Down's vice captain Caolan Mooney is reported to be in a 'stable' condition in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital after sustaining head injuries in an alleged assault in Newry on Sunday night.
The Irish News reported that police are investigating an incident in the Merchants Quay area, with Down manager Paddy Tally saying "We’re shocked and saddened that Caolan has been hospitalised, and we understand that a criminal investigation is under way."
In statement released on their Twitter account, the PSNI have said:
Detectives investigating an assault on two men aged 26 and 32 in the Merchants Quay area of Newry in the early hours of yesterday morning, Monday 30 December, have charged a 37 year-old man with affray and attempted grevious bodily harm with intent.
He is due to appear at Armagh Magistrates' Court, this morning, Tuesday, 31 December.
They added: "As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the PPS. Detectives are appealing to anyone who witnessed the assault which we believe occurred shortly before 2.30am to contact detectives at Ardmore on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference 117 30/12/2019."
26 year-old Mooney had played in Down's win over Fermanagh in the opening round of the Dr McKenna Cup earlier that day.
The Rostrevor native - who played club football with London's Neasden Gaels last year - has been an integral part of the Down team since he returned from AFL side Collingwood in 2014.
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