James McCartan has acknowledged that Kildare are a completely different proposition now to what they were when Down hammered them by 11 points in the opening round of the NFL.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland football semi-final, the Mourne County boss said: "It was at the press conference afterwards that I remember telling the hordes that I hoped we wouldn't meet that team again because I know Mssrs McGeeney and (Aidan) O'Rourke well, and I knew they could use that game as all the motivation they need to put one over on us again.

"Looking back at the programme, I think there are only six or seven of that (Kildare) team left and maybe only one of them in the same position so they are transformed from league, the first round of the championship and the first round of the qualifiers.

"They have made changes week on week and upped their performances week on week so we are certainly not looking back on that game. It's a transformed Kildare team."

McCartan has been especially pleased with Down's defence, which has conceded an average of just over 12 points per game this year.

"We decided amongst ourselves that our defence wasn't going to be held up to ridicule in Kildare before we went out and we were going to work harder and defend from the front. People have done that all year.

"There has been nothing spectacular put into play, systems or any of these sweepers or anything. We just have guys who are prepared to work hard all over the field. When they get a setback they get up and go on again. Sometimes Down teams suffer a setback and don't (do that). That happened this year against Tyrone but I think we have identified that and rectified it now." Tweet

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