Team News: Donegal name an unchanged side for Kildare clash

Donegal manager John McNulty names an unchanged side from the team that lost to Waterford two weeks ago in Walsh Park, for his team’s play-off clash against Kildare this Saturday in Breffni Park. 

It’s a huge game for both counties as they battle to stay afloat in the Senior Championship ranks, with the losers forced to play a deciding relegation match next weekend. 

When the sides met earlier in the season in Division 2 of the Lidl National League in Letterkenny, Kildare emerged victorious on a 1-8 to 1-4 scoreline with the Lilywhites going on to seal national silverware and promotion to the top flight. 

Senior championship football has been a step up for Kildare with the Leinster side winning the 2023 All-Ireland Intermediate championship, and following defeats to Mayo and Dublin in the group phase, the Lilywhites are now aiming to stay alive in the elite grade. 

Donegal, in contrast, claimed a draw against the 2022 and 2023 All-Ireland finalists in their first group game, on the back of what was an encouraging display. 

They pegged back Kerry in MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey as Susanne White held her nerve late on to split the spoils, before losing to Waterford in Walsh Park. 

The winners will play Senior Championship football again next year, while the losers will play off against Laois or Tipperary on Saturday, July 13. 

Donegal: C Friel; S McLaughlin, A Temple Asokuh, E McGinley; K Dowds, N Boyle, T Hegarty; R Rodgers, J McGettigan; C Keon, N McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr; S White, K Herron, K Long. 

Kildare: A Dunlea; F Troute, A Reynolds, A Clifford; E O’Toole, R Sargent, L Gilbert; G Clifford, L Doran; C Sullivan, N Dooley, M Doherty; E Dowling, R Byrne, A Rattigan.