Down boss heaps praise on McCartan and Linden

Down boss Paddy O'Rourke singled out veteran stars James McCartan and Mickey Linden for particular praise after the Mourne men's Ulster semi-final victory over Fermanagh.

Former All-Ireland winning skipper O'Rourke said: "Some people would maybe have felt that the pair were a bit old to have on the panel, but I have known Mickey and James for a long time and never doubted them.

"Mickey won a couple of late balls for us - I know that's probably as good for Mickey today as it was in 1991 and '94 when he won his All-Irelands."

Fermanagh boss Dom Corrigan cut a downbeat figure after his side's unexpected loss and revealed: "We had four scoreable opportunities, took none of them, and Down went up the field and got a goal.

"We didn't do ourselves justice. We were poor in the second and fourth quarters and ultimately that cost us. We're shattered, but we won't throw in the towel."