DESPITE impressing for Ulster University during the Dr McKenna Cup, it looks as though bustling full-forward Niall Madine won’t be featuring for Down this season.
The Saval man left the Mourne panel before the start of last year’s Ulster Championship, but said in November that he would be keen on a return having been a squad regular since making his debut under James McCartan in 2013.
“I’d love to put on the red and black jersey again,” said Madine at the time. “If they ask me, I’ll definitely come back and give it another go.”
However it is understood that, despite his public ‘come and get me’ plea, he was not invited back on to Eamonn Burns’s panel when they reconvened in December.
Madine has performed well in college colours so far this year, catching the eye with a strong display in the first half of Ulster University’s defeat to Tyrone when he proved a major handful for the experienced Justin McMahon.
He also bagged three points as Martin McHugh’s students - preparing for their first Sigerson Cup outing on January 30 - shocked Cavan on Wednesday night.
Former Down forward and Irish News columnist Danny Hughes is a club-mate of Madine, and he feels the 24-year-old has plenty to offer a team preparing for a tough Division Two campaign.
“When he’s fit, there’s no better full-forward in the county – none,” said Hughes, a 2010 Allstar.
“Even when he’s half fit, he’s still a handful because he’s so strong and has two decent feet. There’s nobody stronger than Niall in the county, there’s nobody who knows how to play full-forward as well as him because he’s played there his whole life. It’s not as if he’s played midfield or centre half-forward.
“He plays full-forward for his club and that’s where he can do the biggest damage. As a target-man, there’s nobody better.
“I’m not saying Niall’s without fault, his fitness hasn’t always been the best, but he’s one of the most natural full-forwards you can get.”
Madine didn’t feature much in 2016, Burns’s first year in charge, making just two substitute appearances as Down suffered relegation from Division One without picking up a point.
When Madine opted off the panel in April 2016 to spend the summer playing football in America, Burns said it was “very disappointing to lose an experienced inside-forward”.
Caolan Mooney, who also left the panel last Spring, has since returned and featured during the Dr McKenna Cup as Down recorded morale-boosting wins over Queen’s and Derry before losing out in an end-to-end contest with Armagh during the week.
Hughes feels that, as has been the case with Mooney, Madine deserves another chance in the red and black.
He added: “It’s so important that Down stay in Division Two, that’s the first thing, and they play Armagh in a first round Championship game at the start of July.
“Martin McHugh sees the benefit of him and Martin McHugh knows a hell of a lot about football. At the end of the day, Caolan Mooney did the same thing as Niall, he’s been invited back into the squad and has put his shoulder to the wheel. Niall Madine can do the same.
“Down don’t have the luxury of doing without a player like Niall Madine.”
