THE perennial Conundrum that is the League v championship debate was fuelled by Down manager, Peter McGrath yesterday.. "After casting grave doubt on the value of a good.

National Football League run as a precursor to a championship challenge, he admitted that he would like Down to be involved in Sunday's League final in Croke Park.

McGrath, like many others, has strong reservations about League success and subsequent championship bids.

Statistics this decade clearly suggest that Derry and Donegal's participation in Sunday's final makes their prospects for the Ulster championship this season look terminally dim.

Still, McGrath says "Yes, we would like to be in Croke Park on Sunday," and adds "Playing in Croke Park on Sunday would be a lot more attractive than playing in a challenge match. But whether or not reaching a League final would be beneficial in the long run I think is still questionable."

A League campaign a preached with the right attitude could be utilised as good preparation for the champion ship, according to the Down manager, who guided the county to their two All Ireland. triumphs this decade. "If you can win a League going at 70 per cent, fine, but if you have to put a major effort in physically and psychologically I think it can leave scars for the rest of the season " he says.

Evidence of such scars has been apparent for Ulster sides, Derry, Donegal and Armagh in the `90s so far.

In 1993 Donegal were League finalists but failed to retain their Ulster title. Derry won the League last year but lost at the semi final stage in Ulster. In 1992 they won the League and were subsequently beaten in the Ulster final. Armagh had a poor Ulster championship after reaching the League decider (where they were beaten by Meath) in 1994.

"Recent statistics suggest that it has proved very difficult, or impossible, to mix League and championship success," says McGrath. "But of course that does not say that reaching the League final is a bad thing per se. There could have been other factors than getting to a League final or winning a League.

"Basically you are asking players to go through two very long campaigns in, maybe, a nine month period. It is asking a lot of players, particularly given the intensity of training that people need to do now, to win a championship," adds McGrath.

Derry, in McGrath's book, should win Sunday's match. He feels it will be close and very competitive.

"I fancy Derry. They should shade it. Certainly if they can isolate or neutralise Tony Boyle then I think they would. be going a long way towards' winning it. There is, too, a psychological factor favouring Derry. They have, in recent years, had a bit of an Indiana sign over Donegal. They beat them in the League final last, year and in the Ulster final of possibly both teams would have preferred to be playing somebody else, outside the province, in Sunday's match.. They will be looking ahead to the championship, and defeat for either side would have a double edged effect. Victory, of course, would give the winners an obvious vital psychological effect if they did have to meet later on.

With Down meeting Donegal in the championship McGrath was quick to interject "Hopefully they won't be meeting on the championship."

McGrath appraises the semis finals thus "Cork were disappointing in their match with, Donegal. In fact, Donegal could have won much easier had they taken their chances. Having said that, I think that while Donegal's performance was not brilliant it was a good, effective team performance.

They showed an impressive awareness and strong presence by coming back after conceding an equaliser to get the winner. They won't be found in endeavour on Sun Derry, of the two, looked the more convincing in the semi finals, but I suppose the fact that Mayo were weakened due to injuries contributed to easy win physically, especially with Anthony Tohill and Brian McGilligan back in midfield. They have strong players in the right places as well as having fast players in the right places, like people of the ability of Joe. Brolly.

Of Brolly, McGrath says "His confidence has probably never been as high, and he is prepared to take men on and shoot almost on sight. He is determined to make up for the disappointment of last year when he broke his wrist at this stage and was out for the rest of the season. All in all he has definitely proved to be the most potent of Derry attackers. He is having a very good season.

McGrath considers that with the championship in mind, and with neither side wanting to lose the spectators could be he big winners on Sunday.