BY RYAN FERRY
DAIRE Ó Baoill is eagerly awaiting the start of the National Football League and expects a sizeable Donegal crowd to head to Croke Park to support the team against Dublin.
It’s sure to be a lively evening at Headquarters with Derry taking on Meath at 3pm before Jim McGuinness’s senior footballers take on Dublin at 5pm.
Donegal fans have been out in their numbers already in January with trips to Cargin, Derry and Omagh.
That support helped Donegal get their hands on the Dr McKenna Cup and the team will need it again when the Boys in Blue start singing on Hill 16 on Saturday.
“The crowds have been great so far and it’s class to see,” said Ó Baoill.
“It gives us energy. When you see crowds like that at the McKenna Cup it would get you excited for the league, and the following that you will have down to Croke Park especially on a Saturday evening.
“It’s never easy going to take on Dublin with all the quality that they have but that’s what you expect in Division 1.
“The place will be rocking with a double-header so we’re looking forward to it and it’s a great way to start the league.”
The Donegal team are returning to Croke Park for the first time since the All-Ireland Final defeat against Kerry back in July.
That was a tough defeat to stomach and Ó Baoill, pictured below, had a double-whammy as he had to contend with a heart-breaking county final defeat as well as his Gaoth Dobhair side let a lead slip and lost to Naomh Conaill after extra-time.
“It was a long winter alright. There was a lot of reflecting.
“But listen, I got a good run with both the club and the county and we got as far as we could have got without winning either.
“You have to reflect and accept it and close that chapter.
“We got time to switch off and we were away as a group with Donegal and enjoyed ourselves.
“It does help when you get back on together as a group and start focusing on the right things again.”
New players impressed in the Dr McKenna Cup and the likes of Kieran Gallagher, Paul O’Hare, Shea Malone, Turlough Carr, Max Campbell, Conor McCahill and Kevin Muldoon were particularly impressive.
The last four mentioned are all still teenagers but Ó Baoill thinks they will be able to hold their own if called upon in Croke Park.
“That (Derry) game is as close to a league game as you are going to get.
“It didn’t feel like a McKenna Cup match anyway. There might have been a bit of edginess at the start but for 80% of that match it was very close to the standard of a Division 1 match.
“Those young boys stood up so you’d like to think they are ready for it.
“There’s a lot of good players from all over the county and there should be a good 20s team this year. It’s all about building experience.
“There will be setbacks but it’s about how they bounce back from that and be positive and learn from the older boys who have the experience.”
