“Gutted but massively proud” – Laverty sums up thoughts as Down crash out of the championship

DOWN exited the All-Ireland series at the hands of Galway on Sunday, but they certainly went down swinging and while boss Conor Laverty was disappointed to see their season come to a close, he was “massively proud of the group of players.”

Galway were the favourites to advance to the last eight and that narrative was only enhanced at the break when the Tribesmen carried a ten-point lead into the second period, but Down heroically fought back into contention.

With the inspirational Odhran Murdock playing out of his skin, and the huge home support of Newry behind them, the Mourne men shot out of the traps and the start of the second half and caused the visiting side serious issues.

In the end of the five-goal thriller, it was Padraic Joyce’s men who breathed a sigh of relief at the full time whistle and their name will be in the hat for tomorrow morning’s All-Ireland quarter-final draw.

For Laverty and Down, it’s a case of what might have been as they exited the Páirc Esler venue but the future is certainly bright for the men in red and black. “There were periods in that second half where the game was there to be won,” said Laverty after the game.

“We put a lot of work in this week and we knew that taking any team in the country to Newry, we felt we had an opportunity to win it. We definitely didn’t think today was going to be our last day in the championship.

“We had massive belief in the talent we have and the work that we have done and in the second half when we were in our stride, I thought we were causing them serious problems. They just got a breakaway in the middle whenever we had a period of dominance and got a score or two that kept them just edging that wee bit in front.

“To get it back to two at that stage, and then Peter Cooke got out of traffic whenever we thought there was a turnover coming, they got the goal but to respond again, massive credit to the lads to keep going and to keep plucking away. We’re gutted, but massively proud of the group of players.”

Check out this week’s review show, looking back at the Tailteann Cup and All-Ireland series, with inteviews from Declan McCusker, Conor Laverty and Jim McGuinness.