After a quiet weekend, things will ramp up again this week with plenty on the agenda.
It’s a busy week in the National Football League and the Donegal senior team will put their unbeaten run on the line on Sunday against Roscommon.
Before that, the Donegal minors are home to Monaghan on Saturday in Convoy.
Karl Lacey’s side drew with Antrim last week and they’ll be hoping for improvement this time out.
There can always be a few nerves on the opening day for young lads but they had a good game with Monaghan in the Buncrana Cup last year and this could be another good test on Saturday.
The Ulster Under 20 Championship is also due to start next Wednesday (March 18) with a home game for Donegal against Fermanagh.
I know Malachy McCann is part of Gary Boyle’s management team and it is fitting that the game will be played under the lights at the Scarvey in Buncrana.
The Gaeltacht Championship is also up-and-running so there is plenty of football going on with the start of the All-County Leagues in Donegal due to begin at the end of the month. The clubs all got their fixtures last week and that sharpens the minds.
The Donegal senior footballers are undoubtedly in a good place with nine points out of ten and one more result will take them through to the league final.
I’m sure Jim and the panel would like to get it tied up as quickly as possible against Roscommon on Sunday.
The Rossies are a funny one in that they were going well in the first four rounds and then were very flat against the Dubs.
Dublin had shown nothing really before that game and wiped the floor with Roscommon.
Now if you look at the last twenty years, Roscommon has a dreadful record against Dublin so maybe it wasn’t that much of a surprise when you consider that.
I think that defeat will have burst Roscommon’s momentum and Donegal will challenge them in terms of their pace and athleticism.
The big question is will we see Michael Murphy take to the field and become the record appearance holder for Donegal?
Neil McGee held that honour for a number of years and he will go down as one of our great defenders.
Neil might have thought he would hold onto it when Michael stepped away for two years but he’s back and as important as ever to the Donegal cause.
I don’t think we will ever see the likes of Michael again in this county. He has been a magnificent servant to the county.
He made his county debut in 2007 and was playing for the county minors and development squads before that.
And I can tell you he approached every training session as if it was an All-Ireland Final as well. Nothing held back.
It’s no coincidence that Michael’s playing career mirrors Donegal’s most successful era in terms of Ulster titles and All-Ireland Final appearances.
It’s brilliant going for a player to make 100 caps for their county but Michael is closing in on 200 now. If he plays on Sunday he will be on 195 and it’s testament to the way he looks after himself that he is still going strong.
For me, he’s the greatest footballer ever to wear a Donegal jersey.
Michael’s minutes will be managed I’m sure and it’s an important period of the season.
Donegal will want to finish the league strong and there’s a training camp in Portugal coming up after that.
When you look at the lie of the land, Donegal and Kerry are the two teams that stand out.
Is there a kick in Galway? Maybe there is and you wouldn’t rule out Armagh or Mayo but it doesn’t feel as open as it did in recent years.
Like all teams, Donegal will need luck in terms of injuries but when you look at the speed, power and strength of the middle eight, Donegal appear to be in a strong place.
Roscommon have good forwards who will do damage if they get quality ball but I feel Donegal should have too much for them.
O’Donnell Park
It was confirmed on Wednesday that the Ulster Championship match with Down will take place in O’Donnell Park and I think it’s good that the call has been officially made now.
You don’t want that kind of thing dragging on too long and becoming a distraction.
The word out of the Twin Towns for a long time is that MacCumhaill Park wouldn’t be ready for April.
It will be the first time in 75 years that a championship game will be played in Letterkenny and it will be a great occasion for the St Eunan’s club.
There will be a huge scramble for tickets over the coming weeks.
I’d say the County Board are happy that it’s not Armagh or Derry that are coming.
Down won’t have a huge support but Donegal fans would fill out nine thousand tickets themselves.
St Eunan’s will be busy planning now and I’m sure there will be plenty of interest in that match when it comes as Down have been motoring nicely in Division 3 and will fancy an upset.
Division 1
There are big games down for decision in all the various leagues this weekend and Kerry v Mayo in Tralee will be a good watch.
The winner of that game will likely face Donegal in the Division 1 League Final.
I’ve heard some people say that Donegal would prefer to face Mayo and would rather avoid Kerry until the Championship.
I think you always have to be wary of looking too far forward and I’m not sure Donegal would be too bothered about who they would potentially play.
I feel Kerry will probably beat Mayo this weekend and book their spot in the final.
Mayo will be keen to get a big performance but Kerry are hard to beat in Tralee.
Dublin against Armagh in Croke Park is a huge game in the relegation battle.
Armagh are under real pressure with just one win from five games and they finish off against Kerry too.
But I think the Orchard men might just have too much for the Dubs this time out.
Kieran McGeeney won’t want to go down but even if they do, I still think they’ll be a serious threat in Ulster.
Monaghan are going to be relegated and Galway should get the points when they meet in Clones on Sunday.
In Division 2, Tyrone don’t look like they will be relegated but they will want to build up some momentum.
They face Meath in Croke Park and that game should be a good gauge of where both teams are.
Derry are starting to pick it up now and they will be eyeing up promotion.
However, they do have a tricky game this week against Louth and Gavin Devlin, who will of course know plenty about their players. That won’t be an easy game at all for the Oak Leaf side.
