Down's Laverty 'bitterly disappointed' by Donegal loss

Down boss Conor Laverty admitted to being left "bitterly disappointed" by his side's six-point Ulster SFC semi-final loss to Donegal.

Donegal led by eight points at half-time but Down failed to make life more uncomfortable for Jim McGuinness' side after missing goal chances in the second period.

Shay Miller was denied by Shaun Patton before Eugene Branagan lashed a shot wide when he was bearing down on goal.

"We're bitterly disappointed with how the game finished," Laverty told BBC Sport NI.

"There was a period in the second half where we felt we got to grips with the game and we had opportunities to close the gap.

"They kept us at arm's length. They had goal chances but if our chances go in it gives us serious momentum going into the home straight."

Having won last year's Tailteann Cup, Down have an All-Ireland campaign to look forward to.

And while Laverty admits his panel have not had enough exposure at the highest level, he feels his players are trending in the right direction.

"This is a young squad and they maybe haven't had the exposure of playing at that level," added the Kilcoo club-man.

"Division Two helped us this year, playing against Armagh in the semi-final last year and Donegal today.

"We're closing the gap, I still feel there are three or four teams in Ulster that are ahead of everybody but as a group we're closing that gap."