It had been a while since Down footballers witnessed scenes like it and they were keen to savour every moment.
The Mournemen have experienced some dark days in recent times, but last Sunday’s Ulster SFC victory over Donegal felt like a huge statement of intent and underlined the progress made under new boss Conor Laverty.
Daniel Guinness and his colleagues soaked up the atmosphere and gladly posed for photos with their adoring fans and he revealed they had full belief they could turn over Donegal in Páirc Esler.
Read more: Armagh vs Down: Team news and key battles as Rian O’Neill is held in reserve once again
“It is massive for Down,” said Guinness.
“There’s nothing won in the first round of the Ulster Championship. You can only take each game as it comes and we’ll see what happens from here.
“From the very first time we met up with Conor Laverty, that was the first thing he said - we are going for Donegal. We owed them from two years ago when they beat us 2-25 to 1-12.
“That was always in the front of our minds.
“We always knew it was going to come down to the wire. We knew we had the work done and we are as fit as anyone. We hoped that would take us over the line in the second half and it did.
“We got hit with a sucker punch at the start which, obviously, wasn’t in the plan. I thought we responded really well. Liam Kerr’s goal really settled us and got us back into the game.”
Down are thrust straight back into action this weekend as they bid to reach the Ulster Final and secure their place in the ‘Super 16s’ next month.
Armagh stand in their way in Clones with Guinness adding: “We’ll have to focus on our recovery and get the work done ahead of the Armagh game, but it is a challenge we are looking forward to.”
The Carryduff clubman was a late addition to the starting team last Sunday in Newry after missing most of the season with a groin injury.
His brother James continues to recover from a cruciate injury picked up last season while fellow Down panellist Owen McCabe is out for the rest of this season with the same injury.
“I was having an operation in London 12 weeks ago. This was always the aim - to get back for the Donegal game,” stated Guinness.
“It was nip-and-tuck at times, but thankfully I made it.
“The way the season is, If you pick up a hamstring or a quad injury, you miss two or three weeks, but that could be two or three League or Championship games. The games are going thick and fast this year.”
READ NEXT:
Tyrone GAA star Ronan McNamee opens up on battle with depression
- Tyrone Club Championship draws 2023: Holders Errigal pitted against Killyclogher
Recap as Down clinch Ulster U20 title with remarkable second half fightback against Derry
- Conor Glass insists All-Ireland club title is 'tarnished' for Kilmacud Crokes
Ulster GAA liaising with PSNI and Civil Aviation Authority over Páirc Esler incident
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
