Donegal’s Jim set for Down’s James

Donegal’s Jim set for Down’s James

19 June 2013

IT is just under a year ago since Down and Donegal last did battle in championship football.

That occasion was the Ulster SFC final in Clones. A day Down supporters like to forget.

Totally outmanoeuvred and out powered over the course of the game, Down suffered a huge collapse as Jim McGuinness’s soldiers romped home to an 11 point win. Their Anglo Celt triumph was the prelude to Sam Maguire glory.

2012 was a magical year for the Tír Chonnail army. Fast forward 11 months and the reigning All-Ireland champions are looking in fine fettle.

A straightforward dismantling job on a fancied Tyrone team in the quarter-finals has got them this far and in that game they looked very impressive.

Their evolving system of play has been finely tuned once again. Their tackling and hounding is more ferocious, their counterattacking is carried out at a whirlwind pace and they have become physically stronger over the winter months. Essentially they are building towards another assault on the All-Ireland title.

Down aren’t fancied by many to prevail in this one. Despite providing evidence of being adept at raking up big scores, 2-17 against Derry in the quarter-final being a point in case, Down also conceded 1-15 in that game. If the Mournemen allow Donegal as much latitude as they did against Derry then they are in serious trouble.

James McCartan still has a few days to mull over how exactly his Down team can beat Donegal. Penetrating their blanket defence, avoiding taking the ball in to the tackle, overcoming their systematic fouling and looking for a potential chink in their armour will have been preoccupying his thoughts.

If he has discovered answers to those questions then Down are very much in with a shout. If, like Mickey Harte found out, answers are not forthcoming, then Down will be presented with numerous difficulties.

In terms of a line out, the team which started against Derry will be similar to the one that takes to Breffni Park on Sunday.

Brendan McVeigh will be in goal and he should be fronted by Dan McCartan and Ryan Boyle in the corners and Brendan McArdle at full back. McArdle may well have to play out the field if Michael Murphy is assigned a midfield role. McCartan will more than likely pick up Colm McFadden while Boyle will shadow Patrick McBrearty.

Alternatively, Down may opt to go with McArdle at full back to offer protection to McCartan and Boyle who will have a very difficult task in keeping Donegal’s two talisman quiet.

Question marks still remain over Aidan Carr’s fitness and if he isn’t ready to come back into the centre half back slot then Peter Turley (inset on opposite page) may well retain the number six shirt.

The RGU powerhouse was deployed as a sweeper against Derry, but if he starts instead of Carr then he will be tasked with keeping playmaker Leo McLoone quiet.

Declan Rooney and Keith Quinn were the wing backs in Celtic Park, but both will face competition from Warrenpoint’s Ryan Mallon for a starting berth.

Although he didn’t start against Tyrone, it is widely expected that Kilcar’s Mark McHugh will be back in the mix for this clash. He covers every inch of any pitch he plays on and whoever tracks him will be exhausted come 4pm.

Martin McIllhinney, David Walsh, Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity will all have designs on the other wing forward vacancy for Donegal.

Kevin McKernan earned rave reviews for his performance against Derry. A four point haul and numerous surging runs marked McKernan out as one of the stars of the Ulster SFC to date.

If the affable Burren man has his long range shooting boots on again then James McCartan will have a weapon that can bypass the blanket defence.

Kalum King will partner McKernan and he would have been ideally suited to mark Neil Gallagher.

However, Gallagher is a major doubt for the game as he was injured in a club game recently. Rory Kavanagh will be the other middle man.

Down have plenty of options up top. Ambrose Rogers is very close to full fitness and his presence at wing forward will be key. Mark Poland will resume playmaking duties at centre half but he will face a tough examination against Declan Walsh.

Danny Hughes may well be ready to re-enter the fray on the other wing and his ability to cut through defences at speed will be sorely needed. His Saval club mate Niall Madine may miss out here despite a brilliant debut against Derry.

Donal O’Hare, Benny Coulter and Conor Laverty will form a lively full forward unit. They will be up against what is arguably the finest full back line in the game at the moment.

The presence of Karl Lacey in the Donegal team is in doubt as he was operated on last week.

Donegal are justifiably favourites and it would be a shock if they didn’t advance to the Ulster final.

This game will act as a barometer for McCartan and come Sunday evening he will be able to assess more accurately his team’s All-Ireland pedigree.