Deegan: We must stop the Cork rot

As GAA trends go it’s been a curious one. When the dejection at losing the 2010 All-Ireland final had dissipated, Down could at least reflect that they were not far from the top with one point separating themselves and Cork at the final whistle.

Yet that wafer-thin margin has expanded in recent meetings. Last year Cork dispatched Down with ease by 11 points in the league, their championship meeting last summer was settled by a 12-point victory for Cork and when the teams met in February, Cork pummelled their opponents to triumph by 13 points.

How has it come to this? The day the rot started for Down against Cork sides — the 2009 All-Ireland U21 final — they were clearly hit by bad fortune as the Rebel youngsters pounced for an injury-time winning goal. Injuries have been a factor on occasions, most explicitly in how strapped their defensive resources were for the tie in Páirc Uí Chaoimh two months ago. Even travel arrangements have been blamed for their demise.