In 2004 her reputation as the greatest player of all-time was further cemented when she was named on the Camogie Team of the Century.
[citation needed] Kilkenny clinched the victory by 3–3 to 1–5 and Downey received her first All-Ireland medal.
[citation needed] In 1977, Downey captained Kilkenny in their search for back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
Kilkenny went into decline for the next few years;[citation needed] however, Downey added a National Camogie League medal to her collection in 1980.
All-Ireland success was slow in coming over the next few years; however, Downey won a second National League medal with Kilkenny in 1982.
Downey's side were hoping to capture a third All-Ireland title in-a-row, something Kilkenny had never achieved, Cork was the opponent.
The full-time score of 3–10 to 1–7 gave Kilkenny the victory and Downey a seventh All-Ireland medal.
She began the year by winning a fifth National League medal before later guiding her county to the All-Ireland final, against Cork.
[citation needed] In 1989, Cork were beaten in the National League final to give Kilkenny and Downey a sixth title in that competition.
Cork wanted to avenge those defeats and avoid losing a third All-Ireland final in-a-row, while Kilkenny were hoping to add another consecutive title to their collection.
At the start of 1990, the county won a fourth consecutive National League title.
Kilkenny dominated the game and a final score of 1–14 to 0–7 gave Downey her tenth All-Ireland medal, a victory which made her joint third with Kay Ryder on the all-time list of leading All-Ireland medal holders.
The year started badly for Kilkenny, when its run of success in the National League came to an end.
Cork defeated Kilkenny in the final of that competition, denying the county a fifth league title in-a-row.
A final score of 2–11 to 0–8 gave Downey her twelfth All-Ireland medal on the field of play.
[citation needed] Downey also lined out with Leinster in the Gael Linn sponsored inter-provincial camogie championship.
[citation needed] At the time of her retirement, Downey's haul of twelve All-Ireland medals was surpassed by only two other players, Úna O'Connor and Kathleen Mills.
In 2004, Downey was named in the left corner-forward position on a special team picked to celebrate the centenary of the Camogie Association of Ireland.
Downey boycotted the presentation in protest at the absence of her sister Ann from the team.