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Benny refreshed and ready to go 
Gaelic Games 
By Brendan Crossan 

BENNY Coulter insists that Ross Carr's decision to rest the majority of his Down squad in the McKenna Cup will improve their Championship prospects this summer.

The Mayobridge ace was one of a number of Mourne players who were relieved of McKenna Cup duties this month, as new manager Carr gave lesser-known players a chance to stake a claim.

Coulter feels rejuvenated after enjoying a two-month break away from football and he added that the rested players will be "definitely" fresher for Championship football.

"I'm glad I've got a break from the McKenna Cup," said Coulter.

"I played in the McKenna Cup since coming into the seniors, but when you step back and look at things, at Championship time we seemed to fail. We'd be doing well in the National League and not do well enough in Championship, so we decided a break mightn't do us any harm."

He added: "I haven't played any football since we lost to Ballinderry (in November). In fact, I wouldn't say I played much that day either. I've had a good two months break without touching a football.

"That's the first time since '99 I've ever had that length of break of doing absolutely nothing because Mayobridge have been playing in Ulster regularly and then it just continued on with Down."

Coulter, who had an indifferent 2006 campaign when Down crashed out of the Championship to modest Sligo, declared that he too will have to "step up a gear" this season.

"I'm happy enough with my fitness, I've been training with the squad since the fourth of January. I'm really looking forward to this particular National League campaign. I can't wait. I definitely think I'll feel fresher for the break."

With the likes of Coulter, Michael Walsh, Ronan Sexton, Brendan Grant, Alan Molloy and Dan Gordon enjoying extended breaks, their absences have given Carr a chance to look at other players in the county.

"Ross named a 35-man McKenna Cup panel and there was a lot of chat around the county that players weren't getting chances and I think Ross decided to take a look at all these players and he's done that," said Coulter.

"It's up to him now whether they're fit to play county football, but at least he's given everyone a chance. It's now up to the boys coming back in to earn a place on the team, including myself."

In their absence, the likes of Kevin Gracey (Downpatrick) and Jackie Lynch (Drumgath) have caught the eye during Down's McKenna Cup games, while former Cliftonville soccer player Peter Telford (Downpatrick) is a viable option at midfield for Carr.

Drumgath goalkeeper Bernard Connell has impressed this month and could offer Michael McVeigh some competition during the National League campaign.

Down are in Division 1B this year and are grouped with the likes of Galway, Armagh and Derry. The Mournemen's first three League fixtures are against the division's lesser lights Louth, Kildare and Westmeath.

Coulter added: "There are a lot of good teams in Division One. Our first game is against Louth, a team that has improved unbelievably... And then you've got Galway, Armagh, Derry and Kildare. It's a tough group, but we're looking forward to it and hopefully we can stay in Division One."

Meanwhile, Coulter's club colleague Michael Walsh will be back in action despite working in England.

The centre half-forward is currently training with rugby side London Irish and hopes to see some League action with the Mournemen this term. Down have again drawn Cavan in the Ulster Championship (May 13).

Down need determination 
NFL Focus 2007 - Down 
By Eamonn O'Hara 

KNOCKED back at the first time of trying. Knocked back at the second. At 5'9'' both Peter McGrath, manager of two All-Ireland SFC winning squads, and Paddy O'Rourke, the captain of the first of them, thought he might be a shade too small. At 10 stone, Damian Rafferty was told he was too light on the scales, into the bargain.

He refused to accept his ambitions of playing senior football for Down would fall on the sword of either, size or weight.

Mark Twain once said "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog". Rafferty had pace to burn and as his manager at Newry Shamrocks, DJ Kane, appreciated, he had tenacity coursing through his defensive qualities.

A year spent in Dublin working for the family's building firm required a transfer to the St Jude's club to maintain his Gaelic interests and it was there, at the club's gym facility, that Damian spent extra time working weights and developing body mass.

"I was told I was too small and light, too lightly built. After a squad trial when Paddy took over he said to me to go away and put on some beef, so I did. Two years ago I made the squad and I am now up to 11 and a half stone and that extra stone and a half has made a difference," he said.

