Slow start against relentless Meath and Donegal could be staring down a barrel

Donegal’s bid to reach what would be just a fourth All-Ireland SFC final appearance reaches its penultimate hurdle on Sunday as they take on Meath at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

With nine games or, as Jim McGuinness has rightly pointed out, “nine and a half” already behind them this summer, the past fortnight’s break has the potential to count for so much against the Royals.

Donegal looked tired and off the boil in what was a very concerning first 35 minutes in their quarter-final tangle with Monaghan.

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Seven adrift, and with the realisation that they were skating close to the edge of championship elimination, they were an outfit transformed in the second period.

However, our own preview pundits like Kevin Cassidy, Declan Bonner and John Cunningham say Donegal simply cannot afford to give what is a seriously athletic Meath that kind of head start.

On the other side of the fence, Royals legends Bernard Flynn and Trevor Giles are bullish about their side’s chances and believe they have the energy and directness to ask the same type of questions Monaghan did – but sustained and over the course of the 70 or so minutes.

The two-week break will, it’s hoped, have given defensive lynchpin Caolan McGonagle the time to finally shake an ankle knock picked up in the loss to Tyrone in the group stages.

He’s been named in the squad so the signs are certainly positive. Jason McGee has been eased back into contention with the view, you’d imagine, to be ready to go at this stage.

And there is no doubt that Shaun Patton has been playing through the pain barrier since his own ankle woes sustained in the Ulster final win over Armagh.

Donegal’s own power pack of McGee, Michael Langan, Hugh McFadden and McGonagle are going to have their hands full with Robbie Brennan’s adventurous approach.

Bryan Menton and Adam O'Neill, with Sean Coffey stepping up, are formidable presences around the middle while the likes of Matthew Costello will also come in around the edges of that for what will be a crucial middle third battle.

Donegal need to get on top there right away or they could find, like Armagh did against Kerry, that the house of cards, and all the previous best-laid plans, come tumbling down pretty quickly.

Donegal can’t be asking Michael Murphy to put out any fires there as he has to be allowed to ask his own questions close to goal.

Brennan is on record as saying that Sean Rafferty “is the best full-back in the country” but he probably still has a decision to make on who will pick up Murphy.

Donal Keogan likes a wrestle and might just be more suited to that kind of assignment with Rafferty, perhaps, instead shadowing Oisin Gallen. 

Again, the initial exchanges and who gets off the mark first, under the new FRC rules especially, has the potential to set a tone.

Meath, for their part, have defied all expectations to reach the last four. After toppling Dublin in Leinster, they followed up with impressive All-Ireland series wins over Kerry and Galway.

Jordan Morris remains a key player in their attack and his 1-6 in the win over Galway, all from play, stands him out as someone that simply has to be shackled.

And while they didn’t land any two-pointers in that last-eight upset over the Tribesmen, they have been one of the most prolific outfits this season kicking from outside the arc.

There is a real undercurrent of nervousness – from a Donegal supporters’ perspective at least – attached to the lead-in to this one.

And much of that centres on the fact that unfancied Meath are the last roadblock between Donegal and a place in the All-Ireland final.

No one saw that coming. And being big favourites won’t sit too comfortably this week for McGuinness and his players.

Speaking casually, and off the record, at times in the last week or so with the likes of 2012 All-Ireland winners Paddy McGrath and Eamon McGee, they expressed real worries in relation to Meath’s credentials.

They’ll go toe-to-toe with Donegal, which means there is scope for one or the other to land early and heavy blows.

Donegal have the know-how and experience to perhaps not panic if they were on the receiving end of an early setback.

Meath, on the other hand, probably are more fragile in that sense. So Donegal need to go hard and they need to go heavy from the off.

If they do that, then we’ll see what this young, exciting but inexperienced Meath are really made of.

Meath are upstarts and there is no doubt that Donegal’s need to get over the line is much greater to the Royals’ want.

For that reason, Donegal should prevail. But it’s a game that won’t be without its drama and scares along the way. 

Verdict: Donegal