Donegal manager Jim McGuinness said his team got the test they wanted against Derry at Celtic Park this evening.
It proved to be a cracking game with Donegal prevailing by 1-18 to 1-16.
That takes them through to the final against Monaghan and it will be played at 5pm on Saturday.
“We’re in that phase of the season where we are trying to get ready for the first league match so from that point of view it was great,” said the Glenties native after the match.
“Derry came out hard and they threw the kitchen sink at it.
“It was the test we wanted.
“A Division 1 team really, that’s what you’re playing against.
“We’re ten days out from the first game so it was perfect.”
After the first McKenna Cup group match with Derry didn’t go ahead, McGuinness was pleased that his team were able to get a second game in before the start of the league and it was even better that it came against a strong outfit at Celtic Park.
“The level of competition and the players that were out there and the questions that were asked – you need that under your belt going into the game (against Dublin on January 24).
“We’re happy with that.
“I think we had a new player in every line going into the game and we had more players coming off the bench as well.
“As I said last week, we’re looking to do that and we’re trying to develop a wee bit of depth in the squad and develop the younger players and they did very well again tonight.”
