WHEN Donegal and Mayo clash, Martin Carney is always a man in demand.

A highly-respected commentator on GAA matters, Ballyshannon native Carney played for both counties and is now based just outside Castlebar.

He boasted an intercounty career of almost 20 years, winning Ulster titles with Donegal in 1972 and 1974, before switching allegiances to Mayo in 1979, adding four Connacht medals to his impressive CV.

He has lived in Mayo for more than forty years, but still considers himself a Donegal man.

He has been very impressed with the form of Declan Bonner’s young side this season, and is eagerly awaiting their massive clash with his adopted county in Elvery’s McHale Park on Saturday.

“I go to watch Donegal as often as I can, and I have seen them four or five times this year live.

“The team has grown as the year has gone on and I have been blown away by how good their young players are.

“I know he hasn’t been making the starting team, but young Oisin Gallen for a lad that has just turned 19 has real quality off both feet.

“Young (Jamie) Brennan has really developed his game. Shaun Patton is an excellent goalkeeper and Odhran McFadden-Ferry is a tight marker.

“Niall O’Donnell and Michael Langan are relatively new names but they have fitted seamlessly into intercounty football.”

Carney was impressed with how Donegal handled adversity last week when they started without three first choice defenders.

However, he says that their missing men could become an issue before the season is out.

“Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher will be a huge loss. I always thought there was a quartet of him, Michael Murphy, Ryan McHugh, and Patrick McBrearty, and if they all played well, then Donegal would win.

“I remember watching Eoghan ‘Ban’ for Sligo IT in an FBD game in Ballina before he was a big name, and marvelling at his athleticism.

“His injury is a huge blow, and they have been picking up other knocks which is a concern, as well as the absence of (Odhrán) Mac Niallais.

“You might get away with missing that kind of quality in the early rounds of the championship, but if you make the semi-final or final, you need everyone.”

A win next Saturday will take Mayo through to the All-Ireland semi-final, but Carney says belief within the county isn’t overly high.

Despite winning the Allianz League Division 1 title earlier in the year, they faltered in the Connacht Championship, and have been unconvincing since.

“People in Mayo have immense respect for this team, but there is a fear that their best days are possibly behind them.

“The likes of David Clarke, Andy Moran, Seamie O’Shea, Colm Boyle, Keith Higgins, and a few others are all the wrong side of 30.

“But Donegal would be foolish to write them off. They have played for five weeks in-a-row and a weekend’s break will do them the world of good.

“There is also the possibility that they will have their captain Diarmuid O’Connor, and vice-captain Paddy Durcan back from injury as well as Matthew Ruane, and that will add all round athleticism to their game.”

Mayo do have home advantage in their favour, yet Carney isn’t convinced that the tight confines of McHale Park actually suits James Horan’s team, who are renowned for their running power.

The bookies have installed Donegal as 8/13 favourites to win the match, but the Connacht side will fancy their chances.

They have a good recent record against Donegal, even if some supporters feel that they left Sam behind them seven years ago.

“It’s interesting because since Donegal defeated Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland Final, Mayo have actually held the upper hand.

“The sides have met six times since in league and championship. Donegal have only won one of those, although there were two draws as well. So Mayo will feel that they are often there or thereabouts with Donegal.

“Now one aspect that goes in Donegal’s favour is that Castlebar hasn’t been a particularly happy hunting ground for Mayo.

“Roscommon defeated them there in Connacht which was a serious blow.

“I think it’s a small pitch, and Mayo struggle to play their best football on it in my opinion.”

Mayo’s elder statesmen are still on the go, and the likes of Cillian O’Connor and Aidan O’Shea have played a lot of football at this stage.

Donegal will know what to expect from them, but James Horan has also introduced some new, exciting players, and Carney talked about the young men Bonner’s side will have to keep an eye on.

“Fionn McDonagh is a very good, up and coming player.

“Fergal Boland would have been mainly a hurler with Mayo when he was coming through, but has been playing very well.

“James Carr’s story is extraordinary because he plays for Ardagh, who would be the most junior of junior clubs in Mayo. It would probably be something similar to Pettigo in Donegal.

“His rise from effectively a Junior B player to senior intercounty footballer has been remarkable.”

Darren Coen is another player who has been earning rave reviews for his performances, although he has found the going tougher in the latter stages of the Championship.

“Darren Coen was part of the Mayo team that lost the 2009 All-Ireland Minor Final to Armagh. Cillian O’Connor was also a member of that side.

“Darren was occasionally in and out after that, but he was let go a couple of times and this year is the first time he is getting a consistent run at it.

“He’s not going to kill you with pace or by tackling back, but his most valued asset is that he is very accurate off both feet.

“Now I have noticed that his lack of pace has been somewhat exploited by Kerry and Meath in the Super 8s.”

The sub-plot for Saturday’s match is Stephen Rochford’s involvement in the Donegal backroom panel.

Rochford managed Mayo for three seasons and was intent on doing so again this year, but didn’t get the backing he wanted for two new selectors from the County Board.

Writing in the Irish Times last week, Darragh Ó Se suggested that Rochford’s presence and innate knowledge of Mayo football might motivate Horan’s team.

However, Carney doesn’t think the Crossmolina man will have any such bearing on the occasion.

“From what I can gather Mayo are good distilling themselves away from the superfluous and concentrating on the job at hand.

“I think Stephen’s involvement is incidental, and it won’t be occupying the minds of the players.

“Stephen has done excellent work wherever he has gone. He won an All-Ireland Club title with Corofin, I thought his time with Mayo was outstanding, and now he appears to be doing his bit with Donegal.

“The Mayo players respect him and I can’t see his face being put up on the dressing room wall as motivation or anything like that.”

Carney says it’s great to see provincial towns getting a boost with the Super 8s, and he is in no doubt that Castlebar will be hopping on Saturday.

Donegal supporters will travel west in large numbers, and Carney gives them a good chance of a happy journey, but warned it would be foolish to underestimate Mayo.

“To me, Donegal are the better equipped team at the moment.

“If Mayo don’t raise their standards beyond where they have been over the last couple of weeks then they will be in trouble.

“But the fly in the ointment is that Mayo have the capacity particularly if they get two or three players back to improve considerably.

“However, if they don’t find that improvement then I think Donegal will win.”