Down feel vulnerable with very young side

Down face into the most desirable championship fixture of them all with a sense of trepidation. Their trip to Casement Park to take on Antrim in the first round of the Ulster championship pits them against a county which hasn't won a championship match for 18 years during which time they have only avoided defeat once - against then Ulster champions Tyrone in 1987.

John Murphy, Down's long-serving selector, has been manager Peter McGrath's right-hand man since the Rostrevor man took over the county seniors in 1989. In that time he has won two All-Ireland titles. Murphy is aware of the dangers in the weekend's challenge.

"They're going to have to win a match at some stage," he says, "and their defeats haven't been by very much over the years." Last year at Newry, Down won by only four points. "They were slightly unlucky and as well as wanting revenge, they'll know that we have an exceptionally vulnerable, very young team."

This is the team which failed to stop Down toppling out of Division One of the National League last month. "We always knew it was going to be tight," says Murphy. "We were experimenting with new players and played well in some games but not in others. Given that we knew setting out that we had to try and find new players, we're not that disappointed. When you make that your priority, there's always a danger. The downside is relegation but the positive side is that we did manage to unearth some good new talent."

This was very important to a county which has declined from the pinnacle of six years ago when they won a second All-Ireland. Four players - Mickey Linden, James McCartan, the suspended Ross Carr and Paul Higgins - survive from the first victory in 1991. In addition, Gregory McCartan, Micheal Magill and Brian Burns are still there from '94.

Murphy believes that the gradual introduction of younger players has helped prolong the interest of the veterans.

"Mickey's 36 this year and it's questionable whether he can do what he used to be able to do on a firm pitch in hot weather but his enthusiasm is still there. It's not that he feels his position is under threat but the new environment is more stimulating. Some of the other fellas might have been living too much in the comfort zone and competition has done them good as well."

Among the new players who Murphy believes will make an impact are Alan Molloy ("a fringe player on the panel who's come through really strongly, showing us things he's never done before"), Paul Shields and a number of last year's All-Ireland winning minors.

"It's a no-win situation for Down," says Murphy. "Even if we beat Antrim, no one will be impressed."

But after that, the winners play Derry, current favourites for Ulster and leading contenders for the All-Ireland. "Yes," he says. "That will be a different challenge."