Tompkins believes it'll be no runaway train for Donegal in Páirc Uí Rinn

Cork legend and two-time All-Ireland winner Larry Tompkins has warned that Donegal should take nothing for granted when they travel to play the Rebel County this Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn in round two of the All-Ireland series. 

The former Cork captain and three-time All-Star, believes that while he would tip his hat to Jim McGuinness’s side, he feels with everything that the Ulster champions have overcome already to get to this point, added with the annoyance of the long journey to Leeside, he feels it’ll be a closer game than one might think. 

“I think Donegal are a better team, but under the circumstances, in that they’ve had such a long road to even get here, I feel it won’t be easy for them,” Tompkins said. 

“Donegal have had three really tough games in Ulster, and then another hard battle against Tyrone in Ballybofey last week, while Cork have had an extra week to rest. And you put all that together with the fact that Donegal is making the long journey down to Páirc Uí Rinn, you know, that counts for a lot.” 

The former Kildare and Cork player feels that with the split-season, it is a big ask of a team who are trying to pump themselves up for a big championship game, and after coming down after that battle, they then have to go to the well again the following week due to the condensed season. 

Donegal have to do it again following their match against Tyrone last weekend in MacCumhaill Park, and Tompkins believes the difficulty of regenerating those energy levels is a difficult thing to do and may play into Cork’s advantage this Saturday. 

“I think trying to ask players to go at it again in a tough championship match six days after coming through Tyrone . . . that’s tough,” the former Cork player and manager said.  

“I think we need to take into account where the game is on too. Páirc Uí Rinn is a tight pitch and that’ll suit Cork more, so all in all, I give Cork a chance but that is mainly due to the tough circumstances that Donegal has to overcome.  

“But still, if you were to call a result, I would still be backing Donegal. I think they’ll just see the game out in the end, but it will be a competitive game.  

“Like I don’t think people should underestimate Cork, they are a good group, and they are improving, and as I said, with the advantages that they have already . . . they have a chance. 

“I would see it more as a competitive game, rather than a runaway for Donegal.”