DOWN MEN SHOULD BE POSITIVE

GAA – Former Down player John Clarke says the county team should be positive about their bid to win the Tailteann Cup this year.

The Down senior mens footballers

Tailteann Cup Group D

Limerick v Down

Saturday, Páirc Esler, 4pm

THE Down men have been backed to go one better in the Tailteann Cup ahead of the start of the competition this weekend.

Following disappointment in the National League final, and then defeat to Armagh in the Ulster Championship semi-final, the mood might be low in the Down camp.

However, former Down star John Clarke has seen something in the current team that tells him they can do better than last year’s defeat to Meath in the final of the Tailteann Cup.

John told the Mourne Observer, “I do think they are better positioned going into the Tailteann Cup. I think they are better equipped (to win).

“At stages in the league they looked better than they were last year.

“Getting promotion out of Division Three will have given the group a boost.

“They will have learnt an awful lot from that Armagh game as well. Although they lost they will have taken confidence from it.”

Read the full interview in the current issue as John explains the elements of Down’s play that should make them feel confident.