McGuigan 0–3 (0–3f), Paul Cassidy 0–2, Conor Doherty 0–2, Niall Loughlin 0–2 (0–2f), Diarmuid Baker 0–1, Chrissy McKaigue 0–1, Gareth McKinless 0–1, Declan Cassidy 0–1 | Report | Pat Havern 0–3 (0–2f), Daniel Guinness 0–1, Odhran Murdock 0–1, Johnny Flynn 0–1, Ceilum Doherty 0–1, James Guinness 0–1, Liam Kerr 0–1 (0–1f), Andrew Gilmore 0–1 (0–1f) | Stadium: Celtic Park
Referee: Enda McFeely

Down v  Cavan 10 January 2024 Round 3|  Down | 2–15 – 1–15|  Cavan | Newry

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19:30 IWT (UTC) | Pat Havern 0–5, Rory Mason 1–1 (0–1f), Odhran Murdock 1–1, Oisin Savage 0–2, Pearse McCabe 0–1, Pierce Laverty 0–1, Gareth McKibben 0–1, Liam Kerr 0–1, Jack McCartan 0–1, Pól Quinn 0–1 | Report | Oisin Brady 0–7, Brían O'Connell 1–0, Paddy Lynch 0–3 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), James Galligan 0–1, Padraig Faulkner 0–1, Tiarnan Madden 0–1, James Smith 0–1, Jack Tully 0–1 | Stadium: Páirc Esler
Referee: Diarmuid Boylan

## National Football League Division 3

[edit]

Main article: 2024 National Football League (Ireland)

Down will compete in Division Three of the National League in 2024. The fixtures were confirmed on 6 December 2023. [3] [4]

### Fixtures

[edit]

Win Draw Loss Postponed/Cancelled

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

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Saturday 28 January  | Group  | Wicklow | 0-13 v 0-18  | Down | Aughrim County Ground | [5]
Saturday 3 February  | Group  | Down | 3-16 v 0-09  | Limerick | Páirc Esler, Newry | [6]
Sunday 18 February  | Group  | Antrim | 1-06 v 1-15  | Down | Corrigan Park | [7]
Saturday 24 February  | Group  | Down | 4-12 v 2-14  | Offaly | Páirc Esler, Newry | [8]
Sunday 3 March  | Group  | Down | 2-17 v 1-08  | Sligo | Páirc Esler, Newry | [9]
Sunday 17 March  | Group  | Westmeath | 0-13 v 1-10  | Down | Cusack Park, Mullingar | [10]
Sunday 24 March  | Group  | Down | 3-15 v 1-10  | Clare | Páirc Esler, Newry | [11]
Saturday 30 March  | Final  | Down | 0-13 v 2-10  | Westmeath | Croke Park, Dublin | [12]

### Table

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

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

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1  |  Down | 7  | 6  | 1  | 0  | 145  | 88  | +57  | 13  | Advance to NFL Division 3 Final and
promotion to 2025 NFL Division 2
2  |  Westmeath | 7  | 5  | 1  | 1  | 95  | 83  | +12  | 11
3  |  Clare | 7  | 5  | 0  | 2  | 106  | 95  | +11  | 10  |
4  |  Sligo | 7  | 4  | 1  | 2  | 103  | 96  | +7  | 9
5  |  Antrim | 7  | 3  | 0  | 4  | 94  | 106  | −12  | 6
6  |  Offaly | 7  | 2  | 1  | 4  | 111  | 100  | +11  | 5
7  |  Wicklow | 7  | 1  | 0  | 6  | 78  | 126  | −48  | 2  | Relegation to 2025 NFL Division 4
8  |  Limerick | 7  | 0  | 0  | 7  | 77  | 115  | −38  | 0

Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

### Reports

[edit]

28 January 2024

14:00

Round 1

Wicklow | 0-13 - 0-18| Down

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Chris O’Brien (0-05), Kevin Quinn (0-04), Brian Nesbitt (0-03), JP Nolan (0-01) | Report | Pat Havern (0-05), Daniel Guinneas (0-04), Rory Mason (0-02), Pierce Laverty (0-01), Finn McElroy (0-01), Odhran Murdock (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-03), Oisin Savage (0-01)

Aughrim County Ground, Aughrim

Referee: A Coyne (Westmeath)

3 February 2024

18:00

Round 2

Down | 3-16 - 0-09| Limerick

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Odhran Murdock (2-03), Pat Havern (0-05), Daniel Guinness (1-01), Liam Kerr (0-03), Shealan Johnston (0-02), Oisin Savage (0-01), Peter Fegan (0-01) | Report | Peter Nash (0-05), Cillian Fahy (0-02), Robbie Childs (0-01), Shane Costello (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: J Henry (Mayo)

