Downey subsequently lined out in the 1890 All-Ireland final which saw Cork claim the title after a 2–04 to 0–01 defeat of Wexford.
[2] A move to Dublin saw him join up with the Young Irelands and, in 1896, he claimed County Championship honours.
Downey claimed a second successive Dublin County Championship title in 1897, however, this time it was with the Kickhams club.
[citation needed] The son of a national school teacher, Downey moved to Dublin about 1895 where he worked as a floorwalker in Arnotts.
He died from heart failure on 24 September 1942 at Dr Steevens' Hospital and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.