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Very encouraging display from Down against the Ulster champions, matching them all the way until the penalty shoot out which produced probably the ideal result for us. We didn't particularly want to risk injuries or suspensions from a relatively meaningless McKenna final against Tyrone, and instead we have two clear weeks to prepare for the crucial trip to Tipperary. The intensity and organisation of the Down squad is well capable of taking us to promotion, and we will also learn the lessons from today's draw. We were a little tentative when McKaigue was sent off with 20 minutes left and only scored three points in that period. McEvoy had an outstanding game but was throwing himself into tackles when he was on a yellow card, with Gallagher in the ear of the linesman throughout, and gave the ref the opportunity to even the sides up even before he also presented Derry with a last kick equaliser from a non-contact free. We have a fine central spine emerging through O'Hare, McEvoy, McParland, Donnelly, Murdock, McAleenan and Havern, and, with a decent defence also developing, a few more scores from O'Hagan, Kerr and Gilmore can take us to the next level. Laverty and his coaches have done an exceptional job so far.

Smurfy is correct and and I had forgotten that we did make the McKenna semis in 2020. However, we came out of a group with Fermanagh and Antrim that year before getting hammered by Tyrone and our record in the competition has been generally dreadful over the last decade. Getting an extra game against decent opposition next weekend is a big help and should give us a fair idea about our league prospects.

While McKenna Cup performances will soon be forgotten, it is still the first time in a decade that we have managed to make the semi finals of the competition. Havern and Francis were excellent throughout, and we looked solid at midfield as well. Even if there are no further additions to the squad from Kilcoo, we should be in decent shape for the start of the league.

A fine start for Laverty, although we probably should have won more comfortably. O'Hare was impressive in goals, with Francis also showing well. Donnelly made a decent return after three years and McAleenan always used the ball well. Our stars were Murdoch and Gilmore and there was a clear sense that we are going in the right direction.

Ardtole, the provisional fixtures lists which are sent to the county boards to be reviewed before publication have us scheduled for the opening trip to Tipperary. Changes are unlikely at this stage, but we may have to wait a week or two before final confirmation of our full programme.

The NFL D3 fixtures should be officially released shortly but, barring some unexpected review, we are due to be away to Tipperary on the first weekend. Although it's a long journey to a county which has been getting better results than us over recent seasons, we need to target a win if we are serious about promotion.

It may be a little hard for non-Leeds fans to understand how any side could go in front three times and still get nothing out of a game, but the bottom line is that our defence is not of premier league standard. The World Cup break gives us a chance to consider some options and the transfer window will be crucial. With the next two fixtures at home to Man City and away to Newcastle, we are likely to be going into 2023 uncomfortably close to the relegation positions.

It's becoming clear that Leeds are a side with some brilliant young talents who are fantastic going forward but cannot really defend properly. Until we are sorted out at the back, premiership survival will still be in some doubt. We need to find a left back who will allow Struijk to move back into the centre, and, while Adams has been developing well as a defensive midfielder, the overall structure has looked vulnerable all season. However, the players plainly believe in Marsch and their spirit is beyond question. Yesterday was another epic victory but it did come against one of the weakest teams in the division. There are some tough fixtures coming up on either side of the World Cup break, and, when we get them out of the way, a couple of boring one-nil wins would take us a long way.

Leeds will always drive us round the bend but yesterday was by any standards one of the good days. Marsch, in fairness to a manager under intense pressure, got everything right in terms of tactics, the starting XI and all his subs. While the first goal was a freak, we were due some luck and responded brilliantly to the Liverpool equaliser. The result might even have been wrapped up by half time if Aaronson (who was definitely pushed for what should have been a penalty) and Harrison had not missed great chances. Liverpool had plenty of shots but Meslier was in outstanding form. It was great to see Gnonto, aged 18, who starts for Italy but had not previously kicked a ball for Leeds, and Sommerville, aged 20, neither of them born when we last won at Anfield, combine for the winner. There are tough fixtures coming up, before and after the World Cup break, so we really need something from the Bournemouth game next Saturday, but the momentum is with us at the moment.

It's very difficult to see Marsch surviving after today's result, which leaves Leeds in the bottom three after eight games without a win. He was a little unlucky in a couple of them, but the overall trends are dire and relegation looks odds on if the board does not intervene. While it is possible he was always out of his depth, the club's failure to bring in a striker and a left back in the transfer window effectively finished him off. There is plenty of time to turn the season around, but the next appointment will define Radrizzani's time as chairman.

There's no doubt that last night was a throwback to the championship days under Bielsa when Leeds regularly dominated games while missing chances and conceding dodgy goals. It was a match which Leeds would probably have lost last season, as Everton had two major opportunities in the closing stages, so it may well go down as a point gained rather than two dropped. An Everton win would have left them only two points behind us, while the draw maintained a five point gap. A similar margin at the end of the season would be a decent outcome, and it is clear we could be in an even stronger position if a new striker appears. There are strong hints that the budget is limited but a relatively modest investment now could prevent massive difficulties later on. Rodrigo, Bamford and Gelhardt have already had injuries in the opening weeks, and, if they are not available, playing James or Greenwood out of position as a lone striker would be a huge risk.

It's very early days but the signs are all good for Leeds. Our home results have been very patchy since promotion, with only four wins in the whole of last season and three of them coming against the relegated sides. Yesterday marked a return to Fortress Elland Road, which will be crucial if the improvement is to be maintained. Marsch will probably calm down in due course but he was entitled to be a little over animated as all his new signings were highly impressive and he is clearly getting the best out of Rodrigo and Harrison. While all Leeds fans know that setbacks are seldom far away, the next few fixtures provide at least some opportunities for more points. An additional striker should still be on the agenda but the bench already looks at an entirely different level. It's just a pity we cannot play Chelsea every week.

Coming from behind to win against a side who finished well ahead of us last season was quite a performance. The new faces, particularly Aaronson, looked the part, although there still some clear defensive issues so the return of Cooper and the purchase of a left back are important, Our opening run of fixtures are relatively kind, apart from the visit of Chelsea, and we need to get some early points on the board, but confidence will definitely grow after yesterday.

The fact that Leeds were very fortunate to stay up last season, and are now losing our two best players, with Phillips gone and Raphinha likely to follow within days, would strongly suggest another relegation struggle awaits. In fairness, the board has embarked on a major recruitment drive with six new signings completed and at least one more in the pipeline. Every transfer is a gamble, and Bielsa's success was largely based on his ability to improve his existing players. However, it became clear that the overall squad was far too weak and we have to hope that the new arrivals are up to the task. We are also going to find out shortly if Marsch, having been given significant financial backing as he completes his first preseason schedule, is a Premiership manager.

In 2016, we lost all seven league games, Monaghan beat us by 19 points in the USC and we lost our first round qualifier to Longford. We did have a win against in the McKenna Cup against St Mary's, who were obviously not a county team.  Bleak seasons are not unknown for Down in the modern era.