18 February 2024

14:00

Round 3

Antrim | 1-06 - 1-15| Down

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Dominic McEnhill (0-03), Paddy McAleer (1-00), Michael Byrne (0-02), Joseph Finnegan (0-01) | Report | Pat Havern (0-06), Ceilum Doherty (1-01), James Guinness (0-02), Oisin Savage (0-02), Danny Magill (0-01), John O'Hare (0-01), Odhran Murdock (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01)

Corrigan Park, Belfast

Referee: E McFeely (Donegal)

24 February 2024

18:00

Round 4

Down | 4-12 - 2-14| Offaly

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Pat Havern (0-06), Liam Kerr (2-00), Ryan Johnston (1-01), Odhran Murdock (1-01), Miceal Rooney (0-01), Caolan Mooney (0-01), Danny Magill (0-01), Ryan Magill (0-01) | Report | Jack Bryant (1-05), Keith O’Neill (1-02), Anton Sullivan (0-03), Dylan Hyland (0-02), Cathal Flynn (0-01), Jordan Hayes (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)

2 March 2024

18:00

Round 5

Down | 2-17 - 1-08| Sligo

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Pat Havern (0-07), Ceilum Doherty (1-02), James Guinness (1-01), Daniel Guinness (0-02), John O’Hare (0-01), Ryan McEvoy (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01), Danny Magill (0-01), Oisin Savage (0-01) | Report | Sean Carrabine (0-04), Nathan Mullen (1-00), Patrick O’Connor (0-01), Alan McLaughlin (0-01), Cian Lally (0-01), Niall Murphy (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)

18 March 2024

15:00

Round 6

Westmeath | 0-13 - 1-10| Down

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R Forde (0-04), L Loughlin (0-03), M Whittaker (0-01), J Dolan (0-01), R Connellan (0-01), J Lynam (0-01), K Martin (0-01), R O’Toole (0-01) | Report | P Havern (0-04), D Guinness (1-00), D Magill (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), O Murdoch (0-01), J Guinness (0-01), R McEvoy (0-01), C Doherty (0-01)

Cusack Park, Mullingar

Referee: J Molloy (Galway)

24 March 2024

14:00

Round 7

Down | 3-15 - 1-10| Clare

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C Doherty (1-02), D Magill (1-02), P Havern (0-05), O Murdock (1-00, pen), L Kerr (0-03), D Guinness (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), M Rooney (0-01) | Report | C Downes (0-04), A Griffin (1-00), M McInerney (0-02), S Ryan (0-01), E McMahon (0-01), D Coughlan (0-01), D O’Donnell (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)

30 March 2024

14:00

Final

Down | 0-13 - 2-10| Westmeath

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Pat Havern (0-07), Liam Kerr (0-03), Miceal Rooney (0-01), Oisin Savage (0-01), Odhran Murdock (0-01) | Report | Jonathan Lynam (2-00), Sam McCartan (0-04), Robbie Forde (0-03), David Lynch (0-01), Conor Dillon (0-01), Luke Loughlin (0-01)

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)

## Ulster Senior Football Championship

[edit]

Main article: 2024 Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2024 Ulster Championship took place on 21 October 2023. [13] [14]

### Fixtures

[edit]

13 April 2024

18:00

Quarter Final

Down | 0-13 v 0-09|  Antrim

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O Savage (0-03), D Guinness (0-02), R McEvoy (0-01), C Doherty (0-01), M Rooney (0-01), O Murdock (0-01), L Kerr (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), P Havern (0-01), S Annett (0-01) | Report | R McQuillan (0-03), R McCann (0-01), M Jordan (0-01), C Hand (0-01), P McBride (0-01), E McCabe (0-01), M Byrne (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Attendance: 5,429

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)

27 April 2024

17:15

Semi-Final

Armagh | 0-13 v 2-06|  Down

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R Grugan (0-05), R O'Neill (0-03), A Forker (0-02), A Nugent (0-01), O O’Neill (0-01), J Duffy (0-01) | Report | R Magill (1-01), P Burns (1-00, og.), P Havern (0-02), R Johnston (0-01), D Guinness (0-01), D Magill (0-01)

St Tiernach's Park, Clones

Attendance: 12,116

Referee: L Devenney (Mayo)

### Bracket

[edit]

Preliminary round

* v
* t
* e

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

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |  Down | 0–13 | | |
| | | |  Antrim | 0–9 |
| | | | | | |  Down | 2–6 |
| | | | | |  Armagh | 0–13 |
| | | |  Fermanagh | 0–9 | | | |
| | | |  Armagh | 3–11 |
| | | | |  Armagh | 0–20 (5) |
| | | | | | |  Donegal | 0–20 (6) |
| | | |  Derry | 0–17 | | | |
| | | |  Donegal | 4–11 |
| | | | | | |  Donegal | 0–18 |
|  Monaghan | 1–12 | | | | |  Tyrone | 0–16 |
|  Cavan | 3–12 | | |  Cavan | 3–16 | |
| | | |  Tyrone | 1–23* |

