FIVE goals, two in the first half and three in the second, earned Down a thrilling win over Cavan that lifted their spirits following disappointments in the league and Ulster Championship.
Up against a Cavan team that had earned promotion to Division One in the spring, Division Three side Down dismantled the Breffni defence in style.
At half time, Down led 2-7 to 0-6 with goals from Niamh King and Niamh McClorey. Eimear Fitzpatrick fired in a hat-trick of goals in the second half.
Manager Colm Donnelly said: “It was our best performance by a country mile.
“We felt that we had to be at our best to compete with Cavan.
“Cavan are a Division One team now. They are probably one of the favourites for the All-Ireland. They still are.
“But I think Cavan might have underestimated the challenge a wee bit.”
In terrible conditions, Down took the field with a clear goal in mind. They wanted to put the disappointment of missing out on promotion to Division Two behind them. They also wanted to forget about losing to Monaghan in the Ulster Championship.
“Our body language was spot on from the moment we walked into the area.
“We asked to get the performance for 60 minutes. The first 20 minutes were very good.
“We left two or three goals behind us. The game should have been over at half time.
“It was 2-7 to six points. It could have been five goals.”
Cavan actually started better than Down and crept into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. Scores from Niamh McClory, Laoise Duffy and Eimear Fitzpatrick levelled the game at 0-4 apiece.
Then Niamh King struck for the first goal and, from that point until the finish, Down led.
Colm said: “The game plan was very simple. We were going to press Cavan very high and put a lot of pressure on their keeper’s kick-outs.
“On our kick-outs we knew that Cavan would press us very high. If we could get that ball past their press, then we would have a good chance of making hay and that is what we did.
“That all came together on that given day from a strong mindset and a strong focus.”
He added that, throughout the team, everyone played well.
“Eimear Fitz scored 3-4 and she was very good.
“The six forwards were really good.”
