Down back in Croker with Wicklow final challenge

​Down will head into their third Tailteann Cup final in the last four years, having won the competition in 2024, as big favourites over Division 4 county Wicklow who are in the decider for the first time.

The last time the sides met was in the 2024 quarter-finals with the Mournemen coming out comfortable 1-18 to 0-12 winners on the back of a close Division 3 encounter in Aughrim that Down edged by a point.

Regardless of their history and the odds on Down taking the title on Saturday, things can always go astray in a final and one person who can look objectively at both teams is Newry’s Steven Poacher.

The current Leitrim manager and Head of PE at St Joseph’s High School has unique insight, with his vast experience and knowledge of both teams.

His side narrowly lost to Wicklow in Division 4 earlier this season, before suffering a heavy defeat to Down in the first round of the Tailteann Cup in Pairc Esler, and he shared his thoughts with the Newry Reporter ahead of the final.

“It's a very difficult position for Down to be in. It's nearly like a lose-lose because everyone expects them to win,” said Poacher.

“And if they don't win there's obviously pressure and then, if they only win by a point or two, it's job done but at the same time there's an expectation probably that they're much better - but football doesn't really work like that.

“Wicklow have had a couple of really good Tailteann campaigns over the last couple of years. They had a big win in Leinster a few years back to beat Westmeath. Last year they got to the semi-final of the Tailteann, and this year they've obviously got to the final, going one better.”

Poacher believes there are areas where Wicklow are strong and can threaten Conor Laverty’s men.

“They have some brilliant players, with the new rules - the two-pointers. Mark Jackson's equivalent to, or as good as, Rory Beggan when it comes to the two-pointers and there's going to be a massive emphasis obviously on him.

“Kevin Quinn is a really top, top class forward, Oisin McGraynor as well. Dean Healy's been around a long time as well, and in the middle of the field he's an absolute warrior for Wicklow. He dragged them back into the game against Antrim single-handedly in the quarter-final.” Having said that, Poacher expects Down to be too strong for Oisin McConville’s side. “Conor [Laverty] will have his homework done on them. He knows them very well. They’ve played them a couple of times in the last few years and I would expect Down to have too much for them.

“I know from playing both teams this year, I felt that Downs' conditioning is up there with Division 1 level conditioning.

“They might not be the biggest team but they're strong. They're very strong physically, they're very strong in the tackle as well, and I thought in the first half against Fermanagh they were absolutely amazing in the tackle.

"But the way the rules go now is once the momentum of the game goes away from you, it's very hard to claw it back, but I think if Down do get a run on Wicklow, they should win the game comfortably."

If there is any concern about complacency or the odd blip in form as in the Offaly defeat, Poacher feels Down will use their experience on Saturday and the other advantage is being a tight unit. “This is Downs' third Tailteann final in four years, and one thing that Conor's done really well is he's kept that squad together. They're probably very unlucky not to be in an All-Ireland Series this year, it's just unfortunate the way some provinces are. It's tough.

“Having a reward for getting to a provincial final isn't really a reward when you're an Ulster because it's so hard to get to a provincial decider. But they won Division 3 and they probably earned the right. Personally, I think they're a better team than Westmeath and certainly, I think they're much better than Cavan but it's just the way the rules are, and unfortunately, they find themselves back in the Tailteann.”

There is, of course, a big carrot apart from silverware.

“This is a definite way out of the Tailteann by winning it, so, you know, there'll be a huge emphasis on, like, ‘let's win this, and let's get back to having a couple of big days next year’.

“You go back to last year where they had Louth in Pairc Esler with a big crowd and they had Galway in Pairc Esler with a big crowd. I know that when Leitrim played them this year in the Tailteann Cup there wasn't that big a crowd, and there wasn't really that much of a buzz about it either, it just didn't feel like a Championship game. So they’ll be mad keen to get back to those big days.” While there are a few injured players still out, such as Danny Magill and Barry O’Hagan, Poacher feels that Down have some good lads coming through, as well as the established players, including U20 Captain Lorcan Lynch.

“He was in the panel for the semi-final and he's close to breaking through, he's got a big future. Down have some really, really good young lads coming through, they really have, but it's your mainstays, it's Dan Guinness, it's Odhran [Murdock], it's Pat [Havern]. Ceilum Doherty's a major, major player for them as well. Ceilum’s having a really good season and ‘Doc’ is the sort of link man between all three of them.

“I think just the experience of having been in Croker and the wee bit of strength in depth on the bench that they have will see them through on Saturday.

“Eamon Brown's having an amazing season as well. I've always thought Eamon's a very, very good footballer, lots of potential, you know. They're getting the best out of him this year. He's matured a good bit.”

All of that bodes well for Down in the final, as long as they perform to their strengths.

“It should be a Down win, but football sometimes doesn't just work like that, you know, so hopefully it will work out well on the day.”