Allianz National Football League Division Three: Wicklow v Down (Sunday, Aughrim, 2pm)
DOWN will be without two of their Kilcoo contingent for the National League campaign, which gets under way against Wicklow at Echelon Park tomorrow.
Goalkeeper Niall Kane has left the panel, leaving Glenn’s John O’Hare and veteran Kevin Anderson – last involved with the county as a half-forward over a decade ago – to vie for the number one jersey.
And Conor Laverty will also be without club-mate Eugene Branagan as the 27-year-old sheep farmer is unable to commit for the foreseeable future.
“The nature of Genie’s work is he has a lot of work in Scotland, he could be there twice a week and, at the minute, with inter-county football, it just doesn’t go hand in hand unfortunately,” said Down coach Mickey Donnelly.
“It would be brilliant to have Genie available because I’m extremely fond of him, I think he’s a brilliant fella, totally different to the whole, stereotypical, photocopied inter-county footballer – he’s a very unique player, and a unique man.
“It would be fantastic to have him, but that might change down the line, and I certainly hope it does. I would be very hopeful you haven’t seen the last of Eugene in a Down jersey.”
Shealan Johnston is back in the frame for Sunday, having missed the McKenna Cup, while brother Ryan remains a few weeks away from a return to action. Eldest sibling Jerome is not currently part of the panel, while Burren speedster Danny Magill is not expected to feature until later in Down’s Division Three campaign as he recovers from a stress fracture.
In more positive news, however, Caolan Mooney is nearing a return to the field in county colours, while Donnelly is hopeful Barry O’Hagan will play some part towards the end of the League as he continues his recovery from the cruciate ligament damage sustained almost a year ago.
Having narrowly missed out on promotion from Division Three last year, and failed to secure an All-Ireland series spot after losing the Tailteann Cup final Meath, the Mournemen start this campaign among the favourites to go up once more.
Defeats on the road to promoted pair Fermanagh and Cavan ultimately cost Down one of the top two spots, and Laverty will know they cannot afford any such slip-ups on their travels this time around.
Victory over Wicklow is a must, therefore, as stiffer tests lie ahead in the form of their final two League games against expected promotion rivals Westmeath in Mullingar, and Clare in Newry.
The Garden County, however, come in on the crest of a wave after earning promotion in Oisin McConville’s first year and, with former Down coach Mark Doran since added to his backroom team, the Crossmaglen man will know plenty about Sunday’s opponents.
However, making the jump up is seldom straightforward, especially when Wicklow have lost the services of influential goalkeeper Mark Jackson who, like Down’s Charlie Smyth, left for America on Thursday to take part in the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme.
There will be a distinct Ulster edge to proceedings in Aughrim on Sunday but, even with some notable absentees, Down should get the ball rolling with an opening win over McConville’s men.
