Pete McGrath's ambition is to lead Down to a third All-Ireland triumph this decade but realises that defeat by Wicklow in Sunday's National Football League was not encouraging. Yesterday he advised the county's supporters that patience will be of the essence in the months ahead.

Reflecting on a result which is bound to provoke dissatisfaction from supporters, McGrath retorts: "Sunday's team contained people who are completely new, or relatively new, to county football. You could draw up a long list of experienced household names that weren't there."

But adds McGrath: "Having said that, it was a huge disappointment and a setback for us. We still feel however that we have got to use this league to hopefully unearth a number of young vibrant players to complement the experienced players that are there."

"Hopefully we can get the right balance."

McGrath continues " I think that if you are going down the road looking for new talent and giving people a chance you're going to get days like Sunday and you've got to be patient and just persevere."

It's a catch-22 situation for McGrath. He knows he must give fresh talent a chance in the county jersey but insists "we cannot afford to sustain another defeat like Sunday's in this new League set-up."

Ross Carr, James McCartan and Micky Linden were some of the big names missing from McGrath's side. Despite the intent to experiment, these players would have been in the attack had they been available.

"There were times in Sunday's game when I felt that had we got a couple of those experienced players, we wouldn't have lost. We were in a position to win the game a couple of times but just couldn't sustain the tempo. Wicklow took there chances and then the penalty came obviously at a critical time four minutes from the end."

McGrath does not intend to press the panic button in the wake of this shock result. He adds: "When Down suffer such a defeat, eyebrows are naturally raised and questions are asked. There is no doubt about it - our pride was hurt. We will just have to get back as quickly as we can and get results."

He hopes to see these results realised before the Christmas break at the expense of Tipperary (at home) Waterford (away) and Cork and Kildare (at home).

Four of the young players given chances last Sunday are booked for further outings in McGrath's team-building campaign. They are defenders Alan Molloy and Malachy McMurray and forwards Glen McMahon and Shane Ward.

"I must ensure that these young players are given the chance to show us what they are capable of doing," insists McGrath.

Tipperary football champions Fethard still do not know who they will be playing in the opening round of the Munster Club Senior Championship on Monday.

They are scheduled to meet the Limerick winners, University of Limerick, but beaten finalists Galbally, have appealed the decision of the County Board to award the game to UL, to the Munster Council. The Council will meet on Friday to hear the appeal. Galbally objected initially on a technicality.

Kerry will play their first game on home soil since winning the All-Ireland football title, at Moyvane next Monday when they take on Limerick, now managed by former Kerry player Paddy Mulvihill. The game has a 2.30 start with the proceeds to go to the Sr Consillio Medical Fund. On the following Sunday, Kerry tackle Kildare in the National League at Newbridge.