It took a relegation play-off win over Laois to keep Down in Division Two last season and James McCartan insists survival is their main priority once again.
The Mournemen claimed a 2-19 to 2-12 victory over Laois in Páirc Esler last June before losing out to Donegal in the Ulster Championship in what proved to be Paddy Tally’s last game in charge.
McCartan took the reins for the second time in November following a protracted appointment process and they travel to Owenbeg (throw-in 6pm) this Saturday to take on Ulster rivals Derry in their Division Two opener.
Down do have four home games this term with Galway, Roscommon, Offaly and Clare coming to Newry while McCartan’s men are on the road against Meath and Cork later in the campaign.
“Obviously survival would be a starting point and in Premiership-speak you try and get to the 40 points as quickly as possible,” said McCartan.
“Maybe in Division Two, that might be getting to four or five points.
“I was relegated on six points one year and survived on four, so I don’t know how many points we’ll need.
“Certainly, we’ll be trying for survival and, if there are some games left after that, we’ll change our priorities.”
He added: “Everyone is telling me that it will come down to the last game against Clare to see which one of us goes down.
“Hopefully that won’t be the case and we’ll have survived before that. It is nice having four home game and we particularly like having them here under lights on a Saturday night – I think it improves the atmosphere.
“Having four games at home is better than having four away and we want to try and target those, but every game is there to pick up a point or two and you have to approach every game as though you want to win.”
Having gained two promotions in three seasons, Derry are very much considered a team on the rise and have been installed just behind favourites Galway and Meath in the betting for promotion to the top tier.
In 2020, Down claimed the second promotion berth to Division Two at Derry’s expense with Cork going up as Division Three champions.
The Oak Leaf county suffered a four-point loss to Donegal in last week’s Dr McKenna Cup semi-final in Ballybofey while Down lost both their Section A games against Antrim and Donegal.
McCartan holds Derry in high regard and is expecting a robust challenge at Owenbeg this weekend.
“Rory (Gallagher) has them going well since he took over and they have had two promotions,” said the Down boss.
“They are obviously a well-oiled machine and, from what I hear, they play with numbers behind the ball. I’ll have to try and figure a way to break that down.
“Rory has had a lot more time with his group than we’ve had with ours, but no excuses – we’re going there to try and win.
“It is a big ask, but that’s why we play inter-county football.”
McCartan also revealed that key attackers Liam Kerr, Corey Quinn and Caolan Mooney remain doubtful for Saturday’s game while midfielders
Anthony Doherty, Liam Middleton and Carryduff defender John McGeough are also carrying knocks from the defeat to Antrim.
With his Kilcoo contingent still unavailable as they continue their preparations for Saturday’s All-Ireland Club SFC clash with Cork side St Finbarr’s, McCartan will continue to look to last season’s Ulster U20 title-winning side to bolster his squad.
“We’ve been impressed by some of the guys who have been playing U20s football over the last couple of years,” stated McCartan.
“A lot of them got blooded in the McKenna Cup and we have a big weekend ahead of us as regards trying to finalise a team to play against Derry.
“A lot of them are putting their hands up and I would envisage some of them playing at Owenbeg.”
