CUMANN PHEADAIR NAOFA

Management:

Niall McAleenan (manager), Ollie Sloan, Eamonn McEvoy and Gary Boyle (coaches), Keith Watters (goalkeeping coach).

Championship programme:

Down SFC round one

Cumann Pheadair Naofa v Burren

Team news:

The Warrenpoint men came so close to ending their then 66-year wait for a Down title as they were edged out by Kilcoo in last year’s final. Anyone in Newry that day would have felt the same, that Cumann Pheadair Naofa really could have won it. They look in a strong position to go again, and keeping hold of Niall McAleenan was a major boost. Ryan Boyle captains the side with Donagh McAleenan and Ross McGarry acting as his deputies. Alan Davidson and Aaron Magee are also back this season while they will be able to call on some players that reached the MacRory Cup final with St Colman’s, with Violet Hill captain Sean O’Hare and Cian McLoughlin expected to push for starting spots straight away.