From back line to full forward to freetaker to midfielder Gregory McCartan has not, and will not let the Mourne Machine "Down" Ballymartin man Gregory McCartan played his first competitive game for Down against Donegal in 1991 as full forward and Conor Deegan was regular full back on the Mournemen's All-Ireland winning team that same year. Many doubted manager Pete McGrath's sanity when he selected the unlikely pairing as Down's midfield partnership at the beginning of the 1994 Championship - the move has turned out to be a master stroke. A baptism of fire against Tohill and McGilligan at Celtic Park on May 29th was passed with flying colours, McCartan and Deegan continued to impress against Monaghan, Tyrone and Cork. But a big test is in store for the Down duo on Sunday when they will be pitted against Dublin's highly acclaimed midfield sector. "Brian Stynes in particular has got a lot of praise and we're looking forward to the tussle. We'll take nothing for granted against them. We've taken every game as it comes this year and Conor (Deegan) has excelled in each of them. At the start people thought he was just gong in to spoil Tohill but he has proved himself to be a great midfielder in his own right", Greg McCartan told Hogan Stand. McCartan is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task at hand. "This is going to be our hardest game since Derry", he notes. "Dublin are a very fit, strong side with some great players. We haven't really gone behind in any of our games so far and it will be important for us to settle first by getting some early scores on the board". What does Greg see as Dublin's strengths? "Obviously their forward line and their midfield. Their half backs are also very creative and are very strong going forward". Undoubtedly one of the most versatile players currently doing the rounds in Ulster, Greg McCartan's first game at midfield for Down was against Meath in Newry in 1991. When he arrived on the county panel he had played a few years at full back (as that was his then position with Ballymartin) but was then put in at full forward for his first competitive outing. On Sunday the 6'2" star, who was a panelist on the '91 All-Ireland winning team, makes his fifth Championship outing at centrefield. How has he taken to the new role? "At first I was a bit dubious because I didn't know whether I was big enough, but it seems to be working out quite well for me". McCartan believes that Down's greatest strength lies in attack. "Most good teams have three good forwards, but we have six. Greg Blaney is a breaking ball specialist and would be an addition to any team. '91 was a new experience for everybody involved with the team but this year's has seen a more professional approach. Everybody knows now what the rewards will be. I also think this year's team is physically stronger than '91", offers the Down midfielder who singles out Paul Curran, Keith Barr, Charlie Redmond, Brian Stynes and Jack Sheedy as potential dangermen from Dublin camp. Happy with Down's performances en route to the final, Gregory points out that while the midfield area could be congested on Sunday it won't be anything as bad as it was against Cork. Confident that Down can take the honours if they play to their full potential, he certainly wouldn't shirk his responsibilities if called upon to take a last minute free! "I wouldn't mind if the scores were level, but if we were one behind .! If Gary is taking them as well as he has been all year then I won't have to take any. The Dublin backs do a lot of pulling and hauling and if Tommy Sugrue sees them then it could come down to a showdown between Charlie Redmond and Gary Mason". Looking ahead to Sunday's big game, is Gregory anticipating a visit from the proverbial stomach butterflies? "I'll probably be a bit nervous but there's a long time between the actual throw-in and the teams going out onto the pitch so it won't be too bad by the time the game starts". The next seventy minutes of football will be real character-builders for 24 year old Gregory McCartan from Ballymartin. What's the odds on him rising to the occasion? Written by the Hogan Stand Magazine 16th Sept 1994 Tweet

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