"I have done a lot of work in the gym, a lot of strength and conditioning. I needed to get stronger when I moved to St Jude's because Dublin club football is very tough. I can feel the difference now, especially when you're making tackles. Instead of being knocked over and getting hurt, you bounce back up and it doesn't hurt as much now."

As with his approach to the game and the task of trying to man-mark tricky and tough forwards, Damian was never one to shirk a challenge and his determination to get over his initial obstacles has established himself in the senior county squad over the past two seasons.

With the new season, there's a new management in place. DJ Kane, who guided his development when he stepped up from minor football at Shamrocks, is in with Ross Carr. For each player, there is a new challenge, fresh demands and no place to hide as Carr and Kane seek to get Down football moving forward from last year's disappointing conclusions to both NFL and Championship campaigns.

The low point of 2006 arrived as the sun went down at Markievicz Park in Sligo on Saturday, June 17.

From the early moments of their All-Ireland SFC Qualifier against Tommy Brehony's 'All Blacks', potential disaster stalked their every misplaced pass, stumble and almost non-existent scoring threat. The first score was Sean Davey's goal and while only three points in it at the turn, Down suffered 35 minutes without raising a flag, managed just four points, only one from play and lost.

It echoed the tail-off to the League when, in their final Division One game, they managed only four points at home to Galway and ended up comprehensively beaten. The year had started so brightly, four wins in five games. But, as they left Sligo last June the season had turned very bleak.

The challenge to identify the reasons for what happened and get Down football back on track this year is one, like others he's dealt with just to be part of senior county football, that Damian will not take a single step back from.

"What happened at Markievicz Park was desperate. We couldn't do anything that day. We had no ideas how to beat them at all, couldn't get going and the defeat was an embarrassment more than anything else," he said.

"I couldn't put my finger on what caused it. At the start of last season things were going great, then Laois beat us and in our last League game at home to Galway they hammered us. Sligo was terrible. At the start of the year things were great and I don't know what changed in between.

"As players we've chatted about what happened and it's up to the players to sort it out and make sure we've got our heads right before every game and make sure what happened then doesn't happen again."

Ross and DJ will have their own thoughts on it. In the last number of weeks they have used the McKenna Cup to try out a raft of inexperienced players. The squad for the League may show a few changes, offer tougher competitive opportunities to some of those involved in the McKenna trials. Building towards the Championship will then gain steady momentum, one way or another, before Down go to Cavan in the Ulster first round.

In spite of the setbacks endured last year, Damian is relishing the prospect of fighting for his place in the new-look red and black 15 and says:

"I have really enjoyed it so far. It is tough, a lot quicker playing county football than club, because you don't get as much time on the ball don't get as much time on the ball and you're getting hit from all angles. I enjoy the challenge. It is great. I love it. I've marked some very tough forwards, Ross Munnelly of Laois, Peter Canavan in the Championship and you learn something from every player you play against and then work in training to improve your game.

"With a new management in, there's a bounce about the place but that is nothing against the last management. When a new manager comes in there's new ideas, bit of fresh optimism, but everybody knows they have to up their game to try and improve, to try and impress Ross and DJ. It's a new challenge for everyone. The McKenna Cup has been used for trials and hopefully a couple of players will come through from that.

"While a young group of players have been in at the deep end in the McKenna Cup, the rest of the squad have been at all the training sessions, training two or three times a week, working in the gym. Ross and DJ are looking long term, the next three or four years, but they are aiming to stay in Division One this year.

"We need to be in there playing Division One football. That is important and we will be aiming for the top four so that we're in Division One next year when they do the restructuring of the National League. The aim is to get Down back to where we were. Last year, when it came to the bit, against Galway in the League and Sligo in the Qualifiers, we crumbled away.

"Now it's about getting a bit of Down steel back into it."



ONES TO WATCH

On some of the better performances delivered last season, the likes of Daniel Hughes, Ambrose Rogers, if he recovers well enough from knee surgery last Autumn, and Eoin McCartan look capable of impacting strongly.

