Down boss James McCartan has a word of warning for Paddy Power

Paddy Power’s odds on the Ulster final are of keen interest to both Jim McGuinness and James McCartan and the Down boss has a (joking) message for Paddy Power.

The Ulster final between Donegal and Down might be over a week away but they start the build-up early in Ulster so the two managers met the press yesterday.

As it does, the odds of bookmakers came up and the reaction of both managers to them was interesting.

For the record, Donegal, the reigning Ulster champions, are 2/9 to retain their crown with Paddy Power. Down are 4/1 for the upset. And Donegal boss Jim McGuinness wasn’t too pleased with the bookies.

“I think these odds are ridiculous and they are disrespectful to Down,” says McGuinness in today’s Belfast Telegraph. We don’t think bookies think about anything bar the bottom line Jim. Anyway he goes on.

“Look, Down on Ulster final day is going to be an unbelievable proposition for us. It’s will be a 50/50 game no matter what anyone says or thinks. We respect every single team we play and our priority will be to try and get our own game right.”

However, Down boss James McCartan was in more jovial mood when he was told the odds on the Mourne men winning the Anglo Celt Cup.

“Maybe we should arrange to have Paddy Power’s to stay open late on the evening of the final so that we can then go in and collect a suitcase full of money after we have lumped on,” he joked. At least Paddy has been warned.

And, in fairness to McCartan, he was aware that the odds were based on the status of both teams.

“The bookmakers are rarely wrong and you can see what they are saying,” he said.

We think 4/1 is a little high, especially with Dan Gordon and Benny Coulter back. We might be in that late-night Paddy Power queue on July 22.