Donegal step into next phase

IT’S only March but it’s impossible not to mention Donegal and championship in the same sentence.

They welcome Tyrone to O’Donnell Park this weekend with both teams coming from different angles.

The Red Hands crave two league points in a bid to beat the drop with the home team safe from the scrap at the bottom.

Speaking after Donegal’s win over Derry, manager Jim McGuinness said they’d be approaching their last two league games in a manner that suited the group.

Donegal welcome the Oakleafers to Ballybofey as the Ulster Championship’s preliminary round rocks up just a week after the league final.

When you think about Donegal and those Ulster final Sunday nights, your mind wanders to a group of players carrying the Anglo Celt Cup into Donegal Town.

In an era when many almost turn their nose up at the provincial championships, Donegal place real value. Plus, McGuinness believes going into the All-Ireland race as Ulster champions is a must.

That’s why, when he said they’d take stock and see what the group need out of their last two games, the mind wanders.

He didn’t say it, but a league final would impinge on their championship preparations. They’d be better served camped up for the weekend polishing up on a gameplan that milks the best of what the rule enhancements have to offer.

Malachy O’Rourke will have no control over how Donegal approach Sunday in Letterkenny, but you’d imagine it’s time for getting a look at their squad.

Odhrán McFadden-Ferry got time against Derry and here, it would be a valuable 70 minutes ahead of the championship.

With it being a home game, it could be a chance for more Michael Murphy time on the pitch.

They could give Gavin Mulreaney a couple of outings to see what life is like as a goalkeeper with the 40-metre arc.

If Kerry beat Armagh and Galway beat Dublin on Saturday, it will book a league final spot for Donegal before they kick a ball in Letterkenny. The ifs and buts of the league continue.

Check out this week’s podcast with Ronan O’Neill and Shaun Casey, looking ahead to this week’s action. The podcast is brought to you in association with Hastings Everglades Hotel