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Down hurlers will be hoping to make home
advantage count this weekend - in order to ensure
more home advantage as they target promotion.
The Mourne side host Roscommon on Sunday 28th
March hoping a win will take them to the top of
the Division 2A League table ahead of the second
stage of the N.H.L.
John Crossey, the Down team-manager is well aware
that mere victory will not be enough against the
visiting Connacht side – the Ulster side must
win convincingly to overtake current leaders,
Westmeath who have a scoring difference that is
superior by 13 points.
Down who are having a good season to date, are
already guaranteed to take on the top three teams
from Division 2B in the second series of games,
but John Crossey wants to enter that stage of
the promotion race in pole position.
Down received a double boost last night when two
key players returned from injury and suspension
respectively to be named in their team for Sunday.
Talented young forward Paul Braniff is back at
centre-forward after missing out recently due
to a hamstring injury sustained in the opening
round win over Derry. Mick Braniff moves up to
the left corner in place of Eoin Clarke. The only
other change is in midfield where Gerard Adair
comes back in after a lengthy spell out due to
suspension, replacing Tom McMahon.
And there is more good news on the player availability
front. The versatile Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson who
was sent off late in the Derry game, is free from
suspension but has to settle for a place on the
bench. This is a big challenge for the Down side
as Roscommon who are managed by former Galway
star Anthony Cunningham are also through to the
next stage of the competition, and would like
to put down their ‘marker’ as a side capable of
going further in the competition. They have a
nice blend of youth and experience in their side,
and Down will have to be ‘firing on all cylinders’
if they are to get that hoped-for result. It has
the makings of a very interesting contest!
Down – NHL v Roscommon – Graham Clarke; L. Clarke,
S. Murray, S. Dorrian; Gabriel Clarke, G. Savage,
S. Wilson; A. Savage, G. Adair; G. McGrattan,
Paul Braniff, B. McGourty; M. Coulter jnr., J.
McGrattan, M. Braniff.
Article
taken from Hoganstand.com
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