## Tailteann Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2024 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 2024 for the 3rd time. The draw for the 2024 competition was made on 30 April with Down being drawn into Group 4 with Offaly, Limerick and London. [15] Down proceeded onto a second Tailteann Cup final in a row against Laois on 13 July 2024 and went on to win the final by two points winning their first Tailteann Cup. [16]

### Group 4

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

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

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1  |  Down | 3  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 78  | 41  | +37  | 6  | Advance to quarter-final
2  |  Limerick | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 45  | 41  | +4  | 4  | Advance to preliminary quarter-final
3  |  London | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 46  | 59  | −13  | 2
4  |  Offaly | 3  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 42  | 70  | −28  | 0  |

Source: GAA

### Knockout stage

[edit]

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

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |  Down | 1-18 | | |
|  Leitrim | 1-11 | | |  Wicklow | 0-12 |
|  Wicklow | 2-15 | | | | | |  Down (a.e.t.) | 1-20 |
| | | | | |  Sligo | 2-15 |
| | | |  Sligo |  2-20 | | | |
|  Limerick | 1-18 | | |  Limerick | 0-9 |
|  Tipperary | 1-10 | | | |  Down | 0-14 |
| | | | | | |  Laois | 2-06 |
| | | |  Kildare | 0-12 | | | |
|  Laois | 1-13 | | |  Laois | 2-11 |
|  New York | 1-9 | | | | | |  Laois | 3-12 |
| | | | | |  Antrim | 1-13 |
| | | |  Fermanagh | 0-11 | |
|  Antrim | 3-11 | | |  Antrim | 1-11 |
|  London | 1-10 | |

### Fixtures

[edit]

11 May 2024

16:00

Group Stage

Down | 1-20 v 1-06|  Limerick

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D Guinness (1-00), P Havern (0-03), E Brown (0-03), R McEvoy (0-01), P Fegan (0-01), O Murdock (0-02), J McGovern (0-02), G McKibben (0-02), G McKibben (0-02), D Magill (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), R McEvoy (0-01), P Fegan (0-01) | Report | P Nash (1-04), J Naughton (0-02)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)

18 May 2024

18:00

Group Stage

London | 0-10 v 1-24|  Down

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Ciaran Diver (0-05), Shay Rafter (0-02), Tighe Barry (0-01), Joshua Obahor (0-01), Ruairi Rafferty (0-01) | Report | Patrick Havern (0-06), Daniel Guinness (0-06), Miceal Rooney (0-05), Odhran Murdock (1-01), Danny McGill (0-02), Conor McCrickard (0-01), Gareth McKibben (0-01), Ryan McEvoy (0-01), Ryan Magill (0-01)

McGovern Park, South Ruislip

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)

2 June 2024

13:45

Group Stage

Down | 2-22 v 3-13|  Offaly

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Paul Quinn (0-4), Oisin Savage (1-0), Ryan Magill (1-0), Conor McCrickard (0-3), Danny Magill (0-2), Shane Annett (0-2), James Guinness (0-2), Gareth McKibben (0-2), Shealan Johnston (0-1), Rory Mason (0-1), Ben McConville (0-1), Miceal Rooney (0-1), Caolan Mooney (0-1), Jack McCartan (0-1), Paddy McCarthy (0-1) | Report | Nigel Dunne (0-4), Daire McDaid (1-1), John Furlong (1-0), Cormac Egan (1-0), Keith O'Neill (0-2), Jack Bryant (0-2), David Dempsey (0-1), Lee Pearson (0-1), Cathal Flynn (0-1), Jordan Hayes (0-1)

Breffni Park, Cavan

Referee: K Eannatta (Tyrone)

15 June 2024

16:30

Quarter-final

Down | 1-18 v 0-12|  Wicklow

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P Havern (0-06), S Johnston (0-04), J McGovern (1-00), D Guinness (0-02), L Kerr (0-02), R McEvoy (0-01), D Magill (0-01), O Savage (0-01), C Doherty (0-01) | Report | K Quinn (0-04), M Jackson (0-03), C O'Brien (0-02), P O'Keane (0-01), O McGreynor (0-01), P O'Toole (0-01)

Pairc Esler, Newry

Referee: F Kelly (Longford)

23 June 2024

16:00

Semi-final

Down | 1-20 v 2-15 (a.e.t.)|  Sligo

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Pat Havern (0-07), Odhran Murdock (1-00), Liam Kerr (0-03), Ryan McEvoy (0-02), Pierce Laverty (0-02), Shealan Johnston (0-01), Daniel Guinness (0-01), Miceal Rooney (0-01), John McGovern (0-01), Caolan Mooney (0-01), Danny Magill (0-01) | Report | Sean Carrabine (0-04), Patrick O'Connor (1-01), Canice Mulligan (1-00), Niall Murphy (0-03), Lee Deignan (0-02), Darragh Cummins (0-02), Eddie McGuinness (0-01), Nathan Mullen (0-01), Mark Walsh (0-01)

