Down prepared for exciting NFL campaign

Down's senior footballers begin their National League campaign on Sunday. Mickey Donnelly reckons that the new rules will bring excitement and some shocks. Read the coverage of the season opener now.

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Down assistant Mickey Donnelly

PREPARE to be entertained. That’s Down assistant coach Mickey Donnelly’s advice ahead of this year’s National Football League, based on the evidence from the practice games played in preparation for this year’s competition.

New Gaelic football rules come into effect this weekend when the first games throw in, as teams will have to deal with a two-point shooting arc, minimal kick out distances and three forwards staying inside the opponent’s 45. 

Down assistant manager Mickey Donnelly, who works with manager Conor Laverty, believes the new rules are going to be exciting.

“Games are definitely going to be high scoring. 

“It is simply a numbers game. Instead of 15 versus 15 it is going to be 11 v 11. 

“The simple maths is that there is more space and more scoring opportunities.

“You have a lot more teams being less risk averse and trying for the two points. 

“I think in and around that 20 point mark is going to be the mark that teams are going to have to hit to win matches. That might not be the case now on heavy pitches, but as the year goes on, you are looking at 20 or 21 points to win championship matches.”

Down take to the field at Hyde Park in Roscommon to start their National League campaign on Sunday. Donnelly said that the game could be particularly score heavy.

“We couldn’t have had a more difficult start. 

“You could argue that Roscommon have seven forwards that could get on any team in the country.”

In the full article Mickey goes on to explain how the team  has developed from last year and how they hope to improve this year. Elsewhere in the paper, read why former players John Clarke and Gerard Collins think the new rules will particularly benefit Down.

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