BY DÁIRE BONNAR
DONEGAL minors are away to Armagh on Saturday, but the prize of a home semi-final in the Ulster championship is a big incentive for them should they win.
Barry Ward’s side already met Armagh in the semi-final of the League, taking a comfortable 3-11 to 1-9 win in O’Donnell Park.
Goals from Joseph Gibbons, Joe Doherty and Matthew Enright helped them on their way to the win, so it will give them confidence going into the game.
Armagh however did defeat Donegal at the semi-final stage of this championship last year in Ward’s first year in charge and the Aodh Ruadh club man is expecting to face a different animal in the heat of the championship.
“Every manager is saying that, the league is great preparation and for us it was great to get some good games against the likes of Tyrone, Armagh and Cavan but championship brings a different dimension so we’ll be expecting nothing other than a very hard battle in the Athletic Grounds on Saturday morning.
“We’re well used to travelling in Donegal between trainings and home games so we’re well used to being on the road and being on the bus early so heading away to Armagh won’t be an issue.
“When we did play Armagh we hit a high standard of a performance and made an impact so it’s the same again on Saturday, getting up to the performance level we can get to is key.
“We know if we can get to that level that we can really play and that’s the confidence you have to take from it, if we hit that then we can get the results.”
While the losing side on Saturday will have a second chance to reach the semi-finals against a side that lost in the previous round, there’s a huge incentive to win as it will give the winning side a two week break and home advantage for the semi-final.
It’s not a system that Ward agrees with but they will be looking to benefit from it should they win against the Orchard County.
“The winner will have a good break and the loser has a play-off to make the semi-finals.
“It’s a different format to last year and if you can come through on Saturday then you are looking at getting that carrot of a home semi-final so it brings a bit more to the game.
“For me, I think the first round is ok to have a team drawn out at home but I think at this stage of the competition it should be a neutral venue, a semi-final in particular, but that’s the way the draw has been made so we will absolutely take it if we can get the win.
“The significance of the competition, I think semi-finals shouldn’t be played on home venues but that’s the way it is and we’ll be looking to benefit from it.
“Everyone is looking fit and well, there are a couple of lads who have been resting up but we’ll have everyone back on the pitch at training this week and the competition for places will be going again so it’s a nice environment to be in.”
Donegal had a bit of a scare in their quarter-final against Monaghan as they led by eight with eight minutes to play but they held on and the bainisteoir feels that test will have served them well.
“It was a typical Ulster championship game in that it was never going to be easy and they were always going to have a purple patch and it yielded eight points in quick succession.
“One of the goals we were disappointed with our defending of a high ball that we had dealt with well all game.
“But we regrouped a couple of times and got a late point but at times you have to look about some game management and closing up shop, it’s all learning and we’re happy to get through it, that’s what is key in a championship match.
“Throughout the league and championship we had an awful lot of competitive games that we have really learned from and the players themselves now realise what it’s about, if you come through the games easily then you mightn’t learn as much.
“We have a good spread of scorers in every game so it’s good to have the lads getting into good positions and executing them.”
Related posts:
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)