Gallagher explains why Donegal should progress

Donegal are a more dangerous team than ever before. That’s the opinion of All-Ireland winner Matt Gallagher.

The former county star believes that this season Donegal have shown that they have incredible strength in depth. As a result he expects them to continue their winning run, and should account for Armagh in this weekend’s Ulster Championship semi-final.

“It used to be that when Michael Murphy and Ryan McHugh hadn’t scored we were in trouble.

“It’s not like that now. Against Tyrone in the last round the subs coming on worked. It is a big bonus. We managed to get to grips with the game and pushed on.”

Gallagher’s analysis is partly based on his reading of Donegal’s performance against Tyrone in the Ulster quarter-final a couple of weeks ago.

Donegal won 1-13 to 1-11. They led by 1-5 to 0-6 at half time, the goal came from Michael Langan. Darragh Canavan’s goal for Tyrone in the second half should have given Donegal a fright, but they were cool and calm in their response and took control of the game.

As Gallagher said, it was the fact that Donegal did not have to rely on their talismanic players of Michael Murphy or Ryan McHugh, that made the result all the more pleasing.

“From our point of view we were happy to play Tyrone. But we were down after five minutes but then up after 25 minutes. When we conceded the goal we reeled off a string of points.

“What was impressive was that the boys who scored the points were Michael Langan, Ciaran Thompson and Jamie Brennan.

“Donegal definitely look like they are progressing. Everyone in Donegal knows how good Michael Langan is. He’s showing it now in Ulster.

“Ciaran Thompson is a great player too. They are both putting up good scores. With them scoring it makes Donegal so much more dangerous.”

Armagh have not reached an Ulster final since 2008, yet the Orchard county made a breakthrough this year when they earned promotion to Division one.

Gallagher accepts that Armagh will put up a challenge.

“We’ll go into the game as favourites.

“I could be reading too much into it but I don’t think that Armagh will be too far away. Kieran McGeeney was a winner. He will be asking for a huge performance from his team.

“They have some very good forwards there. They have the O’Neills and Jamie Clarke.”

Sometimes history can play a part in matches like this. Cavan’s rivalry with Monaghan certainly played its part in them overturning the Oriel county in the preliminary round.

Gallagher recalls that Armagh used to have a good record over Donegal.

“There were a few games in the late 2000s when they were strong along with Tyrone. We were behind then.

“Armagh beat us badly in a couple of finals. They have been strong in the past.

“This year they were very good in the first half against Derry (in the Ulster SFC first round). They have some very good players including their Crossmaglen lads. Their goalkeeper is very good as well. I was impressed with his kick outs. He seems to be making good progress.”

Yet good form this year does not mean that Armagh are the team of the 2000s, who along with Tyrone and Kerry were the dominant teams.

For Gallagher, the tactics of the game will be very important. He thinks that Armagh won’t be able to adapt in the same way that Donegal can.

“The Donegal Tyrone game was expected to be defensive. But it turned out to be anything but. It was a very exciting, attacking game.

“I don’t think that Armagh will be looking for that sort of game. They will not want an open game. They will be looking to contain things and hit Donegal on the break. They will have their targets of players who they want to pick up.

“But the game against Tyrone has shown that they can’t just pick up one or two players. That game showed that Michael Langan and Ciaran Thompson are threats.

“Donegal will want to get control of the game as early as possible. They will want to win their kick outs and they will want to put pressure on the opposition’s kick outs.”

And he added that it may not be just Donegal that Armagh have to worry about.

“The weather could play its part too. I saw Breffni and it seems to be in good shape

“I would be hopeful that we can come out on top.”