{{Short description|Gaelic football competition}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox GAA championship main| |currentlyrunning=2025 Down Intermediate Football Championship |image= |name=Down Intermediate Football Championship |first=1973 |sponsors=The Parador Lodge<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newrydemocrat.com/gaa/2022/10/15/gallery/saval-to-give-reds-their-fill-32529/|title=Saval to give Reds their fill|work=Newry Democrat|date=15 October 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Steve|last=Malone}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://belfastmedia.com/32999-2/|title=Bredagh regain Down Intermediate Football honours|publisher=Belfastmedia.com|date=26 October 2018|access-date=3 December 2022}}</ref> |trophy=WJ Farrell Cup |irish=Cluiche Ceannais Péil An Dúin |current=20px|border Drumgath |currentordinal=3 |most=20px|border Ballyholland Harps<br>20px|border Atticall<br>20px|border Warrenpoint<br>20px|border Drumgath |mostordinal=3 }}
The '''Down Intermediate Football Championship''' is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by mid-tier Down GAA clubs. The national media covers the competition.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews/sport/gaafootball/2016/09/26/news/alan-davidson-and-daniel-hughes-power-bredagh-to-title-708772/content.html|title=Alan Davidson and Daniel Hughes power Bredagh to title|work=The Irish News|date=26 September 2016|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Tony|last=Bagnall}}</ref>
Drumgath are the title holders, defeating Clann na Banna in the Final.
==Format== 16 clubs compete in the competition.
==History== Bredagh won their maiden title in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/index.asp?title=Bredagh_crowned_champions|title=Bredagh crowned champions|work=Down Recorder|date=28 September 2016|access-date=3 December 2022|quote=The brilliance of deadly duo Donal Hughes and Alan Davidson sent An Riocht packing as Bredagh claimed their first ever IFC title at Pairc Esler on Sunday.}}</ref>
The 2022 final between Rostrevor and Saval pitted Benny Coulter and Danny Hughes (teammates when Down got as far as the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final) against each other on the sideline.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gaeliclife.com/counties/down/down-club-football/previews-down-senior-intermediate-and-junior-football-finals/|title=Previews: Down Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football finals|work=Gaelic Life|date=13 October 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|quote=Former teammates Benny Coulter and Danny Hughes, who helped Down reach the All-Ireland final in 2010, will face off on the sideline this weekend and this one could go right down to the wire.}}</ref>
==Honours== The winner of the Down IFC qualifies to play in the Down Senior Football Championship. The Down IFC winner also qualifies for the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2018/11/03/news/down-champions-bredagh-travel-south-for-ulster-intermediate-clash-with-cavan-outfit-mullahoran-1475764/|title=Down champions Bredagh travel south for Ulster Intermediate clash with Cavan outfit Mullahoran|work=The Irish News|date=3 November 2018|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Andy|last=Watters|quote=Down champions Bredagh swap the city streets of south Belfast for small town county Cavan this afternoon for a run-in with the once all-conquering 'Dreadnoughts'.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2022/11/12/news/down_champions_saval_make_ulster_championship_debut_against_monaghan_s_corduff-2903089/|title=Down champions Saval make Ulster championship debut against Monaghan's Corduff|work=The Irish News|date=12 November 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Andy|last=Watters|quote=Seventy-three years since their foundation, Down champions Saval make their Ulster debut against a Corduff side that passed their first test at this level with a nerve-jangling victory over Armagh's Shane O'Neill's in last weekend's preliminary round.}}</ref> It is the only team from Down to qualify for this competition. The Down IFC winner may enter the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage. They often do well there, with the likes of Rostrevor<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newrydemocrat.com/gaa/2022/10/15/gallery/saval-to-give-reds-their-fill-32529/|title=Saval to give Reds their fill|date=15 October 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Steve|last=Malone|quote=Rostrevor won the title in 2017 and reached the Ulster Final where they lost to Moy by a point, who went on to win the Intermediate All-Ireland.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/cavanagh-keeps-mighty-moy-on-upward-curve-36355216.html|title=Cavanagh keeps mighty Moy on upward curve|work=Irish Independent|date= 27 November 2017|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> among the clubs from Down to play in at least one Ulster Championship final after winning the Down Intermediate Football Championship. Liatroim Fontenoys won Ulster in 1998. Warrenpoint won Ulster in 2014.<ref name="auto4">{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/228383|title=Ulster club IFC final: Warrenpoint come good in second|work=Hogan Stand|date=30 November 2014|access-date=2 December 2014}}</ref> Then Loughlinisland won Ulster in 2015.<ref name="auto3">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/loughinisland-ride-luck-34244493.html|title=Loughinisland stun Bundoran with late show|date=29 November 2015|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=2 December 2015}}</ref>
The Down IFC winner — by winning the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship, at which it would enter at the semi-final stage, providing it hasn't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals.
