Down won’t take eye off the ball: Guinness

By Shaun Casey

A THRILLING Tailteann Cup semi-final at Croke Park in the summer of 2024 was the last time Down crossed paths with Sligo and if that encounter is anything to go by, then Conor Laverty’s side will have their hands full this weekend in Division Three.

They travel to Markievicz Park on Sunday afternoon, eyeing up a sixth straight victory as they look to continue their sensational early-season from. extending their winning streak in the process.

The Mourne men have conquered all before them and peacefully rest at the top of the Division Three league table and rampaging wing-back Daniel Guinness insists his side want to go through the campaign unbeaten.

“We said going in that we’re going to prepare accordingly for every game. No team has the right to come in and take any other team lightly,” said the Carryduff clubman.

“We saw the last day out, Laois beat Westmeath well and that can happen on any day. We were nearly caught ourselves against Fermanagh and we were nearly caught against Limerick as well.

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“We just have to prepare accordingly for every game and that’s what we said, we’re not looking two or three games ahead.

“We’re not looking towards the Ulster Championship; we’re just focusing on the next game which is away to Sligo and that’s historically a tough place to go.”

Guinness, a regular scorer for Down throughout the league, failed to get on the scoresheet the last day out against Fermanagh, but others in the mould of Pat Havern, Odhran Murdock and Adam Crimmins certainly stepped up.

Guinness was being shadowed on the night by Jonathan Cassidy, who carried out his man-marking duties to good effect, and being watched is something Guinness is going to have to get used to.

“It’s part of the game and it is hard to man-mark in the new rules and not hurt your team at the same time,” he added. “I suppose it’s just trying to find that balance and the other boys stepped up to kick big scores and that’s what it’s all about.

“It doesn’t really matter who scores as long as Down score and it’s just something you’re going to have to deal with and adjust your game accordingly.

“There’s plenty of fires that teams have to put out and there’s going to be days that some people catch fire and others on another day. At the end of the day, it doesn’t make too much difference as long as Down get the scores.”