By Michael McMullan

STEELSTOWN manager Hugh McGrath knows what is coming down the tracks for his side on Sunday, with the visit of Monaghan champions Donaghmoyne to Celtic Park.

McGrath was in Corduff on Sunday as this weekend’s opponents ran out 1-10 to 0-6 winners over Killanny in the league final.

David Garland (0-43) and Liam McDonagh (4-25) have led Donaghmoyne’s scoring charts this season, while Stephen Finnegan has chipped in with eight points from centre-back.

“They are littered with forwards that can do damage,” McGrath points out. “It is not a case of picking out the two best forwards, getting your match-up on them.

“They have weapons from all over. In the semi-final, they got a goal at the very end and it was Mikey Murnaghan coming right up from full-back to bury that chance.”

McGrath likens them to his own side. Pace, mixed with a love of getting forward.

“You’ll not see to many blanket defences, fingers crossed it translates into something that is good to watch and that people enjoy,” he said.

A home venue allows their fans and the Derry GAA public to get out and support them.

“For us, it is brilliant,” McGrath added. “Hopefully this group can go further and show the younger generation that it is a really positive thing to play senior football for Steelstown.”

Going into their win over Cloughaneely, all the chat was about the Donegal men’s credentials of playing in Division One. And Donaghmoyne are looked at in a similar light.

Beating Cloughaneely, in McGrath’s opinion, was like their final win over Greenlough. When they went behind, it was time to put their shoulder to the wheel to find themselves in a position of strength again.

“That’s that happens when you have good forwards, you are always in with a decent shout in the game,” McGrath offered.

With belief ‘not easy come by’ for newcomers, it kept the game tight on the scoreline in spite of Steelstown’s dominance.

The win will have worked wonders, with experienced defender Kevin Lindsay getting an hour under his belt after an injury that ruled him out of their win over Greenlough. There was more match time for Rory Maguire, Morgan Murray and Shane O’Connor on their way back to full fitness.

“I feel we are even stronger going into the next game,” McGrath said.

Another ingredient in Steelstown’s new found ability to grind out results is their newer generation, without any ‘nagging doubt’ from experiencing final defeats.

Oran McMenamin, Cahir McMonagle and Ben McCarron are another year older. Donncha Gilmore, Morgan Murray and Oran Fox have come in this season.

“They don’t have that baggage,” McGrath insists. “They have a belief in their own ability and that’s what we have tried to do all year.

“We tell them they are on this team because they are a good player and good players survive these things.”

In the face of adversity, it’s about knuckling down, believing in themselves and in each other.

“They are all comfortable footballers, they are comfortable in their own skin, they are comfortable their own skillset and they are comfortable in the way that we setup,” McGrath adds.

Then, it’s about playing to the final whistle. No matter what.

Sunday is another big challenge, perhaps the biggest bump in the road yet, McGrath’s calm voice continues.

“We’ll prepare for it, well plan for it and try to execute that plan and hopefully we have enough quality players that will get us as close to it as we possibly can.”

CHALLENGE…Adam Harrigan, Steelstown Brian Og’s, is challenged by John Fitzgearld, Cloughaneely.