In the Tailteann Cup semi-final, Down squeaked past Sligo with a final score of 1-20 to 2-15. This victory will likely bolster Down’s confidence, a team previously criticised for crumbling under pressure. Despite crushing Laois 8-16 in last year’s corresponding semi-final, Down subsequently faltered against Meath in the final, making the current triumph even more valuable for manager Conor Laverty and his squad.
Beyond demonstrating their resilience, Down’s win this year emerged after a nail-biting circumstance that extended the match beyond the standard time. Key moments included Odhran Murdock’s second-half penalty which tipped the scales in their favour, and Ryan McEvoy’s significant contributions. McEvoy not only secured the vital point in the 77th minute to push the game into overtime but also bagged the penalty that Murdock successfully delivered.
The match was not without its tense moments, such as Oisin Savage’s severe collision with Sligo’s Nathan Mullen, which earned the latter a red card and landed Savage a trip to the hospital. This incident was described as “genuinely frightening” by manager Laverty.
Meanwhile, Sligo gave a spirited performance, leading the first half thanks to Patrick O’Connor’s goal following Cian Lally’s fantastic solo run. A notable moment in the second half was when Canice Mulligan increased Sligo’s lead after an impressive passing manoeuvre. Despite losing key matches to Meath, Armagh, and Westmeath in the past year, Down showcased remarkable resilience to carve out a victory in this match. They are scheduled to face Laois in a rematch on July 13th and will navigate the challenge with renewed tenacity.
The last six points in the regular game time saw a dominating performance by them, scoring five times. The extra 20 minutes added to the game saw them gaining the advantage, with Murdock’s goal playing a critical role.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Laverty expressed, “The exceptional fitness levels of our team were evident. The rigorous and, at times, exhausting training that we subjected the boys to paid off.”
Featuring in the Down lineup were J O’Hare, C Doherty, R McEvoy, P Fegan, S Johnston, D Guinness, P Laverty, D Magill, P Havern, P McCarthy, F McElroy, M Rooney, J McGovern, O Murdock, and D Magill. The substitute players included L Kerr, O Savage, C McCrickard, R Magill, E Brown, C Mooney, S Annett, R Johnston and D Magill, among others.
On the Sligo side, the team comprised A Devaney, E Lyons, E McGuinness, P McNamara, B Cox, D Cummins, N Mullen, P Kilcoyne, C Mulligan, C Lally, A McLoughlin, S Carrabine, L Deignan, P O’Connor, and N Murphy. The substitutes included M Walsh, M Gordon, E Smith, D Conlon, L Casserly, D Quinn, O’Connor and P Spillane.
The match was officiated by D O’Mahoney from Tipperary.
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