GAA: FAITH HEALER; NFL DIVISION 2 FINAL: Down v Offaly, Croke Pk, tomorrow Fahy has worked a miracle but Down can still look up.

Byline: ORLA BANNON

DOWN take the underdogs tag to Croke Park knowing they will need to produce their best display of the year to beat in-form Offaly.

The Allianz Division 2 League final features two emerging teams delighted to get the experience of playing in Croke Park ahead of the championship.

Offaly are favourites after their eight-point drubbing of highly fancied Kildare in the semi-final and after coming through the tougher Division 2A programme will not want to be denied at the last hurdle.

Both teams will have one eye on their upcoming championship campaigns but when you reach any final you want to win it and the lure of a first senior title is a tempting prize for both sides.

Down boss Paddy O'Rourke said: "We're looking forward to this but more importantly it's another competitive game before the real stuff starts against Cavan in a fortnight.

"It's hard to beat winning and hopefully if we get a result in the final it will go a long way towards building confidence as we head into the championship."

Cavan and Offaly's Leinster championship opponents Westmeath will be interested spectators tomorrow (2.0).

They will be happy to lie in the long grass while their opponents show their hand in Croke Park but that's a problem both teams will settle for if a title is won.

Down, who were so close to beating Tyrone in last year's Ulster final, are unbeaten this year but only won three of their Division 2B games and drew four - including against the Lilywhites who Offaly dispensed with ease.

O'Rourke stressed: "Offaly ran up big results against the likes of Roscommon so we're expecting a very tough game.

"They also beat Kildare very easily which was something we could not do."

However everything went right for Offaly that day and manager Gerry Fahy hopes they can be just as accurate tomorrow.

"We had very few wides against Kildare, we took our chances really well," said Fahy, who guided UCG to the Sigerson Cup last year.

"We had a reasonably good day weather-wise and things went well for us but I just hope we didn't shoot the lot against Kildare.

"At the start of the year my biggest objective coming into the county as an outsider was to get to know the players and my selectors Matt Connor and Matt Plunkett.

"Obviously we then targetted promotion so it was great to achieve that and this is a just bonus and it's come at the right time.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for the lads to get a run-out at Croke Park.

"For any young fella growing up that is where he wants to play."

With the Leinster championship clash against Westmeath just three weeks away, Offaly couldn't have hoped for better preparation than a league final at headquarters.

Fahy has decided to name an unchanged line-up from the semi-final victory and time must be running out for others to force their way into the championship 15.

Jim Grennan holds onto his place in midfield ahead of John Reynolds with goalkeeper Padraig Kelly, recently returned from America, is also retained.

Fahy added: "We're just picking the team as we go along so you can't say this is the championship team for definite".

"The guys are getting opportunties so it's up to them to perform to stay in contention."

Fahy confesses he knows little about Down.

"I saw them on TV last year when they drew with Tyrone in the Ulster final so any team that's capable of doing that have to be considered useful.

"This is a whole new ball game for them as well, I don't think they have much experience of Croke Park either so it should be a great occasion for both teams."

Down have Dan Gordon fit again and his goal threat from full-forward is a tremendous asset to the Mournemen.

Benny Coulter switches to midfield as Down continue to search for their best 15 in the right positions but tomorrow's tough test should give the management plenty of food for thought as the championship comes into view.

CAPTION(S):

CALLING THE SHOTS: Gerry Fahy has had a great first term in charge of the Faithful; DOWN TO BUSINESS: Paddy O'Rourke