Hurling: Down up to Yankie invasion.
ALMOST one year after submission to Derry in the Ulster Hurling Championship, Down's rebuilding programme will be put on show at Casement Park today.The squad ended its association with manager Frank Dawson and appointed Jimmy O'Reilly, but they have yet to show any sign of improvement.
Indeed, against a New York side made-up mainly of ex-pat hurlers from the south, Down will find this Ulster quarter-final a difficult test to pass.
An unimpressive league campaign, despite the return of several exiled hurlers, including Noel Sands and Martin Mallon, does nothing to enhance Down's aim of returning to the Ulster Final.
They face Derry in the semi-final, barring any mishap today, and even the current Oak Leaf side without the injured Ollie Collins, should prove too strong.
Derry-born hurler Damien Doherty will start in the New York team, along with Tipperary's Eoin Cummins, Westmeath's Brian McCabe and New York born Sean Nolan.
Given Down's recent demise in the game, the exiles should arrive at Casement Park capable of recording an upset.
For the Mourne men, Paul Braniff, a promising 17 year-old, makes his debut. And with Noel Sands, Marty Mallon, Gerard and Johnny McGrattan, Kevin Coulter and Michael Pucci, all having returned, this Down team should quickly adopt to the championship demand.
DOWN (SHC v New York): Clarke, M Mallon, K Coulter, J Caughey, S Murray, P Coulter, M Pucci, P Monan, G Gordon, B Braniff, G Savage, G McGrattan, J McGrattan, P Braniff, N Sands. Subs: K Keating, P Mallon, M Coulter, S Mallon, B Smith, D Byers, L Clarke.
VERDICT: Down
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Author: | York, Alex Mcgreevy Down V New |
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Jun 3, 2000 |
| Words: | 263 |
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