National Football League

Division Three

LOUTH V DOWN

Sunday, Dowdallshill, 2pm

BY NIALL MCCOY

DOWN manager Paddy Tally has said that Sunday’s match against Louth will still provide good preparation for the Ulster Championship despite the Mourne county already being assured of promotion.

Tally’s men travel to Dowdallshill in unusual circumstances. They have yet to kick a ball post lockdown but are guaranteed of promotion alongside Cork. That was due to Leitrim opting not to travel to Newry in round six and Longford conceding this weekend’s game with Cork. Even if Louth were to win, and Derry got the better of Offaly to draw level on points, Down would still go up on the head-to-head rule.

In truth, it’s unlikely Down would have missed out anyway. They were impressive pre-lockdown and are understood to be training well despite suffering a few long-term injury blows.

“It’s not what we expected coming back but it’s good to have promotion secured,” said Tally. “We performed well in our first five games and that win over Derry proved to be a big result the way it has worked out.

“Still, we are looking for a performance against Louth. We are only a few weeks away from our championship game with Fermanagh (November 8) so it’s closing in fast.”

With captain Darren O’Hagan and Connaire Harrison ruled out for the season, and a few other players carrying knocks, it could be the opportunity for a few players to make their Down debuts.

Conor Clarke, Ryan McAvoy and Dylan Ward were all in the squad for the scheduled game with Leitrim and may get their chance at first minutes against the Wee county.

Tally said that they will wait to closer to the weekend to decide.

“We have no new knocks since last week, we have only done a bit of light stuff,” he said.

“The situation has changed a bit this week so we will see nearer the weekend.”

Wayne Kierans’s Louth side have already been relegated after a torrid campaign. They finished last week’s loss to Cork with just 12 players.