Guinness two-pointer sparked Down comeback - McEvoy
Ryan McEvoy's goal enabled Down to complete a dramatic Ulster SFC comeback at Brewster Park
- Published
Ryan McEvoy hailed Daniel Guinness' 63rd-minute two-pointer for sparking the dramatic Down comeback that saw them overturn a seven-point deficit to stun Fermanagh in the Ulster SFC.
Fermanagh looked in complete control when a Declan McCusker score left the home side seven ahead with less than 10 minutes remaining but Guinness' score from outside the 40-metre arc suddenly had Down believing again.
"As soon as he hit the two-pointer, I really knew that the comeback was on, that we could do it," said Kilcoo man McEvoy, who went on to fire Down's ultimately winning goal after Guinness had followed up his two-pointer with a major of his own to increase Fermanagh's jitters.
"It [Guinness' two-pointer] really lifted the whole team and we got the goals to finish it off, to seal the deal."
Despite looking certain to exit the Ulster Championship, McEvoy insisted that Down's belief had never wavered.
"Conor [Laverty] has instilled a real belief in this team. No matter, who we are playing, we can do it, we can win. The togetherness in this squad is unbelievable."
Guinness, himself, admitted that Down "didn't show up for the first 25 minutes of the second half".
"But a bit of fighting spirit at the end and we're through," said the Carryduff club-man.
"Over the last few years, we've been on the end of a couple of gutting defeats and at times, you think 'something has to change here'.
"At the end we pulled it out of the bag but [it's] nowhere near good enough."
Guinness added that the new rules do mean that leads hitherto regarded as impregnable can now be reeled in.
"Five, six, seven, eight points down was previously a big margin but now you can claw it back pretty quickly by tagging on a few scores. Being able to press the kickout is huge," he added after Down clinched a victory which sets up a semi-final in eight days' time with the winners of Sunday's concluding quarter-final between Monaghan and holders Donegal.