Armagh 'machine' beat Down in every facet - Laverty
Laverty admitted his side were overwhelmed by the Armagh "machine" at Clones
- Published
Down manager Conor Laverty admitted Armagh dominated his side in "every facet of the game" as he attempted to process Sunday's 28-point Ulster SFC semi-final defeat.
Buoyed by a stunning victory over Donegal in Letterkenny last week, Down went 0-5 to 0-2 up at Clones before Armagh took control, scored for fun and ultimately dished out a 3-33 to 0-14 demolition.
In stark contrast to the joyous Down scenes at O'Donnell Park last, a visibly crestfallen Laverty said "it's hard to put your finger" on such a one-sided championship match.
"We actually started the game well and went 0-5 to 0-2 up but after that it was one-way traffic.
"That was a big turning point in the game. I felt if the break of the ball went our way, we were on the attacking side of it. It fell to them and they ended up getting the goal.
"I'm not sure, maybe the week that was in it, but we prepared very well and we thought they were fresh coming in and we looked after the lads really well all week. But when Armagh got their tails up, they were a machine."
Highlights: Armagh 3-33 Down 0-14
Tomas McCormack and Conor Turbitt both scored goals to help Armagh lead 2-12 to 0-7 at half-time.
And while Laverty introduced Jamie Doran at the break having already introduced Liam Kerr in the first half, the 2024 All-Ireland champions kept their foot on the pedal to storm into a fourth successive Ulster decider.
Laverty admitted the second half in particular was a "difficult place to be".
"We had five subs used in the middle of the second half, we tried to make changes on different personnel but we just couldn't get to grips with it after the first goal.
"We didn't get to grips with them at all."
Laverty, however, dismissed a suggestion that the energy and emotion they exerted in the win over Donegal impacted their preparations.
"No, we recovered really well," he said.
"We actually didn't do a massive pile on grass. We trained Wednesday night and Friday, but very light and trying to get the bodies right.
"There was a good bounce and a good atmosphere with the lads. I think we started well but when Armagh got into their groove, you could just see we weren't at the pitch of it."
Tailteann Cup return 'wasn't in our thoughts at all'
Down's devastation washed away the euphoria of their quarter-final win over Donegal last week
Sunday's loss to Armagh, coupled with Westmeath's win over Kildare after extra time in Leinster, also confirmed Down's return to the Tailteann Cup.
Laverty led Down to success in the second-tier competition in 2024 following an Ulster SFC semi-final loss to Armagh, but having experienced the thrill of the Sam Maguire knockout stages last year, the Tailteann Cup will feel like a comedown.
"That's the million dollar question," Laverty said when asked how he picks his players up for that campaign.
"How we get ourselves back in a position and a frame of mind but I suppose it's too early now because it wasn't in our thoughts at all.
"We have to take a bit of time now and reflect on today's performance and reflect on what has gone right for us in many ways over the last number of weeks but also what didn't work today, and then assess our plans.
"We'll have to chat to the lads and see where our hunger is at. We are in the Tailteann Cup now, it wasn't in our plans but that's life, that's where we are at. Fair play to Westmeath, they didn't get out of Division Three but for their performances over the last couple of weeks, you have to give them credit for that as well."
