A delicate game for the two managers; but one that Donegal have to win says Jimmy Smyth

Two points separate Donegal and Armagh on the Allianz National Football League table ahead of Sunday's final round of fixtures when they face each other in O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny (1.45 pm). 

There is likely to be a capacity crowd at the Letterkenny venue with the match all-ticket, even for U-16s.
The last time the counties met at this venue was 12 years ago in 2010 and Armagh went away with a big win which sealed their promotion to Division One.

O'Donnell Park has been something of a bogey venue for Donegal in the NFL ever since with just one win in eight games there since that clash in 2010.

Will Armagh come looking for a win and a chance to make the Allianz League Division One final? Or are they happy to keep their powder dry for the championship clash between the counties four weeks later in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey?

At present they are third in the table and would have to better the Mayo result against Kildare on Sunday to advance to the final. Even though they have a better score difference than Mayo, the Connacht side have the head to head advantage should both win or draw their games.

There are so many permutations but the only real one for Donegal is that they have to win to ensure their Division One status for 2023.

Armagh can come in a relaxed mood for Sunday and former Armagh All-Star Jimmy Smyth feels they are in a very good position.

"Will they go and try to get to a league final; I honestly wouldn't know," says Smyth. "It's a very delicate one for the two managers and for the two teams; the ones that need to win it are Donegal. They have to win.
"You would want to be keeping a bit distance between yourself and the championship team, wouldn't you. It's easier for Armagh to do that on Sunday, absolutely," says Smyth.

"But then it's more difficult to dip down and come up again. To try and keep it at the same tempo is a different kettle of fish," he says, adding that both teams will also be trying to fit in challenge games in the next few weeks.

"Armagh started the league very well, and they haven't played that bad in the matches they lost. They have a couple of boys injured at the moment; they will be missing the Turbitts; Oisin O'Neill is not there.

"I would say Kieran McGeeney is very pleased with where he is, sitting safe in Division One; you would have taken that at the start of the league. Any of the teams would have taken that at the start of the league.

"Getting the Dublin scalp in Croke Park on the first night, that was a big one for them. He (McGeeney) will look back on the matches he lost and he will say we could have done this and we could have done that. But sometimes you learn more from defeats and you don't gloss over things; it makes you look at things," says Smyth, who says that McGeeney was held in high regard in Kildare whom he managed from 2007 to 2013 before coming back to his native county.

"Whatever he had in Kildare, I'm quite sure he hasn't lost it since coming to Armagh. He doesn't get too carried away in any shape or form.

"I think the inclusion of Kieran Donaghy hasn't been a bad thing either for Armagh. He might say the same things as McGeeney, but it comes in a different accent and might have a different meaning. He knows what he's talking about.

The Armagh results in the league so far are:
Dublin 1-13, Armagh 2-15
Armagh 2-14, Tyrone 0-14
Armagh 1-7, Monaghan 0-10
Mayo 0-15, Armagh 1-10
Armagh 1-12, Kildare 0-10
Armagh 0-13, Kerry 1-13

That is an average of 0-17 per game. Donegal are someway short of that with an average of 0-13 per game. They will need to improve on that statistic if they are to overcome McGeeney's men on Sunday.

McGeeney has plenty of firepower up front with the likes of Rian O'Neill, who will be another big test for Brendan McCole. O'Neill has been the Armagh scorer-in-chief during the league although he has had great support from Tiernan Kelly, who burst onto the scene in the last few years.

Rory Grugan and Stefan Campbell are also going to need special attention. McGeeney has also made a big change in recent games putting Ethan Rafferty between the posts. The former midfielder cum forward is performing the modern role of a roving goalkeeper, like Rory Beggan and Niall Morgan.

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Donegal are in a battle to avoid relegation as Armagh - their Championship opponents next month - roll into Ballybofey on Sunday

There is plenty of experience in the Armagh defence also with the likes of James Morgan, Aidan Forker and Jarlath Og Burns, who is making one of the half-back berths his own.

It is likely that Donegal will be forced to field much the same side as took the field against Dublin on Sunday last in Croke Park in the penultimate game.

Declan Bonner and the management team will be keeping their fingers crossed that all his players come through the game unscathed, as there is one eye on that championship clash just four weeks later in MacCumhaill Park.

With the game on Sunday being all-ticket (for U-16s as well), there is likely to be a great atmosphere at the Letterkenny ground. Getting a win would put Donegal in a good position ahead of that clash a month later. But it won't be easy; no game against a Kieran McGeeney team ever is.