Revenge the mission for Down in semi-final

Revenge the mission for Down in semi-final

21 June 2017

DOWN fans are in for a while knuckle ride in Armagh on Saturday night.

That’s when the senior footballers face Monaghan and the minors take on Cavan with places in their respective Ulster final up for grabs.

Expectation levels are at fever pitch on both fronts in what will be a blockbuster double bill.

It may be a fanciful suggestion to expect both teams to come through their encounters with a win. Reality would point to the fact that it is an unlikely scenario, but the dyed in the wool Mourne supporters will be hopeful of both teams advancing.

The senior team raised hope once more in the county with their thrilling 0-15 to 2-7 success over Armagh in their Ulster quarter-final duel in Newry.

It was a workmanlike performance that showed, if anything, that Eamon Burns and his management team were capable of sending out an organised Down unit equipped to win.

The upbeat mood in the Mourne camp will have helped training in the interim and Down will take on Monaghan fully expecting to come out the right side of the contest.

The Farneymen had three points to spare over their neighbours Cavan in a hard fought last eight tie at Breffni Park which they won by 1-15 to 0-15.

Conor McManus, who top scored with 1-4 that day, has a burgeoning reputation within the game and he has recently been dubbed in many quarters as the best attacker in the country.

He is the man who could swing this game in Monaghan’s favour. If he gets plentiful supply of quality ball then he has the potential to wreak havoc.

Down captain Darren O’Hagan is the best suited to a man marking job on McManus and the outcome of this battle will surely dictate the final result.

There hasn’t been much news on injuries emanating from the Down camp in the past few weeks. Niall Donnelly was removed from the pitch during the Armagh game and he is said to be on the comeback trail.

The starting Down 15 isn’t likely to alter much from the one that started against Armagh. Michael Cunningham will resume between the sticks, fronted by Anthony Doherty, Gerard McGovern and Darren O’Hagan.

McGovern will track Jack McCarron with huge responsibility on O’Hagan’s shoulders in shoring up the McManus threat.

Darragh O’Hanlon and Caolan Mooney are in form at the moment and will take the wing back slots with Conail McGovern in the centre, possibly detailing Owen Duffy.

If Donnelly isn’t fit to start then Glenn’s Niall McParland will fancy his chances of coming in and partnering Kevin McKernan in the middle of the park.

Peter Turley can lend a hand in that zone with Shay Millar and Conor Maginn the roving half forwards.

The two Johnstons, Ryan and Jerome, will be expecting big performances from themselves in a two-man full forward line.

If Eamon Burns opts for a more defensive approach to Saturday’s encounter then Connaire Harrison may miss out with possibly Joe Murphy or Aidan Carr being drafted in to act as an extra man at the back.

Malachy O’Rourke’s Monaghan team are battled hardened in Ulster Championship football. 

The influence of Conor McCarthy is growing while Colin Walshe is one of the top backs in the game. 

Goalkeeper Rory Beggan’s free kick taking ability is now a crucial part of his team’s resources and he will be expected to contribute to the scoreboard in this tie.

The highlight of Down’s Ulster SFC participation in 2017 will likely be the victory over near neighbours Armagh. This Monaghan team were a hare’s whisker away from the NFL final and have improved immeasurably since then.

Conor McManus is in the form of his life and he will be the match winner in a game that will see Down sent out the backdoor into the qualifiers.

The curtain raiser at 5pm is the minor semi-final that sees the Mourne prodigies up against a classy Cavan pack.

The Breffni side defeated Monaghan 3-14 to 1-15 in the quarter finals with Down having two points to spare, 2-13 to 2-11, against Armagh.

Cavan are a physically strong outfit with a lot of strength in central positions.

James Smith is a classy midfielder with Cian Madden a dangerous playmaker at centre half forward and Tiernan Reilly a live wire at corner forward.

Oisin Pierson is a brilliant free taker who also equally adept at taking scores from play.

Jack Hazard’s injury time penalty save guided Down to that stunning success over Armagh last day out.

James McCartan’s outfit were much the better team that day, but a better all round team performance will be needed if Cavan are to be dismissed.

Liam Kerr and Conor McCrickard amassed 2-12 between them against Armagh and further big performances from the duo would be welcomed.

The one worrying aspect for Down is the fact that they didn’t look overly confident at the back. Cavan have better forwards than Armagh and if the Red and Black aren’t tuned in in the final third then their dream of reaching an Ulster final could go up in smoke.