McFadden expecting another battle with Armagh

By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL put their 100 per cent league record on the line when All-Ireland champions Armagh come to Ballybofey on Sunday.

For selector Colm McFadden, an All-Ireland winner in 2012, getting points on the board has been the most satisfying aspect of their winning start.

An early defeat brings a glance over the shoulder ahead of the second game.

Wins over Dublin and Kerry take the Ulster champions into the visit of Armagh, the game of the weekend.

If you count Donegal’s McKenna Cup game with a skeleton Armagh side, the counties met four times last year.

Shane O’Donnell levelled the league game between the teams and it was Donegal who pulled away late in the final in Croke Park.

When they crossed swords in the Ulster final, Shaun Patton’s penalty save in the shootout ensured the Anglo Celt Cup was headed for Donegal Town.

“That’s 230 minutes we played last year and there’s only one point of difference between us in all that time,” McFadden told Gaelic Life.

“That tells its own story how tight the games were every time we met last year.

“You expect nothing different from an Armagh team. They will not roll over easily and hopefully we can say the same about ourselves. It will make for an interesting game I think on Sunday.”

It’s only a league encounter but the Ulster and All-Ireland champions locking horns will guarantee plenty of sets of eyes on Ballybofey on Sunday.

“Every year Kerry and Dublin are always mentioned,” McFadden said of the benchmark teams.

“Then it’s the next team, if they’re not the All-Ireland champions, so it’s the All-Ireland champions on Sunday.

“Those are the teams that you’re always looking. That’s the three we’ll have met in our first three games like so that’s going to be a good one.”

McFadden highlights how Galway eventually pulled away from Armagh with their two-pointers and was impressed by the Orchard County’s performance against Tyrone.

“It was a crazy scoreline in the first half, in front of their own crowd as All-Ireland champions,” McFadden added.

“It’s what you’d expect and it’s going to be something similar I imagine on Sunday.

“It’ll be an interesting game and Armagh will go with confidence as All-Ireland champions.

“It’s going to be another good test like and it’s something like both teams are going to be looking forward to.”

While McFadden states the value of league points, he has always been impressed by how his side have hung tough in their victories.

There was always the impact coming from the bench, something that will be invaluable during their run of five games in as many weeks.

Patrick McBrearty was the scoring boost against the Dubs with Jamie Brennan hitting two points after Diarmuid O’Connor’s goal handed Kerry a way back on Saturday.

“Kerry came back and levelled a couple of times but it looked like maybe the game was going away from us,” he said of their visit to Killarney.

“The boys showed good character both outings to respond on numerous occasions to Dublin and Kerry coming back at us.

“It seems to be the nature of the game now, the way it’s gone with these new rules.

“If a team is well on top the next thing it swings the other direction and it seems like you’re hanging on. The next thing you’re on top again for five minutes and then you’re hanging on again.

“I don’t know if that’s the nature of these new rules or if it’s good character with the boys to keep bouncing back.”