DONEGAL star Shane O’Donnell is always on the move and that’s what makes him so elusive.
The St Eunan’s clubman has become a very important player for the county team over the last 12 months.
At this stage, he’s a nailed-on starter and is a man that can make things happen in attack.
He generally lines out at centre half-forward but tends to roam wherever he likes.
O’Donnell is a strong ball-carrier but there is purpose when he is in possession and he hurt Derry in the Preliminary Round by scoring two points.
There appears to be more space to work with now and that suits the Deele College teacher.
“It’s probably coming down to the new rules with only 12 men back.
“From my perspective, I’m always trying to keep moving.
“When you find yourself moving, you might get a miss-match here or there, or defenders maybe double-teaming you and that’s freeing up someone else.
“You’re always trying to keep yourself moving and get on the ball and create that bit of space to get your shot off or lay a handy pass for someone else to get a shot off.”
One point in particular stands out from the game against Derry. O’Donnell picked the ball up on his own ‘45’ and took off.
Derry’s Paul Cassidy, who is no slouch, tried to keep pace with O’Donnell but he just kept going and going.
Peadar Mogan also made a great support run and he was in the right place to accept a pass from O’Donnell and fist over.
It was energy-zapping for Derry, and Donegal’s athleticism with the likes of O’Donnell, Mogan, Finnbarr Roarty, Ciaran Moore, and Daire Ó Baoill was telling.
Jamie Brennan, Niall O’Donnell and Oisin Gallen all helped to stretch the Derry defence when they came on, and Donegal have the belief that they are going to be running just as strong and consistent late in a match.
“I suppose that has probably come down to a confidence thing with the amount of training we have done this year.
“We always go out and train hard and that probably helps a lot.
“Knowing that you have the depth in the panel as well, even if you do run yourself into the ground, there’s someone to come on.
“You’re always just trying to bust yourself out on the pitch and find those miss-matches and try and open up then and use that player profile that we do have in the camp.”
Monaghan will be the last team to enter the Ulster Championship on Sunday but they haven’t been sitting idle.
It’s only three weeks since they excelled in the Division 2 Final at Croke Park and beat a highly-rated Roscommon side by 1-26 to 0-19.
O’Donnell watched that match and he was impressed with what he saw.
The likes of David Garland, Micheal Bannigan, Jack McCarron, Ciaran McNulty and Andrew Woods are all good forwards, and they aren’t reliant on any one player.
O’Donnell didn’t have a great record against Monaghan at underage level, so he certainly won’t be taking Sunday’s clash for granted.
“We’re going to have to do a lot of homework.
“I think a good few of us were watching the league final, and it was good to kind of see that and see where they are at.
“They are a good side with lots of threats all over the pitch.
“You have (Rory) Beggan there with the frees and the forwards that they have, some of them are exceptional.
“We’re going to have to do a lot of homework because we spent all our time looking at Derry since the draw was made.”
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