By Shaun Casey

WITHOUT reflecting too much on the year just gone by, it’s worth noting that Down ticked both of their boxes in terms of the big targets for 2024. Get promoted out of Division Three and win the Tailteann Cup. Tick. Tick.

Having come so close in 2023, motivation would have been extremely high last season to complete those two objectives and the Mourne men have certainly been on an upward curve over the past few years.

Now, with Christmas behind them and the new season just around the corner, the big question surrounding Conor Laverty’s camp this January will be, what are their ambitions for 2025? What is the next step in their ladder of progress?

Of course, getting to the topflight and featuring at the latter end of the All-Ireland series are the ultimate objectives, now that they’re back competing for Sam Maguire, but even the most red-and-black tinted glasses wearer would have to admit that looks a wee while away yet.

Staying in Division Two will be their main aim, although it’s certainly not a gimme given the quality of opponents they will be coming up against, including a couple of tasty Ulster derbies that are usually impossible to predict.

Two of their last three league encounters will be against Cavan (round five) and Monaghan (round seven) and their final standings in the second tier could be up for grabs in those last crucial fixtures.

Cavan finished third in Division Two last year while the Farney County are playing Division Two football for the first time in over a decade, so Down will know both those battles promise to be extremely tough.

The Mourne men begin their campaign away to Roscommon, who are on their way down from Division One. That first outing, at Dr Hyde Park, will give Down an early interaction of the standard Division Two football holds.

Games against Cork and Meath, both at home, and an away day trip to Louth will follow while Down will also host Westmeath in round six, the other newly promoted side, who beat them in last year’s Division Three decider.

That’s all in preparation for the Ulster Championship, when they host Fermanagh in round one and if Down come through that opener, as we’d expect they should, it’s either Donegal, Derry or Monaghan who await in the semis.

Down haven’t exactly been regarded as one of the big hitters when it comes to provincial football in the past number of years. They last reached the decider in 2017 but haven’t won the Ulster Championship since 1994.

They did reach the final four of the competition last season and just lost out to the eventual All-Ireland champions Armagh by the minimum of margins.

Perhaps that will provide a bit of confidence heading into the new year.

But they will be without one of their star men in Liam Kerr, who is off travelling for the year, and he will be an irreplaceable loss. His pace, power and scoring ability have been key over the past number of years for Down.

The Burren clubman has arguably been their best forward during Laverty’s tenure and in his absence, the Down management will be searching high and low for someone that can plug that void, although filling Kerr’s boots is easier said than done.

Ballyholland sharpshooter Seamus Loughran, who earned a Club All-Star award for his performance in the club championship last season, has been called up to the panel and could provide that bit of extra punch up top.

Aaron McClements of Loughinisland along with Mayobridge’s Adam Crimmins have also received the invite as well. Drumgath goalkeeper Ronan Burns along with Fintan Canavan of Bryansford will also be part of the panel for the new year.

The biggest addition to the squad is of course former Tyrone footballer Hugh Pat McGeary, who has relocated to Rostrevor in recent years and transferred from his native club Pomeroy, and he’ll be stripped in the red and black next year.

McGeary was a member of the Tyrone side that collected the Sam Maguire Cup in 2021, and his experience is invaluable.

He is a teak tough defender that could find himself placed on the edge of the square, freeing up Ryan McEvoy to venture further up the field.

McEvoy will be joined once again by a number of his Kilcoo teammates, and the Magpies almost went all the way in the Ulster Club Championship back in December, losing to Errigal Ciaran by one point after a titanic tussle in the final.

Ceilum Doherty, perhaps one of the most underrated players in the province, Micéal Rooney along with Shealan and Ryan Johnston are all key men for their clubmate and county manager Lavery, as are the likes of Odhrán Murdock, Pat Havern and skipper Pierce Laverty.

Corner forward Oisin Savage should be available as well having suffered a broken jaw in last year’s Tailteann Cup semi-final victory over Sligo. The Loughinisland youngster is another player with huge promise.

Down certainly have the potential to push to another level in 2025 and with the new rules in place next year, it feels like a clean slate for everyone. Mixing up their style of play may help their progression.

The Mourne men’s running game has been top notch and ultimately helped them complete last year’s targets, but the wheel keeps during and perhaps the option of Havern or Murdock at full-forward will force a bit more kicking.

Only time will tell of course and without Kerr, Down are searching for that forward that can take them to the next level. If they can unearth him in the league, then this could be a big year for Down and more boxes may be ticked come the end of the season.