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Odhran Mac Niallais expecting physical encounter with Tyrone

Donegal's Odhran Mac Niallais is aiming to win his second Ulster Championship on Sunday <br />Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Donegal's Odhran Mac Niallais is aiming to win his second Ulster Championship on Sunday
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Donegal's Odhran Mac Niallais is aiming to win his second Ulster Championship on Sunday
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

IN FOOTBALL, as in life, it is always good to have comrades from your own place at your back. 

And that certainly applies to Odhran Mac Niallais, who has made a real impression since joining the Donegal squad in 2013. The long and lean Gweedore man also has an eye for goal, as he showed against Fermanagh and Monaghan in earlier rounds.

He also found the net against Armagh in the 2014 All-Ireland quarter-final, when Tir Chonaill were really on the ropes. Club-mate Kieran Gillespie joined Mac Niallais for both Monaghan matches and he will now have the considerable presence of Neil McGee as he and Donegal face a truly searching test against Tyrone.

“It’s great to have him back as he was a massive loss for the Fermanagh game and the two Monaghan games,” said Mac Niallais.

“Obviously, it has worked out nice with the replay and getting him back for the Ulster final. From speaking to him, he is well up for it and can’t wait to get back out on the pitch.”

Mac Niallais will also have Neil’s older brother Eamon for company - as well as two of the Donegal minor squad on the trips to training. Of course it is nice to have them travelling to training and having a bit of craic in the car and we have the minor boys as well, Odhran Ferry and Seaghan Ferry.

“In 2014, we had six minors and three seniors in the Donegal squad, so it is always nice to have the club well represented.”

Mac Niallais seems to have a real eye for goal, but modestly puts it mainly down to luck: “I suppose I have been probably lucky as well, getting on the end of them,” he said.

“I got lucky to get on the end of a move against Fermanagh and Monaghan in the drawn game, but it is all about getting results and we are just thankful we are in an Ulster final.”

On Sunday, Mac Niallais and Donegal face the threat of a very different animal and one that may be feeling slightly wounded after coming out on the wrong end of four narrow defeats to Donegal in their last four Championship clashes.

So Tyrone’s mixture of raw talent and some stung pride will be a powerful opponent for Donegal: “They have a quality team and they have a lot of good players and some experienced players, a bit like ourselves,” Mac Niallais said.

“They haven’t won an Ulster title for a good while, so they will be well up for it. And meeting us is a big rivalry for them, so they will be really ready for this match. But we will be will be well up for it too and we know what they are going to bring and we are going to try and match that and hopefully get over the line on the day.”

Positions mean very little in modern day Gaelic football and the stock answer you will get from players is they don’t mind where they play as long as they are handed a starting jersey. Mac Niallais broadly echoes those sentiments, but does have a preference.

“As long as you get the jersey on the day, you will play anywhere for Donegal,” he said.

“I would prefer to be playing around the midfield and half-forward area but, really, I will play anywhere for Donegal and it is probably more defending than attacking. That is the way it has been in modern Gaelic football, where you have to be very fit and very adaptable.”

Mac Niallais came onto the Donegal squad in 2013 along with the very talented Ryan McHugh, so how difficult was it to make an impression: “I would say it has made it a bit easier because the drive is always there for success,” he said.

“The success that the team has had in the last five or six years has made it a lot easier for me and the McGees have been there too, which is a help. Of course, there is always great competition for places, but that kind of situation only makes you raise your game. As for myself, I have only won one Ulster Championship, in 2014, and the drive is always there. When I won it in 2014, it was the best day ever for me and I am hoping to do the same Sunday.”

Despite the fact Donegal have beaten Tyrone the last four times they have met in the Championship, Mac Niallais is still a bit wary of the pacy Red Hands: “I wouldn’t say the fear factor is quite gone because Tyrone are always a great team, with great players and a tough team to play against,” he said.

“In 2013, we beat them in the Ulster Championship and were not expecting to do that and we beat them in the Ulster Championship last year as well. You always know what you are going to get against Tyrone as they are a physical team and a very tough team to play against.”