Spread of scorers is key for Down says King

By Shaun Casey

THE spread of scorers across the Down team has been key to their early season success, says former player Shane King as they look to make it five from five in the league when they host Fermanagh on Saturday night.

King, who wore both the green and white of Fermanagh and the red and black of Down during his inter-county career, has been impressed with Conor Laverty’s men so far this year.

They’ve seen off Clare, Limerick, Westmeath and most recently Wexford on their way to claiming top spot in Division Three and their promotion push has all but been completed at this stage.

“I think it’s that approach that they have with their running game,” King said on this week’s Gaelic Lives Podcast.

“Sometimes when the runner arrives and it’s not on, they come round and they recycle.

“They’re probably blessed that some of the teams in the so-called lower divisions are heavily reliant on one marquee forward, even some of the teams in the top divisions.

“Even some of the Down players, if their scoring hasn’t been consistent, their work rate, effort and contribution have been high. I’m sure Conor Laverty doesn’t care who scores, as long as Down score.

“This Down team has been under Conor for long enough now and they’re starting to mature, so they definitely have big expectations for this year.”

Blood is thicker than water of course and while the form guide suggests a comfortable victory for the home side, King is hoping that his native county can put it up to the Mourne men as Fermanagh, having suffered four defeats on the trot, battle to remain in the division.

“We can go on form and on my heart and my head, my head says that it looks like Down will win comfortably but my heart would want Fermanagh to really step up and give an epic performance,” King continued.

“I want to see defenders marking tight and blocking and the midfield getting the ball, transition early, kicking the ball in. The start is so important for Fermanagh.

“You don’t want to give that Down team a run, they can hammer you by two points, possession-wise. I think that Down will come out on top but if Fermanagh perform, then it won’t be as easy as Down would like it to be.”