==Finals listed by year==
{| class="wikitable" |- |style="background-color:#FFFACD"|Also won the Ulster and All-Ireland competitions in the same season |- |style="background-color:#C0FFC0"|Also won the Ulster competition in the same season |}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; align:center" | Year ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; align:center" | Winner ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; align:center" | Score ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; align:center" | Score ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; align:center" | Opponents |- | 1973 | Greencastle | | | |- | 1990 | 20px|border Dromara | | | 20px|border Ballymartin |- | 1991 | 20px|border Glenn | | | 20px|border Drumaness |- | 1992 | 20px|border Drumaness | | | 20px|border Ballymartin |- | 1993 | 20px|border Ballymartin | | | |- | 1994 | 20px|border Ballyholland Harps | | | 20px|border Annaclone |- | 1995 | 20px|border Saval<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newrydemocrat.com/gaa/2022/10/15/gallery/saval-to-give-reds-their-fill-32529/|title=Saval to give Reds their fill|date=15 October 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Steve|last=Malone|quote=Saval last won the Championship in 1995}}</ref> | | | Newry Bosco |- | 1996 | 20px|border Newry Bosco | | | |- | 1997 | 20px|border Atticall | | | 20px|border Annaclone |- | 1998 | style="background-color:#C0FFC0" | 20px|border Liatroim Fontenoys | | | |- | 1999 | 20px|border Ballyholland Harps | | | |- | 2000 | 20px|border Atticall | | | |- | 2001 | 20px|border Warrenpoint | | | 20px|border Longstone |- | 2002 | 20px|border Longstone | | | 20px|border Saval |- | 2003 | 20px|border Ballyholland Harps | | | |- | 2004 | 20px|border Atticall | | | |- | 2005 | 20px|border RGU Downpatrick | | | |- | 2006 | 20px|border Drumgath | | | 20px|border Atticall |- | 2007 | 20px|border RGU Downpatrick | 0–12 | 0–09 | 20px|border Ballymartin |- | 2008 | 20px|border Annaclone | 1–13 | 0–13 | 20px|border Darragh Cross |- | 2009 | 20px|border Ballymartin | 0–15 | 0–07 | 20px|border Darragh Cross |- | 2010 | 20px|border Tullylish | 4–07 | 4–06 | 20px|border Annaclone |- | 2011 | 20px|border Kilclief | 1–09 | 0–09 | 20px|border Ballymartin |- | 2012<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newry.ie/sports/kilcoo-take-county-title|title=Kilcoo Take County Title|work=newry.ie|date=23 October 2012}}</ref> | 20px|border Warrenpoint<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/cookstown-win-is-extra-special-215808.html |title=Cookstown win is extra special |access-date=3 December 2012 |work=Irish Examiner |date= 3 December 2012}}</ref> | 1–08 | 0–08 | 20px|border Newry Bosco |- | 2013 | 20px|border Drumgath | 0–15 | 1–07 | 20px|border Newry Bosco |- | 2014 | style="background-color:#C0FFC0" | 20px|border Warrenpoint<ref name="auto4"/> | 1–22 | 1–09 | 20px|border Ballymartin |- | 2015 | style="background-color:#C0FFC0" | 20px|border Loughinisland<ref name="auto3"/> | 3–11 | 0–08 | 20px|border An Ríocht |- | 2016<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedownrecorder.co.uk/pages/index.asp?title=Bredagh_crowned_champions|title=Bredagh crowned champions|work=Down Recorder|date=28 September 2016|access-date=3 December 2022}}</ref> | 20px|border Bredagh | 3–13 | 1–10 | 20px|border An Ríocht |- | 2017 | 20px|border Rostrevor<ref name="auto2"/> | 1–10 | 1–06 | 20px|border Annaclone |- | 2018<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2018/11/03/news/down-champions-bredagh-travel-south-for-ulster-intermediate-clash-with-cavan-outfit-mullahoran-1475764/|title=Down champions Bredagh travel south for Ulster Intermediate clash with Cavan outfit Mullahoran|work=The Irish News|date=3 November 2018|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Andy|last=Watters|quote=Jody Gormley steered Bredagh to the Down Intermediate title this year}}</ref> | 20px|border Bredagh | 3–13 | 1–17 | 20px|border Liatroim Fontenoys |- | 2019<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newrydemocrat.com/sport/2019/10/16/gallery/captains-character-inspires-glenn-6502/|title=Captains