Casey O'Brien spoke of his relief after Wicklow retained their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A status with a relegation playoff victory over Down in Trim.

"We drew with Down, Derry and Carlow in the league and it looked like it could have been a draw at the end," he said after the Garden County's 2-14 to 0-17 success.

"Down came back at us really well, but we got the win and it's great for us to stay up."
His opposite number, Gerard Monan, had no complaints with the result.

"Being relegated is hurtful for the players who care about Down hurling. Players come and go and people have their own choices to make," he said.

"But that's where we're at. We're bottom of the league and we got beaten in a playoff so you can't say this, that or the other. We didn't play well enough to stay in this league.

"We started the game well, but then Wicklow got the goal and it seemed to knock the stuffing out of us. They dominated the middle third, totally dominated.

"I thought in the second half Down played with a bit of pride and a bit of passion, which is what you'd expect from Down teams." Tweet

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