Mac's View: Just over a week now until Donegal's big game in Celtic Park

We're just over a week out now from the biggest game of the year for Donegal as they travel to Celtic Park to play Derry in the opening round of the Ulster Senior Championship.

I see that Jim McGuinness had his press night good and early and the entire panel are going away this weekend to prepare for that big game. At the press conference he said everyone would be given the chance to be ready to take their place in the game but it looks as if Donegal will be short a number of their best players. Patrick McBrearty, Brendan McCole and Eoghan Bán Gallagher seem to be in a race to be fit, which is not an ideal scenario.

But then again if they are sitting on the bench, wouldn't it be great to have them to throw-in for the last 20 minutes. They could have a great impact on the game. It's important they are not played if they are not fit and healthy. I remember Patrick McBrearty coming on in a game in Croke Park and he kicked two points.  Eoghan Bán has that speed to turn a game and McCole is a top class defender.

They are the type of players that can win matches for you. But with Donegal being involved in the All-Ireland series, it's important that they are not risked. I'm expecting a long summer of football and I have the tickets booked for Derry.

The game will be a sell-out. There is great interest in Derry after beating the Dubs in the league final. You can't blame them for having a buzz. But Donegal need to match that and we need a good support in Celtic Park.

We had the start of the Ulster championship last week with Monaghan playing Cavan in St Tiernach's Park, Clones and a very good game was served up. It was noticeable though that the attendance was not anywhere near what you would normally expect from a Cavan-Monaghan clash.

I felt sorry for the big Monaghan midfielder, Darren Hughes, with the injury he got. I saw him going up in the air and I didn't like the way he fell. Hopefully, he can recover.

As for the attendance with so many places not filled, I was surprised as there is a great rivalry between the counties. The game was on TV and the weather forecast may also have been a factor.

I would have expected around 12,000 for that game. Indeed, it was a game I would have loved to attend myself. I would have a gra for both. I played for Cavan in New York and I went to school in Monaghan.

There is not the same attraction now to these big games early in the year because of the back door. Some counties would feel they have a better chance coming in the back door, it's sad to say.

We got a great run through the back door in 2003.   We had a great win over Galway in Castlebar in a replay and had to play almost the entire second half with 14 men. We could have gone all the way that year. And yet we had only won one match in the league, the last one against Roscommon, and were relegated.

The Ulster championship, I'm sorry to say, just doesn't have the same bite as back in the day because of the back door. But there will be a bite in the Derry-Donegal game after Derry winning the league and being on a roll while we have Jim (McGuinness) back, which gives us a lift.

But the All-Ireland championship will not start until  the knock-out stages. It is watered down because of that. Just look at some of the other games at the weekend, Meath, once a powerhouse, only just getting past Longford in Longford with around 3,000 present.

Westmeath got caught by Wicklow and must have underestimated them. I know they won the Division 3 league the previous weekend but they should have been good enough to defeat Wicklow. Leitrim lost out to Sligo and also suffered because they had no break after the league final.

The scheduling of the championship so soon after the league finals is a bit tight. There should be at least a two week break.

ALL COUNTY LEAGUES

Here in Donegal the club leagues are up and running. I went up to see Bundoran play Glenties, who are a very strong side. I have never seen a younger Bundoran side and they battled and the heel of the hunt should have got a draw. It was a good game of open football in difficult conditions and on a good pitch.

The wind was very strong and I must say I was worried when Glenties were leading by a point at the break after playing against it. But I would be very proud of our lads who kept at it and scored two goals in the second half.

I see where Downings, who beat Ballyshannon the previous week, then lost at home to Malin, who had beaten Bundoran in the opening round.

Congratulations to the Donegal minors on winning their opening game of the Ulster championship against Fermanagh, who have struggled to get a good minor side in recent years. Donegal will get a good test on Saturday next when they host Tyrone in Ballybofey.

Good luck to Mickey McCann and the Donegal hurlers who start their Nickey Rackard journey on Saturday with an away game against Armagh. They will be hoping to have a very successful run in that competition.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell