WE did not expect the Sligo game to be as one-sided but we were really up for the game and put the Yeats County on the back foot from an early stage and never gave them any chance to get their confidence back.
It was a great team performance, where we moved the ball fast and hit excellent scores from all angles.
Our midfield was magnificent with big Kalum proving himself to be a brilliant foil for Ambrose. Conor Garvey and Kevin McKernan were steady in defence and drove us forward at all costs while Danny Hughes and Martin Clarke were again the link men and scorers in chief in the forward line.
Ronan Murtagh threw his name in the hat with a magnificent performance in the final 20 minutes when introduced and he will give the management a great option. It was a great boost for the county and we are looking forward to our first AllIreland quarter final.
The glamour tie this weekend against Kerry is a game, which I cannot wait for. Croke Park is were all inter-county players want to be at.
This is the biggest game in my county career and indeed Down's biggest game since Dublin in 1994.
We will be going into the game as massive underdogs but we certainly have plenty of confidence in ourselves as we have had a great year thus far and there is no reason why we cannot mix it with Kerry.
People are saying that Kerry are vulnerable without Galvin and Tomas O'Se put they have players in reserve who are just as capable.
We should be sharper though as Kerry have not played competitive football in a month therefore is important to get a great start and I feel that Ambrose and Kalum can give us a good foothold over Michael Quirke and Seamus Scanlon.
I will be exchanging a few texts with All-Star Kieran Donaghy over the week and I have no doubt that they will be taking the challenge of us seriously.
One thing which strikes you about the Kerry lads from the compromise rules is their professionalism and the manner in which they prepare themselves for big games.
It will be a great occasion in Croke this weekend and I urge everyone to get behind us for it.
The support we have had this year has been unreal and I can't wait to hear the Down roar when we come running out on the hallowed turf.