Down keeping eyes on final spot

By Michael McMullan

TWO gone. Three more to go. That’s how Down hurling manager Ronan Sheehan is looking at his side’s target of getting to the Division Two final.

They took plenty from an opening day win over Kildare. Two ruthless seven-minute spells sunk Derry on Saturday and they welcome Donegal to Ballycran this weekend.

Sheehan provided the caveat that their facile win over Derry came with the Oakleafers shorn of key players. Another factor was hurling at Joe McDonagh Cup level.

He apologises for the cliché answer, but Down are only looking at the six inches in front of their face.

“We’re probably going to need to win five games to get into the final,” he said. “We’ve won two, so we’ve three more to go. That’s just the way we’re looking at it.”

Down feel they are close to a full deck. Donal Hughes is back after a month of work in America. Ronan Beatty made a return and had the ball over the bar with his first touch after coming in at half-time against Derry.

Gerard Hughes has returned from Australia with Marc Fisher rested against Derry.

“We’ve got a lot of good guys there who are all pushing for places,” Sheehan said.

“We’ve got another seven boys that couldn’t make the 28 (squad on Saturday) and they’re all training away. Look, we’d be very happy with how we’re going and where we are.”

Another factor in Down’s progression is the continuity Sheehan has seen with his squad.

“Daithi Sands was 18 when I took it over first,” he said. “Then we have boys filtering in, the Tom McGrattans, the Finn Turpins, the Shea Puccis, who all add to it very much so.

“Ronan Beatty went to football for a while but he’s back, this is his group if that makes sense and it’s great to have him back.

“That continuity makes a difference because conditioning is like learning. You need to stick at it for two or three years. You can see the difference in lads.

“Tom Murray was rag-dolled in his first Christy Ring final against Meath but he’s a man now. He’s done his work, he’s done his conditioning.

“I’m not going to say we’re successful, it’s not as if we’re winning All-Irelands or anything.

“At the level we’re at, we’re relatively successful. We seem to be improving every year, we seem to be competitive every year, and that keeps lads hanging on, that keeps lads there.”