Football

Niall Madine keen on return to Down fold in 2017

Niall Madine scored 1-3 in Ulster University's Ryan Cup quarter-final win over Maynooth University last week <br />Picture by Hugh Russell
Niall Madine scored 1-3 in Ulster University's Ryan Cup quarter-final win over Maynooth University last week
Picture by Hugh Russell
Niall Madine scored 1-3 in Ulster University's Ryan Cup quarter-final win over Maynooth University last week
Picture by Hugh Russell

IMPOSING forward Niall Madine says he would love to return to the Down panel for the 2017 campaign, six months after opting off Eamonn Burns’s panel on the eve of this year’s Championship.

The Saval forward decided to head Stateside for the summer after playing a bit-part role in Down’s ill-fated National League campaign, but hopes that a return to the inter-county scene could be on the cards.

Madine made just two substitute appearances as the Mournemen dropped out of Division One having lost all their games before a disappointing Championship compounded a miserable first term in charge for Burns.

The Down boss and his management team have been scouting the county for talent in recent months, and Madine - who starred in Ulster University’s Ryan Cup win over Maynooth last week - is sure to be on his radar.

“I had a brief word with Mark Poland there after the Longstone game and said if I was asked to come back I would definitely come back,” said Madine, who made his Down senior debut against Derry in the Ulster Championship back in 2013.

“I’d been to America the year before and really enjoyed it. I wasn’t really enjoying my football last year, it’s as simple as that. I just wanted to get away from things, and I really did enjoy America, going out and seeing boys from the year before and meeting new people - it was a big selling point.

“It seems to have rejuvenated me, going to America again. I’m back with Jordanstown now and I’m looking forward to getting back into every aspect of football now.

“I’d love to put on the red and black jersey again. If they ask me, I’ll definitely come back and give it another go.”

When asked whether Burns had been in contact yet, Madine replied: “We’ll see what happens.”

After deciding to head to America’s east coast, Madine helped the Donegal club reach the final of the New York Championship.

However, watching from afar as his native county was humbled by Monaghan in the Ulster Championship before being bounced out of the Qualifiers by Longford in Newry made for difficult viewing.

“It definitely was, you never want to see your county struggling,” he said.

“I think it’s a period every county goes through, it’s just time for us to rebuild and look to the future.”

For the meantime though, Madine’s focus is on Ulster University as they build towards the Sigerson Cup in Mayo next February.

UU were missing a host of inter-county stars for the game against Maynooth, with Donegal captain Michael Murphy perhaps the most notable absentee.

The Glenswilly ace, in his first year at the university, is taking a break from football after a busy year with club and county but is expected to come straight into Martin McHugh’s starting 15 by the time Sigerson comes around.

But rather than worrying about his place in the team, Madine insists he welcomes the competition.

He said: “You can only look at it as a positive.

“Michael Murphy’s been there and done it - he’s won an All-Ireland, Ulster Championships, Sigerson. Playing with the likes of him and Paddy McBrearty as well, it’s every forward’s dream to play with boys like that.

“You can do nothing but learn off lads like that. It’s only going to help you in the long run.”