Down minor team-manager, Mark Turley felt his sides victory over Cavan had more to do with his side’s positive second-half display than anything Cavan did or didn’t do. "We had a right good second-half after a very inconsistent first-half," Turley insisted.

"Things didn’t look hectic for us at half-time, because even though it wasn’t a huge factor, we had played with the aid of the wind and the lads hadn’t done what we had asked of them.

"We realised that it wasn’t easy though (playing with the wind) because a lot of passes overshoot." Interestingly, Turley believed that for all Cavan’s possession up front, the Down lads enjoyed "at least 50% of the ball."

Turley also scotched any suggestion that his side are played above themselves or had pulled out a top drawer performance to beat Cavan. "I think we shaded things in front of goal over the hour and we did very well in general in the second-half but there’s more to come from us.

Turley who has already coached a Down minor side to All-Ireland honours in recent times believes his side will improve after this success over Cavan last Sunday. We lost our way at times in the opening half, and on this occasion thankfully, we weren’t punished. Against Monaghan it could be different and this is an area we will have to work on in the coming weeks.

“This is a hard-working and dedicated group of players, and they can improve. The further you go in the championship the greater the confidence amongst the players and indeed supporters will become. Coming to Cavan and defeating a strong Cavan side in their own patch has to be an achievement, but you can bet we won’t be carried away, and already we are making preparations for out next game in the competition against an equally strong Monaghan side.

Turley felt sorry for the Cavan side and their management having to go out of the championship so early in the season and knowing the work they put in over the past number of months.

“Maybe in the future, the powers that be may allow a back-door system such as in the senior competition – I personally believe there should be a second chance in the championship at all levels,’’ he concluded.