Longford vs Down Match Preview.
Down Look To Maintain Strong Start To League Campaign
By Sean Forsythe.
Down travel to Pearse Park this Sunday to take on current league leaders Longford hoping to leapfrog the Midlander’s in the table with a win.
Longford on the other hand will be looking to maintain the impressive start they have made to their campaign given how restricted they have been by players missing through injury and those involved with Mullinalaghta’s All-Ireland run.
In contrast, however, Down have been quite fortunate thus far with players returning by the week from injury having initially headed into the league campaign without numerous key players.
They will be without forward Pat Havern this weekend in Longford following his straight red sending off against Westmeath for an off-the- ball incident.
Should Down get the win this Sunday it would put them in a strong position over halfway through the League Campaign and would mark the first time Down have won 3 consecutive league games since 2015.
Down manager Paddy Tally will be hoping victory can be secured this weekend in a more comfortable fashion than it has been on the last 2 occasions. In Down’s last two games, wins have been secured by a last minute goal from Caolon Mooney and on their last outing Down won thanks to a point on the whistle from Jerome Johnstone.
The good news for Down is after the Longford fixture, they have easier fixtures to play afterwards, with two of their current next three opponents after Longford being below them in the table and they will also have home advantage in two of these fixtures.
Tally will not doubt appreciate this and the significance a win against Longford could have in the context of the overall league campaign and the bearing it could have in Down’s push for promotion.
