DOWN boss Paddy Tally hopes Saturday night’s crucial Division Three win over Ulster rivals Derry will prove a “watershed” moment in their League campaign.
Trailing by a point heading into the final 10, and having been reduced to 14 men following Conor Poland’s 60th minute sin-binning, it wasn’t looking good for the Mournemen at Pairc Esler.
However, as was the case in Tipperary six days earlier, Down finished strongly, this time edging across the line in the closing minutes to give their promotion hopes a major boost heading to Cork next weekend.
“I think tonight was a real watershed for them,” said boss Tally after his side’s 0-14 to 0-12 victory.
“In terms of the League this year, to get a win at home, the people in the stand really enjoyed it too, there was a great sound towards the end. It’s all to play for now, this League’s going to be very tight.
“We know every match is going to be so hard to win, but getting those points tonight is just vital for us.”
And the Galbally man was quick to hail the spirit Down had shown for the second week in-a-row to maintain their unbeaten start to the League.
“It’s a wee trait in this team now – we don’t really want to get beat.
“Last week we went down to Tipperary and were two down with 10 minutes to go but came back and got a draw. Tonight, we came back again. There’s a mentality in those lads; they just don’t want to lose matches."
It was a frustrating evening for Derry boss Rory Gallagher, though, after his side failed to build on a solid first half performance, squandering several opportunities after the break.
"There’s a reason you end up the way Derry have been the last number of years, when you don’t show that level of composure," he said.
"There was a number of easy chances we missed, we created an awful lot of good openings and in the first half alone we should’ve had more than eight points on the board. We didn’t, and we find ourselves on the end of a tough defeat."
