Victory over Cavan needed

Victory over Cavan needed

26 February 2025

DOWN will be chasing a vital win when they make the trip to face Cavan on Saturday. 

Conor Laverty’s side have lost three of their opening four games in Division 2 of the National League and it already feels as though they are dicing with danger.

They fell at the first hurdle, struggling to curtail Roscommon’s attacking threat and losing by seven points at Dr Hyde Park.

Another tough test presented itself in match day two and although Down trailed opponents Cork by 10 points after just 25 minutes, they managed to pull off the most unlikely of comebacks and get their season on track.

A win is a win and two points are never something to turn your nose up at, but the defensive frailties and lack of impact in the midfield areas were there for all to see.

In fact, Down had quite simply been overrun and outplayed in the middle of the park in the opening two games, and that is something Meath exploited in match three.

Despite the inroads made by the ferocious scoring of Pat Havern and Ryan McEvoy’s clinical finishing in front of goal, Meath’s attacking stars ran all over the Mourne men.

They had a strong possibility of achieving redemption going into last Sunday’s away clash with Louth and given the two sides had struggled with form up until that point, their meeting was labelled as a must-win game.

Down started brightly and their tactic of pointing from distance at any opportunity saw them lead for much of the first half. 

However, each successful score handed control of the ball back to Louth and with smart, fast-paced attacking moves, the Wee County played their way back into proceedings.

Sam Mulroy singlehandedly recorded 10 points and with goals from Ryan Burns and Kieran McArdle either side of the break, the hosts took pole position.

Conor McCrickard and Ceilum Doherty let major chances pass them by, yet their side launched a spirited comeback and moved to within one point on the scoreboard.

Odhran Murdock tried his luck at levelling with the last kick of the game, but his effort came up short and Down were handed yet another loss.

Speaking after the match, Laverty said he was well aware that it was the attacking side of their game that proved costly this time around.

“We definitely needed more of a cushion. The breeze was quite significant and it was nip-and-tuck for the whole second half,” he said.

“You couldn’t have any control over it, probably because the game was so tight. The couple of goal chances we had in the first half were crucial ones.”

Down seemingly have work to do all over the pitch and will want to avoid the defensive issues they experienced against Roscommon, Cork and Meath, while also brushing up on their finishing.

They find themselves lagging behind the majority of their divisional rivals, with only a winless Westmeath side below them in the table.

Pressure is beginning to build and it is starting to look as though the season could develop into nothing more than a fight for survival.

Cavan are also candidates for the , having won two and lost two so far, and could do with another victory themselves. 

With two wins on the board, they do boast the slightly better record, but their most recent victory came against stragglers Westmeath - a side Down are yet to face.

Saturday’s match really could go either way and it has as much potential to spell defeat as it does to signify a turning point for Down.

Throw-in is scheduled for 6pm at Kingspan Breffni Park.