Down manager James McCartan says he is expecting a media backlash after his side's draw against Tipperary at the weekend.

The Mourne men were in impressive form last month after a good wins over Kildare and Meath in their opening games of Division Two, which had them fancied by many for promotion early on, but after Sunday draw against Tipp at Newry McCartan thinks that the hype will be taken down a notch.

"We are not world beaters - we never made ourselves out be world beaters - other people did. If people are going to have a pop they can factor that into the pop they can factor that into the pop they are going to have," McCartan told the Irish Examiner.

"We came into this division looking for survival. We didn't change the bar we have set, the scribes, pundits and powers that be - those standing holding microphones after matches - the guys who created the hype are now going to have their little bit of fun in destroying the hype.

"I am glad this is happening in the month of March and not in May," he added.

Down currently lead Division Two with stiff tests against Ulster rivals Armagh and Donegal to come and McCartan claims that his team will be spending the rest of the campaign "fighting" for their lives. Tweet

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