IT'S time Donegal’s young giants started to throw back the shoulders, at a time when their talismanic captain Michael Murphy may not be available.
That is the firm view of All-Ireland 1992 winner Sylvester Maguire as Donegal take on Armagh in a make-or-break final Allianz Football League tie at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday.
Maguire claimed that lack of communication in the Donegal defence contributed to two of Monaghan’s three first half goals in last weekend’s drawn match in Ballybofey.
Donegal were lucky to escape with a point against the Farneymen, but showed great grit in coming back from a nine-point deficit, after Monaghan hit four goals.
Maguire does not believe that Donegal will risk Murphy’s reported hamstring injury this weekend and feels the Tir Chonaill captain may not be risked until the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship in Newry at the end of June.
“We have a big strong team who have been around for quite some time and it is time they started squaring the shoulder and standing up as leaders. I thought Niall O’Donnell and Oisin Gallen did this very well in the second half against Monaghan along with Patrick McBrearty," he said.
“I would be surprised if Michael Murphy kicks another ball in the NFL.
“The League is running straight into the Ulster Championship. I think Donegal will mind him and he will mind himself."
“In many respects we are not a one-man team but in many people’s eyes Michael Murphy is Donegal, the spiritual leader, he is the man you know can score, he organises, and he looks after himself very well. But I think you get the feeling that if he was on the field Donegal would not have conceded four goals.”
On Saturday, Donegal they face an improving Armagh side who are at home and remember the roasting they got in last year's Ulster SFC semi-final in Cavan. However, Maguire feels that the way Tyrone were able to pull away from the Orchardmen last weekend shows that they still have a way to go before they can consistently challenge the top sides.
“Armagh are a big strong side and are playing Kieran McGeeney type football," he said.
“They are in great physical shape and are well tuned but when it came to the crunch against Tyrone, they did not have it.
“They were in the mix and no more than Monaghan, they did not seem able to go on and win the game.
“Donegal will take a bit of heart from that, and I don’t think that Armagh are as far down the line as this Donegal team.
“This Donegal team has been around for a long time and have played at high levels and have a very strong bench and you would just think they would have a bit too much for Armagh.
“Now the Athletic Grounds in Armagh are tighter than Clones and might not suit Donegal’s running game and will allow Armagh to block up their defence and counter on the break at pace.
“It will be interesting as any of the four teams are still in with a chance of staying up and even though Donegal have a point more than Armagh they still have to go out and win to make sure of safety.
“Both will have half an eye on the championship but the prize of staying in Division One is a big carrot too."
