Threadbare Donegal look vulnerable ahead of Clare

Donegal will be without the services of Michael Langan and Peadar Mogan in Ennis on Saturday for their All-Ireland SFC round robin opener with Clare.  

Langan limped off in their Ulster championship loss to Down in Newry with a hamstring injury. But like captain Patrick McBrearty, the extent of that damage was much worse than originally feared with the St Michael's man having to undergo surgery in London last weekend. 

Indeed, Langan’s participation in the remainder of the team’s season is now very much in doubt. 

St Naul’s dynamo Mogan didn’t feature against Down at all due to a foot injury. It’s believed that progress has been slower than anticipated and he is another that will not be ready in time for the weekend.  

With Monaghan and new back-to-back Ulster champions Derry also in the group, the weekend’s Cusack Park encounter represents the best opportunity for either team to secure the win that may guarantee their knock-out place.

Jason McGee also departed the action prematurely in Newry with a hamstring complaint but with so much on the line Saturday, Donegal might well be forced to roll the dice on the big Cloughaneely man.

Oisin Gallen - after that impressive cameo against Down - will be tasked with carrying Donegal’s scoring threat up top, this time from the off.  

Meanwhile, Donegal won’t be talking to the media prior to their encounter with Clare in Ennis. 

Boss Aidan O’Rourke and his team have kept a low profile since that Ulster SFC elimination at the hands of Down back in April. Supporters no doubt would have liked to hear some kind of update prior to the weekend. 

But on Tuesday the Donegal press officer Fiona Shiels issued the local media with a short statement saying that “Aidan O’Rourke has opted not to have a media briefing ahead of the Clare game.”

The correspondence ended by thanking the media for their continued coverage and interest.