Messages

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.

We're not as good as last weekend, we're (hopefully) not as bad as today would suggest. Priority now has to be staying in Division 2 next year. Hard to see us getting up for the Tailteann now.

Are Down now favourites for Ulster?. After beating Donegal and beating them well at that surely they're the fav's. They're in a good place atm and the old Down swagger is back, God help Armagh on Sunday

Got to be. We've too many missing.

But we all know that Geezer's built the deepest squad football has ever seen so that shouldn't make any difference. Frankly I'd spend the week brushing up on Derry or Monaghan rather than waste time on some Division 3 outfit.

All cute hoorism aside should be a good one. Hopefully it's a better watch than 2024 but not just as nerve wracking!

Haha, I'd say for sure it'll be a better watch for the neutral than 2024 was. Personally though I'd be happy with a 0-5 to 0-4 dirge as long as it went the right way.

I feel there should be a chance for Down there, but it'll be very difficult to get to the same level again a week after the Donegal match, and even with the injuries Armagh have been operating at a higher level for much longer than Down. Bookies have it at Armagh by 3 points, they don't often get it wrong twice in a row.

Are Down now favourites for Ulster?. After beating Donegal and beating them well at that surely they're the fav's. They're in a good place atm and the old Down swagger is back, God help Armagh on Sunday

Got to be. We've too many missing.

But we all know that Geezer's built the deepest squad football has ever seen so that shouldn't make any difference. Frankly I'd spend the week brushing up on Derry or Monaghan rather than waste time on some Division 3 outfit.

Pretty sure the guy who passed it carried it over the line beforehand, the umpire waved it wide immediately. Seeing the replay it was certainly tight.

I think it's a bit harsh to talk about 'stay-away' fans when tickets never went on general sale and people knew capacity was limited so probably assumed no chance of getting tickets.

Let's hope for a big turnout at Clones on Sunday! Armagh will be a different challenge as they had a handy enough game this weekend, but the Tyrone game and second half against Fermanagh shows they can be got at.

Yeah absolutely, the Division 3 final will be the most important game we play all year, it'll be very hard to get the lads or fans motivated for another Tailteann Cup campaign.

One thing I know for sure is it will be a stressful watch, they never make it easy on us. Some great performances on Saturday night (Crimmins and Close had their best games so far I thought, and looks like Kerr hasn't lost his pace), but Fermanagh never should have been as close before their goal went in. Havern missed a handy enough 2 pointer, there were a few other handy enough wides that kept them in it. Would just love them to be able to have a full 70 mins like they did against Wexford in the final.

Surely it depends on whether Kildare stay in Div 2 or not, as being Tailteann Cup winners they get a spot? If they end up being relegated to Div 3 then that's one less spot available, so in that case Down would then need to win Div 3 to be in the Sam Maguire.

[McEvoy in at Full Back too]

For 50 odd minutes we were excellent. First half Murdock & Guinness were top class. Played the conditions well and were in complete control. I like McEvoy in at Full Back too, gives us a bit more of a physical presence at back and also offers a late attacking option.

I dunno, he was in front of us that second half and looked absolutely exhausted, he really should have been taken off. Murdock obviously immense, what a player. Is Kerr coming back this year at all? With Magill out he's really missed.

3 wins out of 3 is great, but none were particularly convincing. Still promotion is all that matters and with Weford losing today a win next week probably gets us into the Div 3 final.

Down won 3 games and got cheated out of a draw by a blind umpire. Now it's back to square 1. How do you keep players interested. I'd much rather the chances in a back door system. We managed to reach an all Ireland final 15 years ago through it. The T Cup only creates elitism. Needs gone. Believe me no one here cared that much about the actual competition. The goal was purely getting to the sam maguire series. Give me 14k in newry any day than playing warm up to the proper stuff in croker.

I was too young for 1994 so have only ever seen Down lose finals (11 in a row! Good lord), so I can tell you I absolutely wanted to win the Tailteann Cup! And there's no doubt that even though we've been relegated that we've absolutely kicked on in the last year. It's a shame we're probably back down there again next year, but the way to not be there in the future is pretty clear - get promoted and stay up.

Also in 2010 we were in division 2 so would have been in this version of the All Ireland anyway.

Daniel Guinness I would include among them 4 lads too. He's having a fantastic season. I'd like to see Eugene Brannigan start tomorrow too, I think he is effective bringing the ball from defence into our attacking half.

Totally agree on Guinness, he's been incredible this season and was immense Sunday. Not sold on Brannigan at all though, and he had a shocking second half. I think he tried to hit a point on the outside of his right boot from the left hand side? Given his interview a couple years back he must have some self belief is all I'll say. Shame that Burns had a poor day on kickouts after being so good all year, maybe a bit rattled after the Monaghan game? He's very young so hopefully he can kick on even more next year because we'll need him.

I hope everyone sticks with the squad because there's been a clear improvement year on year the last 3 years, even if on the surface it might not seem like it having been relegated. Looking back at the few years previous to Laverty's time we were on the end of some major stuffings and this year we've been competitive in every game, there is real progress and I don't see how anyone that goes to games could think otherwise. Hopefully a couple more players and a bit more experience will make a difference.

Next year priority 1 has to be topping Division 3, as mentioned before that could be enough to be playing All Ireland football next year.

Great article, highlights Murdock, Havern and Magill but Burns has has been immense as well, having someone able to find a man from a kickout under pressure has made such a difference. Regardless of the result this weekend I feel there's a real base there to progress. Hopefully Kerr is back next year too, with his running game he would fit right in.

Good performance from Down today unfortunately just came up short at the end. Thought ref was harsh enough on us a few times, missed an obvious touch on the ground for their goal and moved the ball forward 50 metres for a beggan 2 pointer in first half when the ball was knocked out of haverns hand as he was attempting to give it back. Odhran Murdock also got very little protection from the officials and seemed to have players hanging off him on every kick out.

Totally agree on the referee, there was also a time where Danny Magill was dragged back by his jersey as he running through towards goal, surely that's a black card? It was right in front of the ref, couldn't believe he didn't give it. Also on Murdock he was just shoved over a couple of times when going for a kickout and got nothing.

Will be tough to get back up again against Galway next week because it really felt like a QF slot was there for them yesterday. Still, I think there's a potential for one shock out of the four games, hopefully it's us.

Another narrow defeat for Down.. our boys are struggling to win pkaying well. Relagation beckons...

Down playing very well. Was a savage game, 2 teams out of it gassed last 10 mins after emptying the tank before that. Down had a nailed on 2 pointer waved wide late on

I was perfectly in line with it and felt it was over the post.

I was in line with it too, and myself and most Cavan people around me thought it was a score

Any idea why the 13m free was given to Cavan in front of the posts in the last few minutes having awarded R McEvoy the free in the first instance, very unlucky not to get a result in spite of the decisions against us I felt.

He didn't do the tap and go properly, got brought back to take free, then dissent gave a 13m free to Cavan for throwing the ball down and shouting at the ref

How can you do the tap and go incorrectly? You either keep going or you don't. There were frees for both teams in the second half and I've no idea what any of them were for.

He bounced the ball instead of toe-tapping, so the ref brought it back. Probably one of the few calls the ref actually got right.

a very late throw in time for final

Also looking at Ticketmaster it seems they are only opening the Lower Hogan. I was at the Tailteann Cup final last year where they did the same and the level of overcrowding was extremely uncomfortable, almost worse than an AI final. Ridiculous that in a stadium that size they can't open up at least the Davin as well to give people a bit of room to sit in.