| McAvoy
wants a united front to elevate Down - 29/10/03 By
John Campbell
jcampbell@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
29 October 2003
Down Hurling Board Chairman Brian McAvoy has urged a united approach as the County
targets a major promotional drive in 2004.
With John Crossey having been
appointed as the new county team manager and the Ulster Under 21 title having
been captured after an absence of 13 years, McAvoy feels it is now opportune to
bring hurling on to a higher level.
"There are a number of plus-factors
on which we can build", observes McAvoy, "It is very gratifying to note the number
of young players who are beginning to come through at senior level and the excellent
coaching work which is being done within the county. We may not have won promotion
from Division Two last year but we had some very creditable results."
"And
we are not altogether that far behind Antrim given that we only lost by four points
to them in the league and by three points in the Ulster championship."
But McAvoy stresses that Down are particularly keen to take over from the Saffrons
as Ulster's premier team.
"We know we have a gap to close on them but
our ultimate goal is to become the top side in the province. Success tends to
come in cycles and while we have enjoyed a taste of Ulster triumph in recent years
we would like a more sustained spell at the top if at all possible", declared
McAvoy.
In winning the Ulster Under 21 title Down beat both Derry and
Antrim and McAvoy is unstinting in his praise of the efforts of team manager Martin
Mallon.
"He has been doing splendid work and has helped to bring on players
such as Paul Braniff, Gareth Johnston and Gabriel Clarke who are now regulars
in our senior county team. This is extremely heartening given that we work from
a limited base of players within the county as a whole", added McAvoy.
At Minor level, Down may have lost to Antrim in this year's semi-final but McAvoy
is quick to pinpoint one bright feature from that game.
"We had three
non-Ards peninsula players in our starting 15 in that match and that's progress
in our eyes. When you look, too, at the wonderful work being done in clubs like
Bredagh by people like Danny Hughes and others and indeed in Carryduff at under-age
level it gives us great hope," states McAvoy.
Incidentally, Crossey's
Down appointment means that Armagh are now looking for a new hurling coaching
officer.
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