Triumph over adversity still Down’s mantra
In the Ulster championship decider against Armagh, the Mourne youngsters came up short in a drab encounter as they lost out 1-8 to 1-5. Then, a suspected outbreak of swine flu in the camp led to the players being quarantined and their All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin postponed. The woes didn’t end there. Wing-back Paddy Boyle has been ruled out for the rest of the season, after suffering serious facial injuries when attacked in Castlewellan on Saturday night.
But in the face of all that adversity, Down have ploughed on. They produced a series of workmanlike displays early in the year to claim the scalps of Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal in Ulster, and then carried off a stunning last-gasp win over Dublin in the quarter-final when Niall McParland netted a priceless late goal. Midfielder McParland, along with centre-back Ciaran McClean, and attacking trio Chris Clarke, Ross McGarry and Mattie Bagnall will be central to Down hope’s of success when they face Mayo in tomorrow’s All-Ireland MFC semi-final. Renewing acquaintances with Ulster rivals Armagh in the final is the carrot.
