BY RYAN FERRY

1. Inside forwards enjoying more space

The Donegal club scene isn’t seeing the same level of the high-scoring action that other counties are enjoying, and there is still plenty of slow, lateral play on show.

However, teams are prepared to take on two-point efforts and when you add in the fact that it’s only possible to defend with 11 outfield players, it is allowing more space for inside forwards to flourish.

There was the occasional big display in last year’s championship but in general, most full-forward lines were suffocated by blanket defences, and attackers were living off scraps and doing well to get one or two scores from play in games.

Of course things might tighten up when the knock-out business gets underway, but at present it does appear that clubs are being rewarded for getting the ball into the hands of their best shooters.

Conor O’Donnell Jnr (St Eunan’s, 1-6), Matthew McClean (Kilcar, 0-7), Alex McCalmont (Four Masters, 1-5), Kevin McCormack (Sean MacCumhaills, 1-5), Oisin Gallen (Sean MacCumhaills, 1-10), Eoin Martin (Naomh Muire, 2-8), Danny Murphy (Moville, 3-2), Patrick White (Naomh Ultan, 1-4), and Michael Sweeney (Gaeil Fhánada, 1-3) were just some of the inside forwards who hit form last weekend.

And of the seven SFC Championship matches that were reported on by Donegal News last weekend, six of the man-of-the-match shouts went to forwards, with just Gaoth Dobhair’s Ethan Harkin (now transformed into an attacking wing-back) the odd one out.

2. Dungloe building a winning mentality

Dungloe shocked many last year by reaching the Donegal County Final, but they are backing it up in 2025.

The Rosses side had a super campaign last season winning three of their four group games, and then seeing off Downings, Glenswilly and St Michael’s before falling short in the final against St Eunan’s.

A solid campaign in Division 2 followed this term and they won the league final after holding their own against Aodh Ruadh in Glenties.

It’s been more of the same in the championship so far as they have grinded out wins away to Downings and Glenswilly, while they racked up a good win over Killybegs.

Dessie Gallagher has remained as manager and he has all of last year’s team back on board.

Crucially Ryan Greene is back home to bolster their attack, while Luke Clerkin is finally getting an injury-free run and has been looking the part at wing-forward.

Dungloe may lack a marquee team in the forward line but they do spread the workload in attack, while they have a good goalkeeper, an uncompromising defence, and an athletic midfield, with plenty of physicality and pace thrown into the mix.

They are a team that clubs won’t want to run into in the knock-out stages.

3. St Eunan’s operating with large panel

After an opening day defeat to Kilcar, St Eunan’s have bounced back with wins over Aodh Ruadh and St Naul’s.

They haven’t been at their best so far but are moving up through the gears and will face Termon in Round 4.

What is striking is that they have used 25 players already in the Senior Championship.

Against St Naul’s, 19 players were called upon, and that didn’t include Fintan Doherty, Eamonn Doherty, Noah Barrett, Darragh Mulgrew, Anthony Gallagher and Kevin Kealy who all featured against Kilcar.

There are different factors at stake such as injuries and hurling commitments, while St Eunan’s didn’t rush their five county men back to action.

It is in contrast with how many clubs have to approach the championship and believe that they have no alternative but to keep their senior side as tight as possible with just one or two subs used as they don’t have the strength-in-depth.

That’s not a problem for St Eunan’s but there are potential pitfalls for Barry Meehan to manage.

He has to try and integrate his best players back into the team while keeping everyone content and pushing for a place in the side.

Only fifteen players can start a match with a maximum of five subs, so there will be some men that might not see much more game time as the championship heats up.

The fact that so many players have been used hasn’t had a major impact on their reserve team as St Eunan’s have won all three of their matches in the Senior ‘B’ Championship.

Conor O’Donnell Snr of St Eunan’s and Brendan McCole of St Naul’s compete for the ball.

4. Intermediate set up nicely

With only 12 teams in the Intermediate, there has been a much greater level of championship intensity to the fare that we have seen so far.

And heading into Round 4 on the weekend after next, there will be plenty at stake, especially as the quarter-finals will be decided on ranking – first v eighth, second v seventh etc.

Naomh Columba have three wins from three games but they have to go to the Banks in the final group match and that will be a tough test against Naomh Muire.

Naomh Pádraig, Uisce Chaoin continue on their upward trajectory and they are feeling good about themselves but they will have another battle in Round 4 against a Burt side that need to win to make the knock-out stages.

Red Hughs will feel they’ll get a third win against struggling Na Rossa, while Milford will be fancied to defeat a Cloughaneely side who will be in the relegation play-offs.

Realt na Mara look a much more formidable side this season but they will take on a Malin team who are proving tough to beat.

The match between Gaeil Fhánada and Buncrana will be a big contest. A draw might be enough for the men from the Scarvey to squeeze through but both sides will be aiming for the win.

After playing in Division 1 this season, it would be a huge shock if Buncrana failed to make the last eight, especially now they have former Finn Harps player Kevin Jordan on board.

However, Fanad have home advantage and it’s only two years since they defeated Buncrana in a knock-out game.

At this stage, it would be an arduous task to predict what the quarter-final pairings might look like.

5.Duffy overseeing Robert Emmets improvement

John Duffy is a well-known figure in Donegal GAA circles after starring for the county team and Aodh Ruadh during his playing days.

He was also part of Jim McGuinness’s backroom team during the 2014 season when Donegal went all the way to the All-Ireland Final.

It was mainly soccer and futsal coaching that took his focus after that as well as some refereeing.

He was in charge of Curragh Athletic for a number of seasons before taking on the reins of Robert Emmets this season.

The Castlefin club have struggled to gather momentum and last year’s win over Newtown was their first Junior ‘A’ Championship win in eleven years.

This season’s league was a struggle at the start but wins over Lifford and Moville late in the campaign helped to gain traction.

And they have made a strong start to Group B of the Junior Championship with wins over Pettigo and Urris.

There are tougher matches coming down the line against Naomh Bríd and Convoy, but a win this Sunday against Lifford would seal a spot in the knock-out stages for Emmets and that would be a real sign of progress.