Down expect to win in Wexford

Down expect to win in Wexford

24 June 2015

INNOVATE Wexford Park will welcome a wounded Down on Saturday as Jim McCorry aims to get his side back on track after their Ulster Championship disappointment at the hands of Derry.

On paper, Down have been handed an easy All-Ireland Qualifiers draw. Wexford were relegated from Division 3 of the National League and they were beaten by nine points by Westmeath in their Leinster Championship quarter-final.

It would be a major shock if the Model County were to get anything out of this game and everything points to a handsome Mourne win.

Wexford can no longer call on the services of talisman Mattie Forde, but they still have Ben Brosnan at centre half forward and Ciaran Lyng at full forward. Both are very capable attackers and will take some watching.

Down’s one point defeat to Derry in the last eight of the Ulster series was dominated by the controversial sending off of wing back Conail McGovern.

Despite that setback, Down battled hard to the end of the contest and only for some wayward shooting they could of been preparing for a provincial semi-final against Donegal.

The Mourne men have had a mixed bag in the backdoor in the past, but if they get up a bit of momentum then they are capable of a run a la 2010 when they went the whole way to the All-Ireland final.

There may be changes to Jim McCorry’s starting 15 as quite a number of players underperformed last day out.

Gerard Collins (shoulder) and Aidan Carr (ankle) are definitely unavailable while a calf injury may keep Donal O’Hare out of the equation. Conor Garvey and Ross McGarry are back to full training after recent setbacks with the former reportedly in superb form for his club Mayobridge.

Stephen Kane’s position in goal is assured while Darren O’Hagan and Ryan Boyle should operate either side of Luke Howard at full back.

With Conail McGovern unavailable, it is likely that Kilcoo’s Darragh O’Hanlon will vie with Conor Garvey for the Burren man’s shirt. Brendan McArdle will anchor the defence from centre half back with Damien Turley on the other flank.

Peter Fitzpatrick and Caolan Mooney didn’t look the most viable of midfield partnerships against Derry and a Peter Turley/Niall Madine combo may prove to be a better combination,

This would allow Mooney to move to wing forward with Kevin McKernan on the opposite side.

Conor Maginn and Mark Poland both didn’t do themselves justice against the Oak Leafer’s and it is quite possible that one of them may be sacrificed with Maginn favourite to line out at centre half forward.

With O’Hare doubtful, the full forward line could read Paul Devlin, Conor Laverty and Jerome Johnston with Devlin withdrawing to the middle sector.

Packie Downey impressed last day out and may see game time again while Arthur McConville needs more action to prove himself at this level. Wexford won’t offer the same physicality as Derry did nor do they operate with the same type of sophisticated defensive system.

If Down can maximise their scoring potential and get a proper foothold at midfield then they are capable of sinking the Slaneysiders with relative ease.