Down boss James McCartan says he would’ve preferred “a few more weeks” to prepare his team for tomorrow evening’s Allianz Football League Division 2 opener against Derry.

The Mourne men are down a handful of starters for the clash in Owenbeg (throw-in 6pm) and McCartan, who was appointed to his second stint with his native county in November, admits they are a bit stretched resources wise for the game.

"We'd have preferred a few more weeks to get ready, we're probably stretched resources wise," he is quoted saying by BBC NI Sport.

"When you come in late and you're probably picking up the pieces from the club championship, and once people are put out of the club championship, injuries aren't really looked after and are forgotten about."

He added: "Us coming in late gave us less time to get the guys up to speed. I'm not going to say we're down to the bare bones, but there's certainly a few players that I would have liked to have seen."

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