Derry hope to leave Down in Mourne-ing - 15/02/2004

National Football League - Division 2B
Round 3: Down v Derry @ Newcastle 2.30 pm, Sunday 15th Feb 2004

Taken from Belfast Telegraph - By John Campbell
jcampbell@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

It's billed as an Allianz National League Division 2B tie but expect a championship-like tempo to prevail at St Patrick's Park, Newcastle on Sunday.

That's where unbeaten Down will host emerging Derry in a clash that will offer a definitive pointer to the even more important challenges that lie ahead for both teams.

Derry will invade Mourne territory following an emphatic win over Louth and a chastening defeat by Kildare while their hosts under manager Paddy O'Rourke are still seeking a first victory having had to settle for parity of esteem with first Tipperary and then Wicklow.

Derry, though, will ask rather more questions of Down, simply because they are familiar with their style, know their strong points and have the capacity to punish their defensive frailties.

Yet Derry themselves are, in the words of manager Mickey Moran, still "finding their feet."

Moran has been unafraid to pitch youthful pretenders into his attack and was duly rewarded for his enterprise when they revelled against Louth.

Whether they flourish to the same extent against a rugged Down side is another matter, especially as the red and black rearguard shows signs of tightening up.

Derry, too, are not exactly fragile at the back which is just as well as Down's young guns such as Eoin McCartan have been showing a marked penchant for picking off points.

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