Allianz National Football League Division Three: Down v Laois (tonight, 7pm, Pairc Esler)
AFTER months of trials and tinkering, the wraps will finally come off Paddy Tally’s new-look Down side tonight as they face their first properly competitive game under the Galbally man.
The Dr McKenna Cup brought defeats at the hands of Cavan and Donegal and a win over Queen’s.
However, given the changes in personnel and the absence of a host of experienced heads, it would be folly to read too much into anything that transpired in early January.
Indeed, given the roll-call of men he is without against Laois, we are still likely to be some way away from getting a real idea of how Tally sees his Down side lining out.
Missing in action tonight are the suspended trio of Kevin McKernan, Ryan Johnston and captain Darren O’Hagan, while this crucial Division Three opener is also expected to come a bit too soon for Caolan Mooney and Conor Maginn.
Benny McArdle picked up a knock early on against Donegal and didn’t feature in the Queen’s game. He would be a significant loss too, while full-forward Connaire Harrison is only back from honeymoon and working his way back to full fitness.
It is not all bad news though as the Donal O’Hare is expected to return while Niall Donnelly – like the Burren sharpshooter – also came through a recent challenge match win over Kildare and is in line for a starting spot.
Laois represent something of an unknown quantity too in some respects, and will fancy their chances of leaving Newry with two valuable points as Down find their feet.
Having slid through the divisions down to the bottom rung, the O’Moore men have rebuilt impressively under John Sugrue.
Last year they gained promotion from Division Four, winning every game – including the final – along the way, before later advancing to a Leinster final date with Dublin.
Sugrue’s men may have lost by 18 in the end, but they kept pace with the All-Ireland champions for the guts of an hour until Jim Gavin’s men – as they have done so many times – turned the screw in the final quarter.
The Kerry native is set to hand League debuts to three players, while a number of others also make their return to inter-county action.
Seán Byrne, Colm Murphy and Adam Campion are in line for their first League starts, while Conor Boyle returns to the team at centre-forward.
Robert Pigott, who impressed during last year’s Division Four campaign before opting to spend the summer in America, has been selected at centre-back and Evan O'Carroll leads the line at full-forward in the absence of the experienced Donie Kingston.
On the road for their first outing in Division Three, Laois will probably try to sit tight and break at pace from deep. It would be something of a surprise if the Mournemen don’t deploy similar tactics.
Defensive organisation is a key tenet of Tally’s footballing philosophy, and he knows the Mournemen will need be hard to beat as they get to grips with life in Division Three.
And one thing that needs to improve is their record at Pairc Esler. Of the nine League games played there during the last three campaigns, Down have only won two - a much greater level of consistency is required.
The evening throw-in time could help as anybody who has attended matches in Newry on Saturday night and on a Sunday afternoon will tell you the difference is, well, night and day.
The ground seems to come to life when the light fades and, if Down can harness that energy, a hard-fought win could be on the cards.
Down: TBC
Laois: G Brody; D Seale, M Timmons, A Campion; S Attride, R Pigott, G Dillon; J O'Loughlin, K Lillis; D O'Connor, C Boyle, S Byrne; C Murphy, E O'Carroll, P Kingston
