Down Hurlers take on Warwickshire in Leinster Shield

Down Junior Hurlers begin their Leinster Shield campaign this Saturday against Warwickshire in Ballela at 5 pm.   The team is made up of players from the Intermediate and Junior clubs in the county.

Manager Paddy Braniff has named a strong team, 13 of whom have played at senior level for the county at some stage in their careers.

The team is: D Kearns, R Kerr, B McAleenan, P McCusker, D McCusker, F Conway (Capt.), A McGuinness, J Murphy, K Courtney, J Brown, K Sloan, D McGovern, J McCusker, E McGuinness and A Brown.

The strength of the panel is shown by the level of talent among the subs.  These include - Warrenpoint: M Murphy, C Rice, R Mulligan and J O’Hare; Ballela: G McMullan, D Doran; Laitroim: M McCartan, D McCann; Kilclief: L Deegan; Castlewellan: T Jennings, E Hardy; Newry Shamrocks: B McAllister; Ballyvarley: J McGrath.

Forthcoming matches include home ties in Ballela over the next two week-ends, against Longford and Leitrim, and an away match against Louth on 12 or 13 May.  The team will also play in the Down Senior Club hurling championship.  If the talent on display this week-end can be harnessed for later in the year, there could well be an upset in Down hurling this year.