By Conor Breslin

National Hurling League Division 3A

Armagh v Donegal

Sunday, Eire Og, Carrickmore, 2pm

DONEGAL are set to take no prisoners in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A final against Armagh this Sunday as they hope to make an instant return to Division 2B

Donegal booked their place in the Division 3A final with victory over away to Longford last weekend on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-11.

Team manger Mickey McCann had taken some time before the league campaign began to think over his future before finally deciding to stay on, and judging from his side’s recent results, it appears he made the right choice.

“Preparations have been going well for the final,” he explained. “This is probably the best season in the league we’ve had in my time. It was something that I was looking for when I decided I was taking the job again.

“At the start of the season we wanted to put a big shift in and get the fitness levels up. Everyone’s in good shape and the mood is very good because of that work. We’re in a very good place.”

The Burt man said that both he and the squad feel like they had something of a point to prove this term.

After a run of crucial wins in their last four games over Tyrone, Longford, Monaghan and Louth, McCann believes that they have learned from their defeats last season and are now mentally and physically ready for the challenge of Armagh.

“It’s been an enjoyable campaign and we’re very happy with the condition we’re in. When you were looking at the start of the season, you always knew Armagh were going to be near the top as they’ve been trying to get out of this division for some time, but that’s sport and it’s not easy and I have no doubt Armagh will be going into this match favourites on Sunday.

“That won’t bother us, we’re expecting a challenge and that’s what I assume we’ll get.”

The two Ulster counties already did battle at the start of the season in the first round of the league with the Orchard county leaving Letterkenny with an eight-point victory, 2-17 to 0-15.

“We didn’t perform on the day the way we know we can perform but I feel we’ve learned a lot of lessons since then,” McCann said.

“You don’t reflect on those defeats too much because you have to quickly learn and move on and make sure you don’t make those mistakes again and I feel we did that.”

This is McCann’s third season at the helm. Following a very encouraging 2018 season, where his side claimed the Nicky Rackard Cup, Donegal subsequently suffered relegation from the Christy Ring competition last season following a disappointing loss to Down and an even worse play-off loss to London.

To compound their unfortunate misery, Donegal also dropped out of Division 2B . With some familiar faces back on board and with a crop of talented youngsters determined to make the breakthrough at senior grade; McCann says Donegal are aiming to hit the ground running on Sunday.

“We were unfortunate to lose a lot of players last year through injury and lads simply not around, be it for work or family commitments, but this year we brought in a handful of young lads who are driven and committed to the team and have the hunger to win.”    

One of Donegal’s big stars this season is in fact a native Armagh man. Declan Coulter who won the 2018 Nicky Rackard Player of the Year has again been top scorer for Donegal so far this campaign and came out with 13 points in the middle of the field against Longford last Sunday.

“Declan is a massive asset to our side and has been for the last few years. He didn’t play overly well against Armagh the first day out but that’s because the Armagh team had their homework done and knew to target him and not give him an inch.

“So for this Sunday we need to rely a little less on Declan and hope some of our forwards step up and get some scores on the board.”