Former Down footballer Danny Hughes is expecting a much tighter game between Down and Monaghan when the sides meet in this season's Ulster Championship.
Monaghan cantered to a 2-22 to 0-09 win over their provincial rivals last year but Hughes reckons Down will put up a better fight this time around.
Speaking to Dave McIntyre on Friday's Off the Ball he said: "I suppose the win against Armagh gave everybody a bit of a lift, including the players.
"The first time we've had a championship round in Newry since 1999. Although we have had a couple of replays and stuff in subsequent years but it was a great occasion and first round games are all about winning them.
"First half was exciting, second half was very tentative where both teams were nearly, I suppose, afraid of making too many mistakes and losing the game. And, ultimately, I think Down, being a lot better structured at the back, absorbed a lot of pressure from Armagh and broke really well and got the crucial scores."
Looking ahead to the clash, he said: "Monaghan, I wouldn't say they are firing on all cylinders but they're winning the matches and that's all they need to do. I couldn't see Down conceding like they did last year and there's definitely a more positive feel about them."
You can listen to the full interview here, along with Tom Cribben's preview of Westmeath and Dublin:
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
