The 2017 Down Senior Football Championship was the 109th official edition of Down GAA's premier gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Down. 16 teams compete with the winner representing Down in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.

The tournament operated a double elimination format for the opening two rounds of the championship, with the winners and early round losers rejoining at the quarter final stage.

Kilcoo Owen Roe's were the defending champions after they defeated Clonduff 3-11 to 0-9 in the 2016 final. On 1 October 2017 they successfully defended their title to claim a "6 in a row" of Down S.F.C. titles when defeating Burren 0-13 to 0-11. The final was broadcast live on TG4.

An Ríocht return to the senior grade after claiming the Down I.F.C. title in 2016. Bredagh make their senior comeback after breaking into the top 15 ranked teams in the Down football leagues for 2016.

Ballymartin and Bredagh are relegated to the 2018 I.F.C. after finishing outside the top 15 ranked teams in the Down football leagues for 2017. They finished 9th and 5th (ranked 21st and 17th overall) respectively in Division 2. Rostrevor and Carryduff will replace them after finishing 2nd and 3rd (ranked overall 14th and 15th) respectively in the Down ACFL Division 2 in 2017. Loughinisland gained a reprieve from relegation after finishing overall ranked 16th, however due to Rostrevor claiming the I.F.C. title, they were permitted to remain senior.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2016 championship season.

To S.F.C. Promoted from 2016 Down Intermediate Football Championship An Ríocht – (IFC Champions) Bredagh – (IFL Champions)From S.F.C. Relegated to 2017 Down Intermediate Football Championship Annaclone Rostrevor

Round 1

All 16 teams enter the competition in this round. The 8 winners progress to Round 2A while the 8 losers progress to Round 2B.

10 August 2017 19:45 Round 1St. Peter's Warrenpoint0-13 – 0-8BryansfordMayobridge
Ross McGarry 0-4 (0-2f), Jamie Grant and Ryan Mallon 0-2 each, Ryan Boyle, John Boyle, Donagh McAleenan (0-1f), Niall McGovern, Aaron Magee 0-1 eachDanny Savage 0-4 (0-2f), Timmy Hanna, Philip Bonny, David McKibben (0-1f), Packie Downey 0-1 each
11 August 2017 18:30 Round 1Saval0-21 – 2-14BallymartinPairc Esler
Pat Havern 0-9 (0-7f), Keelan Rice and Niall Devlin (1 '45) 0-3 each, Curtis Sands and Eamonn Magee 0-2 each, Niall Madine and Brendan Turley 0-1 eachCiaran O'Hare 0-6 (0-4f), Cathal Doyle 1-1, Peter Fitzpatrick 1-0, Ryan O'Hare 0-3, John Caldwell 0-2, Adrian Doran and Ross Cunningham 0-1 each
11 August 2017 20:00 Round 1Mayobridge0-19 – 1-9LongstonePairc Esler
Cathal Magee 0-7 (0-1f), Benny Coulter 0-4, Conleth O'Hare 0-3, Caolan Gallagher 0-2, Ryan Brady, Kevin McClorey, Rory Hughes 0-1 eachMark Poland 0-4f, Conor Poland 0-3 (0-1f, 1 ' 45), Ryan McDowell 1-0, Colin Burden and Barry Doran 0-1 each
12 August 2017 15:45 Round 1Russell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick4-14 – 1-10An RiochtCastlewellan
Ruairi Quinn 1-3, Johnny Bell, Sean Bell, Garret Trainor 1-1 each, Anthony Doherty (0-1f, 1 '45), Conor McGrady (0-2f), Jarlath Branagan (0-1f) 0-2 each, Taylor Louden and Neil Cunningham 0-1 eachNoel McArdle 0-6 (0-5f), Rory Cunningham 1-1, Declan Doyle 0-2, James Colgan 0-1
12 August 2017 18:45 Round 1Ballyholland0-15 – 2-8LoughinislandSt. Patrick's
Patrick Quinn 0-6 (0-3f), Tony Havern 0-3, Ronan Murtagh 0-2, Patrick McAteer, Tiernan Rushe, Joe Murphy, M Walsh 0-1 eachJohn McCarthy 1-1 (0-1f), Dean McLaughlin 1-0, Stefan Mason 0-3 (0-1f), Rory Deegan, Jonny Flynn, Declan McClements, Aaron McClements
13 August 2017 15:45 Round 1Castlewellan1-17 – 1-8BredaghDownpatrick
Benny Hasson 1-0
13 August 2017 20:00 Round 1Kilcoo0-14 – 1-10 (A.E.T.)ClonduffPairc Esler
Paul Devlin 0-4 (0-1f, 2 '45), Darragh O'Hanlon 0-3 (0-2f), Conor Laverty 0-2, Felim McGreevy, Aaron Morgan, Ceilum Doherty, Ryan Johnston, James McClean 0-1 eachStephen McConville 0-4 (0-2f), Conor Murray 1-0, Darren O'Hagan, Aidan Carr, Conor Og O'Hagan, Rian Brannigan, Shane Ward, James Killen 0-1 each
14 August 2017 20:00 Round 1Burren4-17 – 0-12Glenn John MartinClonduff
Donal O'Hare 1-5 (0-3f), Shay McArdle 0-6 (3 '45), Ryan Treanor 1-1, Ciaran McGovern and Cathal Foy 1-0, Kevin McKernan 0-2, Conor Toner, Sean Murdock, Stevie Fegan 0-1 eachStephen Clarke, Dylan Bagnall, Mattie Bagnall (0-2f), R Millar (1 '45), Cormac Clarke 0-2 each, M Turley and Tiarnan O'Brien 0-1 each

Round 2

Round 2A

The 8 winning teams from Round 1 enter this round. The 4 winners enter the draw for the quarter-finals while the 4 losers play in Round 3.

