Mournemen back in big time

Mournemen back in big time

17 July 2024

DOWN senior footballers received a heroic homecoming after claiming the county’s first piece of silverware at senior level in the last 30 years at the weekend.

The Mournemen clinched the Tailteann Cup with a 0-14 to 2-6 victory over Laois at Croke Park on Saturday and in the process, confirmed their spot back in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship next year.

The panel received a rapturous reception on Sunday at St Patrick’s Park in Newcastle to a horde of adoring fans before county skipper Pierce Laverty brought the trophy back to his native Saul club on Monday evening.

“It’s something you don’t really think about, a homecoming like this, but it is something you dream of when you’re running about and chasing a ball at Cúl Camps as I did many years ago,” said Pierce. 

“It is a bit surreal coming back to the youngsters and all of your family and friends supporting you. My development at Saul was crucial, this is where I learnt my trade. 

“I came into the Down set-up at U-14 level, played U-16s, minors, U-20s and then I was obviously bled into senior football so from the start it’s where you go to work on your skills and on your craft.

“Saul is where I spent most of my time when I was away from county training. I came down to the club to kick a few balls and practice and so it means everything to me.”

Whilst at the homecoming, Pierce addressed the large crowd in attendance and outlined the team’s intentions to produce big things in the future, having finally gotten over the hurdle of the Tailteann Cup after losing last year in the final to Meath.

“It was a serious relief, we definitely got the monkey off our back and it was great to get over the line and win a trophy on a national stage,” said Pierce.

“We obviously felt last year that we had left a lot behind us in the Meath game and even the league final against Westmeath this year we didn’t perform to our own standards so it was good to get over the line on Saturday and I thought we performed and set up well,” he continued.

“It means now we have that ticket to Sam Maguire, we have our place in the group and we can have a real rattle at Division 2 and we won’t be going to there with the hopes of just staying up or sitting in the middle of the table.

“We will be going to win every game and I think when you look at the likes of Armagh, Donegal and others there is no reason why we couldn’t go to the top tier and get promoted from Division 2.” 

He added: “So, we will be looking at that early doors in preseason and everything after that is a bonus. We have a Sam Maguire to look forward to now and we are unbeaten in Páirc Esler these past few years so we have no fear of anyone coming there next summer.”

With a break now from inter-county action, Pierce has set his sights on reaching promotion to Division 1 with Saul before championship football begins.

“I still have a bit of business to see to at club level, we are sitting in a good position here for the end of the league,” he said.

“After the break we have five games and we are sitting joint top of Division 2 with Bryansford so we will be going out to try and win every game. 

“Getting promoted to Division 1 is something that the club has never done, certainly as far as I know of anyway, and that would also be something special for me. 

“I would rank that the same as this Tailteann Cup win,” he continued.

“To get up to the top table is something I have always wanted to do. I train with boys in the county panel who are playing Division 1 and you want to be competing for Down championships.”

He added: “To see where Saul as a club has come from, from when I first came into the panel and we were in Division 3, to what we are pushing for now to get up through the ranks to the top table, it would be really special for us.”