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Danny Hughes: A Down v Armagh final? Stranger things have happened

Down captain Caolan Mooney (number eight) made things happen against Fermanagh last weekend Picture: Margaret McLaughlin.
Down captain Caolan Mooney (number eight) made things happen against Fermanagh last weekend Picture: Margaret McLaughlin. Down captain Caolan Mooney (number eight) made things happen against Fermanagh last weekend Picture: Margaret McLaughlin.

GAMES turn on big moments and when Caolan Mooney rounded three Fermanagh players (on the outside) before passing the ball brilliantly to Daniel Guinness who found a waiting Donal O’Hare to palm the ball to the net, Down created that cushion which, in turn, dictates how they won this match.

I am not going to eulogise over the entire Down performance, as this was a game far from perfect from their perspective.

The first half was a poor watch - indeed Songs of Praise was probably better viewing at times.

I think Down played within themselves, perhaps too rigidly with too many players behind the ball, not pressing Fermanagh players when they had possession.

The same criticisms I apply in the past to Tyrone apply also to Down and from what I watched of the Cork-Kerry match, Kerry created the situation to be beaten, in a game they should have won easily.

How does a team with better and more experienced players, operating at a much higher level pay the ultimate price?

There will be blood-spilled in Kerry this winter.

The reason is partly down to the new knock-out format; there is a cautious and fearful approach many counties are adopting aside from arguably Dublin and Mayo.

Mayo are the last great hope for the purist if you are supporting anyone else other than the Dubs.

Down were very cautious almost frustrating to watch, but as a result of Mooney’s run and creative enterprise, the resultant score drew Fermanagh out of their defensive mire and with Down’s tails up, the players found an extra gear to exploit spaces left in Fermanagh’s defence.

With Barry O’Hagan finding more space from half-forward, his scores were brilliantly executed - this is now his position at this level.

No-one in their right mind prefers to play in the inside line in the modern game.

Even the best to have ever played the game at full-forward would find themselves with little to shout about – a few touches a half, maybe.

In the past, O’Hagan has been pigeon-holed in the full forward line so this change will only see him get more opportunities further out the field.

His challenge now becomes the consistency with which he produces those types of performances.

The same can be said of Daniel Guinness, Pierce Laverty and Patrick Murdock.

There is a buzz around the Cavan game now.

For the fifth week in a row, Cavan will be playing on heavier sod, so you would think that this may be an issue Down could exploit early in the game, should they choose to test this variable.

It could well have been Antrim playing Down, with the Saffrons seeing last week’s result as an opportunity missed.

Unfortunately, you get nothing for being close.

Yes, the Down substitutes added to the overall performance, but there is no guarantee that the same impact will be felt this Sunday.

Down’s bench will be tested when they are behind in a game, not when they are winning and the game has broken up.

Some will be bemused with Paddy Tally taking off Donal O’Hare but I don’t agree as Tally needs to see what else is available.

Donal scored the dead ball frees you would expect from your specialist and the goal was expertly set up by Mooney and Guinness.

Paddy knows Donal at this stage and knows what he offers.

Liam Kerr is an exciting talent.

He was perhaps overly keen to make an impression and will have to learn that every possession doesn’t mean that you take on the opposing defender each time.

But that comes with experience.

At this stage it will come down to a goal next weekend and should Down get it, they will absorb the pressure and hit Cavan on the counter-attack.

Contrastingly should Cavan hit the net, it might not be a fatal score from a Down perspective and indeed prompt them to attack the game, something that Down players are naturally genetically born with (that’s what we say anyway).

Either way, I am going for Down, with their tails up and the fresher of the two sides. It is down to fine margins and while Cavan have the height and power around the middle, it could be game for the more mobile player.

Saturday’s game between Armagh and Donegal, in many people’s eyes will be the Ulster final.

Plenty of teams have fallen into that trap over the years - anyone on any given day can be beaten.

Donegal are the bookies favourites, but games were never won there.

I am tipping Armagh for no particular reason other than the fact that teams such as Kerry and Monaghan have been dumped out in a bizarre series of results this year.

My relations in Carrickcruppin will be happy.

Donegal have earned the right to be challenging Dublin and Mayo as potential champions this season.

First round games in the Ulster Championship are for winning, with Geezer's men doing exactly what they needed to do.

Do the aesthetics really matter at this stage?

Success is measured in silverware.

I think Armagh will ask more questions of the Donegal defence than Tyrone did, with Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan and Jamie Clarke all experienced finishers who play on the front foot.

The latter in combination with the all-action O’Neill brothers, Armagh have to believe that this is a game they can win.

Armagh will need to be much more disciplined in defence, indeed all over the field, if Donegal are to be toppled.

And history, in this regard, hasn’t been kind to the Orchard men.

Without any real logic though, I am going for Armagh on this one, to set up an Ulster final with Down (I hope).

As stated, there is no logic to it, but when has 2020 been about logic?