Three-in-a-row chasing Donegal Masters face Cavan 

Reigning All-Ireland Masters Shield champions Donegal will hope to get back to winning ways when they face Cavan on Saturday.

Having lost their opening fixture away to Derry the side now turns its attention to the visit of Cavan, at the GAA Training Centre in Convoy (throw-in, 1.30pm). 

Derry - who are first timers in the championship had former Oak Leaf star forward and current Donegal team mentor Paddy Bradley in devastating form - and they proved too strong for Donegal, in the first  round two weeks ago, in O’ Cathain Park, Dungiven.

Bradley scored 1-9 in that 3-14 to 0-15 win. But captain Gerard McBrearty is hoping for an improvement this time out for the Mark Cannon managed Donegal. 

“We got caught off guard against Derry and did not play a man back in front of their full backline,” he explained. “Sean McDaid that normally plays the sweeping role was missing and Paddy Bradley did the damage. But it was a very strong Derry side who had a number of other former county men along with Bradley.

“Paul O’Flynn and Kevin McGuckin were also playing and they were probably up for the game given it was their first time in the competition. They wanted to get off to a good start, especially as they were at home.” 

In all, Donegal have five  games in the champions and along with the games against Derry and Cavan, they also have to play Sligo, Armagh and Antrim. 

“After Cavan, this weekend, we are away to Sligo in two weeks time, then home to Armagh and away to Antrim, in the last game. The games are every two weeks. 

“The way the championship works, at the end of the league series the top two teams meet in the All-Ireland Masters final. 

“The second and third teams meet in the Shield final. We have won the Shield for the last two seasons so we are going for the three-in-a-row.

“To do that we probably cannot afford to lose any more games and that means we need to beat Cavan on Saturday to get the championship back on course.

“We know them fairly well. We have played each other a good few times in recent years and there is never much between us. They beat Longford/Leitrim by ten or 12 points in their first round game so we are expecting another close game with them.” 

Cannon, the Donegal manager, has the bulk of last year’s squad back again this season and he’s also made a number of notable additions like Sean Magure, Cloughaneely; Aidan Duddy, Naomh Ultan; Ciaran Cunningham, Killybegs and Enda Bonner, Four Masters. 

“It is important with Masters football that you carry a big squad because you are always going to be missing players due to a variety of reasons from family occasions and events and work  to club football.

“We didn’t have Paddy McNulty, Sean McDaid or Aidan Duddy, the last few days but we hope to have them this Saturday.”