Pierce Laverty: 'Down are far from a one trick pony'

Critics of the Mourne County have claimed for years that they lack height and physical power throughout the team, a point made again by Newry man and former Down underage player Colin Bell on a recent edition of the BBC's GAA Social podcast

Tailteann Cup Launch with Down’s Pierce Laverty

Down captain Pierce Laverty reckons talk of the Tailteann Cup favourites lacking a physical presence and of being a 'one-trick pony' is well off.

Last year's tournament runners-up are the top tips to lift the Tier 2 title this summer given the progress they've made in the meantime, securing promotion to Division 2 in spring and pushing Armagh to within a point in last month's Ulster semi-final.

Critics of the Mourne County, however, have claimed for years that they lack height and physical power throughout the team, a point made again by Newry man and former Down underage player Colin Bell on a recent edition of the BBC's GAA Social podcast.

Asked if he could see Down winning an All-Ireland anytime soon, Bell shot back, 'if they could grow big men' though he also acknowledged 'a presence in the middle of the field now that we haven't had in a long time'.

Speaking at the launch of this year's Tailteann Cup at Croke Park, versatile Laverty said he feels Down, under his namesake Conor Laverty, have the ability to play a number of different ways.

"I actually listened to it (the podcast) on the way down the road earlier this week," said Laverty. "I suppose if you look at some of the bigger teams, they do have a big lump in around the middle. I think we have that and I think we have the players in Down to do that.

"And look, you wouldn't say Derry are a huge outfit but they're now one of the teams in the talks for a Sam Maguire win. I feel like any time we've played them we've gone head to head with them.

"But no, I would definitely say we have the players in Down.

Down's Pierce Laverty and Rory Gruggan of Armagh

"We try to be versatile in our attacks and to show that we can kick or run the ball, depending on what's thrown at us, that we can still pick up scores. I think we've took criticism on being a one-trick pony but I think we're well able to kick the ball, I think we've shown that in the last while, and we can run the ball. We definitely have those strings to our bow."

Laverty praised the current Down setup and said the management have turned it into a hugely enjoyable experience since taking over for the 2023 season.

"I've never enjoyed football as much, honestly," said the Saul man. "I have friends and family going travelling and I know it might be appealing for someone my age to go away to Australia, take off to Sydney or Melbourne, but I'd rather be here playing football for Down.

"It's just the whole culture and just being in around the panel, the training and the places you're taken to in training, the challenges he's setting you. It's a very challenging environment but that's the way I want it to be. I want to be challenged every night I go to training."

Laverty said it is world away from the low of 2022 when Down failed to win a single game all season.

"I was injured most of that year," he said. "It was the year before Lav took over. Just the culture change and the whole setup really, it's been amazing since Lav took over."

Laverty accepted that Down remain a work in progress. Their two defeats to Meath last year, allied to their more recent Division 3 final loss to Westmeath, and the Armagh losses, point to a group still in development.

"One of the things we looked at was being more consistent with our performances and managing games better," he said. "I think that comes with just playing those big games too, the bit of experience."