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Rory's dominance and dual-code GAA glory - Down's 2014 sporting highlights

The Mourne men and ladies had plenty to smile about over the past 12 months.

But what about [insert your county here]? Don’t worry, we’ll be producing a series of articles that will cover every county in Ireland – even yours – over the next few weeks. See the ones we’ve already covered here.

1. Benny Coulter’s GAA career was celebrated after he announced his retirement

Any excuse to watch this goal again really …

AllSaintsGAA / YouTube

2. Ballynahinch survived a playoff to remain the only Ulster club in Division 1A of the AIL

David McIlwaine celebrates after scoring David McIlwaine celebrates after scoring in the playoff against Buccaneers. Presseye / Tony Hendron/INPHO Presseye / Tony Hendron/INPHO / Tony Hendron/INPHO

3. Gary Wilson was named Surrey captain, and went on to score an unbeaten 160 against Leicestershire at the Oval

Cricket - LV= County Championship - Division Two - Surrey v Derbyshire - The Oval Nigel French Nigel French

4. Kevin McKernan lined out for Ireland in the International Rules Test against Australia

A dejected Kevin McKernan Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

5. September was a phenomenal month for the ladies who clinched the All-Ireland premier junior camogie title …

Niamh Mallon lifts the cup Niamh Mallon lifts the Kay Mills Cup. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

6. … and the All-Ireland intermediate football title with a 21-point demolition of Fermanagh

The Down team celebrate with the cup Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

7. There was no shortage of individual honours either: Camogie captain Niamh Mallon was one of seven players to win a Soaring Star

Karen Tinnelly, Ciara McGovern, Lisa McAliskey, Fionnuala Carr, Karen McMullan and Catherin McGourty were also recognised for their performances

Niamh Mallon Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

8. Aileen Pyers won a football Allstar — her first and only the county’s second ever — and was also named Junior Players’ Player of the Year

TG4 Ladies Football All-Star Awards 2014 Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

9. Hollywood kid Rory McIlroy dominated the golf world, winning his third Major with a brilliant performance at the Open …

British Open Golf Peter Morrison Peter Morrison

10. … and then following it up a few weeks later with his fourth at the PGA Championship in Valhalla

PGA Championship Golf Jeff Roberson Jeff Roberson

11. The 25-year-old finished the year as world number one, dominated the end-of-season awards, topped the PGA Tour money list, won the Race to Dubai … oh, and he won another Ryder Cup with Europe at Gleneagles

Not bad, Rory, not bad at all.

Golf - 40th Ryder Cup - Day Three - Gleneagles PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

– First published 07.30

See more of our county-by-county highlights series here >

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