Danny Magill of Down celebrates after scoring a goal against Cork at Páirc Esler

Since Conor Laverty took over as Down manager, the county has reached consecutive Tailteann Cup Finals — losing one and winning the other — and earned promotion to Division Two.

On paper, they are ticking all of the boxes for a team that is trying to develop and progress, but when the Football Review Committee flipped the game on its head with all of the new rules, many thought that the Ulster side would struggle.