Paddy Tally calls up Kilcoo quartet as Down prepare for League and Championship battles

Wednesday 7th October 2020

Paddy Tally calls up Kilcoo quartet as Down prepare for League and Championship battles

Andy Watters 07 October, 2020 01:00
Taken from Irish News: https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2020/10/07/news/paddy-tally-calls-up-kilcoo-quartet-as-down-prepare-for-league-and-championship-battles-2089910/

DOWN manager Paddy Tally has called up Kilcoo quartet Ryan McEvoy, Dylan Ward and brothers Ryan and Shealan Johnston, bringing the contingent from the reigning county and Ulster champions in his squad to seven.

Paul Devlin, Ceilum Doherty and Jerome Johnston were part of Tally's panel prior to lockdown and the 'new' faces (Ryan Johnston is an experienced inter-county campaigner) have been brought in after the Magpies successfully defended their Down senior championship crown with a series of emphatic wins after they'd lost to Warrenpoint in the early stages.

McEvoy, Ward and Shealan Johnston have yet to play at senior level for the Mourne county but, like their club team-mates, they bring the experience of reaching last year's All-Ireland club championship final.

Versatile Down U20 star McEvoy has the ability to play in a number of positions and is also a free-kick-taking option, while Shealan Johnston has shown glimpses of real class during Kilcoo's championship successes.

Meanwhile, Ward has been used in midfield at club level by Mickey Moran. He is mobile and fit and capable of producing crucial scores.

"Dylan has played really, really well over the last two years for Kilcoo," said Tally. "He was very good in their run to the All-Ireland and he showed great form throughout the club championship. That was really important that the players we brought in were in good form already and a good position to push on.

"It's great to have these boys in and we're looking forward to working with them." Down played Meath in a challenge game last Friday night. Tally was pleased with the performance as he prepares his side for crucial Division Three matches against Leitrim (October 17) and Louth in Drogheda on October 25. Winning both could see the Mournemen clinch promotion to Division Two.

"It was a good run-out and it was good to get the boys back on the pitch again against a county team," said Tally.

"The boys acquitted themselves quite well, it was the first time they had played together and there were a lot of new faces involved so it was a good experience. It gave us an idea of where we are at the moment but it's quite difficult because the fellas have been away for six months and really it's only this last week, with the club football finishing up, that we've got our squad back in again.

"It'll take a bit of time to get ready but I hope we can get a clear two weeks' to get ready for the League resuming."

After the League is completed, Tally's men will turn their focus onto Ryan McMenamin's Fermanagh, their opponents in the Ulster Championship.

The entire inter-county season was in serious doubt on Monday until the Irish government confirmed that it would not ban sporting fixtures as part of a Level 5 Covid-19 lockdown. "The call from Croke Park was a big one regarding club football but the way I see it is that the GAA is trying to clear the pathway so we can get the League finished up and a Championship played," said the Down manager.

"I suppose that action yesterday might make that a little bit easier."