Declan Bonner: Orchard test the ‘perfect’ Championship warm-up

Declan Bonner says Sunday’s Allianz League Division 1 game against Armagh will serve as perfect preparation for their Ulster Championship clash in four weeks’ time.

Donegal are still battling to avoid relegation heading into this weekend. Victory will secure Donegal’s top flight berth. Anything else and the eyes will focus on games elsewhere.

Armagh are due in Ballybofey for an Ulster SFC quarter-final next month, but Bonner doesn’t see Sunday’s prequel as an issue.

“It’s good pressure,” Bonner told Donegal Live.

“We have Armagh again in four weeks. That’s the pressure you want - and you want players to respond to that pressure.

What Donegal need to survive in Division One: The permutations for the final round

The final round of games in the Allianz League take place next weekend with Donegal needing a win against Armagh to guarantee survival

“A similar thing happened us before when we had Tyrone in League and Championship games in a short space of time. Once Sunday’s game with Dublin was over, our focus was immediately on this Armagh game and it’s our main priority now.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the players respond to that. Ultimately we will be judged on the Championship, but we really want to stay in Division 1. This gives the players great exposure to the top teams.”

Donegal have produced a mixed bag so far this spring; from the good of beating Tyrone to a defeat by Monaghan at the other end of the scale.

A defat by Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday offered signs of a revival in performance levels and Bonner wants a repeat to safeguard his side’s Division 1 status.

“It’s a huge game to get ready for,” Bonner said.

“We really have to be more consistent and we know that. It has been up and down so far.

“In some games we have played well in a half and not so well in the other. We just need to be more consistent over a longer period of time.

“We’ve used a lot of players, 31, which has maybe contributed to inconsistency. But, it has been well worth it over the six games and we really want to make sure we stay in Division 1.

“Staying in Division 1 is important from a number of perspectives, none more so than introducing players in games aghast the top sides in the country.”

Naomh Columba’s Aaron Doherty is one who ticks that box. The Glen man started Donegal’s last two games against Monaghan and Dublin, a level of exposure not offered away from the spotlight of Division 1.

“It takes players time to adapt to the standard, the intensity, the decision making,” Bonner said. “That’s why it’s important we are in Division 1 - so players see exactly what’s required. This is where we want to be and where we need to be.”

That Kerry will be in the Division 1 final is the only certainty going into this weekend’s fixture.

There are five teams, Donegal included, aiming to avoid the drop.

Sunday’s game could be a sell-out and Bonner has called on the Tir Chonaill support to be a 16th man.

He said: “It looks like there will be a big crowd in from Armagh. There’ll be a real Championship feel to the game with a lot at stake and a big crowd. There will be stages in the game where Armagh will be in the ascendancy and we need the supporters to get behind us and be the 16th man for us,

“It will be difficult and Armagh have been quite consistent. They have been very strong and have secured Division 1 status.”

Bonner has no fresh injury concerns, but there’ll be no further additions to his squad for this weekend.

The Donegal manager insists that his injury casualties like Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Thompson, Niall O’Donnell, Oisin Gallen and Michael Langan remain firmly on track for Championship returns.

He said: “They are well on the road, which is a big positive for us. We haven’t rushed them and we won’t rush them. It was great to get a full game into Michael (Murphy) last week, we got Neil (McGee) back on the pitch and Jamie (Brennan) too. Jeaic (Mac Ceallabhuí) came off the bench also, again that was a positive. The squad won’t change from last week and thankfully everyone came through that one.

“It’s all systems go for Sunday. We need a big performance.”