DONEGAL team manager Rory Gallagher will be hoping all of his squad comes through unscathed in this weekend’s opening Club Championship clashes. And next week will also be quite busy as Ardara hosts the All-Ireland Gaeltacht Championships.
One of the top clashes this weekend is the meeting of Gaoth Dobhair and Glenswilly in Magheragallon.
Gaoth Dobhair have Conal Sheridan at the helm and are a formidable force when Neil McGee, Éamon McGee and Odhrán Mac Niallais are available to them. They probably won’t have team captain Michael Carroll or the other county minors, as Donegal take on Armagh in the Ulster Championship on May 31 in Armagh.
Glenswilly are a tall and towering outfit, powered by Michael Murphy, Neil Gallagher, Gary McFadden, Ciarán Bonner, Éamon Ward and Joe Gibbons, and should prevail.
Elsewhere the Martin O’Reilly-powered Seán Mac Cumhail’s are given a hesitant vote to get the better of Malin in Inishowen.
Malin have lost their seven league matches in Division One so far and are quite keen to break that depressing sequence. The Ballybofey boys have a been a steady Division Two outfit, but will need to be at their very best in this difficult away assignment.
Enigmatic Naomh Conaill have, by far, the best forward line in the county, with top performers like 'Brick' Molloy, Dara Gallagher, Brendan McDyre, John O’Malley and Leo McLoone.
Three years ago, they handed a county title to St Eunan’s on a silver platter. They meet a Dungloe side who are still powered by the extraordinary 38-year-old Adrian Sweeney, but Glenties should take this neighbourly tussle with a bit to spare.
Meanwhile, youthful county champions St Eunan’s travel to Ardara, who will be hosting next weekend’s All-Ireland Gaeltacht Championships.
Rory Kavanagh, John Haran, Kevin Rafferty, Michael Gibbons, Conor Parke and co. look to have a bit too much power for an Ardara side who depend heavily on Tomás Boyle, Brendan Boyle and Declan Gavigan. Letterkenny to win.
Glenfin host Four Masters and face a fairly daunting task, even if this tie is fixed for Taobhoige. Frank McGlynn, Ciarán Moye, Gerard McGlynn and Stephen McDermott remain key figures. But with Karl Lacey, Luke Keaney, Barry Dunnion, Barry Monaghan and Michael Doherty still around, the Masters are tipped to win with something to spare.
In-form St Michael’s have a derby clash with Cloughaneely and are warmly tipped to win. Christy Toye, Colm McFadden, Martin McElhinney and Daniel McLaughlin are just some of their really big guns against the Maguires, McGeehans and Kevin Mulhern-inspired lads from in and around Falcarragh.
Termon and Killybegs is a much closer tie to call at the Burn Road. County keeper Michael Boyle, the McDaids and co. look to be slightly stronger than a Killybegs side that has been truly ravaged by emigration.
Termon are given the nod as are Kilcar, who take on Naomh Muire in Towney. It would be a truly massive shock if the McHugh, Paddy McBrearty and Ciarán McGinley-led side did not advance.
They also have the eternally elegant Michael Hegarty against the 'Yank' Boyle-powered Naomh Muire, who won the Intermediate Championship back in 2013.
