'A fantastic day for Down' - McCartan
Down manager James McCartan says his side's 1-16 to 1-10 football quarter-final win over Kerry represents 'a fantastic day for Down'.
'At the start of the year I wouldn't really have dreamed of beating Kerry but they were missing a couple of players. We knew if we could play to our ability we'd be in with a chance. Maybe Kerry were a wee bit off the boil and we took advantage,' said McCartan.
Asked about which of Meath or Kildare his team would like to meet, McCartan replied: 'I don't really mind who we get.'
His Kerry counterpart, Jack O'Connor, pointed to the decision to disallow a Kerry goal in the first half - for what the referee deemed an illegal hand-pass - as 'a critical call'.
'It came at a time when we had fought back very well. I had prophesised when that rule was brought in that some day it would cost a team big-time. I'm not saying that it cost us the game but it was a crucial, crucial call at the time and desperately disappointing.'
But O'Connor was also eager to give credit to McCartan's men: 'I don't want any sour grapes today. Today was a day that Down were the better team, a fresher, more vibrant team. They came here hungry for the win and I think overall they deserved it.'
John Mullane and Paul FlynnJohn Mullane dismisses rumours that he is to retire from inter-county hurling, while Paul Flynn discusses Lar Corbett's decision to quit. |
Corbett QuitsJournalist Vincent Hogan reacts to the news that Lar Corbett has quit inter-county hurling |
Ray Silke's Allianz round-upRay Silke takes a look back at the opening weekend of the Allianz Football League with Damien O'Meara. |
|
|
|
