DOWN U20 coach Declan Morgan insists that his team are focused on the game and not the occasion when they face Roscommon on Saturday evening.
That might be easier than first thought because only 2000 tickets have been released for the 20,000 capacity Kingspan Breffni Park for the U20 All-Ireland semi-final.
The lads’ feet are firmly on the ground following last weekend’s epic and emotional Ulster final win over Monaghan.
There were no celebrations, the quick turnaround in games didn’t allow it and there was also respect following the tragic death of Monaghan captain Brendan Og Duffy.
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“This last few days has been just about getting our heads down, find out about Roscommon,” Morgan said.
“There have been no celebrations or anything like that. The mood is good, and everyone is in good form because they are back training and because they are good group who enjoy each other’s company and we enjoy their company so there is a good mood in the camp, and we are looking forward to what will probably be another great battle.”
Down are over an hour away from a possible All-Ireland final and could do so by playing champagne football but for Morgan, who manages alongside Conor Laverty and Marty Clarke, the sense of football identity is important, but he won’t be getting caught up on thinking about a possible final.
“We will try to park that and just leave the supporters to look at that,” Morgan said.
“We are focusing on Roscommon. Our lads have been really tuned into whatever information we give them and how they want to go about their business in the next game. We are just concentrating on Roscommon and going down to Cavan, which is a great venue, and I am sure they boys will enjoy playing there.
“How we play is important, we want the lads to enjoy their football, enjoy training and they really enjoy meeting up and how they play is a real reflection of the group. They are a real tight group that work hard for each other and like any team that does anything there has to be talent there and once we get work-rate right then that talent shines through.
“It is a nice style of football and I think that comes down to everybody, the whole management and players philosophy that we want to go for it, we want to player good football, attacking, get good scores and if we can hit the net, it is great but if we have to take a point and go again, we will do that.
"But it is definitely good to look at, but it is all about working hard all over the pitch and winning the ball back and going quick on the counter and that is what we are all about.”
Morgan teaches at Red High Grammar at Downpatrick, and he has seen some of the Roscommon players when they Roscommon CBS defeated his side two years ago and rates the players highly.
“They are very good footballers and very strong,” Morgan said.
“Roscommon underage has done very well this year, they are in a Connacht minor final and won the title at under20, so there is something good going on down there.”
Down have squad of 36 players but only 24 are named in the match squad and permitted to wear the team-kit and Morgan feels it is rule that should be changed but he admires the attitude of those who miss out.
“Those lads [who miss out] are very important and from our point of view we have 36 lads who have really bought into this all year and whatever has to happen to the benefit of the team they will accept that and come back into training and push the thing on and I have nothing but respect for those guys,” Morgan said.
Down’s team ethos has shined throughout the campaign and they’ll not leave Breffni Park before leaving everything out on the pitch and it will take a mighty team to stop them.
Down face Roscommon on Saturday, August 7, in Kingspan Breffni Park, at 7pm.
