They’re known as the Mournemen, but defeat to Offaly on Saturday would leave Down with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation to Division Three.
With four games played in the Allianz Football League, James McCartan’s men have a solitary point to show for their efforts courtesy of a battling draw against Meath in Navan last month.
The Royal County are also locked in a relegation dogfight and are on two points while both Cork and Offaly are on one point along with Down.
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The two sides who drop into Division Three will compete in the inaugural Tailteann Cup later this year unless they reach their respective provincial finals.
The Faithful County will also be viewing Saturday’s game in Newry (5pm) as a must-win, but will travel north in confidence after John Maughan’s side hit 3-10 in a narrow loss to promotion hopefuls Galway last time out.
Despite the added pressure on teams in Division Two to avoid relegation this year, Down boss James McCartan insists his side will continue to fight for every point.
“There is pressure every time you take the field,” said McCartan.
“No one in our group wants to play in Division Three next year and we know if you go down there it is going to be a massive struggle to get out of it.
“There is pressure every day you go out, there is pressure to perform, there is pressure to win games and we are feeling it and hopefully we can embrace it.
“It is a challenge that we hope we can overcome and put in a decent performance.
“We do see it as still in our own hands, but it’s only in our hands if we can start making improvements.”
Down played their first three League games without the services of their Kilcoo contingent with a number of the All-Ireland Club SFC winning side linking up with McCartan’s squad in recent weeks.
However, Ryan McEvoy and Anthony Morgan are doubtful for Saturday’s game in Páirc Esler while Jerome Johnston remains sidelined through injury. Ceilum Doherty is also unavailable for selection.
Barry O’Hagan has been Down’s main attacking threat this season, but he missed the round four defeat to Roscommon with a rib injury and remains a doubt while Pat Havern, Andrew Gilmore and Caolan Mooney are all carrying knocks.
“To be honest it has been strange because a lot of them are coming back with knocks and injuries after a long club season that need looked after,” remarked McCartan.
“The amount of time that some of them have spent on the training field has been minimal. They are in the group but as regards taking part, there hasn’t been much evidence of it so far.”
“We’ve had a good week’s training there with the bodies that are fit,” he said.
“The manpower is low on the ground but that’s not an excuse, we’ll have 15 starters and a few more subs next Saturday evening and we’ll be going out to win.”
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