James Colgan (below) fits that profile also and after watching UUJ's Sigerson Cup hopefuls carve out an emphatic win over an experimental, inexperienced Down select in the McKenna Cup, full-forward line player Packie Downey looks an option as does Jordanstown's creative half-forward John Boyle and UUJ half-back Eamon McConville. Impossible though to suggest many individuals, indeed if any, with the new squad for the National League yet to be confirmed. Whether those named are included obviously remains to be determined.



THE VERDICT

By the time Ross Carr and DJ Kane offer words of motivation and advice in Galway's home field on April 8, a honeymoon period for the new management team that will take them a few miles down the road to visit Louth, to Mullingar and Crossmaglen will be virtually at an end. They will hope to see a place in Division One for 2008, if not already secured, there for the players to fight for against the Tribesmen.

The core of last season's faltering squad, which for some reason lost its way in both the League and, most alarmingly, the Championship is expected to provide many of the building blocks for Ross and DJ. Improved attitude, commitment to winning each and every game and improvements in all key areas will be anticipated during the NFL to ready themselves for May's first Championship D-Day at Breffni Park against time-honoured rivals, Cavan.

The management and fitness coaches can only do so much in movitating, preparing, developing a tactical game plan designed to play to team strengths and getting all the necessary strength and stamina targets reached. As others have stated in the past, once the players cross the white line on match day, it is down to them to apply themselves, apply the game plan and, at the heels of the hunt, hope things go well enough for the forwards to deliver the finishing to challenge for NFL points or SFC successes consistently. The latter was missing last year in both results and scoring quality – the fragile four points managed against Galway in the final League game and at Sligo in the Qualifiers the stark examples.

A fresh start for all, renewed optimism, renewed commitment to battle for the red and black jersey. Ross and DJ enjoyed the highest possible achievements during their playing careers with Down and while season one will be a learning curve, improvement on 2006's inconsistencies is the bottom line. Year one of a longer termed plan, the aim beyond this will be to steer Down back to being a competitive force at the business end of the two main competitions – a genuine contender again for Gaelic football's 'Holy Grail' – sooner rather than later. They appear a long way off that target at present.

For this year, patience and some measured progress. Retained Division One status is the initial bonus hoped for. With away games at up-and-coming Louth, at Westmeath, Armagh and Galway, a top four finish is a very tough ask. After that, an extended, exciting run in the Championship (through either front or back door) is the challenge. Again, with a first game at Cavan, a very tough ask. Forming a team, the depth of squad needed, to challenge at either Division One or Championship levels will take time and players with the talent and temperament Ross and DJ are looking for and need to move Down forward. Championship is where it's at for Down football fans but titles are some way off on the evidence of last year and, whatever about the League, there is a substantial gap between them and rival neighbours Armagh and Tyrone, for example, at Championship level.

Like all good, quality workmanship, there's no quick fix method. The task is the cliched 'tall order' and is bound to require a lot of time, dedication and determination – if all the best of material can be sourced – to get to a point that completion is in sight. For the moment, this looks a long way off.



NFL SQUAD

No information available. A panel will be announced prior to the National League first round game away to last season's Division Two title winners Louth. This follows assessment of an experimental squad used for the Dr McKenna Cup and their university players.

what do you boys think of hugh mcgettigan?

Learning curve: Ross Carr saw his Down side lose by 13 points to UU Jordanstown in the McKenna Cup on Sunday, but the Clonduff man insists his experimental panel can learn from the experience


THE ice bath might have felt a bit more comfortable. A 13-point beating from UUJ's Sigerson Cup hopefuls left the rookies Down manager Ross Carr handed trials to at Burren for Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup game with bruised pride.

It proved a harsher than anticipated experience, but for Carr it was valuable nonetheless.

Attitudes are likely to be that more focussed on the demands when they resume practice drills this week, with many likely to try out the learning curve again on Sunday at MacCumhaill Park against Brian McIver's Donegal.

Carr admitted "the luckiest ones" in the experimental squad he and assistant manager DJ Kane are running the rule over prior to the return of rested regulars for the NFL were those not on the pitch to experience such an emphatic defeat.

But, the McKenna Cup is serving a purpose and while the students' victory margin was unsatisfactory, it can only drive on the players on trial to work to improve.

