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O'Rourke
prepares for first outing - 09/01/02
McKenna
Cup - Down v Armagh - Sunday 12th Jan 2003
@
St Mary's Playing Fields Burren
New Down team boss, Paddy O'Rourke has
his first competitive outing this weekend when his new look
Down side take on All Ireland Championships Armagh. Armagh
who will have just returned from their holiday in Mauritus
on Saturday will most likely be a very much under-strength
side.
The Armagh side could well be made up
of many of the current under-21 side, plus a number of players
who didn't made the holiday trip for various reasons.
With that scenario there will be very little
pressure on the All-Ireland champions to win, but despite
being understrength there is a great sense of pride in football
in the Orchard county at present, and whatever side field
won't be lacking determination and commitment and the will
to win.
The new-look Down side, on the otherhand
will be expected to win especially playing at the home grounds
of their manager in Burren. It will be interesting to see
how they cope with this pressure in what is their first
competitive match under the O'Rourke management.
O'Rourke over the Christmas period whittled
down his county senior panel to 36 players. This includes
12 newcomers, among the new men unearthed by O'Rourke and
his management team are Daniel McCartan (Burren), brother
of All-Ireland winner James; Brendan McVeigh (An Riocht),
Dan Gordon and Michael Higgins (Longstone). O'Rourke will
also be hoping to welcome back young stars like Benny Coulter
who has just recovered from a nagging shoulder injury, Michael
Walsh and Liam Doyle.
To give the squad some experience players
such as Brian Burns and Shane King (Bryansford); Aiden O'Prey
and Liam Doyle (Liatroim), Mickey McVeigh, Gregory and James
McCartan are also involved.
Notable absentees from the announced squad
are dual player, Shane Mulholland and the legendary Mickey
Linden. There is no word on whether Linden has bowed out
of the inter-county scene, but O'Rourke insists that his
panel is still open for new faces or players playing well
for their clubs in the coming months.
Hopefully Down can get 2003 off to a winning
start.
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