Down manager Conor Laverty is hopeful that their Tailteann Cup success will provide a launchpad into a future where they can start competing with the elite counties again at Sam Maguire level.
The Mournemen fended off a late surge from Laois in Saturday's final at Croke Park to win inter-county football's second tier trophy and seal a return to the All-Ireland series for 2025.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Damian Lawlor after seeing his side get over the line, Laverty turned his thoughts to what the victory means in the longer-term for Down.
"We want to be playing Sam Maguire football, we want to be bringing some of the best teams in Ireland to Newry," he said.
"That's what we started out and what we said. We want to compete with the best teams in Ireland and that was our main objective and that's how we approached this competition, so we're just delighted."
💬 "Last year really hurt us and we know how Laois feel"
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 13, 2024
Down manager Conor Laverty reflects on his team's Tailteann Cup triumph
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Victory also brought a level of redemption for Down after losing last year's final to Meath.
"Last year really hurt us, standing out on that field, and we know how Laois feel. It's not a nice place to be," said Laverty.
"We're just delighted to get over the line. It was stressful at the last but the lads dug in really deep and it's probably not our best performance all year but whenever you get to a final, you take the win whatever way it comes."
Laverty had seen his side start with authority, racing into a 0-03 to 0-00 lead after five minutes before a Seamus Lacey goal swung the match back in Laois' favour.
Down did lead narrowly at half-time but the wide count did leave the manager worried, although they did have enough to get over the line in the second '35 despite Mark Barry's late goal for Laois setting up a potential grandstand finish in injury time.
Mark Barry has set up a grandstand finish in the Tailteann Cup final with a late goal for Laois
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 13, 2024
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"But we refocused at half-time. We thought we were still in a good position," said Laverty.
"Coming into the game, we would have taken being two points up at half-time. But it's just that mindset, they were able to dig deep.
"Laois came out of the blocks very hard at the start of the second half, got a foothold in the game again and then we had to go after it.
💬 "It's a massive achievement"
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 13, 2024
Man of the Match Odhran Murdock reacts after Down clinched Tailteann Cup glory at Croke Park
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"We put ourselves in a brilliant position and then any man that shoots for a goal outside the '21 and it goes in, it's some score."
Down's Man of the Match Odhran Murdock added that the panel were not taking the chance to get their hands on silverware for granted, given that it had been 30 years since they had won a national or provincial title.
"Coming into the year, the ambition was to get to Sam Maguire but we are where we are and any chance you get to an all-Ireland title, it's a massive achievement," he said.
