Connor Gough has no regrets about his intercounty switch from Armagh to arch rivals Down.

The former Orchard County minor star will make his senior intercounty debut for the Mourne County against Armagh on Sunday and the Poyntzpass native - who has played his club football with Newry Shamrocks for the past two years - says it was a natural move for him:

"A huge part of it was to play with my mates," he told the Irish Independent. "I went to school in St Colman's College and the majority of my friends play with Down and especially with them going to college this year, I wouldn't have seen them as much.

"My friends are good mates who wished me all the best and at the end of the day it's about football and this makes more sense for me.

"I'm just eager to learn and the older lads have been brilliant in giving me tips in the gym and out on the field, they sort of have my back.

"I'll be putting in the best in every game I can and just trying to break into the panel."

The 6'5" teenager captained Colmans to All-Ireland colleges glory last year. He was also on the Armagh minor team that reached the Ulster MFC final, losing to Cavan. Tweet

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