Allianz Football League Division Two, round one
Roscommon v Down (Sunday, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2pm)
Although Armagh had already displayed plenty of character in ultimately futile tussles with Donegal in last year’s Division Two and Ulster finals, few really bought into them as All-Ireland contenders until the field narrowed to eight in the early summer.
Their All-Ireland quarter-final win over Tyrone’s conquerors Roscommon was the point at which all the memories of 2002 came flooding back and they began dreaming again.
Roscommon were a significant scalp, not only for their defeat of the Red Hands, but because Davy Burke’s side are one of those perfectly suited to an extended All-Ireland Championship.
There’s little shame in being the third team in Connacht behind Galway and Mayo, but on the national stage they have the chance to emerge from that provincial pecking order.
- Clarke hoping Down can emulate flying Forest exploitsOpens in new window
- ‘He tried to do me one time but he missed...’: Hugh Pat McGeary relishing return to inter-county arena with DownOpens in new window
- Down GAA focus: Season of constant challenges lies ahead for Laverty and improving MournemenOpens in new window
As it was, it took a win over Cavan to set-up that preliminary quarter-final clash with Tyrone and they eventually ran out of road against an Armagh team imbued with a sense of destiny.
The Rossies have become the kind of yo-yo team that Down can currently only aspire to. Bouncing between the top two divisions, the odd provincial final appearance, but rarely troubling the second-tier championship,
It makes them probably one of the hardest possible opening opponents for Conor Laverty’s newly-promoted Mournemen. Roscommon are looking for a quick return to the top division while they’ll host a Down team on Sunday very much with consolidation in mind in this year’s League.
Roscommon rolled into Newry almost three years ago for a Division Two clash and powered their way to victory. The gulf between the sides hasn’t narrowed much since and a trip to ‘the Hyde’ makes this a more daunting prospect for last year’s Tailteann Cup winners.
Burke has bolstered his backroom team with the addition of Longstone native Mark Doran, a member of Down’s 2010 All-Ireland SFC final panel alongside the current Down management team of Laverty and Marty Clarke.
On the pitch, they’ll carry plenty of attacking threat in the form of All-Star Enda Smith, Daire Cregg and Diarmuid Murtagh.
Down, already divested of the darting runs of Liam Kerr, may be forced to adjust their traditional running game to get the most out of the new rules. They’ll still attempt to keep things tight and compact against a potent attack, but will their counter-attacking style be compatible with the requirement of keeping three back?
Pat Havern remains a sound option for two-pointer attempts with his ability to kick long, but options beyond him may be limited.
It could be a campaign learning tough lessons for a still transitional Down team and they’ll not come more chastening than Roscommon on Sunday.