Struggling Down might be short of high-calibre personnel at present.

However, some of their veteran All Ireland winners could offer a solution to Ross Carr's problems.

At a time when football players are looking for their retirement plans rather than their boots, the Mourne air seems to have had a high-octane effect on some legendary performers.

Recent Down league matches have seen Mickey Linden - at the age of 43 years old - turn in some stunning scoring performances for Mayobridge. A super-fit Peter Withnell (39) has been recast from a bulldozing full forward into creative mid"eld power with Clonduff. And Greg McCartan, who built his Croke Park reputation as a midfielder, is now performing as a top-class goalkeeper for Castlewellan in place of the injured Mickey McVeigh.

The real star of veterans' football in Down, however, at present is Enda Gormley. In a recent club match with Bredagh, the 41-year-old delivered a fabulous performance to collect 2-13 from his team's total of 2-18.

It must make Down's longsuffering fans weepf.

FRIENDS' FOUR-POINT PLAN TO AID WEXFORD

Further to last week's item from a disillusioned Yellowbelly, the 'Friends of Wexford Hurling' have been busy upping the ante in media terms.

Between great days like the championship victories over Limerick in 2001 and Kilkenny in 2004 there have, say the Friends, been far too many low points. "It seems that the heart of Wexford hurling has slowed to near standstill."

Group members have identi"ed four areas for action that could "dramatically improve things": a strategic plan for adult and underage hurling in Wexford over the next five to 10 years; a master fixture list for hurling competitions in the county to be drawn up early in the year and rigidly adhered to; the complete restructuring of the local club championships; the appointment of more underage coaches.

"People in Wexford need to see action is being taken to address the issues at hand. Our hurling is falling by the wayside."

JOURNAL OFFERS COLD SHOULDER TO ICE BATHS

No self-respecting contact sports club doesn't have at least one to use as part of a recovery programme.

But now the latest evidence suggests that the use of ice baths can actually do more damage that good to athletes.

The lack of concrete scientific evidence to validate the 'removal of lactic acid' theory has been underpinned by a just-published report in the Journal of Sports Medicine. Tests carried out on 40 volunteers reported additional pain after 24 hours compared to those that simply took the more traditional tepid bath.