JIM McGuinness and the Donegal senior squad will fly to Portugal tomorrow for a week-long training camp.
The 2012 All-Ireland champions will return to Ireland next Thursday (April 17), 10 days ahead of their Division Two final against monaghan in Croke Park.
But the Division Two decider, a repeat of last year's Ulster final, was not the game in McGuinness's thoughts when he was quizzed about the trip to the Algarve.
"my wife is calling it a holiday, but we're calling it a training camp," quipped the Celtic Performance Coach.
"it will give us an opportunity to work on the things we've been working on up to now. We will try and nail them down to move towards may 25th. Derry's form is very impressive and it will be a massive challenge to go into Celtic Park to try and win that. The week away will give us an opportunity to streamline things." It's understood mcGuinness (above) was the primary fundraiser. Through his contacts, he unearthed sponsors who have covered the cost of the trip, which is believed to be approximately e 45,000.
During the past two years, Donegal have gone to Kildare for their training camps. Last season, Donegal spent five days in Johnston House. McGuinness is convinced that his players will reap major benefits from a week together on foreign soil: "The thing about trips away is you get the chance to talk to people one-on-one. There's not the usual pressure with people going to work, or running to training or going home.
"For people to be out of that environment, it will be good for them after a tough campaign where we can be focused and talk about football all the time."