Donegal boss McCann concerned about choice of Division 2B decider venue

Donegal senior hurling team manager Mickey McCann has questioned the choice of venue for Sundays’s NHL Division 2B final against Meath in Carrick-On-Shannon. 

Donegal take on Meath at a venue that has already raised a few eyebrows. And he urged GAA authorities to consider staging this final as a double header alongside the 2A final to promote the game in future. 

If Croke Park is not possible he said the decider could be played at a “hurling venue” even Thurles. McCann added that hurling was still playing “second fiddle”. 

“It’s a long way from Donegal and we would have been happy enough with Clones or Breffni Park even if they are a lot closer to Meath. But Carrick-On-Shannon is a brave run for us and going by the weather, it is normally a wet enough pitch, it is looking like it will be a heavy ground on Sunday. This is not ideal, given the big, physical presence Meath have and we are lighter.” 

But McCann said it was something that Donegal would have to “suck up”.  “I just feel this final could have been played as a curtain raiser for bigger games like the 2A final”. And he pointed out that all four football league finals are being staged in Croke Park. 

“Why can’t hurling be similarly accommodated, and we could have been put on before the 2A final and with no disrespect to Carrick-On-Shannon, I feel bringing our game there takes away from the occasion. 

“But it won’t be changed now, and I would say Meath would not be too happy with it either and it will slow things up. Hurling needs a good, big, wide and dry pitch to flourish. 

“We did not put in a request for a change of venue as pitches are so scarce with Clones and Breffni apparently unavailable. They are all getting their pitches ready for the Ulster Championship.

McCann said their big game need not even necessarily be held in Croke Park either. 

“It does not have to be Croke Park but some hurling venue even. Thurles, somewhere nice for a change and a double header with Offaly and Kildare would be great. It just seems that hurling will always be treated like second fiddle.” 

McCann had better new team wise as he revealed that experienced trio Stephen Gillespie, Danny Cullen and Declan Coulter have been named in the squad of 26. 

They won’t be starting but could come on at some stage which is a big boost to an essentially young side. But Bernard Lafferty, Conor Gartland, Gavin Browne and Gerard Gilmore are still on the injury list. 

“There might be only 10 or 15 minutes game-time in them as they are only coming back from injury, but they are very good options. But we also have the likes of Oisin Marley to call on and Conor O’Grady is back on board, so we are in bonus territory now, but we want to give a good account of ourselves”. 

But McCann is equally aware of the huge task that lies ahead. “Eamonn Óg O’Donoghue at full forward was their best player the last day and Padraig O’Hanrahan is very good at the frees. James Toher and Nicky Potterton are also key figures, and they have a really good full forward line who are well capable of racking up the scores. 

“They are the best team in the Division, and they will be expecting to go back up to Division 2 A. We stayed with them for 55 minutes in our league game in Navan and they made a few changes at the end which helped to eventually pull well clear. They have good strength in depth, but we are stronger on this occasion.” 

And McCann will be hoping for more of the same as last week from his men. “We have nothing to lose as we will be going as underdogs and I feel the pressure is on Meath and we will be intent on asking them some serious questions. But I am sure they will not be taking us lightly either. 

“We are looking forward to the challenge of competing against a team that has been in 2 A for so long. In a final all players are up for it, and it will be good to see what these young lads can do.”