Play faster. That’s the lesson that the Down hurlers have learnt in their opening three games of the National League this year.
Ronan Sheehan’s team have returned to Division 1B this season and have faced much stronger opposition than they were accustomed to in previous years. They have lost each of their three matches, but they have been learning and will take those lessons into their remaining games.
Ronan said: “We are going to work on the pace of our game and speed up everything that we do: our touch, our striking, our decision making. That is the critical difference that we have found over the past number of weeks: the pace at which everything happens, physically and mentally. The other thing is shooting more from distance. We are at times trying to be too certain of the shot before we take it on.”
The Down hurlers had not played a game in Division One since 2007 before this season, having mostly competed in the second tier. Making the step up meant they faced some very strong sides, including All-Ireland contenders Clare.
“It is okay to say that it is a step up from Division 2A, but I don’t think that it is just a step up. I think that the gap between some of the teams playing in 1B and the teams that were in 2A is an absolute chasm.
wants his team to work on the pace
of their game.
“In 1B you have Clare, who are one of the favourites for the All-Ireland. You have Dublin, who were in an All-Ireland semi-final last year. You have two of the best six teams in Ireland at least playing in Division 1B. It takes time to adjust and get up to speed.”
They have played three games and lost all three. However, the manager said that all was not doom and gloom in the camp.
“The players are happy with how they performed and happy with a lot of what they have done. They have learned a lot. They have learned about the pace of the game and the physicality of the game.”
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