DONEGAL boss Declan Bonner has hit out at the difference in the length of preparation time for counties in Ulster in comparison to Munster and Leinster, as the Tir Chonaill men gear up for yet another provincial showdown with.
Bonner described that pairing in next year’s Ulster Championship as a match to “focus minds” - and a message to his side that they will have to be at the top of their game by the time May rolls around.
The same does not apply in Munster or arguably Leinster where Kerry and Dublin don’t have to reach their peak until August, insists the Donegal boss, who claimed this year’s All-Ireland finalists have “an unfair advantage”.
“If you look at Munster and Leinster, and especially Kerry and Dublin, they don’t need to plan or get ready for a Championship match in the second or third week of May,” he said.
“They can plan their preparation until July or August and structure their training accordingly. But in Ulster, many counties have to peak for May and it is very difficult to maintain that momentum right through the whole summer - that is unequal.
“That is one of the down sides and it gives teams like Kerry and Dublin an unfair advantage. In Ulster we have to be ready and competitive right from the start.”
That said, Bonner admits he is excited at the prospect of another clash with Mickey Harte’s men as Donegal set their sights on retaining the Ulster Championship they have won in the last two years.
He said: “Yes of course this is where you want to be; playing Tyrone, one of the best teams in the country over the past 15 years and in Ballybofey where we have a pretty good record against them, apart from the Super 8s last year.
“What better place could you be than Ballybofey in summer, and we are looking forward to it. It certainly gets the minds focused early on.
“Tyrone are a great side and we have won the last two Ulster titles back-to-back; it is going to be a huge battle and our win over them in Breffni Park earlier this year will have no bearing on this match.
“It is always nice to get a Championship match in Ballybofey and we have been lucky enough over the past few years in this respect. That is important to get, but Tyrone came to Ballybofey last year and won fairly easily so it will hold no fears for them.”
“Fairly easily” may be slightly underselling the efforts of his own players in that 2018 clash, with Donegal ahead for much of the game before Tyrone pulled away at the last.
And the Tir Chonaill gained revenge this summer with a comprehensive Ulster Championship victory – so does Bonner expect any lingering hurt in the Red Hand camp from their Breffni beating?
“It is hard to know and there is a lot of things happening in the meantime as we have the Dr McKenna Cup earlier now in December and a very competitive NFL where we will also be playing Tyrone at home in Ballybofey.
"But this is the stand-out fixture throughout the country.”