"What we were hoping for was that we could get a group of players that would keep battling away and battling away," said Ross.

He added: "Unfortunately, there was that much of a difference, a gulf in class, and it was nearly impossible for people from midfield up to shine because they were under so much pressure.

"Afterwards we said to them it's not just about training. You have got to be able to go out and produce it on a given day and if you need to get better you've got to get playing against better teams and against Jordanstown I suppose the luckiest ones were those who didn't get to play."

He said that the management did not want any of those involved heading home from Burren thinking that because they had just represented a county team that had been beaten by 13 points (1-19 to 1-6) their chance "was over". Carr stressed that the process cannot "work like that".

Opportunities will continue to be given for the Donegal match, after which the squad will be revised, the seasoned county players of the past few years will return to prepare for the National League, with a number of those being looked at during the McKenna Cup hopefully graduating to the NFL panel.

Carr pointed out, however, that the inexperienced group they are working with at the moment "have also got to realise too that they have got to be able to step up to the mark, and if that's the standard that has to be attained well then we've got to get to that standard We've got to get the personnel that are able to do it, and some people are going to be disappointed".

There were plenty of positives for Down's management, though, the majority delivered by UUJ's performance as Jordanstown started with six Down players, U21s, used seven in total, with star performances on the day coming from Warrenpoint play-maker John Boyle at centre half-forward, Eamon McConville at half-back and Drumgath's Packie Downey in the full-forward line.

Boyle and Downey contributed six points between and created many more chances for others to profit by.

Ross said: "The supply of the ball into the Jordanstown full forward line was excellent. Their support play out of defence and from midfield opened up a lot of space. John and Packie definitely revelled in that space. James Colgan competed very very well in the middle of the field and Eamon McConville played very well at wing half back and Shane O'Hagan did well in corner back. They are all U21s, and it is a big plus for Down."

Conor Gribben and Adrian Carville showed well at times for Down's select, Gribben scoring

1-2, but on Sunday management will be hoping that the collective "step up to the mark" a bit better at Ballybofey after the lessons taken from UUJ's display.

I believe all delighted, great approach, training extremely tough at minute (one regular quoted as hardest training he has ever done), lots of hard work going on, v professional approach with a v good hands on man management style is what I heard. Maybe some diff stories will come out when the mckenna cup crew get ditched, but then after the results they can hardly blame anyone else...

Most of regulars v impressed, but watch out when the teeth get stripped! a few surprises in store i feel ie ould hands getting dumped from the panel|! boys that maybe think they are a sure thing!

the regulars are back in full training with the others at this stage.

the others will see out the mckenna cup then be culled, i am guessing less than 6 will be kept. no u21s/sigerson players will initially be included, no u21s will be included at all.

Carr looks at bigger picture  

From Eamonn O'Hara in Burren  

DOWN manager Ross Carr isn't reading much into yesterday's heavy defeat. He knew it would prove a tough ask for a young and raw team of squad, but the margin UUJ's Sigerson Cup outfit won by was still a bitter Dr McKenna Cup pill to swallow.

"We would be more than disappointed with the result. You never like to get beat by 13 points. It doesn't matter what level of football it is in," he said, adding: "It leaves us in no uncertain terms the amount of work that has to be done.

"We were playing against a team who are a month off their All-Ireland Championship campaign really, with the Sigerson, and a team that is made up with at least a dozen inter-county footballers. So, we always knew going into it that it was going to be a massive test for us."

Carr felt that UUJ strength in the middle third told. After 20 minutes the students took charge of the game in that sector and as Down's attack was starved of possession, a well drilled Jordanstown team were virtually out of sight by the 50th minute when 1-13 to 0-5 clear.

UUJ coach Adrian McGuckian was pleased with the performance, obviously the result, the University's first win against Down in the competition, though measured the win against what was a relatively inexperienced county select.

"We are not going to get carried away with it, but it was a good performance and the team performed very well, so that was pleasing for us. We worked a lot on support play in training, moving the ball quickly and that worked well against Down," he said.

