Gallen, Thompson ruled out until Championship

Ciarán Thompson and Oisin Gallen have been ruled out for the remainder of Donegal’s Allianz League campaign.

Gallen picked up an injury in the warm-up before Sunday’s defeat by Monaghan in Ballybofey, while Thompson was withdrawn injured in the 28th minute.

Both will be absent when Donegal take on Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday (3.45pm). Their target is now to be ready in time for the Ulster SFC showdown with Armagh on April 24.

“We’re only five weeks out for the Championship and that’s in the back of our minds,” Donegal manager Declan Bonner told Donegal Live.

“Oisin has been very unfortunate with injuries. We can’t risk him now. He was doing extremely well, he was brilliant when he came on against Tyrone and I was looking forward to him starting. He just picked up a knock, nothing too serious, but we just have to get it cleared up.

“Ciaran picked up a soft tissue again. Again, it’s not serious and won’t have him out for more than a couple of weeks.”

While Michael Langan and Caolan McGongale are also on a Championship recovery plan, Hugh McFadden will return to the squad this week. The Killybegs man was named in the starting XV for Sunday, but was not in the match day squad.

Neil McGee, an unused substitute for Sunday’s 1-12 to 0-10 loss to Monaghan, is inching closer. The veteran Gaoth Dobhair defender is said to be ‘not far away’. “He’s training well and we can definitely expect to see him get game time soon,” Bonner said.

Michael Murphy and Jamie Brennan made their returns off the bench last week, but they couldn’t prevent Donegal from falling to a disappointing defeat.

Now, they go to Croke Park for a dance with the Dubs, energised surely by their 0-13 to 0-8 success over Tyrone in Omagh.

“This is where we need to be tested,” Bonner said. “Dublin were pretty impressive, especially in the first half, against Tyrone and the will be a real test for us.

“We have to get our and perform better. Ultimately, we need more consistency. We have to maintain the consistency and that’s the challenge for us.

“We’re at Croke Park this week. That’s where every young Gaelic footballer wants to be and these players have that opportunity on Sunday.

“A lot has been made of the players who are out - and we do have a large number out - but they won’t be involved and it’s up to the others to come in now. We get back at it on Tuesday to get ready for a huge challenge.”

On Sunday, Donegal briefly came back from the brink to go within two points of Monaghan, but the Farney eased to victory with three late points.

Shaun Patton, the Donegal goalkeeper, denied Monaghan with three vital saves to keep Donegal in with a fighting chance.

Bonner said: “We didn’t start well and we didn’t kick in at all. We got a bit of a lift when Michael came in, but we need to get more consistent. We do have a lot of younger lads and new lads in, but they still have to find that.

“The League has been good in that we’ve had a look at around 30 players. The Championship is just five weeks away but, while we do have the mind on that in a way, we have to give Dublin our full focus this weekend.”