THERE was a bag of mixed results for Down teams at the weekend.
However, it was far from being the shipwreck that many fans and pundits feared.
Defeats for the senior hurlers and footballers were negated by successful outings for the U-20 footballers and senior camogs.
Things started off badly on Saturday afternoon when a gallant Down hurling side lost 4-19 to 2-15 to Meath in the Christy Ring Cup final, the scoreline being a little harsh on Ronan Sheehan’s fledgling side.
Further woe followed at Pairc Esler on Saturday night when Mayo, the reigning NFL Division 1 champions, had too much in reserve for Paddy Tally’s charges, but Down were left to rue what might have been with a few scoring chances going begging.
However, the county’s senior camogs, who drew with Tipperary last week, beat Laois 0-16 to 1-8 at Ballyholland to maintain their unbeaten start to their Liberty Insurance Intermediate Championship Group 2 campaign.
Down still have Carlow, Derry and Wexford to play over the next few weeks, but they are more than capable of getting a semi-final spot.
Conor Deegan’s U-20 footballers provided the highlight of the weekend when they beat Antrim 1-16 to 0-10 in the preliminary round of the championship at Clones, the game acting as curtain-raiser to the Ulster SFC decider between Donegal and Cavan.
Their big test will come against Tyrone at Healy Park this Sunday as they bid to reach the last four of the competition for the second year in succession.
The senior hurlers had to play second fiddle to an experienced Meath side who lifted the Christy Ring Cup for the second time in four years.
Down were prevented from playing their high-paced game and were restricted to the odd scoring chance by a miserly Meath defence.
However, Down still managed to cut Meath’s lead to two points going into the final quarter, but a strong finish to the game handed the trophy to the Royal County.
Down registered nine wides in the first half and that came back to haunt them in the closing stages as Meath were able to pick Sheehan’s men off at will on the counterattack.
Make no mistake about it, this young side will be back.
Down senior football manager Paddy Tally was also left to rue missed chances, but he too has been busy laying the foundations for what should be a promising future.
“We’ll probably look back with regret that we didn’t take more out of the game. We made three or four goal chances, we scored one and we missed a number of kickable scores and frees,” Tally said.
“The players, though, gave all they had and never gave up on it. Ultimately, against a team like Mayo, if you are not clinical you will come up that bit short.”
Over in Fr Lynch Park in Ballyholland, Down camogs won a hard-hitting encounter with a talented Laois side.
Down held a 0-11 to 0-4 interval lead and then withstood a concerted second half fightback from their visitors, but the Ulster champions did enough to get over the line in a robust and competitive clash.
Down now entertain Carlow on July 6 or 7.