Some encouraging injury news for Donegal ahead of crucial NFL trip to Roscommon

Donegal go away to Roscommon in Round 6 of the NFL on Sunday looking to secure a spot in the Division 1 showpiece at the end of the month.

There is some good news on the injury front also, with Daire Ó Baoill now having the protective cast on his previously injured hand removed.

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And while the weekend’s trip to Dr Hyde Park will come too early for the Gaoth Dobhair man, he could have a league final appearance in his sights if Donegal did happen to earn that berth at the weekend.

The news on the likes of Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Moore and Kieran Gallagher, who all missed the draw with Galway with soft-tissue injuries, is also encouraging, with that trio expected to come back into the fray.

Goalkeeper Shaun Patton remains absent as does long-term ACL victim Ciaran Thompson.

Meanwhile, even if Donegal do secure a place in the top-tier showpiece, Jim McGuinness says planning for that will continue to be built around what remains the team’s main focus - the start of the defence of their Ulster title.

“Our goal will always be the Ulster championship,” he explained. “Whatever happens between now and the last number of rounds of the league, if that takes us to a position where we’re competing for a league final, that’s fine.

“But really, our focus remains on Down and April 26. That’s the first round of the championship and that’s where the main attention remains, one hundred per cent.

“For Donegal, the Ulster championship will always be the number one because if you manage to win it, it gives you a great level of confidence to go to the All-Ireland series.

“And that’s a very important dynamic for any team”.