DONEGAL manager Declan Bonner says he and his side will take nothing for granted when they travel to Newry to face Down in the preliminary-round contest of this year’s Ulster SFC in June.
Bonner’s side had little difficulty in disposing of the Mournemen when the sides last met in the provincial series, but the landscape has changed since that 2018 semi- final, with Paddy Tally taking the Down reins and getting them back to Division Two.
Bonner also has “no complaints” about having to potentially take the scenic route of winning four matches to regain the Anglo-Celt. If they get past Down, it will be another away tie – this time with former Donegal boss Rory Gallagher’s Derry side.
If they negotiate that tricky tie, lying in wait in semi-finals will be either Tyrone or Cavan, making this year a particularly challenging one for Tír Chonaill. Bonner is very wary of Tally’s new-look Down side and the real quality they showed in last year’s Championship, especially in the first half of their semi-?nal against eventual champions Cavan. “It is going to be a battle in Newry and Paddy Tally has come in and really ramped them up.
“They played some great football and were very unlucky against Cavan. They created some great goal chances in the first half, enough to put Cavan away and were very unlucky not to be in last year’s Ulster final.”
Bonner believes that, even though Down lost, that display, while ultimately most disappointing, will give Tally’s men renewed vigour and con?dence that they can compete with the very best.
“This is going to be a real test going in to play Down in Newry with all its great tradition and this Down team are playing with all of the swagger and self-belief of the Down teams of old.
“Home advantage is great for them. Everyone wants to play at home, although it might be slightly different now with no crowds. “It will be a ferocious contest as have many Donegal and Down matches through the years. “But a lot could change between now and that match.
“We have to go through the League and there could be injuries picked up here and there.” As usual, Bonner will focus on his own side’s progress and preparations for the League, with his side in a group alongside Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh.
Their first game in that series will be against old rivals Tyrone on the weekend of May 15-16. “We have a lot of work to do and we are just taking it step by step and the big one for us is the game against Tyrone. “It is a learning process, and we will know more over the next few weeks what our Championship squad will look like.”
That squad has already been boosted by the return of Gaoth Dobhair duo Odhran MacNiallais and Odhran McFadden-Ferry to the fold.
MacNiallais came back at the start of the year, while McFadden-Ferry is due home from a tour of duty with the army in the middle of next month.
Bonner said there were no further additions as he welcomed the duo back.
“You want to have your best players in the best possible condition so that is good news. “There are a few lads coming back from injuries but there are no further additions to the squad. “But there will be injuries along the way and the strength in depth of our squad will be tested along the way, just like last year.
“The one thing we have been talking about is just to get back playing football and it is brilliant, and we were absolutely delighted to get back training at the weekend.
“The League is coming very quickly and now we have the Championship. “But we are not complaining, that’s for sure but we are really looking forward to Down.”