Football

Niall Madine ready to rock as he returns to Down fold for 2018

Niall Madine, who made his debut for Down in a Championship game back in 2013, is back with the Mourne County after missing the 2017 campaign. Picture by Seamus Loughran
Niall Madine, who made his debut for Down in a Championship game back in 2013, is back with the Mourne County after missing the 2017 campaign. Picture by Seamus Loughran Niall Madine, who made his debut for Down in a Championship game back in 2013, is back with the Mourne County after missing the 2017 campaign. Picture by Seamus Loughran

DOWN’S forward options have received a major boost for 2018 with the return of Niall Madine to the Mourne County fold.

The powerful Saval forward has apparently impressed at training since rejoining the panel and, with Kilcoo’s Jerome Johnston expected to miss the National League at least, Eamonn Burns will welcome his forward options being bolstered.

Madine – who can also play midfield – wasn’t involved last year and, having spent much of last summer travelling, ended up watching from afar as Down made a surprise run to the Ulster final.

The 25-year-old intends staying put this year, and is hoping to play his part in a tough Division Two campaign before Championship fever kicks in.

However, following the stunning performances of Allstar nominee Connaire Harrison last summer, Madine knows he has a battle on his hands to force his way into the reckoning.

“I’m just glad to be back,” he said.

“I was glad to get the break away from the county and just focus on the club, but it’s good to be back.

“I’m taking every day as it comes, I’m not putting any pressure on myself. You’ve the likes of Harrison there who did really well last year and it’s up to me now to show that I’m as good as them boys.

“It’s up to me to show I can perform at the level they’re performing. Hopefully it is competitive because that’s what you want - people competing for places.”

Watching the Ulster final defeat to Tyrone in a pub in Thailand was an unusual experience, and Madine insists he has no regrets about his time away, despite that upturn in Down’s fortunes.

He added: “I’d love to have been there but I had stuff planned earlier in the year that I was going away travelling with my friends. I did a lot of stuff this year that I would never have got to do if I was on the Down squad.

“There was part of me wishing I could’ve been there but I was glad to get away - the year out did me the world of good. You have a bit of freedom to go away and do whatever you want.

“I was able to go to Thailand with my friends, go to China with the university, go to New York a couple of times too.

“But when I came back I was thinking that if I did get a call back into training this year I definitely would give it a go. I came out of training one time and had a missed call from Eamonn so I phoned him back and I was happy to come back.

“I’m just enjoying playing football again.”

Madine will have to wait until the end of the month for the chance to pull on the red and black jersey, however, as he will be involved with Ulster University during January’s Dr McKenna Cup.

A family break sees him miss UU’s Section B opener against Derry and, despite returning just the day beforehand, Madine could be thrust into action against his native county on January 7 in Downpatrick.

Down narrowly avoided the drop to Division Three of the National League last year, and open their Division Two campaign on January 28 away to Louth – now managed by the man who led the Mourne County to two All-Ireland titles in the 1990s, Pete McGrath.