The 10 minutes after half-time put the seal on it he said, five points without reply sending them 0-12 to 0-5 ahead to put the brakes on any prospect of Down staging a comeback after UUJ led at the interval by two points.

"We got a good break after half time, got two or three points in a row and I think that ruined Down's belief in themselves and we went on from there.

"It was a good boost for players confidence to get a win like that before Sigerson but it was a weakened Down team after all."



Star Man

John Boyle (UUJ)

Instrumental in getting Jordanstown's game kick-started with a well worked point after 11 troublesome minutes, Boyle emerged as one of many dominant players for UUJ. Made excellent use of possession, repeatedly carved open Down's half-back line with good passing and diagonal runs. Set up plenty of opportunities and managed three points himself. Shades robust full-forward Packie Downey, Mark Lynch, who struck some fine frees (including one for a fluke goal) and half-backs Rory Murray and Eamon McConville. For Down, Conor Gribben impressed at times and scored a corker of a goal after 52 minutes.

THE stylish skills of elusive play-maker John Boyle certainly caught the eye. The fielding, strength and finishing ability of target-man Packie Downey left a good impression too.

At the back, the defensive work of 2005 All-Ireland minors Eamon McConville and Shane O'Hagan impressed and that year's county minor captain James Colgan delivered strongly around centrefield.

All well and good, especially for UUJ coach Adrian McGuckian on the day, and further along the line, in due course, for Down manager Ross Carr.

The only trouble for Carr was they were all hitting form, and contributing to 20 scores picked off by Jordanstown, as a slick and snappy student outfit forced an inexperienced and experimental county select to play second fiddle.

In the attacking third of the field, Warrenpoint's Boyle ran the show and cracked over three points from play.

Meanwhile Downey, a product of the Drumgath club, caused no end of problems once UUJ got to grips with the game after 15 minutes.

At that stage, they trailed 0-3 to 0-1, all Down's scores coming inside the first six minutes.

But, by the half-hour the free-taking and scoring ability from open play of Derry's Mark Lynch, Monaghan's Bernard O'Brien and a neat move between Boyle and Downey had put Jordanstown in charge.

With craft and industry, the support work throughout the team being very good, UUJ hit six points without reply. Down did rally briefly towards the break.

Adrian Carville and impressive Conor Gribben pointed, closing the gap to 0-7 to 0-5. It did not get any better than that.

Danny Hughes, who shone in the opening quarter before the service dried up, was moved to wing half-forward, and Down made a couple of substitutions, but it was Jordanstown who hit the ground running on the restart.

Within four minutes the lead was extended to five points, and then out to seven points by the 42nd minute as scores by Lynch, Downey and Boyle received no answers. UUJ had now posted 11 points to Down's two since the sixth minute and it was clear the difference between the two teams.

Mickey McVeigh brought off a superb save to deny Boyle a goal nine minutes into the second half  he denied Downey in the first period after a defensive gaffe.

Moments later, a long-range free dropped in by Lynch, keeper McVeigh and corner-back Declan Rooney both jumped for it, collided, and the ball ended up in the net.

Completely out-played in the middle third, Down's stretched and over-worked back line was over-run in the final quarter. With possession not being retained and Jordanstown's defence under little pressure, space continued to open up and UUJ reeled off six unanswered points from the 56th minute, with two stand out finishes from sub Kevin Dyas.

It was the first time Jordanstown were drawn to play a Down select in the McKenna Cup, the win gave them a timely boost, albeit against very inexperienced opposition that lost its way after 15 or 20 minutes. A good win for them ahead of the Sigerson Cup being held in Belfast in March.

With six Down players starting for UUJ, there was a broad canvas of prospects for Ross Carr to get a look at, and while he was concentrating on those wearing the red and black, the players in the main who made good impressions yesterday were all wearing Jordanstown blue.



Matchstats

Down: M McVeigh; D Rooney, S Toner,

P Matthews; C McCrickard, J Doran, C Murtagh (0-1); A Carville (0-2), G Johnson; K Gracey,

N Sweeney, B Doran; C Gribben (1-2),

B Sweeney, D Hughes (0-1).

