Sport

Down aim for back-to-back wins as they target promotion push

Down forward Danny Toner will be looking to add to the 1-6 he scored against Armagh when the Ards men take on Wicklow at Pairc Esler <br />Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Down forward Danny Toner will be looking to add to the 1-6 he scored against Armagh when the Ards men take on Wicklow at Pairc Esler
Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Down forward Danny Toner will be looking to add to the 1-6 he scored against Armagh when the Ards men take on Wicklow at Pairc Esler
Picture by Colm O'Reilly

National Hurling League Division 2B: Down v Wicklow


(Sunday, Pairc Esler, Newry, 2pm)

DOWN go into Sunday’s clash at home to Wicklow looking to make it two wins from two in Division 2B of the National League, and will have every confidence in doing just that.

Mickey Johnston’s men got off to the perfect start with an opening day win away to near neighbours Armagh in a Valentine’s Day showdown that saw the Ards men emerge victorious, 2-16 to 2-14, at the Athletic Grounds. A second success on the trot would put Johnston’s side very much in the hunt for promotion before they face Mayo, Donegal and Meath in their final three games.

Danny Toner hit 1-6 and Conor Woods 1-3 against the Orchard and they will be looking to increase that tally against a Wicklow side who were beaten 0-22 to 0-13 by a more clincial Meath outfit in Arklow in their first match in this year’s league. Wicklow were wasteful in the first-half against the Royals in that match, hitting five wides in the opening 25 mniutes to find themselves five points adrift, and it was a margin that was increased even further after the break as Meath’s Joey Kenna top scored for his side with eight points.

Down will have to do without the services of experienced forwards Gareth Johnston and Johnny McCusker, who are both out with long-term injuries and only the latter is expected to feature in the Christy Ring Cup later this year. Steven Dineen is likely to miss Sunday’s match following cartilage damage suffered against Armagh but, in better news, Johnston should be able to call on the services of defender Conor O’Neill in the next few weeks.

Cahair O'Kane and Andy Watters give their thoughts on this weekend's National Hurling League fixtures

While James Coyle and Michael Hughes have both opted out of panel for Down this year, manager Johnston is pleased with the additions of Portaferry quartet Conor and Aaron O’Prey, Caolan Taggart and Conor Mageean, while Ruairi Campbell of Newry Shamrocks are new faces in the 2016 squad. In the shape of Ballaygalget clubman Danny Toner, Down have one of the most potent forwards in the division and, if they can give their forward line the required service on Sunday afternoon, then successive wins should be on the cards for Johnston’s side.

As for the Garden county, they will likely have to rely once again on the free taking of Diarmuid Masterson, who hit six frees in the defeat to Meath, if they are to get a result, with only one of their starting forwards, Gavin Weir, registering a point in the first-half of that loss.

Sunday’s match will be the first of two home fixtures for Down as they take on Mayo in Ballycran on March 6 before travelling to face Donegal in Letterkenny a week later. They round off their campaign back at Ballycran on March 20 against Meath.