character inspires Glenn|work=Newry Democrat|first=Steve|last=Malone|date=16 October 2019}}</ref> | 20px|border Glenn | 1–12 | 1–10 | 20px|border Newry Shamrocks |- | 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2020/09/21/news/saul-s-hat-trick-of-majors-ensures-victory-in-down-ifc-final-2072626/|title=Saul's hat-trick of majors ensures victory in Down IFC final|work=The Irish News|first=Padraig|last=O Meiscill|date=21 September 2020}}</ref> | 20px|border Saul | 3–10 | 0–14 | 20px|border Drumgath |- | 2021<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gaeliclife.com/counties/an-riocht-chasing-more-glory-days/|title=An Ríocht chasing more glory days|work=Gaelic Life|date=4 December 2021|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Shaun|last=Casey|quote=An Ríocht picked up their first ever championship success at senior level with a 2-6 to 0-11 win over Darragh Cross in the Intermediate final. It was a historic day for the Kingdom and a result that didn't look likely heading into the last water break. Bernie Ruane's side trailed 0-11 to 0-5 but late goals from Eoin Sloan and Kory Colgan completed a comeback that will live long in the memory.}}</ref> | 20px|border An Ríocht | 2–06 | 0–11 | 20px|border Darragh Cross |- | 2022 | 20px|border Saval<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2022/11/12/news/down_champions_saval_make_ulster_championship_debut_against_monaghan_s_corduff-2903089/|title=Down champions Saval make Ulster championship debut against Monaghan's Corduff|work=The Irish News|date=12 November 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Andy|last=Watters|quote=Saval clinched their maiden Down intermediate title with victory over Rostrevor on October 15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newrydemocrat.com/gaa/2022/10/15/gallery/saval-to-give-reds-their-fill-32529/|title=Saval to give Reds their fill|date=15 October 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|first=Steve|last=Malone}}</ref> | 1–12 | 1–09 | 20px|border Rostrevor |- | 2023 | 20px|border Liatroim Fontenoys | 1–13 | 1–11 |20px|border Rostrevor |- | 2024<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newrydemocrat.com/gaa/2024/10/17/gallery/drumgath-put-clanns-to-sword-to-clinch-title-53930/|title=Drumgath put Clanns to sword to clinch title|date=17 October 2024|access-date=19 September 2025|first=Steve|last=Malone}}</ref> | 20px|border Drumgath | 3–16 | 0–12 | 20px|border Clann na Banna |}
==Wins listed by club== {|class="wikitable" ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}" | # ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}" | Team ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}" | Wins ! style="background:#E52B50;color:black;{{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}" | Years won |- | rowspan=4 | 1 | 20px|border Ballyholland Harps | rowspan=4 | {{center|3}} | 1994, 1999, 2003 |- | 20px|border Atticall | 1997, 2000, 2004 |- | 20px|border Warrenpoint | 2001, 2012, 2014 |- | 20px|border Drumgath | 2006, 2013, 2024 |- | rowspan=6 | 5 | 20px|border Glenn | rowspan=6 | {{center|2}} | 1991, 2019 |- | 20px|border Ballymartin | 1993, 2009 |- | 20px|border Saval | 1995, 2022 |- | 20px|border Liatroim Fontenoys | 1998, 2023 |- | 20px|border RGU Downpatrick | 2005, 2007 |- | 20px|border Bredagh | 2016, 2018 |- | rowspan=12 | 11 | Greencastle | rowspan=12 | {{center|1}} | 1973 |- | 20px|border Dromara | 1990 |- | 20px|border Drumaness | 1992 |- | 20px|border Newry Bosco | 1996 |- | 20px|border Longstone | 2002 |- | 20px|border Annaclone | 2008 |- | 20px|border Tullylish | 2010 |- | 20px|border Kilclief | 2011 |- | 20px|border Loughinisland | 2015 |- | 20px|border Rostrevor | 2017 |- | 20px|border Saul | 2020 |- | 20px|border An Ríocht | 2021 |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Down GAA|state=expanded}}
Category:Down GAA club championships Category:Intermediate Gaelic football county championships Category:1973 establishments in Northern Ireland Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1973