Donegal and Tyrone collision was inevitable -Paddy McGrath

Paddy McGrath says that Donegal and Tyrone in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter final was probably the draw neither side wanted but, for whoever gets their hands raised in Ballybofey, it could well turn out to be the exact draw they needed.

Donegal legend McGrath - an All-Ireland winner and holder of five Ulster SFC medals - says he was blown away by the side’s efforts in their recent victory over Monaghan.

For a group that rolled with some very unfair punches in recent months, he explains that it took real character to do what they did in Omagh last Saturday night.

And against the continued backdrop of some seismic off-the-field issues, McGrath says Donegal’s recent efforts have finally given supporters and even former players something to really smile about once more.

And he insists that a win against Tyrone has serious potential to accelerate this inexperienced group’s development even further, if they could manage to get over the line in MacCumhaill Park.

But, he warns, a Red Hand outfit currently in a bit of disarray have huge motivation themselves going into a contest that McGrath insists remains one of Gaelic football’s real grudge matches.

“To have had to hit the reset button in the middle of the season, I can’t imagine how hard that must have been at the time,” he said. “To go to Down so quickly after the league relegation and the departure of Paddy Carr, it was just one of those things that I felt came too soon.

“Now, Down weren’t world beaters but Donegal were in such a bad place and really vulnerable. But I know for a fact how hard they’ve worked since. And every game and training session they’ve geared it towards bouncing back.

“Again, it took a little while for all that to get going in Clare but it’s picked up pace since. And the turnover of personnel, that will always take time to gel. Saturday night was a real boost. But they have to use that momentum now - really make it count.

“The older and more experienced lads that are still there, they will know what it takes and what Saturday night now represents. It’s going to be a cauldron but it’s our cauldron. I’ve no doubt from what I’ve seen now this group can get the job done.

“We have a chance to get through to the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland. It’s hard to believe with all that’s gone on that this is the opportunity immediately now in front of us. But I really hope that it’s clicked now. It looks like it has”.

Tyrone just about lived to fight another day on Sunday thanks to a draw with Westmeath that could easily have been a defeat had John Heslin’s narrowly missed free kick deep into stoppage time cleared the crossbar.

They’ll be motivated to make that second chance count, especially against arch rivals Donegal.

McGrath explained: “Tyrone is a massive test - they are a wounded animal. And they are still our biggest rival. People say they see this duel alot but it’s one as a player you’d never get sick off. It just gets the blood up. And I think the supporters of both teams will feel the same way.

“I knew right away, before the draw was made, it was going to be Tyrone. The atmosphere is going to be something else. I remember a few seasons back, in the last game of the Super 8s, we looked like we were headed for the All-Ireland semi-finals.

“But the rug got pulled out from under us. It was one of the worst losses I suffered with Donegal. It really hurt. It felt like we were coasting but the wheels came off. I know there are still a good few lads that were involved that day that will take to the field on Saturday.

“They’ll remember that hurt so I just hope it can be used as real fuel now for the group between now and the weekend”.