Former county footballer Gerard Collins believes Down have massive potential for success this season. He sees Laverty’s men winning National League Division Three and getting into the All-Ireland Sam Maguire campaign as entirely doable. He also thinks that there is potential for Down to develop into a much more physical team than they have been in previous years.
He has noticed a few important additions to the squad this year.
“In terms of boys that they have brought back in, I would love to see two lads that I have played along with who have great potential and who have something that Down have been lacking in recent years, and that is a physical presence. That is Ruairi O’Hare from Saul and Eamon Brown from Clonduff.
“Ruairi had a bad run of injuries, but I would really love to see him kick on, because he is the type of player that Down are crying out for. He is big and strong, has good hands and can shoot. Another one is Eamon Brown from Clonduff. He has been in and out of panels in recent years, but he has huge potential. Those two lads would bring something that Down is probably lacking.”
Gerard, who retired from county football a couple of years ago, reckons a two-man full forward line of Ruairi and Eamon would be a great development for Down.
“They are two boys who are well over six foot who can kick scores. That would be massive. If they had that to accompany Down’s running game, and be able to mix that up with a kicking game into two target men with the runners coming off them, that would be brilliant.”
Gerard said that there is another benefit to having those big men inside. “It would mean Pat (Havern) could come out round the middle. Having Pat inside is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. He can play full forward, but he is adept around the middle.
“If you had him and Odhran (Murdock) in the middle, that is as strong as a midfield as you would get in Ireland. Add Ryan McEvoy into the mix and you could easily be starting with five big men, which is something Down have not been able to do for a number of years.”
To read the digital edition, download the Mourne Observer app – for apple click here – for android click here
