DONEGAL hurler Seán McVeigh feels they are now at a stage where they aren’t looking to just make up the numbers at the higher level, but are wanting to push on and get results against opposition in Division 2.
Donegal opened their campaign with a trip to Trim on Saturday as they faced Meath and it ended in a one point defeat against Johnny Greville’s men.
The previous two meetings in Division 2B in 2023 saw Mickey McCann’s side lose by ten and six points respectively, so there is cause for positives as they came so close, but McVeigh feels that results at this level are what the team will only settle for now.
“It was very disappointing, Mickey would have said before the game that the days are gone where we’re just happy with putting it up to teams and getting moral victories. We were fully going down with the aim of winning the game and the way it panned out we had the opportunities to win it but we didn’t see it out.
“With 66 minutes on the clock we’re up by a point so to put in a shift and get yourself in a winning position and not come away with anything was very disappointing because it would have been a big two points.
“We need to get the points wherever you can and as you go up the levels, there is less margin for error and the more frustrating thing from the game is we still contributed to quite a bit on their scoreboard between turnovers and giving away frees.
“It’s two areas of the game we wouldn’t be happy with but that’s something we can address and work on this week.”
There were some notable absentees for Mickey McCann’s side last weekend, with captain Conor Gartland only fit to come on in the final minutes of the game along with Peter Kelly, both struggling with injury in the lead up to the clash.
Vice-captain Steven McBride also missed out as well as his Setanta teammates Ruairi Campbell and Declan Coulter.
But they were also boosted by the return of Mick Donoghue and Christopher McDermott.
“The lads had knocks so we were down a couple of bodies, Ruairi is a big ball winner and scorer inside and then Stevie in the full-back line has been such a colossal player in the last couple of players.
“Conor is also coming back so there have been injuries but that doesn’t come into our mind-set, we planned to win that game, hopefully they’ll be back sooner rather than later to strengthen the squad but we still fancy ourselves no matter who takes to the pitch.
“It is a very strong panel, we have our in-house games in Convoy and it’s really competitive. Then the lads coming back in like Mick and ‘Cricky’ (McDermott) have had some great games in the challenge games and last weekend too.
“You also have those younger lads like Oisin (Kelly) and Cormac (Finn) who have been around the squad for a year now and they’ve really put the head down and they’re performing which is all you want from the squad.”
Like Donoghue and McDermott, McVeigh took a year out from the panel in 2023 but the St Eunan’s man didn’t stay away for long as he came back into the squad in 2024, playing a big part in their promotion in the league, with the help of a restructure, and the Nickey Rackard success.
“When I went to go back (in 2023) I had a new job and normally I’d be wanting to get back out training straight away but I didn’t really have that bite to go again which was unusual for myself, so I decided to take the break to concentrate on myself, the career and the club.
“That year out gave me a bit of freshness in the mind and I felt I had more to offer so I was delighted when I spoke to Mickey and I was able to come back into the squad and try help the team.
“We were really happy with the year we had, it’s given everyone an emphasis to drive it on another notch and hold our own, try to stay in the Division and push on for a Christy Ring where we feel we should have been in the last number of years.
“But we can’t look beyond week on week and this Tyrone game is a massive game for us.”
The Red Hands beat an understrength Donegal in last year’s semi-final as the pair both moved up a division with Derry, but Tyrone lost their opening game to the Oak Leaf men, so it will be a huge encounter for both teams looking to get a first win.
“We have to get a performance out of ourselves and correct the things from last week and try to get a victory.
“We know what Tyrone bring, they’ll be fit and strong and in our face so it’ll be a big one on Sunday.
“Aidy Kelly is putting up massive numbers in terms of frees, it’s a huge percentage of their scores because he doesn’t seem to be missing so it’s something we’re going to have to address.
“It’s almost rarer to have a year when you don’t play Tyrone and there’s a healthy rivalry developed over the last few years as we have both pushed on a bit so most of the lads are looking forward to the game.”
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