McCartan prepared for Brewster ambush

Down boss James McCartan

Down boss James McCartan says the traps will be set in Brewster Park:

“There is no doubt that every year you go out there is a certain amount of pressure in the championship. Maybe if we hadn’t got to the All-Ireland final it might be a lot easier.

“You’d be listing a very impressive team if you were to list all the players that are missing, but what is the point in dwelling on it.

“The short term losses are Benny Coulter, Dan Gordon, Liam Doyle and Anton McArdle. Hopefully we are still in the Ulster Championship when they get back to fitness and that is the challenge we’ll setting our guys.

“That it will be great to be in the semi-final or final of the Ulster Championship and Benny Coulter and those guys on the bench champing at the bit to get on. But that’s easier said than done.

“Going to Fermanagh, the traps are set and I don’t think people think it would be that big a surprise if Fermanagh were to beat us.

“If you go there and win you are supposed to do that, if you go there and lose people will claim that they knew it was going to happen too.”

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday May 31. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent or, for only 90p, buy the online version by clicking here