Sean Cavanagh Threw Cheeky Dig At Eamon McGee Over Donegal 'Ruining' Football

Down continued their strong start to the All-Ireland series last night, edging out Leinster champions Louth on a scoreline of 0-25 to 0-24 at Páirc Esler.

Having handily dispatched of Clare in their opening fixture of the Sam Maguire round robin, hopes were high that Down could build on that victory with another strong performance at home in this game. As for Louth, they were aiming to bounce back after a loss to Monaghan last time out.

Both teams would go on to serve up a wonderful game of football, one which went right down to the wire.

Down would race into a big lead in the match, at one point leading 0-11 to 0-1. That lead would stand at nine points at the interval, although Louth would produce a brilliant second half comeback to get right back into the contest.

In the end, the hosts would just about hang on for the victory.

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This was an excellent victory for Down, who are now in a prime position to advance straight to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. They have played some brilliant footballs at time this season, something that is quite the contrast to the rather boring and predictable style that they employed for many of the last few seasons.

Speaking on The Saturday Game, former Tyrone star Sean Cavanagh managed to throw a quick dig at his fellow pundit Eamon McGee over the influence that his Donegal team of the early 2010s has had on football over the last decade or so.

You mention tradition there. The last ten years really, since you boys (Donegal) ruined it for everyone and played your defensive football, it's been hard to watch.

At times Down have been hard to watch. I sat and talked with a microphone that it doesn't suit the culture of Down football. I grew up in the early 90s watching the Down attacking teams, there was the Down in the 60s, they were all built on brilliant attacking football.

Now that the game has moved back towards that style of attacking football, they seem to be playing better. It suits them as a county.

That Donegal team under Jim McGuinness certainly laid out a template that many counties have attempted to copy over the intervening years, one that that led to quite a rigid and uninspiring brand of football over the last few seasons.

Of course, Donegal supporters would rightly point out that their All-Ireland winning team was excellent to watch at times.

Still, there is no doubt that the revamped rules introduced to Gaelic football in 2025 has had a positive impact on the sport as a spectacle. Down are a prime example of that dynamic in action.