Allianz Hurling League Division 2B: Meath v Donegal (Sunday, Páirc Tailteann, 2pm)
UNBEATEN Donegal make the long journey to Navan to take on table-toppers Meath without three of their top performers.
Stephen Gillespie, Danny Cullen and Christopher McDermott are all out for various reasons.
Burt full-back Stephen Gillespie is getting married next week while both Cullen and McDermott have hand injuries which means they will miss Sunday’s tough test.
“Stephen Gillespie is out this weekend and between the wedding and the honeymoon he probably will be out until the Nickey Rackard Cup," said Donegal manager Mickey McCann
“This was not a match we had targeted at the start of the year but we are on a good run and will give it our best shot.
“Christopher has a swollen hand and Danny got a shot in the knee and we are not too sure about it and this weekend is probably a bit too soon for him.
“Christopher will be out for a few weeks and that is three of our top defenders out."
Donegal have two wins from their two matches against Sligo and London so far. After their opening day defeat in Letterkenny, the Yeatsmen also lost last weekend to Meath at Markievicz Park, but pushed the Royals all the way, something McCann will be wary of.
“Sligo had a lot of wides against Meath and the game was tight for long periods and Sligo are no bad team either," he said.
“We are away to Meath and Padraig O’Hanrahan hit 0-15 and a lot of play goes through them.
“We are only doing our homework on them now and they are a Joe McDonagh Cup team and are a step above the rest, but at the same time, Sligo gave them a good game.
“And it is a pity that we don’t have the three boys but Bernard Lafferty came on and we also have Padraig Doherty and Richie Ryan, Daire O’Maoileidigh and Shaun Ward all came off the bench.
“But we are under no pressure and if we pick up another point or two, we would be in the semi-finals”.
But, the good news for McCann and his injured stars is that they will have a two week break after Sunday.
“So, we could maybe now pencil in the Conor McGurk Cup final in that period as it would be very good preparation for our final two home games against Wicklow and Tyrone.
“There is no date finalised yet, but it is the plan to play it.
“And we will be hoping that Danny will be available, and Christopher could be out for the rest of the League”.
Steven McBride kept London’s sharpshooter Jack Goulding scoreless last week after Goulding hit 2-4 against Tyrone the previous week.
Conor Gartland, Shaun Ward and Oisin Marley are all big powerful playes as is Jack O’Loughlin.
Declan Coulter is still hugely influential from frees and play while Gerry Gilmore and Ruairi Campbell are deadly accurate as well.
So despite the trio unavailable to him, McCann is still have plenty of options.
“Most of the boys on the bench are forwards so we will just have to rejig the defence."
