HOW do you approach a game against Donegal if you are considered to be a team outside the top eight?
This is a game Derry will not be relishing.
In fact, given that Derry dumped Down out of the Championship in the last round, Derry are more to be pitied than envied.
If Down supporters were being honest, I am sure they are glad the county are not meeting Donegal, based on the massacre at the Athletic Grounds.
However, if you were in the Derry management's heads, the question is how do you compete with Donegal?
Forget winning for the time being, it’s only about matching them for as long as possible and after that seeing were it takes you. Here's how I see it...
KICK-OUTS
Donegal are very strong at midfield. Both Gallagher and MacNiallais can catch and are comfortable on the ball. Add in the fact that Murphy will be helping out and it’s easy to see why Donegal can potentially dominate here.
If Derry opt to go short, then they risk a slow, pondering build up which can be broken up by Donegal quite easily. Given the ability of Thomas Mallon to go long and accurately pick out a pass, isolating Donegal on either wings, this is possibly their best chance of winning primary possession.
MICHAEL MURPHY
How do you mark Michael Murphy?
While many consider him to be unplayable, bar kidnapping him the night before, there is a place to do a ‘Justin McMahon’.
Then again, there is nothing you can do about the 50-yard free kicks which are his bread and butter.
They option for Derry is to put an equally athletic and strong man marker on him and attempt to put Murphy on the back foot and drive forward, as far away from your own goal as possible.
Chances of finding a man to fulfil this role in Derry are key.
Perhaps Niall Holly is too young, but then again it could be master-stroke.
FIRST 15 MINUTES
If Donegal get a good start as they did in the Athletic Grounds and get any type of lead, they will sit back and kill you on the counter-attack.
Derry need to go man for man as soon as Donegal reach the half-way line.
The full-back line needs protecting so at least one sweeper should sit directly in front of the full-back line.
Donegal could go with Murphy in full-forward which may confuse Derry, who would expect McBrearty to be inside alone.
The best option is to have your centre-half back drop back to offer further protection.
By identifying the key scorers in the Donegal team, you have the option of taking a chance on the less prolific, ensuring that the McBrearty, Murphy’s and McNiallais are well marshalled.
FRANK McGLYNN
Man mark this man and stop him from driving forward and you go a long way to stopping the Donegal counter-attack.
At this juncture, you would have to consider using a defender and doing a man-marking job on McGlynn.
Someone who is not worried about even touching the ball for 70 minutes, scoring or generally being involved in any of the day's proceedings.
You call this man ‘The Equalizer’.
ATTACKING TO SHOT RATIO
This is something which sometimes is overlooked by a lot of teams who are preoccupied with defence.
Your attack to conversion ratio needs to be at its best if you want to live with Donegal.
When Donegal attack, on most occasions, such is the economy of effort and indeed experience, they always eke out a score, whether from play or from a free.
Putting it simply, Derry will have plenty of possession, it’s what they do with it which counts.
Carry it into tackles, like Armagh, and you will be beaten. Every time Derry attack, preferably at speed, they need to score.
Even if Donegal own the ball, to stay in touch, every attack has to be converted. Derry will have to be patient; it may take re-cycling the ball a dozen times, before you even get a sniff.
The key is patience. All it takes is one weak guy to think he can do it all and as the saying goes, ‘the ball is over the wall’.
MARK AND RYAN McHUGH
When Tyrone played Donegal, Mattie Donnelly secured the ball 45 metres from goal in the first-half and drove down the right hand-side, pushing Ryan McHugh aside and slotting the ball over the bar with his left foot.
Both Ryan and Mark are physically not as strong in the tackle as other Donegal players.
They are also naturally forwards converted to sweepers.
By driving at these two players, you have a chance of breaking the tackle, drawing a free and driving them back toward their own goal.
Both will tuck in behind the half-back line and will emerge in support, comfortably carrying the ball so far if necessary.
DISCIPLINE IN THE TACKLE
If you foul Donegal anywhere within 45 metres, Murphy will punish you.
If there is a breeze you can add another 10 or so metres comfortably to this.
Armagh players committed to a tackle and either fouled or let the Donegal man break through the space.
The key is to do what Donegal do.
First, do not commit to a tackle where you will have to let the Donegal man away, quick hands and stopping them breaking through is key.
Secondly, stopping the player legally before the referee calls a foul is a fine line.
Ensuring you let go before the referee has time to draw breathe is key to ensuring Donegal don’t break through the space or give away a free kick which provides Murphy with an opportunity to score.
Ultimately this cost Tyrone. If you an idea as to how, watch Murphy tackle. Border-line stuff, but very smart use of the body to ensure the referee never sends him off.
This may seem easy in practice and even easier to put on paper. From a Derry player perspective, really what have they got to lose?
Nobody expects them to win, not even the most positive. My advice to the under-dog, know your job, do it and pray for a win.
Prayer has a place in the game, just as luck does. Donegal to win, but for the underdogs, pray God has a Derry shirt on.
