By Shaun Casey

WINNING is a habit and although Down are looking up to Division Two football for 2027, they won’t take their foot off the gas for the remainder of the league, says Daniel Guinness.

Conor Laverty’s men made it five wins from five on Saturday evening, defeating Ulster foes Fermanagh on home turf at Páirc Esler, Newry.

The Mourne men are off to Sligo for round six, after the break in the league this weekend, and return to the comforts of their home ground in the final game against Laois.

Their Ulster Championship clash with reigning Anglo Celt holders, and last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists, Donegal, is also just on the horizon.

“We’ll be looking to go six for six, seven for seven, winning is a habit so we’ll not be easing up and we’ll be looking to win every game,” said the experienced Carryduff clubman.

While Fermanagh are anchored at the bottom of the league table and look destined for the drop to Division Four, Declan Bonner’s men showed their fighting spirit and battled right to the final whistle.

In the end, only three-points separated the sides, 1-18 to 1-15, with Ronan McCaffrey’s late major providing the hosts with a sweat, but they did enough to hold on and see out the game.

“We know Ulster derbies always throw up something a wee bit more interesting and that’s the one thing from the Ulster games and Fermanagh in particular, there’s a huge amount of familiarity between both teams,” he added.

“Both teams know each other’s strengths and weaknesses whereas sometimes if you come up against some of the other teams in the division, you don’t have that.

“We knew that was always going to make it a tight game and we’re glad to get the win but it wasn’t the performance we wanted.”