By Shaun Casey

DESPITE beating arguably the best team in the country last weekend, Down could still find themselves in the Tailteann Cup later in the year. It doesn’t seem fair, but rules are rules.

Heading into the lion’s den of Letterkenny last weekend, the Mourne men knew that defeat could spell the end of their Sam Maguire hopes. Sunday’s meeting with Armagh carries the same threat.

If Westmeath reach a Leinster final, and Down don’t compete in their own provincial decider, then it’s goodbye All-Ireland series. But that’s not the motivating factor inside their four walls, says Micéal Rooney.

“I don’t think that you can think about that,” the Kilcoo half forward said after claiming two goals in their amazing 3-21 to 1-21 victory over the reigning Ulster champions.

“You would be playing with fear then. Lav (Conor Laverty) and the boys have been very good this year in telling us to play with freedom, and for us to go out and enjoy our football. Thinking about that (Tailteann Cup) aspect of it is going to work to your detriment.

“It probably didn’t come into our thinking too much because we knew that we were going to have to come in 100 per cent at it with the quality that Donegal possess. And we’ll have to be on it again the next day.”

Rooney’s first ever championship goal was a crucial score of Sunday’s match and his second moments later was the icing on the cake. Once he palmed home Down’s third goal of the day, there was no way back for Donegal.

Rooney missed a goal chance in the first half, with the right foot of Gavin Mulreany denying him from close range, but he made no mistake when faced one-on-one with the Donegal netminder a second time.

“I missed one in the first half and I was a wee bit down but a few of the boys rallied around me, and that shows you the love and the trust in the group,” he added.

“They put their arms around my shoulder and told me that the chances would come again, and thankfully it did. It was a team effort. I thought defensively we played really well and obviously there are areas to improve upon, but we’re delighted to get over the line.

“I thought Mulreany had pulled off a great tackle and the chance was gone or maybe I had taken (too many) steps then too. I was just delighted when it hit the net. I was just in the right place at the right time for the second one.

“Those goals don’t happen without the work-rate of the other 14 boys, and the work from the panel and the management.

“Everything has gone into the last few weeks. Our whole lives have revolved around this over the last few months, and we’re just delighted to have got a win today. It means nothing in the grand scheme of things if you can’t back it up the next day.”