By Shaun Casey

SILVERWARE at Croke Park and a spot in the Sam Maguire race next season. That’s the carrot at the end of the stick this Saturday for both Down and Wicklow as they aim to finish their respective campaigns on a high.

Climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand will be the main aim for Oisin McConville’s side. For Down, competing among the best 16 teams in the country in 2027 is the obvious ambition.

Since the Tailteann Cup got underway, Conor Laverty’s side have expected to reach this stage. It’s their third appearance in the final of the second-tier competition in four years.

Look at their championship record, and it’s clear that Down are well fit to compete in the All-Ireland series. Last year, they beat Leinster champions Louth in the group stages, and 12 months on, the Wee County are 70 minutes from an All-Ireland final.

They pushed Monaghan and Galway all the way in 2025. Two All-Ireland quarter-finalists this year. Then there was the Donegal encounter that got their championship off to a whirlwind start back in April.

But the Tailteann Cup is where they find themselves. Now, they just have to go and deliver, which will surely free some unwanted pressure from their shoulders when 2027 comes rolling around.

Few would have predicted Wicklow reaching this stage when the championship began. Although they’ve made steady progress under McConville, they failed to earn promotion from Division Four during the National League.

Their championship performance against Dublin, which they lost by two points, possibly raised more questions about the Dubs than anything else. But on reflection, the Garden County deserve massive credit.

They’ve taken a few scalps along the way since losing to Laois on the opening day. They beat last year’s finalists Limerick, an unbeaten Antrim side, and Mickey Harte’s Offaly team that had experienced Division Two football during the winter.

They won’t be short on confidence, that’s for sure. During his playing days, with both Crossmaglen and Armagh, all McConville knew was winning. He doesn’t go into big games ever even considering losing.

And he’ll know the Down lads inside out. The Orchard County legend, coming up against his former club and county teammate Tony McEntee, who is in the Down management team, will leave no stone unturned.

McConville and McEntee shared dressing rooms and won countless honours together. This weekend they become rivals once again, having previously faced off against each other in the 2023 Division Four league final when McEntee’s Sligo overcame Wicklow.

Wicklow have displayed considerable resolve as well. Against Antrim at Corrigan Park, they trailed by nine points in the second half. The last day out versus Offaly, they fell eight behind at half time. They managed to come out on top of both those encounters.

Goalkeeper Mark Jackson has been absolutely crucial. He had an off-day in that aforementioned Dublin defeat, but has nailed 0-10 in their last two games, all from converted two-point frees.

Sharpshooter Oisín McGraynor has helped himself to 2-5 across their last two victories and will be a key focus for the Down defence, while Eoin Darcy has contributed 2-3.

The area that Down will hope to get the most joy is at the back. Although Wicklow have defeated both Antrim and Offaly, despite leaving themselves a lot to do, they’ve conceded 7-30 in 140 minutes of football.

A defence that leaks goals? Down will be all over that. As they demonstrated against Donegal earlier in the year and as history would tell us, Down are at their best when they are crashing in three-pointers.

They raised four green flags in their quarter-final and semi-final triumphs against Laois and Fermanagh respectively. Daniel Guinness, Eamon Brown and Pat Havern have grabbed goals, while they earned a Jack Lacey own goal against Laois as well.

Brown has been one of the finds of the season. The Clonduff man was an unused substitute in that famous win over Jim McGuinness’ men. Three months on and he’s now a vital cog in their machine.

He took the Laois defence for 0-9 at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise and chipped in with 1-2 as they fought off Ulster rivals Fermanagh at Croke Park three weeks ago.

In the likes of Odhrán Murdock, Guinness and Havern, Laverty has players at his disposalt who ouldn’t look out of place in any of the Division One teams. They just have to show it when it really matters.

Wicklow will have no fear, but Down have the experience. They have already collected one piece of silverware at Croke Park this season, the Division Three league title.

In the new game of Gaelic Football, nothing can be taken for granted. More scripts have been ripped apart this year than anyone could have predicted. If all goes to form, Down should win this one, but Wicklow won’t go down without a fight.