Mac's View: We must target Division 1 final now starting on Sunday against Mayo

After getting two wins from our opening two league games against Dublin and Kerry, there is no reason now why Donegal doesn’t target a Division 1 League final as they prepare to take on Mayo in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny on Sunday next.

I know that our record in O’Donnell Park has not been great but there is absolutely no reason why that is so. There is a great pitch there and a great venue for supporters and it is sold out for Sunday. Let’s make it a fortress like we are doing in the other two county grounds in Ballybofey and Ballyshannon and let’s start on Sunday.

The news that Dáire Ó Baoill is out with a hand injury is disappointing but it is also an opportunity for someone to come in and make their mark. Ó Baoill will be personally disappointed as he was going particularly well in every game this year. His goal against Kerry was a big turning point and he has that great ability to finish goal chances, something that not all forwards are capable of.

Sunday’s game is a top of the table clash and Mayo will provide formidable opposition. They have got themselves together under new manager Andy Moran, and like Donegal they are a big county and a big football county with great support.

But we have a fairly settled side now. I’m very confident that we can go and get the result. Mayo have plenty of big men in their side and their half-Kerry man, as I call him, Aidan O’Shea, provides a big threat. They use him in different parts of the field including the throw-in. But if he is in full-forward I have no doubt that our full-back, Brendan McCole, can handle him.

In Andy Moran, they have a great young manager, who was also a very good player. Indeed, Donegal were lucky in 2012 that Moran was not available to Mayo. He was a big loss to them. He had great energy as a player and he is bringing that energy now as a manager with a very attacking and kicking game plan.

There is never more than a kick of a ball between Donegal and Mayo and that was reflected last year in Castlebar in the final round of the league when the game went down to the wire with Mayo winning out by two points in the end. And that result got them to the league final. It could just as easily have gone the other way and Donegal could have ended in the league final.

I expect there won’t be much in it again on Sunday and it would be good to get a win at the Letterkenny venue. It can be difficult getting into the pitch but I will have Philip McGlynn driving and he knows a back way, which will help.

I’m hearing that the venue for the championship game in April against Down at home is not fully decided yet with the MacCumhaill Park pitch being relaid. It would be great if the Ballybofey pitch is ready but we will have to wait and see.

If some work were done at O’Donnell Park, the capacity could be increased close to 10,000. At the moment Fr Tierney Park is at 9,000 and they expect their capacity to be at 10,000 for the Galway game on March 1 and Donegal have a great record there. It will be an all-ticket affair, no matter where it is played

ALLIANZ PROTEST

I was happy to lend my support to Brendan Devenney in his campaign for the GAA to drop the Allianz sponsorship at the recent home game against Kerry in Ballyshannon. I had to give my support, that’s the way I feel about it. Devenney is a good boy and he is very committed. He asked me to give a lift and I had no problem.

Congratulations to both the Ladies and the Hurlers on their success in the opening games of their respective leagues. The Ladies are top of the table having won their three games, the last of those away to Tyrone last weekend. They have a great chance of getting back to the top flight.

The same can be said for the hurlers who have opened with wins over Fermanagh and Tyrone. Hopefully, they can keep up the good work too.

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Congratulations also this week to Packie Keeney of Ardara and Lifford on being chosen as Donegal Person of the Year. Packie has done so much in different fields and especially in the GAA field where his camera has captured so many matches that we can now enjoy looking back on.

Finally, this week condolences to the family of the late Paddy Coll, who was a great champion for Ladies football in Donegal and Donegal GAA in general. Paddy passed to his eternal reward earlier this week. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell