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Crawford aiming for top four finish ahead of Farney tie

BY MATTHEW WILSON

Donegal Masters manager Eddie Crawford is pleased with his side’s progression this year and hopes the team can maintain their form to seal a spot in the Senior Championship.

Donegal won the All-Ireland Plate last season with a victory over London in the showpiece at Kingspan Breffni Park.

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They’ve made a brilliant start to the 2025 season, winning three out of their opening four matches with their only defeat coming against Tyrone, the reigning All-Ireland Senior Champions.

Crawford is delighted with where his group of players are at after a very positive start to their campaign.

“We’ve played four games to date and won three. Tyrone beat us well up in Carrickmore a few weeks ago but they’re All-Ireland champions. We’ve beaten Sligo, Louth and then beat Derry last Saturday at The Bridge. We’ve got Monaghan now on Saturday at home before an away game against Down in Newry so the campaign’s not going too bad.”

“Last year we qualified in the third tier of the championship. Even though we won the All-Ireland Plate, we were well down. We wanted to pick it up another level this year so we’re happy with where we are at the minute.”

The Donegal Masters boss expressed how the side are in a difficult spell at the minute between injuries and holidays, resulting in them missing a third of their starting side for the match against Derry last weekend.

“It’s a tough spell for us because this is a holiday period so there’s lots of boys away. We’ve a few injuries too and we’re watching them because they’re boys that we’ll want back for the championship. Last week against Derry we were missing about six starters. We’re back at training tonight (Tuesday) in Convoy and we’ve 32 going so it’s good numbers.”

The 2024 Plate Champions’ promising start in the 2025 competition has left them sitting in a solid position in the league table and certainly in the mix for a Tier 1 championship spot alongside the likes of Dublin, Kerry and Tyrone.

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Crawford discussed how those are the sort of competitions which both him and the side want to be involved in and test themselves against the best in the country.

“The league tells us where we’ll be in the championship. If we finish in the top four then we’re in the Senior Championship. If we finish in the next four we’re in the Shield and the next group is in the Plate.”

“We’re on six points at the minute. Looking at the other results, we could be around the top four if we win our last two games along with the likes of Dublin, Tyrone and Kerry. That’s where we want to be, we’re a big footballing county and we want them to have success at the highest level.

“That was our plan at the start of the year, to emulate what we did last year, maybe even surpass it, and to better ourselves.”

Donegal are hoping to see themselves move onto eight points when Monaghan travel to Maurice McMenamin Memorial Park, Muff this Saturday at 2pm to face Crawford’s men.

Monaghan haven’t had the most promising campaign to date, winning one of their four encounters so far which makes Donegal favourites to get a result this weekend.

The Glenswilly man said that his outfit will be confident ahead of the Farney test but is refusing to take anything for granted and the side will prepare well this week in training.

“Confident yes but with caution, we don’t take anything for granted. That’s why we’re doing a big session tonight, we plan for every game on merit. We’ll set up as best as we can and prepare for them. You never know beforehand, some of these teams could land with a strong side like Derry last week. But we’re absolutely planning to win this weekend.”

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