Football

Donegal primed for visit of Galway in Division One showdown

Michael Murphy began the season with eight points against Mayo and added 1-2 last weekend in Navan. Picture Margaret McLaughlin
Michael Murphy began the season with eight points against Mayo and added 1-2 last weekend in Navan. Picture Margaret McLaughlin Michael Murphy began the season with eight points against Mayo and added 1-2 last weekend in Navan. Picture Margaret McLaughlin

Allianz National Football League Division One: Donegal v Galway (tomorrow, Letterkenny, 2pm, live on TG4)

DONEGAL really should be sitting on top of the pile after two games but Mayo’s late goal in their opening game means they’ve had to share top spot with Dublin and Kerry, who also have three points.

Meanwhile, after years in the football austerity Badlands, Galway have returned to a style that is closer to their free-flowing roots and that comes as no surprise given that Padraig Joyce – one of the best forwards of his generation – has taken over as manager this season.

His attacking system is aimed at bringing the best out of talented forwards like Damien Comer and Shane Walsh, who looked in scintillating form when the Tribesmen went toe-to-toe with Kerry in Tralee.

Walsh finished the game with 1-4 but that wasn’t enough to see Galway to victory and a late Paul Geaney goal followed by Killian Spillane’s point meant they travelled home with nothing to show for their gallant efforts. Will heads have gone down after that loss? Joyce will hope not because this is another very difficult assignment for his young side.

Donegal drew their opener but they could have been home and hosed by the interval. Time after time they cut the Mayo defence to shreds with athletic, short-passing bursts from their half-back line but their shooting was terrible and, in Division One, you can’t get away with that.

Last Sunday the Tir Chonaill men were much more efficient and they had it all their own way against newly-promoted Meath who are looking out of their depth in the top flight and managed only seven points against the tight Donegal defence.

While Walsh has been outstanding for Galway, Jamie Brennan has registered two points in each of Donegal’s games so far. Ciaran Thompson has also been among the scores but the leader of the pack continues to be the incomparable Michael Murphy who added 1-2 last Sunday to the eight points he managed against Mayo. Niall O’Donnell returned to the action at Pairc Tailteann and Kilcar forward Paddy McBrearty could be back up front tomorrow.

The Donegal defence coped relatively comfortably with Meath’s forward line in Navan but Walsh and Comer in particular will test them tomorrow and the clashes between Caolan Ward and Walsh and Neil McGee and Comer, if he plays at full-forward, will be well worth watching.

A entertaining spectacle looks in store between two sides who play to their attacking strengths. Galway have been reinvigorated since the appointment of county legend Joyce and the Tuam native will be confident his side can do the job tomorrow. Meanwhile, with Murphy leading by example all over the field, Donegal are on a mission this season.

The difference between these sides will come down to the strengths of their respective defences and Donegal’s has looked more solid so far.

Declan Bonner’s men thrive on turnover ball and expect them to win enough of it to create the chances they’ll require to win this game. They need to take them.

Donegal: TBC

Galway: C Gleeson; S Kelly, S Ó Maoilchiaráin, J Heaney; G O’Donnell, J Daly, C McDaid; R Steede, C D’Arcy; E Brannigan, D Comer, M Daly; R Finnerty, S Walsh, M Boyle.