When Conor Laverty assumed the role of Down’s under-20 manager at the close of 2020, he was confident in his knowledge of every significant young player in the area. He believed he had a thorough understanding of all the rising talent, either from the club or from school.
His perspective shifted naturally when he moved up to the senior position two years later. He briefly halted his habit of listing promising new additions to his personal record, and soon noticed the effect of this omission. To return to his previous level of expertise, he spent considerable time this year attending school games across the province.
Beyond any doubt, Laverty has a certain obsessiveness about his pursuits. The father of five has donned many hats over the years, including shepherd, café owner, Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) development officer at Trinity College, joint captain of All-Ireland club champions Kilcoo, and, most recently, Down’s senior manager – frequently holding several roles simultaneously. He expressed discomfort about being part of anything that is unsuccessful.
Hence, Laverty would have felt disheartened observing Down’s dismal performance in 2022 under James McCartan’s leadership, where they failed to secure a win in any of their 11 competitive matches, with one draw and a scoring difference of negative 60. Laverty’s reflections on this period before his tenure highlight the behavioral issues of the team and undesirable off-field conduct, suggesting a prevailing culture where defeat was tolerated. He was quick to absolve the management, arguing that the players had developed a mentality where football was not a priority in their lives, despite McCartan’s previous success in taking Down to Division One for four to five seasons and an All-Ireland final.
For the team, the concept of victory had begun to lose significance. Their complacency with their current status started to set in and they became comfortable at their level. The introduction of a new culture, demanding higher standards and pushing them to their limits in order to step out of their comfort zone was the pivotal turning point. Unsurprisingly, the journey was tumultuous, even resulting in the loss of some members who weren’t up to the mark or were unable to commit.
However, for those who could endure the rigours, the rewards were immense. Under Laverty’s skilled leadership, out of the 36 matches that Down played during 2023 and 2024, they triumphed in 26, thereby achieving an impressive 72% success rate.
Following their promotion from Division Three in March, Down stands to secure a coveted slot in All-Ireland SFC 2025 should they trounce Laois in the upcoming Tailteann Cup finals weekend at Croke Park.
Laverty has observed that the squad is rising to the challenge. He believes that their determination and high standards during practice have elevated their overall performance to another level.
Nevertheless, they haven’t reached their highest potential. Previous losses to Meath and Westmeath in Croke Park final matches, and Sligo’s brief lead during last month’s semi-final will surely fuel their upcoming opponents Laois’s hopes.
Laverty highlights that Down is a young, albeit versatile, team and their age profile is significantly lower compared to other teams across Ireland. Despite criticisms and doubts about the team’s ability, Laverty remains optimistic and firmly believes in gaining experience from consistent participation.
Word is out that Laverty is planning a family vacation soon, and the chosen resort might conveniently have a running track and pitch nearby. It’s purely fortuitous that he’s been mulling over his continuation as a player for Kilcoo. This enticing passion is seemingly something his Down team also embraces.
He acknowledges that they are taking more responsibility now and are inclined to guide things independently.