McCole to see a specialist as 'versatile' Moore shows new Donegal mindset

Brendan McCole will see a specialist in Dublin this week to see the severity of a foot injury that saw him miss Sunday’s win over Louth.

The St Naul’s full-back was wearing a protective boot as he watched on at Fr Tierney Park, as Donegal ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-15 to move ahead of Armagh on points scored at the top of Division 2 of the Allianz League, with both teams on nine points with five matches played.

Manager Jim McGuinness confirmed in Ballyshannon that McCole picked up the toe injury in the 0-12 to 1-9 draw at Armagh a week beforehand. It was Moore, from St Eunan’s, who filled in for McCole in the full-back berth.

“Brendan, in the first minute against Armagh, came out with the ball and was trying to get free. As he released the ball he started running back and felt a pain in his big toe, so he will see a specialist and it could be more innocuous than we first thought.”

McGuinness’s starting line-up showed a different complexion, with five players who have all played in the forward line - Ciaran Moore, Ryan McHugh, Peadar Mogan, Caolan McGonagle and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí - joining Mark Curran in the back six.

“I say it most weeks that this is an opportunity to look at different players and try out things,” McGuinness added. “We tried Ciaran in the full-back line today. He’s played in the half-forward line, in midfield and the half-back line and ended up full-back today. That’s a testament to him. He’s a very versatile young man, in his first year in the squad.

“He has great legs and he did break the gain-line for us very well in the second half. He’s still learning. When he goes and opens up his legs, there’s going to be a moment when he either has to go all the way himself or take someone else into the play. I thought he did very well there. The game is changing and is changing rapidly and you need someone on the ball who can show athleticism and ask questions the other way.

“Even there in the second half, when we forced them long in the kick-outs - we have Neil McGee in the backroom now but when that ball used to go long and he was in a 50-50 you would be thinking ‘this is going to be interesting, this is going to be tight’ and Ciaran brought that today.”

With two points needed from two more outings in Division 2 - away to Kildare in their temporary home at Carlow’s Dr Cullen Park and then Meath in Ballybofey - Donegal are aiming to get promoted and that will bring with it a league final. However, for McGuinness, the focal point of his side’s season is the quarter-final of the Ulster SFC against Derry, who were beaten for the first time in Division 1 by Dublin, 1-16 to 1-11, at Celtic Park on Saturday night.

“It’s where the game is going,” McGuinness said of the forward-thinking approach. “It’s not good enough any more just to have the ball, it’s what you do with the ball and how you attack with the ball. These are all concepts you have to look at before you go into a big game against Derry.

“You look at their full-backs and they’re almost as good as their forwards at attacking. Their decision-making and timing and ruthlessness is there, like you saw with the goal from Conor McCluskey. It was brilliant to see. We just want to see who can do what. It can bring tactical flexibility”.