Tommy Martin: Down defeat of Donegal shows the cost of belief in football

Conor Laverty’s openness after Down's victory over Donegal tells us a lot about how we should view the form and fortunes of this year’s All-Ireland contenders.

Down manager Conor Laverty signs a jersey for a Donegal supporter. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

One consolation for Donegal people after last Sunday's Ulster Championship quarter-final defeat to Down was the sheer effort it clearly took on the part of the opposition.

We know this because their manager, Conor Laverty, told us all about it. The bit about the RTÉ graphic showing Donegal’s Ulster semi-final fixture against Armagh or Tyrone, the first instance of a screensaver being pinned on the dressing room wall.