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The last time Wicklow beat us in the championship we got to the All Ireland final the following year.

Maybe history will repeat itself, and maybe go one step further.

He done relatively well with Westmeath from what I remember.

Its a bit of a freak season, with so many big hitters coming up short in recent weeks. The championship as a whole has been excellent this year and all the more incentive for the Tc teams to be in the Sam Maguire next year.

I think if we win this weekend we will win the Tailteann cup, but the Laois game will be tricky enough.

Next year in Div 2, we will only have 3 home games and we could finish above the relegation places and still end up in the Tc.Depending on who wins this years TC or a suprise packet in the provinces.

Cavan pulled out of county hurling a few years ago.

Down far better than us.....few bad decisions cost us as well as a few soft goals.

But Down well worth their win and will prob reach final handy enough.

Season over. Goodnight all.

A decent performance from Down, Laverty won't be happy with the amount of wides, particularly in the first half. I thought Murdock, Rooney and Docherty were the standout performers over the 70 mins.

I have to say the stewarding was well organised in Longford. You drive in one gate at the top of the ground, after the game you exit a gate at the bottom of the car park, it brings you straight out onto a road leading to all the motorways, (n5 westport, n4 sligo and n4 dublin).

Won't be much bother getting a seat anyway.

Is this the same set up as sam maguire. Loser gets 1 more chance against another 1st round loser? Winner moves. 

Its the same as Sam Maguire and the Down Sfc.

The reason to get up for the Tailteann is very simple. We need that cup in our pockets because relegation is a realistic prospect. We absolutely need the guarantee from the Tailteann.

You're right, and on the face of it we should be favourites. I just fear after last week and then today it would be hard for the lads to get up for another Tailteann Cup run. Still think even now the main priority is staying up next year.

Winning the Tailteann Cup would take the pressure of to a degree next year because we would be automatically qualified for Sam Maguire.

Staying up next year is certainly the priority but a major flaw with the nfl is one year we have 4 home games and 3 the following year.

Unfortunately for us, next year we will have 3 home games in a tougher league where every point is vital. Only having 3 home games cost us dearly last year in d2. The away games v Louth and Cavan in particular were narrow 1 point losses and the repercussions are still in effect today.

Even the Roscommon game last year when the 12 v 11 farce was in play, we acquitted ourselves well. Our best performance was beating Monaghan in Clones and we will need similar results to stay up.

The 7 game league im not sure is long enough to give a true reflection of a teams ability. Meath needed a late, last kick of the game  2 pointer v Louth and Cavan this year and it got them promotion, if they had of tailed wide they would have been in the relegation mix on the last day.

I think we were very unfortunate last year to go Down and il be hoping one of our 4 away games is against Wexford, but with Dublin,  Derry, Monaghan, Louth, Tyrone and Cavan making up the rest of d2 I think we can certainly stay up.

We played Monaghan, Louth and Cavan away last year, if we had them as our 3 home games next year it would certainly favour us. Im not sure if that is how it works though.

I don't think I was ever at a Down match league or championship were we were so outnumbered supporter wise.

A tremendous performance from everyone. Great day.

I think the all ireland semi final 1994 v Cork was the most complete 70 mins ive seen as a Down supporter, today wasn't far behind.

Antrim are 11/5 to beat Laois this weekend. Seems great value if things are as bad as suggested in Laois. Granted Antrim aren't going great either.

Laois are still 2nd favs to win the Joe McDonagh with both PP and Boylesports.

Great win for the hurlers yesterday. Westmeath upsetting Meath today might cost us a Sam Maguire spot, unless Kildare can reach the provincial final, from that side of the draw.

If there isn't something done in the immediate term with the price of green diesel,  the construction sector in particular is on the verge of collapse.

It is unsustainable for groundwork crews in particular on the bigger sites to keep going. I don't think the average person realises how much fuel the bigger diggers, dumpers and tipper trucks consume on a daily basis. Once the groundworkers pull out of new jobs, which apparently is happening, then the knock on effect a few months down the line is catastrophic.

Id disagree entirely snoopdog. Down have earned the right to rest whoever they want v Laois. The league final the following week is probably our most important game of the year, if you slip up in a league game you have another opportunity to get back on track.

The league final could determine if we play Sam Maguire or Tailtain cup and if resting key personnel this week is the difference in Down getting over the line in the final then so be it.