By Shaun Casey

DOWN head into Sunday’s double header at Páirc Grattan at Inniskeen knowing a first championship victory of the campaign is required to save their season.

The Mourne Ladies take on Laois following the curtain-raiser of Derry against Meath, and a win over their Leinster foes will secure their spot in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship.

Having suffered relegation from Division 1B in the league, where they picked up one victory, they then lost out to Antrim in the Ulster Senior Championship final.

A round two draw with Derry in the All-Ireland series was sandwiched by narrow defeats to both Kerry and Antrim, meaning they finished third in the group with one point to show for their efforts.

Laois, on the other hand, stroll into Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final showdown with an unblemished record in the championship, having topped their group with three wins from three outings.

They defeated Carlow, Meath and Westmeath in an all-Leinster group and bagged eight goals in the process, demonstrating their attacking threat that Down will have to be wary of.

Domhnall Nugent’s ladies can still head into the contest with some degree of confidence, however, as they competed in a higher division than the opposition throughout the National League.

Aimee McAleenan was in fine form in front of the posts for the girls in red and black the last day out against Antrim, registering 50 percent of their tally on the day with 0-5, all coming from frees.

In their 1-11 each draw with the Oakleaf County, it was Dearbhla Coleman and Dearbhla Magee who led the way with 0-3 apiece while Blanaid Savage got their goal that day.

Laois will offer a serious obstacle for Down, but Nugent’s side will know that they have all the tools in their changing room to get the
job done if they play to their potential.