McCartan names panel for McKenna Cup

Down manager James McCartan

11 December 2009

New Down manager James McCartan has named a 44-man training panel as preparations begin for the beginning of Dr McKenna Cup hostilities in the New Year.

McCartan replaced former county teammate Ross Carr in the top job earlier this year.

His first task is to mould a panel strong enough to challenge for Ulster Championship honours once more, and he has named a 44-strong panel which will be whittled down ahead of the beginning of the National Football League Division 2 campaign in February.

Many of those selected have extensive intercounty experience but there are newcomers including Liam Lennon of Castlewellan, Loughinisland goalkeeper Kieran Gordon and Bryansford's Stevie Toner.

Returned Aussie Rules ace Martin Clarke is included alongside his brother John, while key men such as midfielder Dan Gordon and forward Benny Coulter are present and correct.

The full panel is:

Brendan McVeigh, Declan Alder, Kieran Gordon, Michael McAllister, Martin Cole, Stevie Toner, Dan McCartan, Liam Lennon, Kevin Duffin, Declan Rooney, Ciaran McGovern, Damien Rafferty, Aidan Brannigan, Mark Doran, Paul Murphy, Gerard McCartan, Conor Garvey, Sean Parr, Kevin McKernan, James Colgan, Timmy Hanna, Liam Doyle, Darren Cunningham, Dan Gordon, Ambrose Rogers, Paul Greenan, Mark McClean, Peter Fitzpatrick, Kevin Anderson, Conor Maginn, Brendan McArdle, Martin Clarke, Mark Poland, Ronan Sexton, Danny Hughes, Stephen Kearney, Aidan Carr, James McGovern, Paul McCumiskey, Benny Coulter, Conor Laverty, John Clarke, Ronan Murtagh, Michael Magee.