Donegal fighting for their championship status in Tipperary - Roisin Rodgers

Roisin Rodgers admits that Donegal are in a championship relegation scrap as they head for Tipperary on Saturday for what is a crunch TG4 All-Ireland group series tangle.

A win would qualify James Daly’s side for the quarter-final stages but a loss would see them slip back through the championship relegation door and down to Intermediate level.

Donegal have been ever-present in the SFC ranks since winning the IFC title at Croke Park back in 2010. 

And even though this is a steep learning curve for a seriously young and transitional squad, skipper Rodgers is adamant that that process is best served in the senior tier.

Donegal went down 1-11 to 1-2 to Galway in their opening All-Ireland encounter last time out in Lifford.

The hosts failed to score in the opening half hour and while things did improve after the changeover, Rodgers says there will have to be huge improvements made this Saturday if they are to keep their heads above water.

“Galway are a quality side, have won their province and the Division 2 title, so we knew we were in for a real battle.

“They’d a game already under their belt with the win over Tipperary so it was a huge challenge for our girls.

“We did the best we could but we have a lot to work on, transitional-wise and retaining the ball.

“We just have to quickly move attention onto the Tipperary game now as it all comes down to that.”

Donegal scored a 0-10 to 0-7 home win over Tipp in the league back in March in what was a tight and cagey encounter. So this one is also expected to go right to the wire.

“No one wants to go down. We’ve established ourselves over the years at senior level and we don’t want to lose that.

“So there is so much on the line in Tipperary. We came across them in the league and they are a very good side. They are at home as well and will look to make that count.

“We have to go hard and go after it. We have to give it absolutely everything and then see where that leaves us.”

Meanwhile, boss Daly agrees it’s all on the line in Bansha - a game that will be broadcast live on TG4.

Tipperary themselves suffered a 1-13 to 0-7 loss to Connacht champions Galway a fortnight ago, so Daly agrees the margins are going to be wafer-thin in that away outing on Saturday.

“It’s all down to next weekend. We knew Galway was a tough ask. We played them in the league and they are a very good team. 

“So it’s very simple in terms of what’s needed and we quickly have to get our heads around that now. We’ll learn from this and quickly move on.

“We’ll get away Friday evening, spend some time together down the country and that’ll help. But it’s a massive game and we simply have to show up.

“If we don’t, we’ll be in a relegation battle and that could mean a drop to Intermediate football.”