Down earn back respect but McCartan rues slow start
Pegged as a weak link in Division 1 earlier this year, their relegation to the second tier only confirmed us in our prejudices. An 11-point defeat to Donegal in last year’s Ulster final reinforced the security of those views yesterday morning.
If Tyrone could not cope with Donegal then what hope a Down side that has leaked players like milk from a sieve since the 2010 All-Ireland final and one which had rarely displayed a nous for the gruel of the modern game?
Little did we know.
“Look, I was always proud of these boys from day one,” said Down manager James McCartan, who very nearly masterminded a result of epic proportions.
“Nobody goes out to put in a poor performance, but we have had some of them over the years. These boys have always tried to bounce back from them.
“It’s difficult whenever boys are writing you off at every corner. The boys are reading the press and it is seeping in. You are trying to do a little bit of psychology to keep the minds right but I felt in the first 10, 12 minutes we treated them with maybe a bit too much respect.”
On reflection, the damage done in that first quarter was irreparable, with Donegal claiming the first four points before Down found their feet and screwed their thoughts to the intricacies of the task facing them.
Once they did, however, the effect was significant.
Down may have spilled ball after ball in the maelstrom but so too did Donegal and it was only Colm McFadden’s ability to rack up points from beyond the cordon of the packed defence in the second half that pulled the champions through.
“I need to look at it before I comment on it,” said Jim McGuinness of their difficulties. “The most important thing is that we won the game. We found a way to win. We were very much tested. People were saying are Donegal going to have the bottle.
“I could feel that coming from the stands. When you take four or five players out of the team that are normally leaders, and you find a way to win in those circumstances, that is the most pleasing aspect of it.”
Donegal’s difficulties were only added to by the fact Paddy McBrearty had been tormented by an abscess in a tooth all week and the problem was severe enough for him to visit a dentist at 10pm on Saturday night.
The 19-year-old played through a significant pain barrier for 66 minutes yesterday but should, along with the concussed Ryan Bradley and Frank McGlynn, be in full health for the provincial final on July 21.
So too, according to McGuinness, should defender Karl Lacey and midfielder Neil Gallagher.
