Carr to test Down panel's strength

With many of Down football's leading lights set to line out for the Powerade Down All-Star team tomorrow, new county boss Ross Carr will get a chance to run the rule over his extended panel.

The special charity match between Down's senior team and the county's All-Star side at St Patrick's, Newcastle (throw-in 1pm) is sure to be a keenly-contested affair.

Especially as Carr has made public his anger over the GAA's recent orders on the blanket ban of challenge matches during the months of November and December, and with the Dr McKenna Cup just around the corner.

Carr is yet to finalise his starting line-up, although he is expected to try out some younger players. Current Down captain Benny Coulter is one of a number of big names in the All-Stars XV.

The All-Stars were selected by members of the local media and the Down GAA Communications Committee, and based on the players' form throughout the Powerade Down Senior Football Championship. Former All-Ireland winning supremo Pete McGrath, who is charge of the Down U21s for 2007, will manage the All-Stars.

All proceeds from tomorrow's game will go the Marie Curie Charity and the Southern Area Hospice.

Powerade Down All-Stars: Sean James Brannigan (Bryansford); Gavin Barry (Mayobridge), Daniel McCartan (Burren), Brendan Rodgers (Mayobridge); James McGovern (Burren), Alan Molloy (Loughinisland), Kevin McKernan (Burren); Martin McClean (Kilcoo), Peter Telford (Downpatrick); Ronan Sexton (Mayobridge), Brendan Coulter (Mayobridge), Declan Burns (Laitroim); John Quinn (Mayobridge), John Fegan (Clonduff), Martin Doran (Rostrevor).

Subs: Declan O'Reilly (An Riocht), Aiden Fegan (Annaclone), Declan Rooney (Burren), Fintan McGreevy (Castlewellan), Paudie Matthews, Shane Ward (Clonduff), Karl Oakes, John Gibney, Micheal Lively, Brendan Rooney, Michael Walsh (Mayobridge).