Farrell joins Down managerial team

Cork native Sean Farrell has been confirmed as Down hurling manager John Crossey's assistant for the 2006 season.

Farrell, who hurled for the Rebels an underage level and previously managed the Sarsfields club, has been taken on with a view to freshening things up.

Farrell joins team trainer Sean Kavanagh in the Mourne men's think-tank. Former manager Jimmy O'Reilly stepped down as a selector last month.

Crossey's charges were back in training in Ballykinlar early last month, preparing for their opening fixture of 2006 - a Walsh Cup preliminary round tie with Westmeath, the side that defeated them in last season's Christy Ring Cup final, in Mullingar on January 22.