McShea's Say: Donegal's intensity must be their identity against Derry this weekend

Ever since the championship draw was made some months ago, all the focus has been on Donegal's game with Derry, which takes place this Saturday night.  

Derry under Mickey Harte is a very formidable outfit, with a very good panel of players. Their league win in what was an epic final against Dublin was an outstanding display and they go into Saturday's game as favourites to beat Donegal.  

Derry is quoted at odds of 2/5 while Donegal is available at 5/2. Some Donegal fans are of the opinion that it may be a year too early for this team to deliver. This is an opinion that I do not agree with as much can change in a very short time.  

Down the line some lads may move abroad, injuries can cause problems too, and for whatever reason a panel can be disrupted very quickly.  

The game on Saturday is the subject of much hype not just in the two counties but all over the country, but in the midst of all the hype, the fact that it is an Ulster quarter-final seems to be forgotten about.  

A number of this Donegal side have not won a coveted Ulster championship, while Derry are going for what is an elusive three-in-a-row of Ulster titles.  

The fact that this is not a make-or-break game because of the advent of the All-Ireland series system will not matter one bit to either team or their managers on Saturday night, and those followers who may think that a good run in the group stages, when they occur, will compensate for a defeat in this game are way off the mark.  

When it comes to the two managers you can be sure that Jim Mc Guinness will be on the line looking utterly composed, while Mickey Harte will be standing a few yards away looking equally calm.  

Playing for Derry at this time is also about dealing with high expectations, and it is a great time to be a Derry supporter, but with those ambitious expectations comes an additional level of pressure. This Donegal side should see this game not as a question of pressure but of opportunity.  

At this level of football, a team is involved in what could be termed a high-performance industry. Donegal will want to finish their attacks with a positive outcome, but when they don't, and the ball is free, they should be like sharks hunting and pressing in packs to regain possession.  

For those young Donegal players who are playing Ulster championship football for the first time, they will find the step-up from league football much more intense. In the championship the intensity is nonstop. The running and tackling never slacken, and the hitting is much harder.  

Donegal will no doubt be prepared for such intensity and be prepared to match it. If a player is winded, you can't go down for a breather, as you do not want any opponent to see you take a breather or show a sign of weakness.  

The intensity that Derry will play with will be a level above what Donegal has encountered in Division 2, despite the fact that Jim McGuinness will have spoken about that specifically before the game.  

Donegal has to be prepared for the fact that Derry will tackle in numbers, which can clearly cut down Donegal's passing outlet. Donegal players will know they are doing well if the Derry supporters are quiet.  

People who say that the crowd doesn't have an impact on the game are wrong, when a team is doing well and their supporters are roaring them on, the confidence rises, and the tails are up. And if Donegal can go in at halftime in front, their supporters will roar them on which is always a major boost.  

Just like Derry, Donegal has many talented players at their disposal at this time. Everybody is fighting for something at this moment, to get into the squad, to start, to get on as a sub, to stay in the team. There is a lot of quality available for selection. Let us hope that the injury situation has finally cleared up and that the entire squad is available for selection.  

To prove the bookies wrong, Donegal must not pick up any black or red cards, discipline must be paramount. We must start the match in a very positive vein. We were sluggish in the first half of a number of league games. Against a team of Derry's quality that would be fatal.  

We have to convert any goal-scoring opportunities when they are created. We need to test the Derry full-back line with some direct highball as they are vulnerable to that approach. It is imperative that pressure is put on the Derry goalkeeper when he decides to travel from his goal.  

Our six forwards must tackle like defenders to stop Derry’s goalscoring streak from their own defence, this can be key to the outcome of the game.  

Donegal must rediscover the ruthless, killer touch in front of goal to win this match. Derry will test Donegal to the limit, and nothing less than a full-blooded, expressive performance will be sufficient.  

To get out of Derry with a win, Donegal needs to play with a ravenous hunger, a frenzied but controlled sporting aggression, and a contagious work ethic. That coupled with the skill and class that the team contains could deliver the result. But it will not be easy, no game in the Ulster championship ever is.