Suddenly, Down are looking up again

TURNAROUND: Pierce Laverty of Down in attendance during the Tailteann Cup semi-finals media event at Croke Park in Dublin. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

It's only last year that Down went through an entire season without winning a game, skirting rock bottom under a manager who appeared to take the job because nobody else wanted it.

Down couldn't put a foot right under James McCartan yet a year on, team captain Pierce Laverty is looking enviously at Ulster rivals Derry and talking about following their path to success.