Longford’s attitude will have to be right for Down if they are to advance in Tailteann Cup

Under pressure Longford manager Paddy Christie has candidly admitted that his team’s ‘attitude will have to be right from start to finish’ to give themselves any chance of getting past Down in Saturday’s Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final at 7pm in Pairc Esler, Newry, a game that will be available to view live on GAAGO.

Earlier this year, Longford travelled to Down for round six of the Allianz NFL Division 3 and they lost by 1-19 to 1-14, a result which ultimately confirmed their relegation to Division 4 for the 2024 season, the first time since 2015 that they will compete in the basement division.

After Sunday’s disappointing 1-14 to 2-13 loss against Carlow which cost Longford a ‘home’ preliminary quarter-final fixture, it was put to Paddy Christie that it will be a difficult task to lift the spirits of his squad ahead of their knockout encounter versus Down.

He didn’t subscribe to that view and the former Dublin All Star winner insisted, “We will be highly motivated for that must win match, as we feel that we have a score to settle with Down, as it was our defeat to them in Newry that relegated us from Division three of the Allianz National League.”

Dismal first half performance proves costly as Longford succumb to late Carlow surge in Tailteann Cup

Tailteann Cup Group 3: Round 3 - Longford 1-14 Carlow 2-13

The loss of ‘home advantage’ didn’t seem to perturb him either. “I don’t care that we will be playing away. We just need to play well for the entire duration of the match and not just for one half. Our attitude will have to be right from start to finish.”

Christie, whose side lost two of their Tailteann Cup group games (they also lost by 1-16 to 2-16 away to Limerick in round one), firmly believes that he and his players must sort themselves out ahead of taking on Conor Laverty’s Down side that was narrowly defeated by Meath (1-9 to 1-11) in Parnell Park last Saturday.

“It is a matter of saying to the players that we have a score to settle with Down, but to be honest, we have a bigger score to settle with ourselves more than anything else,” Christie told reporters at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday.

He added, “We must sort ourselves out and we know that we are capable of producing higher quality football than what we produced against Carlow.”

Longford manager Paddy Christie very frustrated with poor first half display against Carlow

On the back of their round two 3-17 to 2-9 win over Wicklow, the general consensus was that Longford would account for Carlow (they also overcame Carlow by 0-15 to 0-4 during their run to O’Byrne Cup success at the start of 2023).

However, it didn’t transpire that way and Christie was very critical of his team’s poor first half showing where they failed to take full advantage of the strong breeze at their backs.

Ulster semi-finalists Down were annoyed with their own performance against Meath last weekend where they amassed sixteen wides.

Prior to that reversal against The Royal County, Down were emphatic winners over Waterford and Tipperary in group two of the Tailteann Cup and they’ll be looking for big performances upfront from Pat Havern, Odhran Murdock, Liam Kerr and Eugene Branagan as they strive to progress further in the competition.

When Down and Longford met in the league, a Dessie Reynolds first half goal kept Longford in touch up to half time. But as the game wore on, Down became increasingly dominant and they had five points to spare at the final whistle.

Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals
* June 10, 4pm in Tullamore: Offaly v Wexford
* June 10, 5pm in Carlow: Carlow v New York (Live on GAAGO)
* June 10, 6pm in Enniskillen: Fermanagh v Laois
* June 10, 7pm in Newry: Down v Longford (Live on GAAGO)

Cavan, Meath, Limerick and Antrim await the winners in quarter-finals