Tailteann Cup Final
Down v Wicklow
Saturday, 3.30pm, Croke Park
By Peter McGrath jnr
THIS week, Down are preparing for a third Tailteann Cup Final in four years. Wicklow will be the opponents for the Mourne County and, for them, this is as big a game as many of their players could ever dream of playing in.
There has been a real sense this year that Down have set the target of winning the Tailteann Cup as a means to guarantee Sam Maguire football for next year. For Wicklow, success would be an outstanding achievement in its own right.
Having played their league football in the bottom tier and failed to gain promotion this spring, the Wicklow squad have galvanised their efforts and enjoyed a productive summer.
The Garden County’s Tailteann Cup run included a memorable comeback win against Antrim when, having fallen three goals behind in the second half, Wicklow grew into the game and came away with a superb win on the road. That set up a Croke Park date with Offaly in the semi-final – a team who beat Down earlier in this competition.
Wicklow started well but again fell behind and required a barnstorming second half to record a famous victory that set up this Saturday’s showpiece.
Down’s Tailteann Cup run has been a tad more understated.
A comprehensive quarter-final success against Laois was succeeded by a nail-biting one-point win over a brave Fermanagh outfit and there will need to be a tightening of certain aspects of that performance if Down are to avoid a banana skin this weekend.
Recent meetings between the sides have generally favoured Down but Oisin McConville will be hoping to channel a little of the Mick O’Dwyer spirit of Aughrim that saw Wicklow defeat Down in a 2009 All-Ireland qualifier. Eight days short of the 17th anniversary of that win, several Wicklow men would love to emulate goalscorer Leighton Glynn or the kicker of the winning point, Tommy Hannon, as they once again face the men of Mourne.
