Deegan 'there was a huge amount of disillusionment' since final loss to Cork in 2010

"If you really want to start digging down into it, there are so many facets; our underage development, our development of schools GAA, not having our own playing facilities" are some of the issues former Down player Conor Deegan believes have lead to his county's decline in recent years.

GLORY FOR THE TAKING: Former Down football star, Conor Deegan teamed up with AIB to look ahead to one of #TheToughest matches of the year between Down and Meath. Pic:  Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Down great Conor Deegan reckons 'a huge amount of disillusionment' with the narrow All-Ireland final loss to Cork in 2010 was partly to blame for the county's steep decline.

The Mourne came up just a point short of the Rebels in that 2010 decider but have only been back to a solitary quarter-final since, in 2012.