Subs: E Henry for J Doran (half-time),

K McGuigan for McCrickard (half-time),

P Telford for Carville (48), J Lynch for Johnson (48), A Burns for N Sweeney (55).

Blood Subs: J Lynch for Carville (21)



UUJ: M McAllister; P Mooney, J Conlon,

S O'Hagan; R Murray (0-1); E McConville,

S McAleer; J Colgan (0-1), J Bradley; M Lynch (1-5, three frees, one 45), J Boyle (capt., 0-3), R Mulgrew (0-1); M Herron, P Downey (0-3),

B O'Brien (0-2, one free)

Subs: D McCaul (0-1) for O'Brien (47), K Dyas (0-2) for O'Hagan (55), B Boggs for McAleer (63).

Blood Sub: P Donnelly for Bradley (44).

i think i can pretty much guarantee that ross will do his utmost not to include minors/u21s in the senior panel. I think that he is doing a great thing by not selecting monirs/u21s no matter how good they are! Give them a chance to grow, enjoy football at their own age group, then allow them to blossom into players so that by time they are 21/22 they are ready to give the seniors 7/8 years football......

no u21s or college players included in current panel; a number of players given extra time to rest; leaving a training panel of a number of unknowns......

Carr fumes over ruling on winter friendlies 
GAA 
By Ronan McManus 

DOWN manager Ross Carr has hit out at the new GAA directive which prevents inter-county teams playing challenge matches in December.

Carr and his assistant DJ Kane have been trawling through the Mourne county since their appointment in late October to bring together a panel for the year ahead, with the McKenna Cup kicking off in just over two weeks.

"These recent orders from Croke Park have confined our preparation somewhat," said Carr.

"At the end of the day, the likes of this management team, who are new to the job, are trying to scour the county for players and we have decided on 40 to for the time being.

"We need to see these boys playing other county players but, unfortunately, Croke Park has decreed a rule that we can't do that."

The new directive from Central Council was designed for the benefit of the players – to extend their off season – but Carr believes the rules are unfair on players.

"There are only so many times the lads can play games between ourselves before they get pissed off?" said the 1991 and 1994 All-Ireland winner.

Carr, who was in charge of Monaghan club Castleblayney last year, also revealed that facilities have also been a problem.

"We've been at the mercy of the clubs to give us their pitches and with the spell of poor weather it's been a problem getting adequate facilities," he said.

However, despite the problems in preparing for the upcoming McKenna Cup the Clonduff man is still looking forward to the competitive matches with his new squad.

"I'm looking forward to getting the games, but with a wee bit of trepidation," said Carr.

"We're going into it not knowing how the fellas will fare with a lot of them not having played in senior inter-county matches yet. So we will just have to wait and see."

anyone heard that scullion has opted out this season? also heard that 2 hurlers showing well; mcgourty & johnson

Saw the following post on hoganstand, and it made me want to comment...

atticall
How you think aticall will do next season? I think we'll do very well. Well have as strong enuf panel, and dont be suprised to see us finish mid table anyway. With injured players back and he suspended players well be a match for most teams.
aticall gael , tullyframe Ireland , 05/12/2006 at 18:31

I honestly believe they will come straight back down and attain maybe 5 points at the max. This isnt sour grapes as they fully deserved to beat us in the play offs, but really their enthusiasm and style of football will win them friends, but they dont have a strong panel, and dont have enough real quality match winners....

The jump from 2nd to 1st is huge, with every game a championship final for the promoted team. They will benefit from not havng any county players (unless miceal sloan gets a call, and if he does they r fcked!), but their big pitch will suit a lot of div1 teams, and i fear they will really struggle. The gap between 1 and 2 really is too much right now....

heard it was between p o;rourke and mccorry, and that mccorry was the man. heard it in w'point from an ex county player...

As far as I know, the following appointments have been made recently re: club senior football

aidan farrell / j austin - rostrevor
j mc comiskey - liatroim
jim mc corry - mayobridge
jp o'kane - saval

no one yet at castlewellan, bryansford?

folks, can anyone give me a background or opinion on hugh mcgettigan? he was a selector under brian white? whats his coaching/managerial capability etc etc. thanks