BY RYAN FERRY
GARY McDaid is adamant that most counties will still want to avoid Donegal in the first round of the All-Ireland Series despite Jim McGuinness’s side shock defeat to Down last Sunday.
The reigning Ulster champions were dethroned by underdogs Down on a scoreline of 3-21 to 1-21 at O’Donnell Park.
Down advance to the Ulster semi-finals this Sunday where they will meet Armagh while Donegal will not be in action for another three or four weekends depending on who they are paired with in the next phase of the season.
Donegal know that they will be away from home to a provincial finalist and former county selector McDaid feels they can bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Letterkenny.
“There was a lot of talk over the last few years that for Donegal to win an All-Ireland they would be better off forgetting about Ulster, and now we’re going to get to test that theory.
“It gives us an opportunity to get over injuries and get people built up again. I think it buys us time in that regard.
“Heads will be down at training for the first night or two, but there will be a big hurt there among the players.
“I’ll put it this way if I was from a team who reaches a provincial final, I wouldn’t want to play Donegal because I think there will be a huge performance in the team.
“Even if we got the worst draw and had to go to Kerry, I don’t think they would want to play us because there will be a sting in the tail.
“We don’t need to get battered by Armagh or have a derby final with Derry.
“Yes it would have been great to win Ulster but it would have been energy draining and you still have the same amount of games to play in the All-Ireland Series.
“Donegal will have a chance to watch now. We already know four of our possible opponents and will know the rest by the weekend.”
There is a new All-Ireland Series format this season and the picture will become clearer after this weekend.
The ex-Glenswilly bainisteoir feels there could be easier pathways than others.
“You’re probably looking for a beaten provincial finalist because their heads will be down.
“I think you maybe would want to avoid the Ulster teams because the over familiarity and probably the Munster teams because of the travelling.
“I don’t think we would mind playing Roscommon again if they lose the Connacht final after getting beat by them in the league.
“I think you’d be looking to go either East or West.
“But whatever the draw is I think the management team and players won’t get too bogged down on it. They will just go and play.”