McGinley: Positive Down vibes reflective of manager Laverty

Down's improvement in fortunes on the pitch is reflective of the positive outlook of rookie inter-county manager Conor Laverty.

The Mourne County showed signs of putting behind them a number of difficult years on and off the pitch with a promising league campaign, and added to a growing body of work with a five-point win over a Donegal side in continued turmoil.

Goals from Liam Kerr and Pat Havern (penalty), plus a telling contribution from Ryan Johnston, paved the way for their Ulster quarter-final win, with Donegal interim manager Aidan O’Rourke unable to stem the flow of losses that saw the Tir Chonaill relegated from Division 1 to the backdrop of problems within the county board.

Armagh now await Down for a place in a provincial decider, and speaking on the Sunday Game highlights show, Enda McGinley was fulsome in his praise for the man in the Mourne hotseat.

"Anybody that knows Conor Laverty, he’s full of positivity," the three-time All-Ireland winner with Tyrone said.

"The Down team is reflecting that. They have got an energy and a confidence about them."

Fellow analyst Paul Flynn contrasted the Down resurgence with the gloom that has engulfed Donegal in recent months.

'Down are on one trajectory, but you'd worry Donegal could be on another unless they go in and press reset' #SundayGame #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/X0BXXr564q

"You trade off your training when it comes like a game like today and your preparation you put in," he said.

"The preparation for Donegal has not been positive, whether it be individuals missing or managers exiting. The county board relationship isn’t strong.

"It never works when that mess is going on in the background.

"Down are in the process of tidying all that up, and then you see a clarity in their