Meath boss Robbie Brennan on recent bird's-eye view of Donegal in Ballybofey

Robbie Brennan took a shot in the dark in the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-finals.

He didn’t exactly throw a dart at the board but with relatives in Beagh, Ardara, the Gallagher family; the Meath boss felt a trip to the north west, one he knows well, would be the one to take just in case Donegal came the Royals’ way in the last eight.

That, in the end, wasn’t how it transpired as Donegal drew Monaghan and Meath nabbed Galway.

But after their surprise win over last season’s defeated All-Ireland finalists, Brennan says that previous trip to Ballybofey wasn’t, as it worked out, in vain.

So from the vantage point of the town end goals, and with some of his Donegal connections for company, what did Brennan think of Jim McGuinness’ side? 

“We were up in Ballybofey the previous week watching them against Louth,” he explained.

“There was potential that we were getting them in the next round and obviously that’s what happened with the draw.

“So we were up there doing our homework. They’re a phenomenal team and their athleticism means that Croke Park will really suit them.

“They probably looked a little tired I would have thought in the first half against Monaghan, even though Monaghan were exceptional.

“They’re one of those teams where you, I’m not saying you absolutely know what they’re going to do, but you have a fair idea of what they’re going to do, but whether you can stop them or not is the question.

“Their running game is exceptional, the loops they run and how the forwards attack. So we have plenty to work on but we’ve been able to start looking at it already.

“There’s a huge amount of experience in the Donegal team and they’ve also sprinkled in some of the youth as well when you look at what they have at the back.

“They’re so structured and you could take out 10 of them and put in another 10 and the game plan doesn’t change, the athleticism doesn’t change.

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“They might have been getting a bit of grief around statements about venues and match scheduling but I thought they were valid and they certainly did look a little tired - even against Louth in the first half.

“But once they hit their stride and they hit their straps, they’re extremely difficult to stop and you’ve got Michael Murphy up there ready to grab a hold of the game.

“He’s such an inspirational leader. When you really start to focus in and see what Michael does, he is inspirational for them as a group.”