James McCartan, Junior

James McCartan is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player who played at senior level for the Down county team between 1990 and 2000. McCartan was part of the Down team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1991 and 1994. swerving runs at the defence

In 2009, he took charge of the Down senior team, leading them to the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in his first season in charge. He stepped down in 2014.

Early life and family McCartan is from Tullylish, County Down. His father, also called James, is regarded as one of the game's all-time greats and won three All-Ireland medals with Down in the 1960s. James's brothers Daniel and Eoin are former members of the Down team, while Charlie Pat also played for Down and Brian was midfield on the 1987 Down minor team that won the All-Ireland Minor Championship..

Playing career Inter-county In 1986 at just 15 years old McCartan helped the Down Minor team win the Ulster Minor title.

In 1987 McCartan helped the Down Minor team win both the Ulster Minor and All-Ireland Minor Football Championships. He led his team to the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in his first season in charge but they lost to Cork. Down had a poor 2011 season only winning 3 Championship games. In 2012 James led Down to their first League Semi-final in 22 years where they played Cork. It was a close game but Cork won 2–17 to 1-12. McCartan led Down to their first Ulster final since 2003 coming back from 0–11 to 0–02 to win by 1–14 to 1-13. In July 2014 McCartan stepped down as boss after 5 years in charge.

Playing honours Inter-county All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2) 1991 1994 Ulster Senior Football Championship (2) 1991 1994 National Football League Division 3 (1) 1997 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship (1) 1987 Ulster Minor Football Championship (2) 1986 1987

Province 4 Railway Cups 1991 1993 1994 1995

School/college 2 Sigerson Cups 1990 1993 2 MacRory Cups 1986 1988 2 Hogan Cups 1986 1988

Club 1 London Senior Football Championship 1990

Individual 2 All Stars 1990 1994 1 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final Man of the Match 1991

Manager 1 Inter-County All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Runner-Up 2010 1 Inter-County Ulster Senior Football Championship Runner-Up 2012 2 Ryan Cups 2006 2007 1 Sigerson Cup 2007 1 Down Senior Football League 2006