By Shaun Casey

CHAMPIONSHIP clashes between Down and Galway are few and far between. In fact, Sunday’s encounter will be the first since the All-Ireland semi-final in 1971, when Galway won by seven points.

Aidan Carr never faced the Tribesmen in the championship during his years in the red and black shirt, but he did lose a memorable All-Ireland U-21 final to them. That was 20 years ago when Carr lined out beside Conor Laverty, the current Down manager.

Three goals each from Michael Meehan and Sean Armstrong dashed Down’s dreams that day in a ten-goal thriller. Unfortunately for the Mourne men, it was the Connacht side that raised the most green flags.

“It was a ridiculous scoreline. That was the terrible twins as they called them, Sean Armstrong and Michael Meehan scored three goals each so it was a mental game. It’s a long time ago now,” recalled Carr, who netted himself that afternoon.

“They kept getting goals and you’d think they were out of sight but then we’d manage to get one back and even right at the last, we were still in it because of the goals. There was a high ball in from a 45, a hit and hope, and we got a goal to give ourselves a chance.

“It was a good day down in Mullingar, but Meehan and Armstrong were unbelievable, absolutely fantastic, unfortunately for us.”

Focusing on present day matters and Galway are heading north this weekend with their season, and Down’s, on the line. The prize for the victor is a spot in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while it’s back to the drawing board for the loser.

It’s fair to say that the buzz is back in Down and Páirc Esler will be rammed this weekend with one of the big-hitters coming to town. When Down hosted Louth a few weeks ago, the game was delayed by ten minutes to let all the supporters in.

Sunday’s crowd will be just as big, if not larger.

“Going back to whenever I was playing, we always loved getting a big name in Newry because you always thought that you had a chance,” said Carr.

“Conor (Laverty) has turned the tide in Newry because there were a couple of years there that we weren’t so good but more recently our home record has been very good under him, and Down people love their football.

“They are very, very good supporters and once the team gives them something to back, they throw their full weight behind it so there’ll be a great buzz in Newry and the fact that it is Galway, one of the big names, it’s a high-pressure game, what more could you want?”

And it’s a winnable match for Down. Given the form lines of both the counties recently, Laverty’s side will have absolutely no fear of Galway. While the Tribe, in turn, will be confident of overturning their hosts.

“I would say Down have taken a lot of people by surprise by their ability to score,” added the Clonduff clubman. “They’ve completely transitioned from a team that struggled to score to the top scorers in the round-robin series.

“On the attack, they have pace to burn and that’s the way they like to play. If the ball breaks down, they’re all away. It’s great to watch, their transition is superb and if they get a sniff of a score they go for it.

“Galway have probably been stuttering this year, but I wouldn’t like to say that they’re not playing well given the forwards that they have. Anyone of them could realistically turn it on on any given day.

“Obviously we don’t know if (Damian) Comer is going to be about but Shane Walsh could score ten points at his leisure. Matthew Tierney, (Paul) Conroy is back, (Robert) Finnerty’s playing well.”

Down were in a winning position heading down the stretch last weekend against Monaghan, which would have allowed them to top the group, but a series of mistakes when the game was in the melting pot turned the tide towards the Farney men. “It’ll be a really open game I think and the hope for Down is, they made a few mistakes the last day against Monaghan that cost them, getting turned over coming out of defence and the kickouts, getting turned over in the tackle.

“They just need to be careful but it’s going to be free flowing. It’ll be a really good game to watch, both teams will fancy their chances. Galway more recently have had the upper hand in the league games against Down but they’re in the hat and what more could you as for?”