IT didn’t have the fireworks we expected last weekend, but nonetheless it was great to get the Ulster championship up and running here for Donegal.

After the way the league game ended and the whole circus over suspensions and appeals, I just thought that last weekend’s game between Donegal and Armagh would have way more bite than it actually had. Kieran McGeeney and his players do not need me to tell them that there is a lot of soul-searching to be done this week.

No matter how you look at it, they just failed to turn up and they were extremely disappointing on the day.

They reminded me of those players during my own time who would come into the panel at the start of the season and they would be flying around the place in the McKenna Cup and National League. Those who’d make those of us who were carrying a few extra pounds at that time of the year look bad. Managers and supporters would be praising these fellas and they would lead the runs on a wet and windy Tuesday night in the middle of January while the rest of us slugged it out at the back of the group. To everyone from the outside, these players were the real deal and they were going to deliver for Donegal what it mattered most.

However, deep down, I knew in my heart, that come the business end of the season when everyone was operating at the same level of fitness these fellas just wouldn’t cut the mustard. Time after time I was proven right, as one by one they slowly slipped away. Armagh were the team leading the charge in this year‘s National League and the whole country stood up and noticed, but if you look back to my articles at that time of year I said I would hold judgement until after the championship. To me, as a player and as a team, that is where you are judged.

There is no way of sugar coating this, Armagh simply flopped last weekend and their whole approach just didn’t make any sense whatsoever. They destroyed teams in the League by delivering early diagonal ball into the forward line but for some strange reason last weekend they only delivered one which should have ended up in a goal in my opinion. Rian O’Neill, who caused havoc on the edge of the square all year, was stationed out around midfield as he hand passed the ball over the back as he had no target inside to hit.

Now I understand that sometimes you can lay tactics out and hope that they will work and you think that they will work but they just don’t. So it’s not for me or you to tell Armagh how to play. However after that performance there is no doubt that there are now serious question marks hanging over that management team.

Donegal on the other hand did exactly what I expected that they would do. They left the ;League behind and turned in a top class performance. Great credit must go to Declan Bonner and his management team as his tactics were spot-on.

Their 4-4-4 press on the Armagh kick-out out gave them the platform they needed. Donegal totally wiped Armagh out in the middle third. On top of that, they had massive performances from the likes of Michael Murphy.

So, as a county, it’s great to see that we are back to our best and I still think we will be a match for anyone in this year’s championship.

This weekend sees another massive clash as arch rivals Derry and Tyrone face off in Healy Park. There is no doubt that this will be a stern test for Rory Gallagher and his troops, but something tells me that this is the game that they have had in their sights for quite some time.

So, if there is to be an upset in this year’s Ulster championship, then this weekend just might be the time and place. Tyrone got the job done against Fermanagh with a strong second-half performance but they have yet to find their rhythm and if Derry come out and play like they have done all year then there is no doubt that they will cause Tyrone serious problems.

Last weekend’s game lacked that bit of spark, but you can be sure that this weekend’s game will have that in buckets. Tyrone got handed a massive boost on Monday night with Conor McKenna’s suspension being overturned so for me this could be a massive turning point.

After his introduction against Fermanagh, Tyrone looked a lot more dangerous going forward. He brings that energy and pace that ignites a spark within the rest of the forwards and that’s why he is so important to the Tyrone team at present.

I think Tyrone will win, but I do feel that Derry will push them all the way and I am looking forward to a tough encounter this weekend.