19 August 2017 15:30 Round 2ARussell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick2-12 – 0-18St. Peter's WarrenpointCastlewellan
19 August 2017 17:00 Round 2ACastlewellan5-17 – 0-8SavalPairc Esler
Rory Burns 2-1, Gareth McKibben 1-3 (0-1f), Sean Dornan 1-2, David Gilmore 1-1, Donal McKibben (0-1f) and Liam McKibben 0-3 each, Daniel Morgan 0-2, Colm Flanagan and Sean Hardy 0-1 eachPat Havern 0-3 (0-1f), Daniel McCarthy 0-2, Chris Quinn, Keelan Rice, Niall Madine 0-1 each
21 August 2017 18:45 Round 2ABurren4-12 – 0-9MayobridgePairc Esler
Conor Toner and Sean Murdock 1-1 each, Ryan Treanor and Eamonn Toner 1-0 each, Kevin McKernan 0-3, Cathal Foy, Shay McArdle (0-1f, 1 '45), Donal O'Hare (0-1f) 0-2 each, Jamie McGovern 0-1Cathal Magee 0-5 (0-2f), Benny Coulter and Caolan Gallagher 0-2 each
21 August 2017 20:15 Round 2AKilcoo2-7 – 0-6BallyhollandPairc Esler
Dylan Ward and Eugene Branagan 1-0 each, Paul Devlin (0-1f) and Ceilum Doherty 0-2 each, Darragh O'Hanlon (0-1f), Martin Devlin, Conor Laverty 0-1 eachRonan Murtagh 0-3f, Ruairi Campbell, Patrick Quinn (0-1f), Tiernan Rushe 0-1 each
23 August 2017 19:00 Round 2A ReplayRussell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick2-15 – 0-12St. Peter's WarrenpointKilcoo

Round 2B

The 8 losing teams from Round 1 enter this round. The 4 winners go into Round 3 while the 4 losing teams exit the championship.

17 August 2017 20:15 Round 2BBryansford2-17 – 0-6An RiochtPairc Esler
Packie Downey 2-4, Danny Savage 0-6 (0-1f), Conor Maginn 0-3, David McKibben 0-2 (0-1f), Jack Maginn, Patrick Sheridan, Peter Brannigan 0-1 eachDeaglan Morgan and Noel McArdle (0-1f) 0-2 each, Conor Clarke and Declan Doyle 0-1 each
18 August 2017 20:15 Round 2BBredagh0-9 – 0-8BallymartinSt. Patrick's
19 August 2017 18:30 Round 2BClonduff3-19 – 2-14 aetLongstonePairc Esler
Conor Óg O'Hagan 2-3, Stephen McConville 0-9 (0-7f), Conor Murray 1-0, Shane Ward 0-2, Paul Lively, Jayme Gribben, Charlie Carr, Aidan Carr, Rian Branagan 0-1 eachConor Smyth 1-2, Mark Poland 0-7f, Conor Poland 0-2 (0-1f), Ryan Kelly 1-0, Michael Ireland 0-2 (0-1f), Cormac Poland 0-1,
21 August 2017 20:15 Round 2BLoughinisland1-11 – 0-13 (A.E.T.)Glenn John MartinSt. Patrick's

Round 3

This is the final qualifier round. The four losing teams from round 2A (who won a match and lost a match) play the four winning teams from round 2B (who lost a match and won a match).

