Donegal looking to return to winning ways

By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL will be hoping to get back to winning ways this weekend as their promotion trail continues.

Blaine Hughes saving Oisín Gallen’s penalty prevented Donegal leaving Armagh with both points last weekend.

For Jim McGuinness and his side, they welcome Louth to Ballyshannon on Sunday.

The Wee County have proved a tough nut to crack in recent seasons. It took a Niall Toner goal for Derry to leave Ardee with a victory last season and they were the kick of a ball from a draw with Armagh in week one of this year’s campaign.

Donegal’s final two games are against lowly Kildare (A) and Meath (H) with the Royals still currently mathematically in the promotion race.

McGuinness has everyone available to him that he’d want but injury has limited the involvement of Jason McGee, Caolan McColgan, Caolan Ward and Conor O’Donnell.

The return of Ryan McHugh and the continued fine form of Dáire Ó Baoill has been a plus this season.

In attack, Patrick McBrearty and Oisín Gallen have been the axis they’ve built their performances on. Of their 10-111 tally across McKenna Cup and League, 9-73 has come from open play.

Michael Langan and now Hugh McFadden’s return to the fold has bolstered the options in the middle third.

Louth can count themselves unlucky not to have taken something out of their derby defeat in Navan when Matthew Costello’s wonder goal saw Meath take both points.

Niall McDonnell has been in fine form between the posts for Ger Brennan’s side.

They’ll have to prepare without Ciarán Downey who was red carded against Cavan.

Sam Mulroy’s 2-2 will keep the Donegal focus on curbing his influence as one of the best forwards in the game.

Promotion is still very much in the Donegal sights and a home victory will leave them in the box seat.