THE shadow of relegation will loom even more heavily on Donegal if they lose to Mayo in Sunday’s Division One clash in Ballybofey
But for Donegal boss Paddy Carr having to win their two final matches “could not be better preparation”.
“In times past going into the Championship there would be a gap of five to six weeks and you would be looking for challenge matches.
But the gap is much narrower nowadays.
“But the fact that we have two highly competitive games with Mayo and Roscommon, teams that have been more or less the pace-setters from the start of the League, it’s the best preparation imaginable for the Championship as well.
“We all know what is at stake and the fact that there is something at stake this weekend and next weekend is something that we are delighted about.’’
While Carr was happy with the contribution made by Hugh McFadden in their narrow defeat to Armagh he confessed to being “mystified” by some of the decisions that went against Donegal.
“I was looking back at the video of the match, and it is no accident that right through the four divisions that home advantage is playing a huge part.
“Very few teams have taken anything off other teams when they are playing at home.
“So it is good that we are big in Ballybofey this weekend and we are looking forward to that”
Kerry manager Jack O’Connor has said it was very hard to get victories on the road, but while Carr said he was not making excuses, “the fact of the matter is that it is hard and anyone looking at the free count the last day, it was so incredibly lop-sided there, but we just have to get on with it.
“Any county manager will tell you that they are looking for consistency, but Donegal were oscillating even during the games and especially the last two games you could see the lads were giving everything they have for a big performance, and we will certainly need that on Sunday.”
Donegal’s position hasn’t been helped by some pretty abysmal shooting.
“It’s no secret and nobody is more frustrated than the lads themselves.
“But what we are seeing in the squad is that a number of the lads that we are expecting big performances from have had very little chance because of injury.
“I was amazed at the amount of players who were rehabilitating when we got back which was late enough.
“We are playing catch-up on other counties.
“But the type of sharpness and accuracy that you need to have, we are just a little bit rusty on that.
“But that should improve and we have been working on that and we know we can’t be anything like as wasteful come Sunday.
On the injury front, Carr confirmed that Ryan McHugh will not be available for the rest of the League.
“In terms of injuries we are in a better place than we were, but the game will come too early for Ryan McHugh.
“Ryan McHugh has to get his injury reviewed and he is doing a huge amount of work, but he will back in a matter of weeks rather than months.
“We have a few lads carrying knocks, so we won’t be able to pick the team until the 11th hour.”
Niall O’Donnell’s long-term rehab means he also will not be available for the rest of the League.
“He will be out for the League and Paul Brennan has an ankle injury and he is now back training and is not close to being match-fit, but he will be looking towards the Championship.
“He is a very good lad around the panel, and it is very frustrating for lads like him not be involved through injury.”