Former Donegal footballer McLaughlin expects a stern test from Cork

FORMER Donegal senior footballer Daniel McLaughlin believes the midfield battle could be decisive when Donegal face Cork in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on Saturday.

Donegal will meet Cork this weekend at MacCumhaill Park in Round 2A of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

The two teams enjoyed superb victories in the opening round of the competition, with Donegal recording a ten-point win over Kerry while the Rebels got the better of Meath.

The win over the Royals will have supplied Cork with confidence ahead of their trip north this weekend and having enjoyed a solid campaign to date, McLaughlin feels that they could cause Donegal trouble.

“I think Cork only lost one game in the National League and they got to the Munster Final against a good Kerry side.

“I watched a bit of the Meath game and they were impressive, especially going down to 14 men. They’ve some very good attacking threats there and that’s Cork throughout the years, they’ve always been very good in that attacking department.

“They’ve a traditional style of football so I think they’ll cause plenty of trouble to Donegal but I think Jim will have his homework done hopefully and the boys get over the line on Saturday.”

John Cleary’s charges concluded their contest against Meath with 14 men after midfielder Colm O’Callaghan was shown a straight red card in the second half of the match.

Cork appealed the red card last week but it was upheld; however, it’s believed that they may bring the case to the DRA in a bid to get the influential player cleared to play. With the size and physique that Donegal have around the middle third of the pitch, the St Michael’s clubman thinks they would have the advantage in this important area.

“It’s massive, most managers now speak about how getting primary possession is absolutely key and gives you a platform to attack.

“Donegal will fancy themselves with those five or six boys spread around that middle area of the field. Cork still have a few big men there in the middle of the field but that’s a blow for them to have him out.

“In terms of Donegal’s midfield advantage, they probably slightly have the upper hand now with him out.”

A victory for Jim McGuinness and his side over Cork this weekend would book their place in the last eight of the All-Ireland Championship, avoiding the prospect of a third game.

Donegal played eight championship games last term before they lined out for their All-Ireland quarter-final meeting with Monaghan at Croke Park, with four of these games being played en-route to their Anglo Celt Cup triumph.

This upcoming clash with the Rebels will be their third championship outing of the year, and McLaughlin believes it would benefit the group to come through Saturday’s contest and have the luxury of regrouping ahead of the quarter-finals.

“That’s it. If you can get that extra week’s rest, look at other games and see how other teams are performing and the game’s changed massively in terms of the amount of running they’re doing.

“To get boys recovered and give them that extra week to come in fresh is great. It’s been three games to get to this stage compared to 11 for Donegal to get to an All-Ireland Final last year.

“It’s a big change from last year and hopefully that’ll stand them in good stead if they do win on Saturday going into the quarter-final stages.”

There’s a big sense of excitement around the county in the lead-up to this game and it’s sure to only increase as we get closer to Saturday when MacCumhaill Park will re-open its gates.

Like many encounters in the modern game, the St Michael’s clubman expects the midfield battle to have a major bearing on the result, stating that the hosts should get over the line if they can establish control in that sector.

“I think it’ll be a cagey enough affair at the beginning of it like all championship games are, it’ll be a feeling out process.

“That primary possession is going to be key. I think Donegal are doing well in terms of kickouts and retaining their own kickouts so once they get hands on the ball then they’re very good at getting their shots off and their conversion rate is really good.

“I think if they get that nailed then Donegal will run away with it come the second half.”

LAST MEETING

2024 All-Ireland SFC Cork 3-9 Donegal 0-16

CORK took control of Group Three of the All-Ireland SFC as they inflicted a first defeat of the year on Donegal at Páirc Uí Rinn in June 2024.

A crowd of 7,251 saw the visitors concede their first three goals of the championship campaign – Cork’s Matty Taylor, Seán Powter and Rory Maguire on target – as the home side moved into a five-point lead midway through the second half. Te Ulster champions showed their mettle as they drew level though sub Aaron Doherty with time ticking down, but Cork finished strongly to take the victory.

Cork: C Flynn; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, M Shanley; R Maguire (1-0), T Walsh, M Taylor (1-0); I Maguire, C O’Callaghan (0-2); P Walsh (0-1), S Powter (1-0), B O’Driscoll; C Og Jones (0-2), M Cronin, B Hurley (0-3, 2f). Subs: C Corbett for S Powter, S Sherlock (0-1) for C Og Jones, T Clancy for T Walsh, R Deane for M Cronin, E McSweeney for B Hurley, S Meehan for P Walsh

Donegal: S Patton; E B Gallagher, B McCole, C Moore (0-2); R McHugh (0-1), C McGonagle (0-1), P Mogan; J McGee, M Langan; S O’Donnell, C Thompson, D O’Baoill; P McBrearty (0-7, 3f), O Gallen (0-3, 2f), N O’Donnell (0-1). Subs: A Doherty for D O’Baoill, O Doherty (0-1) for J McGee, J Brennan for N O’Donnell, J MacCeallabhui for S O’Donnell

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

2024 All-Ireland SFC Cork 3-9 Donegal 0-16

2024 Div 2 Donegal 1-20 Cork 2-6

2019 Div 2 Cork 1-12 Donegal 1-19

2016 All-Ireland SFC Donegal 0-21 Cork 1-15

2016 Div 1 Donegal 2-14 Cork 1-7

SEASON SO FAR

DONEGAL

NFL

Dublin 0-20 Donegal 1-20

Donegal 1-22 Kerry 1-18

Donegal 1-19 Mayo 0-14

Armagh 1-20 Donegal 0-19

Donegal 1-17 Galway 0-20

Roscommon 2-20 Donegal 0-20

Monaghan 3-16 Donegal 3-20

Donegal 3-20 Kerry 2-10

ULSTER C’SHIP

Donegal 1-21 Down 3-21

ALL-IRELAND SFC

Kerry 0-16 Donegal 2-20

CORK

NFL

Cork 0-24 Cavan 2-17

Louth 1-12 Cork 1-17

Offaly 0-19 Cork 3-15

Cork 1-23 Meath 1-21

Derry 1-31 Cork 0-14

Cork 1-31 Kildare 2-19

Tyrone 0-19 Cork 0-22

MUNSTER C’SHIP

Cork 4-16 Limerick 1-16

Tipperary 1-12 Cork 4-18

Cork 1-15 Kerry 1-21

Cork 1-15 Kerry 2-23

ALL-IRELAND SFC

Cork 0-30 Meath 1-24

TOP SCORERS

DONEGAL

Michael Langan 0-34

Conor O’Donnell 4-19 (31)

Michael Murphy 1-19 (22)

Shea Malone 4-10 (22)

CORK

Stephen Sherlock 0-78

Chris Óg Jones 6-29 (47)

Mark Cronin 1-39 (42)