No hiding place now

ONE of the first intimations I got of this being a landmark year for Down football was a brief chat I had in Dingle in February with Maurice Hayes, former Down GAA secretary and man of vision when Down made their breakthrough in the 60’s.

Hayes had travelled south in the company of Seán Ó Neill to honour a great Kerryman, Dr Jim Brosnan, but their immediate priority that Saturday evening was ensuring they got to stop off in Newbridge on their way back the following morning to see how the blue blood manager, James McCartan was getting on with his new charges on their first day out in Division Two.

When pressed for a prediction about the fortunes of the Down football team against Kildare, Hayes boldly went further and with great conviction said that this was going to be one of the good years for Down.