Mark Curran: Focus now is on Armagh and the Ulster final

It is the case now for Donegal defender Mark Curran after overcoming Derry and Tyrone to moving on to an Ulster final showdown with Armagh 

The Dungloe clubman is in his second season as a Donegal senior footballer. And  he has nailed down one of the corner-back positions. Whether that be the No 2 or No 4 jersey may be determined by the opposition as much as current Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. 

Alongside Brendan McCole, in the last line of the Donegal defence, the Dungloe clubman has built quite a reputation as a recognised man marker. 

In Sunday’s 0-18 to 0-16 Ulster semi-final win over Tyrone in Celtic Park he was placed at left corner-back  and his job was to marshall one of the two main Red Hand county’s scoring threats, Darren McCurry, a forward with a high scoring reputation if given any little latitude.

McCurry departed Celtic Park’s hallowed turf on Sunday evening having added two points to his all-time scoring record. Both scores came from close-in frees. 

“Every day you play at county level you are going to come up against quality players,” Mark  insisted after Sunday’s Celtic Park showdown. 

“It is what you expect and it is your job to mark them as best as I can,” he said after his latest head to head with Tyrone ace. 

“I’m happy to do it as long as I’m on the team and playing for Donegal and it is great to be now looking forward to an Ulster final.  

“It is where you want to be as a player in Ulster finals and pushing on as well.” 

Reflecting on the win over the Red Hands and twice coming back from falling three points behind to draw level and finally force the extra-time with Brendan McCole’s late fisted winning point, Curran said it was all about staying in the game. 

“It was just a matter of sticking to the game plan when they opened up a three point lead. It was about getting the right men on the ball in scorable positions.”

 A minor Ulster championship winner along with Gavin Mulreany, Jason McGee, Niall O’Donnell and Peadar Mogan from 2016, Curran is looking forward to his first Ulster senior final. And another joust with Armagh. 

“Armagh are a good team and we know what to expect. We’ve played them twice already this season in the league. 

“We drew with them up in Armagh in the league game and we beat them by a point in the league final.  

“They are going to be tough so it is a matter of getting our recovery done and then getting down to work for the next two weeks and focussing on Armagh, and enjoying it.”