DOWN’S run to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final has created a huge sense of camaraderie and togetherness in the team, according to scoring sensation Niamh Mallon.

The Portaferry star has heaped praise on their management team for engineering their run to their last-four date with Tipperary on Saturday after an inauspicious start to the season.

Martina Rooney took the reins when morale was at its lowest, but Down camogie has risen like a phoenix from the ashes in less than six months.

“There’s definitely a better team spirit in the camp than there has been in a long time.

“When we won the Junior title in 2014 a lot of them were coming towards end of their career but we’ve a mix of youth and experience now and we’re gelling together.

“We believe we can go ahead and win it and get to Croke Park. We’re really looking forward to it.”

“The people I would give most credit to is our manager Martina, and Derk Dunne as well. We can’t thank her enough, she’s been fantastic.

The full interview with Niamh Mallon is in this week’s Gaelic Life, in shops now or available here.