WHATEVER happens in Cork on Sunday, whether Down pull off a ‘Houdini Act’ and save their Division Two skins or not, it’s time for rebuilding in the county, says former Mourne county skipper Mark Poland.
Over the past decade, Down haven’t spent more than two seasons in the same division and players have come and gone at an unsettling rate. Longstone clubman Poland says the county must bring an end to hand-to-mouth existence by establishing a squad and keeping it together.
“I think Down need to get continuity, we need to get consistency within squads and panels,” he said.
“We can’t keep chopping and changing every few years because we’re just going to keep going round in circles.
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“We have a number of young lads coming through who have featured in the League this year and hopefully there’s a few more coming through from the U20s. It’s really about getting those young lads to stick together.
“If we stay in Division Two, that’s brilliant. If we don’t, so be it. That’s the way I’m looking at it. We need a panel to stick together if we are going to move forward.”
As an example, Poland pointed to Derry’s resurgence since they slipped into Division Four and he could also have used the example of Armagh who spent seasons finding their feet in Division Three before they progressed to the top flight.
If Down are to follow suit, a rebuilding phase will be required with investment in a settled group of players.
“Down have good footballers in the county but now it’s about keeping consistency – we are starting afresh nearly every year,” he said.
“Derry had to drop to Division Four and now they have everybody back and their panels have been consistent over the past two or three seasons and they’re reaping the rewards of that now. If we stay in Division Two it’ll be a bonus but we need to look at the bigger picture and hopefully mould lads like Odhran Murdock and Andrew Gilmore and the other talented players in the county together and keep them there.”
Down travel to Leeside on Sunday with their Division Two status hanging by a thread. Two games remain and James McCartan’s men are second-from-bottom in the table with only their hosts below them.
After last Saturday night’s one-point loss to Offaly, victories in both of their remaining games (Down finish against Clare) are absolutely essential and although they’ll travel south as underdogs, it’s not that long since the Mournemen have pulled off a great escape in Cork.
Back in 2017, Down travelled to Pairc Ui Rinn on a wing and a prayer after home losses to Kildare and Galway. At one stage they were nine points behind and staring down the barrel of consecutive relegations but Eamonn Burns’s side produced a remarkable comeback and saved their skins at the death thanks to a last-gasp free from Jerome Johnston.
“The previous year we had come down from Division One and, within 12 months, we were on the verge of Division Three so you could say things were ropey-enough,” said Poland of that game five years ago.
“We stayed up that year and ended up getting to the Ulster final (after surprise wins against Armagh and Monaghan) so it just shows you how quickly things can change. Down could be sitting in a different position now if they had managed the game against Offaly a wee bit better when they were in the lead.
“Even in the Meath game, I know the conditions were horrendous but they had a chance near the end to win it. They could have been sitting on four points now so: Would there have been the same gloom and doom? Probably not. They’d have been looking at these last two games thinking they could pick up a win to stay in Division Two.
“But that’s not the case not so these are two massive games. Going to Cork won’t be easy and it’s definitely win or bust at the weekend.”
At the start of the season, the Rebel county were tipped as promotion candidates in some quarters but a single point from a home draw against Clare is all they have managed in five games.
“Both counties probably see themselves as further up the League rankings but on current form you can’t say that is true,” said Poland.
“They’re two proud counties and Cork are a long way off what they were as well so both teams will probably be confident of getting a result on Sunday – neither team will fear the other but the team that loses is basically gone.”
