‘Gutted, but still proud’

‘Gutted, but still proud’

25 June 2025

DOWN’S season ended in glorious defeat as they came within a whisker of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, losing out at home to Galway on Sunday.

They may have met their conquerors in the form of the Tribesmen, but Conor Laverty’s side went down swinging, putting up a fight right to the bitter end.

Faced with a 10-point deficit at the half-way stage, the Mournemen could have accepted defeat there and then. Instead, they continued to play their own game.

Helped by second half majors from Odhran Murdock and Ryan Magill, as well as a collection of two-pointers, they cut the margin back to two points, before ultimately falling short against an unrelenting Galway force.

Not often would a team score three goals, amass a total of 30 points and still come off second best, but on this occasion, it was a matter of what could have been for Down.

Speaking after the defeat, manager Laverty said: “There were periods in that second half where the game was there to be won.

“We put a lot of work in this week and taking any team in the country to Newry, we felt we had an opportunity to win it. We definitely didn’t think today was going to be our last day in the championship.

“In the second half, when we were in our stride, I thought we were causing them serious problems. They just got a breakaway in the middle whenever we had a period of dominance and got a score or two that kept them edging that wee bit in front.”

Despite suffering relegation from National League Division 2 and exiting the Ulster Championship in the semis, they could never be accused of taking their foot off the gas this season, and Sunday’s game was no different. 

Regardless of the result, Down’s grit, determination and overall spirit was on full view.

Laverty’s men have been competitive all term, putting the county back on the footballing map, and their never-say-die attitude has not gone unnoticed, particularly amongst their rivals, supporters and most importantly, their manager.

“Massive credit to the lads to keep going and keep plucking away. We’re gutted, but massively proud of this group of players,” Laverty said.

The mood, in the aftermath of the match at Páirc Esler, was made all the more poignant by  major news coming out of the home camp.

Down stalwart Caolan Mooney took to the social media platform, X, to announce his retirement from county football.

Mooney started out with Rostrevor at club level, before making the move to local side RGU when he married a Downpatrick woman.

After representing the county minors from 2009-2011, he was rewarded with a call-up to James McCartan’s senior squad in 2011.

The 32 year-old also spent three years signed with Colingswood in Australian Rules.

He has played a key role within the squad since Laverty took the reins, even coming off the bench to contribute two points against Galway.

His second half performance on Sunday shows he still has the ability to compete at county level, but the player himself believes it is the right time to hang up the boots.

In his statement, he said: “A journey that started in 2011, when I made my debut for Down GAA, is coming to an end in 2025.

“Too much time spent on the physio beds this last two years played its part, as does the essence of time. The body can only take so much.”