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: D O Mahoney (Tipperary)

13 July 2024

15:00

Final

Down | 0-14 v 2-06|  Laois

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Odhran Murdock (0-03), Pat Havern (0-03), Danny Magill (0-02), Caolan Mooney (0-01), Jonny Flynn (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01), Ryan Johnston (0-01), Peter Fegan (0-01), Shealan Johnston (0-01) | Report | Mark Barry (1-02), Seamus Lacey (1-00), Evan O'Carroll (0-01), Paul Kingston (0-01), Conor Heffernan (0-01), Killian Roche (0-01)

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: B Griffin (Kerry)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2024 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup fixtures confirmed". Ulster GAA. 14 December 2023.
2. ^ "2024 Dr McKenna Cup fixtures: Mickey Harte to make Derry managerial debut against Cavan". Belfast Live. 14 December 2023.
3. ^ "Allianz Football League fixtures confirmed for Armagh and Down". Newry Reporter. 6 December 2023.
4. ^ "Your complete guide to the 2024 GAA inter-county fixtures list". Irish Independent. 6 December 2023.
5. ^ "Down start league in style with victory over Wicklow". RTÉ Sport. 28 January 2024.
6. ^ "Odhran Murdock on the double as indisciplined Limerick pay penalty against Down". RTÉ Sport. 3 February 2024.
7. ^ "Down notch another win as Antrim challenge fades". RTÉ Sport. 19 February 2024.
8. ^ "Kerr double helps lead Down past Offaly in goalfest". RTÉ Sport. 24 February 2024.
9. ^ "Down extend winning streak as Sligo put to the sword". RTÉ Sport. 2 March 2024.
10. ^ "Division 3 high-fliers Westmeath and Down draw". RTÉ Sport. 18 March 2024.
11. ^ "Down seal place in Division 2 as final beckons". RTÉ Sport. 24 March 2024.
12. ^ "McCartan masterclass seals Westmeath's Division 3 title". RTÉ Sport. 30 March 2024.
13. ^ "2024 Ulster Senior Football Championship Draw". Ulster GAA. 21 October 2023.
14. ^ "Ulster SFC draw pairs Jim McGuinness against Mickey Harte". RTÉ Sport. 21 October 2023.
15. ^ "2024 Tailteann Cup draw". GAA.ie. 30 April 2024.
16. ^ "Down survive late Laois rally to win Tailteann Cup". RTÉ Sport. 13 July 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Down county football team

* Honours
* All Stars
* Managers
* Players
* 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|

* Dublin
* Kerry

Competitions|

* All-Ireland SFC
* Ulster SFC
* National League
* Dr McKenna Cup

All-Ireland SFCs|

* 1960
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Seasons

* 1903–2008
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* v
* t
* e

2024 GAA season

« 2023

2025 »

Football|

| Championship|

* Connacht SFC
* final
* Leinster SFC
* final
* Munster SFC
* final
* Ulster SFC
* final

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

|

League (NFL)|

* Division 1
* Division 2
* Division 3
* Division 4

Preseason competitions|

* Dr McKenna Cup
* FBD
* McGrath Cup
* O'Byrne Cup

Other adult competitions|

* Tailteann Cup (final)
* All-Ireland Club championships
* Senior
* Intermediate
* Sigerson Cup

Youth competitions|

| Under-20|

* All-Ireland
* Connacht
* Leinster
* Munster
* Ulster

|

Under-17|

* All-Ireland
* Connacht
* Leinster
* Munster
* Ulster

County team seasons|

* Donegal
* Down
* Galway
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* * *

Hurling|

| Championship
Tier 1|

* Leinster SHC
* final
* Munster SHC
* final

* All-Ireland Series:
* Championship
* final

|

Tiers 2 to 5|

* Joe McDonagh Cup
* Christy Ring Cup
* Nicky Rackard Cup
* Lory Meagher Cup

League (NHL)|

* Division 1 (Group A · Group B)
* Division 2A
* Division 2B
* Division 3A
* Division 3B

Preseason competitions|

* Walsh Cup
* Kehoe Cup
* ~~Munster SHL ~~

Other adult competitions|

* All-Ireland Club championships
* Senior
* Intermediate
* Junior
* Fitzgibbon Cup

Youth competitions|

| Under-20|

* All-Ireland
* Leinster
* Munster

|

Under-17|

* All-Ireland
* Leinster
* Munster

County team seasons|

* Clare
* Tipperary

Football All Stars • Hurling All Stars
*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PD]: Point difference
*[Pts]: Points
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