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Young Down side will benefit from Cup and League disappointments, says Conor Laverty
Wednesday 19th July 2023
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/down/young-down-side-will-benefit-from-cup-and-league-disappointments-says-conor-laverty/a1951306999.html
Down manager Conor Laverty believes his side must now strive to mount a recovery mission following their defeat to Meath in the Final of the Tailteann Cup at the weekend.
The Mourne side had been tipped in several quarters to come out on top against Colm O’Rourke’s side, but having more than held their own in the first-half they fell away in the last quarter when the Royal County imposed heavy pressure on them.
Having absorbed the disappointment of missing out on promotion from Division Three of the Allianz League, Down had hoped to redress the balance in the Tailteann Cup decider but it was not to be.
Instead Laverty’s men will go into 2024 hoping to break new ground on two fronts, a tall order by any standards.
Yet Laverty believes that his team’s resilience and character can still stand to them although a lot more will be expected from the side.
“I thought we did well enough in the first-half against Meath on Saturday but they finished strongly,” reflects Laverty, “They got scores at vital times and that made things difficult for us.
“The players put in a huge effort but it did not bring about its reward. In both the Allianz League and Tailteann Cup, Down had shown themselves to be a team capable of closing out matches comfortably through a diligent use of substitutes and the ability of players to last the pace.”
Captain Pierce Laverty was a shining light for Down this season
But on Saturday it was Meath who came through strongly in the last quarter and in the process dished out a sharp lesson to their opponents. Down’s early flair deserted them and now it’s a case of going back to the drawing board.
Laverty had blooded a number of players over the course of the season but although skipper Pierce Laverty and several others offered a fine example, this was not replicated to the extent that he would have liked at the weekend.
“In our first year we would have liked to have got out of Division Three but we were unable to achieve this. That will be our objective next year while we saw the Tailteann Cup as a stepping stone towards the Sam Maguire Cup,” points out Laverty.
“I think it has to be realised that this is essentially a young Down team and we are on a journey right now.
“We really must take lessons from games but for now our county Championship will be looming and the players will be focusing on this. It should provide some interesting games and hopefully highlight some fresh talent in the process.”
