Donegal set for historic clash against Kerry in the National Hurling League

The Donegal hurlers will break new ground on Sunday when they play against a Munster opposition for the first time in the National League.

Letterkenny's O'Donnell Park will host a first-ever competitive meeting between Donegal and Kerry in a novel Allianz National Hurling League meeting that manager Mickey McCann says his squad are looking forward to. 

Kerry continues to be excluded from the Munster Hurling Championship, but the perennial Joe McDonagh Cup finalists will be eyeing promotion to Division 1B as a route towards proper recognition within their home province. 

For Donegal, holding their hard-won spot and avoiding the drop to Division 3 is the main objective in their maiden season in Division 2. 

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“It’s great to be playing a team like Kerry, and hopefully that will attract more supporters on Sunday,” Donegal manager Mickey McCann said this week.  

“Kerry have been Joe McDonagh Cup finalists (hurling’s second tier championship) over and over, and are probably the biggest team ever to come and play a competitive hurling match in Donegal. 

“They lost their first match to Kildare but went and hammered Derry the next day out. They have a lethal forward line. 

“I believe Kerry, Kildare and Down are ahead of everyone in Division 2, but we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against a really good team. 

“The squad is looking forward to it. Defenders are looking forward to playing against top forwards and our forwards are looking to see whether we can work our own scores against good opposition defenders.” 

Donegal bounced back from a narrow opening-day defeat to Meath with a comfortable win over Tyrone at O'Donnell Park. Last time out they lost to league leaders Down by 3-17 to 0-17, but manager McCann was happy with the performance if not the result against opponents he describes as being “a wee step above” Donegal. 

“While it was a defeat, it was actually a good performance,” he said of the trip to the Ards Peninsula. “We went score for score with Down for long periods, but we gave away two bad goals in the five minutes before halftime. 

“Until then we’d been very happy, but we made a couple of mistakes and when you make mistakes in this division you’re punished hard. 

“Their management said we were the hardest working team they’d played - which we have to be because we’re a bit behind and you have to try to outwork your opponent and I was pleased we did that.  

“We were level on second-half scores, and missed a penalty too. So it was a good enough outing, but there were no league points for us out of it.” 

With a trip to Kildare pencilled in for Sunday week, the manager says Donegal will “take learnings” from the next two games before what he believes will be the defining game against Derry at the end of March. 

“Either way, it looks like it will go down to the last day with Derry,” he said of Donegal's prospects of retaining Division 2 status. “Even if we were to get two points from one of our next two games, with two teams being relegated it means that final match against Derry will be important for the head-to-head. 

“We’re going to take the opportunity of these two games to see where we’re at.  We’re going to go out really hard, and try to make it as awkward for Kerry as possible.” 

Kerry manager John Griffin is in his first season in charge and is the first Kingdom native to take charge of the county's hurlers in almost 20 years.  

They were stung by an opening-day defeat at the hands of Kildare, but put 20 points on Derry in their second outing with centre forward Seanie Brosnan hitting 2-4 from play and corner forward Shane Conway contributing 1-7 (0-5 from frees).  

They boast a strong midfield pairing of Rory Mahony and Killian Hayes and will come to O'Donnell Park with perhaps their eyes on bigger challenges to come against Meath and Down. 

Other than veteran forward Declan Coulter who is on his way back from injury, Donegal have a full squad to choose from. Ruairi Campbell has returned to fitness, Steven McBride is available after resting a minor knock for the Down game, while former captain Ronan McDermott was given that weekend off after he and his wife Leona welcomed the arrival of their second child.  

“With Kerry coming, it’s a great opportunity for people to come out and see this new-look Donegal team,” manager McCann said. “We’re hoping to perform well, looking forward to the test. 

“They’re travelling up a long way, and you wouldn’t know how switched on they’ll be. “We’ll have our house in order. We’re looking for a big performance to make it as hard as possible for Kerry.” 

Sunday's game at O'Donnell Park has a 1pm throw-in, with Antrim referee Ciaran McCloskey taking charge.