It’s like going from a Mini to a Merc.
And, it is only the colourful Sylvester Maguire, All-Ireland 1992 winner with Donegal, who could come up such a metaphor when comparing the county of his ancestor chieftains and Tyrone.
And that is the step-up Donegal will take when they take on the smooth powerful machine that is Tyrone after dealing with Fermanagh’s Mini Minor.
That colourful comparison might ruffle a few feathers in Fermanagh but that would not bother the straight- talking Sylvie, who has the: “height of respect for Fermanagh.”
“Look it’s the Mini and Merc, Tyrone are a powerful, seasoned side.
“Fermanagh is the Mini and no fault to them as they are coming from a much different standard of football than Tyrone.
“Tyrone have been there and done that and so has Mickey Harte.
“They have won their trophies, and this is a huge test for Donegal.
“And whoever wins this match will win the Ulster title.”
So, could the winners go all the way as Peter Quinn suggests?
“We would just be concerned about winning the Ulster title for now and we are still blending in a lot of new players,'' said Maguire.
“Jamie Brennan has really come of age this year and he is in his 23rd year along with Eoghan Ban Gallagher.
“And we have three or four young players to come through. The young pup can drive on the old dog and Michael Murphy is playing some great stuff.
“I think we have a great chance of winning Ulster, but I would not be concerned about winning All-Irelands just yet,''
When told that both teams are vulnerable at the back, Maguire says “you can’t have it both ways” complaining about the sweepers and complaining when open football means conceding more scores.
“I don’t think there is a need for a sweeper, all you have to do is drop the two wing backs back and if your two wing forwards come back to work hard around the middle,'' he added.
“I think it will be an open game as both sides like are more attack-minded than they ever were.
“If both teams go defensive, it will be a bore and if both teams attack you could have a magnificent match and if one team defends and the other team attacks you could still have a very good game.”
Both teams are teeming with talent but Tyrone have a slight physical edge according to the Cloghore Cyclone:
“Yes we have some tall lads who are bit more stringy while Tyrone are probably a few years ahead of us in terms of development.
“They have to fill out and Tyrone have been playing at a higher level for a while longer.
“But if we move the ball at speed, we are a match for any team and that should be Donegal’s game plan and you are not giving away any tactics.
“Anyone knows that if you put a physically-strong man on a weaker man the stronger man will win every time.”
But Donegal has one of its greatest ever forward lines?
“Yes, that’s true and we are playing better as a team than we ever did and that includes the years that we won All-Ireland’s and Ulster titles.
“I thought we were very patient and professional against Fermanagh and we drew them out, and then got some good scores from long range.”