25 August 2017 20:00 Round 3Ballyholland2-7 – 0-10BredaghSt. Patrick's Referee: Gavin Corrigan
Ronan Murtagh 2-1 (0-1f), Joe Murphy and Tiernan Rushe 0-2 eachDonal Hughes 0-5 (0-3f), Kealan Devlin, Michael Robinson, Joe Shieds, Emmet Costello, Benny Hasson 0-1 each
26 August 2017 18:30 Round 3Bryansford1-20 – 0-8SavalClonduff Referee: Ciaran Branagan
Peter Sheridan 1-0, David McKibben (0-5f) and Danny Savage (0-2f) 0-6 each, Peter Brannigan and Packie Downey 0-2 each, Marc Reid (1 '45), Niall O'Higgins, Luke Kelly 0-1 eachNiall Devlin 0-3, Keelan Rice and Oisin McEvoy 0-2 each, Philip Madine 0-1
27 August 2017 19:30 Round 3Mayobridge1-12 – 0-13ClonduffPairc Esler Referee: Ciaran Mooney
Kevin O'Rourke 0-7, Conleth O'Hare 1-0, Cathal Magee 0-2f, Benny Coulter, Conor Garvey, Rory Hughes 0-1 eachStephen McConville 0-5 (0-2f), Aidan Carr (1 '45), Conor Óg O'Hagan, Shane Ward 0-2, Shane McGreevy and Lorcan Branagan 0-1 each
28 August 2017 19:00 Round 3Loughinsisland1-11 – 1-10St. Peter's WarrenpointKilcoo Referee: Adrian Sharvin
Conor Megoran 1-0, Rory Deegan 0-2f, Stefan Mason (0-1f), Dan Gordon, Ryan Stranney, Rory Mason (0-1f) 0-1 eachRyan Boyle 1-0, Ross McGarry and Donagh McAleenan 0-2, Niall McGovern and Ruairi Cowan 0-1 each

Quarter-finals

The 4 winners from Round 2A play the 4 winners from Round 3.

1 September 2017 20:15Burren0-14 – 0-12MayobridgePáirc Esler Referee: Paul Faloon
Donal O'Hare 0-5 (0-3f), Kevin McKernan 0-4, Cathal Foy 0-2, Mark McKay, Conor Toner, Padraig Poland 0-1 eachCathal Magee 0-7 (0-4f), Conor Garvey 0-2, Conleth O'Hare, Benny Coulter, Ryan Brady 0-1 each
2 September 2017 15:30Castlewellan1-14 – 0-13LoughinislandDownpatrick Referee: Con Reynolds
Daniel Morgan 0-8 (0-5f), Cathal Crilly 1-0, Liam McKibben 0-2, Colm Flanagan, Kevin Duffin, Donal McKibben, Gareth McKibbin (0-1f) 0-1 each
2 September 2017 19:00Russell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick1-9 – 1-9BallyhollandNewcastle Referee: Ciaran Mooney
Patrick Quinn 0-6 (0-2f), Jack Grant 1-0, Tiernan Rushe, Joe Murphy, Pat Havern 0-1 eachJohnny Bell 1-3, Jarlath Branagan and Conor McGrady (0-1f) 0-2 each, Anthony Doherty (0-1f) and Tommy McElroy 0-1 each
4 September 2017 20:15Kilcoo2-13 – 0-11BryansfordPáirc Esler Referee: Brendan Rice
Jerome Johnston 2-2, Ceilum Doherty, Martin Devlin, Donal Kane (0-1f) 0-2 each, Darragh O'Hanlon (0-1f), Daryl Branagan, Conor Laverty, JJ McLaughlin 0-1 eachDavid McKibben 0-7 (0-6f), Marc Reid (1 '45), Aaron McDonald, Ruairi Wells, Conor Maginn 0-1 each
6 September 2017 19:00 ReplayRussell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick1-9 – 0-11 aetBallyhollandNewcastle Referee: Neill Cousins

Semi-finals

15 September 2017 20:15Burren1-12 – 0-7CastlewellanPairc Esler Referee: Ciaran Branagan
Conor Toner 1-0, Donal O'Hare 0-5 (0-3f), David McEntee and Ryan Treanor 0-2 each, Sean Murdock, Cathal Murdock, Declan Rooney 0-1 eachSean Dornan 0-3, Colm Flanagan, Cathal Crilly, David Gilmore, Fintan McGreevy 0-1 each
16 September 2017 17:15Kilcoo0-13 – 1-5Russell Gaelic Union, DownpatrickPairc Esler Referee: Ciaran Mooney
Paul Devlin 0-6 (0-4f, 1 '45), Martin Devlin 0-2, Daryl Branagan, Aaron Morgan, Conor Laverty, Ceilum Doherty, Gary McEvoy 0-1 eachMicheal Magee 1-1 (0-1f), Anthony Doherty (1 '45), Jarlath Brannigan (0-1f), Jonathan Bell, Conor McGrady (0-1f) 0-1 each

Final

1 October 2017 3:00 pm FinalKilcoo0-13 – 0-11BurrenPáirc Esler Referee: Paul Faloon
Dylan Ward and Paul Devlin (0-4f) 0-4 each, Jerome Johnston 0-2, Darragh O'Hanlon (0-1f), Aaron Morgan, Conor Laverty 0-1 eachDonal O'Hare 0-6 (0-3f), Cathal Murdock 0-2 (0-1f, 1 '45), Ryan Treanor, Kevin McKernan, Daniel McCartan 0-1 each

Last Eight

Quarter-FinalsSemi-FinalsFinal
Burren0-14
Mayobridge0-12Burren1-12
Castlewellan1-14Castlewellan0-7
Loughinisland0-13Kilcoo0-13
Kilcoo2-13Burren0-11
Bryansford0-10Kilcoo0-13
Russell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick1-9 (1-9 R)Russell Gaelic Union, Downpatrick1-5
Ballyholland1-9 (0-11 R)

Ulster Senior Club Football Championship