THE new Down jersey was unveiled on Saturday with the figures 60, 61, 68, 91, 94 set into stars on the rear collar.
Those numbers relate to the Mourne county’s five All-Ireland titles of course and, while butDown rightly remember past glories, Sean og McAteer spoke of the need to add more stars to the famous red and black jersey.
The long-serving county board secretary, one of several speakers at the launch which took place in the O’Neill’s store in Newry, remarked on how a generation of Down fans has grown up without getting to the chance to celebrate the capture of a Sam Maguire.
A sixth All-Ireland title looks some way off, but there was a resurgence in the county in 2017 with manager Eamonn Burns’ squad reaching the Ulster final. Burns’ Bryansford clubmate David McKibbon played his past in that run by scoring in three of Down’s four Championship games.
The last time Down won the All-Ireland, McKibbon was a three year-old, but he is determined to play his part in the county’s march back to prominence.
“Really the biggest success I’ve seen for Down was getting to the All-Ireland final in 2010,” said McKibbon.
“I was there that day but as Sean og said there is a generation there that hasn’t seen much of us getting to Croke Park for All-Ireland finals and semi-finals.
“Getting back to the Ulster final last year was hopefully a stepping stone to what we can achieve this year. Hopefully things are on the change now.”
Down did return to Croke Park last season for a round four Qualifier against Monaghan, but despite shading the battle in the first half, the Mournemen couldn’t repeat their Ulster semi-final win.
“The boys did well in the first half and Connaire Harrison getting that goal brought us in (at half-time) with a draw,” McKibbon recalled.
“We were looking to push on in the second half but things didn’t go our way like they had in the Ulster semi-final. But getting back to Croke Park was an achievement and hopefully we can repeat that next year.”
McKibbon was brought into the Down panel by James McCartan back in 2012. A trip to the USA meant he sat out 2015 but he has been back in the fold since Burns took over from Jim McCorry the following year.
“We won’t be coming in under the radar next year,” he warned.
“People will know the likes of Connaire Harrison and Darragh O’Hanlon; boys who have been doing it every year but were maybe under the radar. They’ll have man-markers this year but it’ll be up to them to rise above it and push on.”
Down’s season starts on January 3 with the Dr McKenna Cup. The Mournemen have been drawn with Armagh, Derry and Ulster University and Burns will use those games to prepare his side for the Division Two campaign that follows.
“Armagh beat us last year in the McKenna Cup and then we got one over them in the Championship,” said McKibbon.
“They’ll be coming looking to get one back on us.”
He added: I’ve been working away, getting the hard yards in and then, after Christmas we’ll focus on the football. It is tough this time of the year, but you need to have it in the bank for June.
“We have Gearoid Adams in this year along with Cathal Murray and Eamonn, so it should be good, I’m looking forward to it.”
