They’ll take another few days to enjoy their All-Ireland celebrations, but Niall McParland feels the return of Down’s Kilcoo contingent will provide a much-needed boost to the county squad.
When the Mournemen exited the Ulster Championship following their 2-25 to 1-12 defeat to Donegal in Newry last June, Ryan McEvoy and Ceilium Doherty were part of Paddy Tally’s side.
After the Magpies defeated Kilmacud Croke’s in last Saturday’s All-Ireland Club SFC final in extra-time, it is likely that current Down boss James McCartan will want to increase Kilcoo’s representation on the county panel significantly.
How many will join up in the coming weeks remains unclear, but McParland says those who do will be a massive addition to the set-up.
“You have to give them (Kilcoo) all the plaudits - they deserve it all,” said McParland.
“They’ve been dominating Down football for the last 10 years and it is nice to see them go on and get exactly what they were after.
“Those boys have been after an All-Ireland for the last couple of years. They know the quality they have.
“If you’ve a club competing at that level, it can’t be bad for the county team.
"You can see the attitude they have and the skill set they have. Cruising around Croke Park in extra-time was no bother to them.
“Having lads like that in the team and in the panel. . . I don’t know how many are coming.
“They probably enjoy the celebrations for a week or two - I’d be doing the same.
“Having boys coming into the team who have been there and done it can only be a good thing.”
Down could certainly do with a lift after losing both their opening Division Two fixtures to Derry and Galway.
The Mournemen travel to Navan on Sunday to take on Meath (2pm) with both sides sitting on zero points from their first two games along with Offaly.
Failing a draw, the loser of this weekend’s clash will be in a battle to avoid relegation. It isn’t quite a must-win yet according to the former Down skipper, but both sides will be desperate to gain something from the tie at Páirc Tailteann.
“It is two teams who are hurting and two teams who need points,” said McParland.
“Us going down to Navan probably gives them a slight advantage as well.
“The two teams will come out swinging because, if you don’t come out of this with any points, you are looking towards relegation.
“If you don’t pick up points this weekend, you’d be looking over your shoulder.
“I wouldn’t say it is a must-win, but it would be a good time to start.
“After this weekend, things start getting a bit more tense if things aren’t going your way.”
Despite back-to-back losses to Derry and Galway, McParland said Down have been encouraged by certain passages of play in both defeats.
Starting his second stint as Down boss, McCartan could hardly have envisaged a tougher start to their Division Two campaign and McParland believes both Derry and Galway will have designs on playing Division One football next season.
“We’ve played two good teams and we’ve shown flashes of brilliance,” added the Glenn clubman.
“When you look back at the videos, there were a few glimmers of light for us.
“We now have to string a few good performances together or at least two good halves together.
“It was always going to be a tough start. The defeats might not look as bad as the year goes on because Derry and Galway are strong sides and they could go further in the Championship this year than they have in previous years.
“When we look back at the end of the year, it could have been two defeats to two very good sides who have their eyes firmly fixed in Division One.”
