Competition in Donegal set-up has reached a serious level – Niall O’Donnell

Niall O’Donnell says he’s never experienced the level of competition currently within the Donegal squad.

Jim McGuinness’ side saw off Down in the Ulster SFC semi-final in Clones on Sunday, on a scoreline of 1-19 to 0-16.

O’Donnell came in for the last quarter of an hour as the reigning holders set up a repeat of last season’s decider, with All-Ireland champions Armagh once again lying in wait.

Kieran McGeeney’s men just about edged Tyrone in the previous evening’s other last-four encounter, and all attention now shifts towards that renewal of acquaintances back at St Tiernach’s Park on Saturday week.

O’Donnell is one of those fighting to earn more minutes off the bench right now, but the St Eunan’s man says you’re also looking over your shoulder on the Donegal sideline, as those on the periphery push to gatecrash the match-day 26.

“It’s the most competitive Donegal squad I’ve ever been involved in,” he said. “And that’s across the board — the entire playing personnel.

“There are lads not making the 26 that are really going at it in training each week, and the level is brilliant — it just pushes everyone on.

“The games are what all the eyes naturally gravitate to, but for the players, the training sessions are also opportunities and chances to make yards and progress.

“You can’t go to training and look to hold back or, even with the best of intentions, maybe be off it.

“The moving parts in all that mean players could make the first 15, the first 26 — or even drop out the other way.

“You just want to put your best foot forward and make the management’s decisions as difficult as possible.

“Ultimately, that benefits the entire set-up. We have a good age profile there now. I’m 26, and there are a lot of lads in and around that. You have a few older and a few younger, and it’s a lovely blend.”

O’Donnell says that Donegal and Armagh know each other as well as any sides probably do right now, and that Saturday week’s encounter will once again come right down to the wire.

Last season, Donegal defeated Kieran McGeeney’s team 6-5 on penalties following a 0-20 to 0-20 draw after extra-time — and 0-17 to 0-16 in the Division 2 final at Croke Park.

The regulation league fixture also ended in a draw at the Athletic Grounds. Armagh, though, were the ones celebrating into the winter, having won Sam Maguire for the second time.

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“We know each other so well,” O’Donnell explained. “We’re fairly similar, I think, in terms of conditioning, and it has all the makings of an exciting event.

“The dynamic now, though, is that they are the All-Ireland champions. The way they parked last year’s Ulster final disappointment and went all the way to Sam — that deserves great credit.

“Just speaking as a Donegal player, the Ulster title is the first thing you target. So they would have had to dig really deep last year.

“And there will be hunger there and a real desire.

“They’ll now want to add an Ulster title. But at the same time, we want to hold onto that same title. So it has some great ingredients.”