By Peter McGrath jnr
At the end of Saturday evening’s win over Louth, the Down players remained on the field for what seemed an eternity. They chatted with fans, drank in the atmosphere.
Looking at the crowd, match-winning hero Adam Crimmins smiled and said, “This is what you play Gaelic Football for,” as he cast his gaze across the sun-soaked Páirc Esler.
Minutes earlier, Crimmins had thrown himself at the foot of Tommy Durnin to block a shot that would have levelled the game. With the new rules, the Mayobridge man could easily have stayed at the far end of the field, planting himself as one of the ‘three up’—but his desire to put his body on the line got the team over the line.
Talking about that grittiness and hard work, he reflected:
“That’s one thing we’ve really put an emphasis on. Games aren’t won by flashy scores—they’re won by winning those dirty break balls, especially with the new rules in around the middle of the pitch. That’s one thing we’ve focussed on: diving on every ball.”
No matter how much work Down have done on blocking, it’s unlikely even the training pitch has seen a more perfect example than the final act of Saturday’s game.
John McGeough was quick to highlight it as he looked back on the day’s events.
“That block at the end by Crimmins was unbelievable. It was class. That will be brought up all week—that’s what won us the game today. It wasn’t the twos or the big points—it was that block at the end.”
It was an exhilarating game, but McGeough believes Down were well prepared.
“The training we do is crazy, but we know it isn’t going to be as hard on the pitch as the training sessions we do—so we are well prepared.”
Down now face Monaghan in a crucial group decider.
McGeough admitted that Down knew they had landed in the most favourable group, but his cheery grin turned to steel as he declared Monaghan is a game they must now go and win.
“We went into the league game that day knowing we needed two points—and we got them. The defence that day were warriors. I know Monaghan netted early, but the defence was brilliant. We have to look at Monaghan now as a game we go to win.”
Both players—and their teammates—will train with renewed vigour this week as they prepare for the Farney clash. Defeat would see Down finish second and face a preliminary quarter-final in Páirc Esler. But a win would send them straight into the last eight, guaranteeing a trip to Croke Park for the quarter-finals.
The GAA announced yesterday that the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Group Three, Round Three fixture between Monaghan and Down will take place this Sunday at the Athletic Grounds, with throw-in at 2pm. It will be broadcast live on RTÉ.
