McCartan: Survival name of the game for most

Down boss James McCartan believes the five teams in Allianz Division 1 outside Cork, Dublin and Kerry are aiming to avoid the drop.

The 2010 All-Ireland finalists finished fourth last year, which would mean a semi-final spot in this season’s restructured top flight group of eight. However, he’s not even considering repeating that at the moment.

“Dublin, Cork and Kerry probably can experiment. We tried to do it in the McKenna Cup. We can’t afford to go out and put out a weakened or experimental team in a National League game because we will just lose it. Take Cork, Kerry and Dublin out of Division 1, I’d assume everyone else is looking at the trap door, hoping they are not going to be hovering above it. Of course, what we are all hoping is that after game three we will have four or six points and be able to reset the bar and look to qualifying for a semi-final or final.”