Down must make use of chance

Down must make use of chance

25 June 2014

THE long road to All-Ireland redemption starts for Down in Newry on Sunday when they look to get their season back on track after their Ulster Championship exit.

A reasonably favourable draw has pitted them against western minnows Leitrim and any other result bar a Down victory would be considered a shock.

Down and Leitrim’s last meeting was in 2011 when Derry’s Mickey Moran took Leitrim to Newry for a qualifier tie.

Down won that game 1-16 to 1-8 and they will be hoping for a similar outcome this time around.

The Connacht side had a relatively mediocre league campaign in which they failed to get out of Division 4. They then suffered championship heartbreak when Roscommon dumped them out of their provincial competition with an eight point defeat.

Their star man is Emlyn Mulligan. If he is neutralised then Leitrim will be in big trouble. They lack potent scoring threats elsewhere.

Castlewellan’s Michael Cunningham has been providing good competition of late for Brendan McVeigh and Shane Harrison, but McCartan will more than likely opt for experience and start with McVeigh.

Brendan McArdle has made his home at full back and he will be deployed here yet again.

Dan McCartan, Owen Costello and a returning Darren O’Hagan are all in line for the two corner back slots with McCartan and O’Hagan the best equipped of the three for man marking duties.

Aidan Carr should take up the number six berth and will be looking for an improved performance after a disappointing display in the replayed Tyrone game.

Down have solid options in the wing back positions.

This type of game may suit the running power of Ryan Boyle while Conor Garvey’s tenacity may see him edge out Declan Rooney for the other jersey.

The combination that the Down selectors come up with at midfield will have a huge bearing on the game.

The temptation may be to pair Ambrose Rogers and Kevin McKernan together and this would be sure to aid the team’s offensive plans.

However, Peter Turley provides excellent defensive cover and he might edge his way into the starting equation along with Dan Gordon who was excellent in the Tyrone replay game.

In recent times Down haven’t played with six out and out forwards.

Conor Maginn will be handed the number ten jersey, but given a licence to roam.

Kilcoo’s Ryan Johnston is suited to this role as well and he will be breathing down Maginn’s back.

Mark Poland has a big game in him after getting marked out of both Tyrone games and much will be expected of him in this one at centre half forward.

Niall Madine is the perfect target man at full forward, but McCartan could withdraw him as a third midfielder leaving space up top for Jerome Johnston and Donal O’Hare to exploit.

The last vacant spot in the attack should go to Conor Laverty who has been in terrific form for his club of late.

He will be given more of a flexible role in order to get the most out of his insatiable work rate.

If things aren’t going to plan then there is always a certain Benny Coulter who can be drafted into proceedings to get his troops going.

Kilcoo’s Paul Devlin is worthy of game time as well while there may be a temptation to give Tullylish’s Niall Donnelly and Burren’s Conor Toner a bit more exposure to aid their development at inter county level.

Derry’s defeat to Longford on Saturday has proven that the qualifiers can be a graveyard for pre match favourites. Down will have taken heed of this.

The Mourne men mightn’t run away with this one, but they should have enough in their arsenal to win with a few points to spare.