Football

No McBrearty for Kerry says Donegal boss Declan Bonner as Hugh McFadden forecasts 'humdinger' in Tyrone Championship clash

Hugh McFadden (right) forecasts a 'hum-dinger' against Tyrone in the Ulster Championship while Patrick McBrearty (left) looks unlikely to start against Kerry on Saturday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.
Hugh McFadden (right) forecasts a 'hum-dinger' against Tyrone in the Ulster Championship while Patrick McBrearty (left) looks unlikely to start against Kerry on Saturday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin. Hugh McFadden (right) forecasts a 'hum-dinger' against Tyrone in the Ulster Championship while Patrick McBrearty (left) looks unlikely to start against Kerry on Saturday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.

CHAMPIONSHIP comes first for Donegal and manager Declan Bonner won’t risk damaging his side’s chances of winning it by going all-out for victory in Kerry on Saturday.

With an outside chance of winning the National League title (Donegal need to beat the Kingdom and hope Galway and Dublin draw) the Tir Chonaill outfit would, in normal circumstances, travel to Killarney determined to force the result that could see them clinch only the second NFL crown in their history.

But in this season like no other Bonner will use Saturday’s game as a stepping stone towards the Ulster Championship clash against Tyrone on November 1, meaning that Paddy McBrearty who is “not far away” from full fitness, is unlikely to get anything more than a second half run-out against the Kingdom.

“We have to get lads up to speed for Sunday-week and the priority is always going to be Championship,” said the Donegal manager.

“Going down to Kerry is something we’re looking forward to and it’s going to give some of our lads an opportunity and we’ll be going down with a strong team looking for a performance that is going to get us a result.

“It’s not going to be easy and we know that and it’s not ideal – especially the longevity of the journey – but it’s what’s in front of us, it’s a challenge that we have to take on. We’re going down there to be competitive, we’re going down there to win the match. That’s always been the case. “There will be a couple of changes, that’s part and parcel because we’re a week out from Championship - so we have to take that into consideration. But we’re going down there with a relatively strong side and we’re hoping to get a good performance against a really good Kerry side.”

Donegal will definitely be without Gweedore clubman Odhran McFadden-Ferry who has been posted to Lebanon with the Irish Army.

“They are in a 14-day quarantine before they head over,” Bonner explained.

“I’ve known that for a number of months now and unfortunately Odhran will be missing for the foreseeable. I think he’s due back in May, he’s gone for six months.”

Last Sunday, Donegal had four points to spare against Tyrone at Ballybofey. RTE panellist Pat Spillane described it as “a cure for insomnia” but Tir Chonaill midfielder Hugh McFadden predicts that the imminent Championship meeting between the neighbours will be a “humdinger”.

“We needed a victory to stay in Division One regardless of who the opposition was,” he said.

“There were aspects of our game that we were definitely happy with but there were a lot of aspects that we’ll have to improve to even be competitive against Tyrone in the Championship.

“Tyrone had a few wides that would have made the game a lot tighter and they missed one or two frees when there were only three or four points in it and that would definitely have brought it down to the wire.

“So I wouldn’t buy into the narrative that we’re too far ahead and when Tyrone come to Ballybofey on Sunday-week it’s going to be a hum-dinger and we’ll need to be at our very best to get anything out of it.”

Tyrone’s top scorer last Sunday was Conor McKenna who hit 1-2 in his first competitive game since returning from Aussie Rules with Essendon. McFadden expects the Eglish native to become a “massive player” for the Red Hands.

“It was the first time I would have played against him and he looked like a real player,” he said.

“He is big and strong and agile, he can move, and he was powerful for his goal and he took his points well so he’s definitely going to be a threat in two weeks and you would imagine that he’s going to be a massive player for Tyrone if he stays around for a few years.”