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We were always gonna get caught by someone who really wanted it. Shouldn't have happened after being 12 points up though.

Management has its issues (not pushing up on kickouts at the start of the second half being a big one) but we had the chances to win that - 3 or 4 missed chances at the end? Not sure that can be blamed on them.

The most concerning thing is Murdock's form, he loses the ball so often and just seems to play in his shell. I thought he'd be our talisman for the next 10 years ala Benny but he's not hitting that at all. Aside from that, Burns is by far our most important player and if it wasn't for him we'd not even be close to where we are now.

Even if we'd won today, staying in Division 2 next year is the litmus test for this management team.

1st day back since Clones for me. Pondering shorts, but would it be too cold in the Hogan for bare legs?

It's gonna be 25C during the match tomorrow, I think even in the shade you'll be fine in shorts, I'll definitely be wearing them.

Think we've done pretty well to steady the ship after the crazy 6 days at the start of the championship. Feels like there's even less press on this final than there has been in previous years, and most of it has been focused on Wicklow which is probably no harm. 1 more match to get back to the Sam Maguire next year I think should be enough of a carrot to see us over the line.

Question.

One for all you "Tailteann publicity problem" folks.

Let's say HQ was to demolish their schedule, and completely clear a weekend of football and hurling purely for a Tailteann semi final double header. Then use their reach to force RTE into televising it. Then use their reach to force RTE into putting a preview show on. And use their reach to force the national papers to generate a week of stories about the games. And use their reach to make Paddy Power to put together a humorous video involving former intercounty players talking it up instead of down.

Do you honestly, hand on heart, believe that even with all these efforts that such a double header would result in needing anything more than the lower tier of the Hogan stand opened?

If your answer is yes, sorry to tell you but you're not just f**king deluded, you're inhabiting a bizarre alter reality in which everything is achievable if you just close your eyes and cross your fingers.

#narnia

What an odd post.

I think most people would settle for a few extra minutes on the Sunday Game instead of half of a replay of the game that was already on earlier in the day.

Dunno about "plainly above" the Tailteann Cup, but any team that beats an All Ireland favourite in Championship football surely shouldn't be in a B tier competition. The top 4 in Division 3 should probably also be in the Sam Maguire, like us and Westmeath have been up and down the last few years and look at the year they're having. If they had to play 2 All Ireland favourites in 6 days they'd be back in the Tailteann too.

I don't think the hunger is there for the Tailteann (and no team has won it twice so I'm thinking that's not uncommon), we'll be tripped up by someone who does have that hunger and that might be this weekend. Laois this year have beaten Westmeath, us and Offaly; they'll be no pushovers and will see the Tailteann Cup as an achievable bit of silverware.

I think if Mooney or Havern had buried either of those goal chances we get through that. Or if guys just took easy points instead of forcing a goal every time. Not sure I'd agree it was dreadful from start to finish, the lads won plenty of posession and the chances were there, just some very poor shooting. Concerning we only got one 2 pointer with the wind with us in the second half while Offaly were able to create and convert plenty.

Just don't think that the desire is really there for a Tailteann Cup run (even if it is more or less our level) and a Offaly or Wexford or Wicklow will see it as a real target.

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.