Down focus on themselves ahead of novel Royal clash

By Michael McMullan

DOWN take a step into the unknown against Meath in Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final in Clonduff and will be focussing on themselves.

Defeat to Kerry in the group stages left top spot and a direct path to the semi-final out of reach.

It was a case of getting the focus on beating Carlow to stay in the championship before taking a peek back at areas to improve on from the Kerry game.

“Reflecting on mistakes made and issues that we needed to fix, hopefully that’ll help us come this weekend,” said Beth Fitzpatrick, joint captain with Clare McGilligan.

The sole focus is now on Saturday as they aim to take a step into the semi-final stage later this month.

“We haven’t played Meath even in a number of years, from being at senior and then dropping back down to intermediate. We don’t know what to expect at the weekend but we just have a focus on ourselves and to go out and give a good performance.”

During the league, Down fell narrowly short against eventual finalists Clare and Antrim, games that could’ve pushed them higher in the table.

They pushed the Saffrons all the way in the Ulster semi-final too. Only for a late save from Antrim’s ‘keeper, they’d have booked a final spot against Derry.

“It was building during the league and it was up and down in matches,” Fitzpatrick said of their season.

“When you look back, we performed well but it still hurts. You hate saying ‘we were so close’, you just want to get over the line.”

That’s the aim now. Meath and Down are vying for a semi-final spot. This is the time to make that step.

Fitzpatrick is full of praise for their management team, under new manager Domhnall Nugent. Every base is covered.

“It’s a new setup, new girls are playing and loads of new clubs exposed to senior, which is great like for the county overall.

“We have so many different voices and everybody wants everyone to do well. We’ve been progressing and it’s really good, but the vision is now, at this stage in the championship, you just need to get over the line. It’s not all about good performances now.”

Down were also given a boost last weekend with the u-23s beating Meath in the All-Ireland final. It’s the first year of the grade and it’s a bridge from minor to senior, something Down have embraced.

Both groups have been training together and there is also crossover in the management.

“Bringing the extra girls on board to be a part of an u-23 panel made us better and is pushing us on,” Fitzpatrick pointed out. “The whole reason behind it is building the underage coming through and having a good transition into the senior team

“It was great for them to win and great experience and exposure for young girls to play in a final,” Fitzpatrick added, also stating the importance of the link.

“There is such a gap from minor to senior. We had a brilliant minor team this year that got to the final but they didn’t win.

“Unfortunately, they played a really strong Armagh team. There were talented girls on our (minor) team that we were able to bring to the u-23s, not just straight into the seniors where it would have been a massive step.”