BRIAN MCENIFF COLUMN: We must get out and get behind Donegal this weekend against Armagh

I was very pleased with Donegal on Sunday last despite their four point defeat to Dublin in Croke Park. It was a big step up from the previous week against Monaghan.

They started really well, despite playing in a swirling breeze that is normal in Croke Park. Dublin seemed to have the advantage of it in both halves, much similar to what happened us against Mayo in the first game of the league in Markievicz Park, Sligo.

There was one statistic from the game that I would not be happy with - we kicked seven wides in the first half and another five in the second, as opposed to six in total for Dublin.

You were playing against a Dublin team that were almost at full strength - a forward line that contained Brian Howard, Sean Bugler, Niall Scally, Cormac Costello, Dean Rock and Ciaran Kilkenny.

They were strong in the middle also with Brian Fenton and Tom Lahiff, a big strong man who I like. It was a very strong Dublin team.

But overall, I felt it was a good Donegal performance. There were many highlights with Ryan McHugh back to form. Whether it was the Croke Park sod, he came alight. Michael Murphy added the extra dimension when we got him inside. The Terrible Twins, I call them. Ryan's flighted crossfield ball to Murphy in the second half which he fisted to the net was a thing of beauty.
They got a cheap penalty when the two men from the full-back line David Byrne and Michael Fitzsimons combined going forward. I felt he bought the penalty and if the game was in MacCumhaill Park, it would not have been given.

The one weakness which we showed was giving away too many frees. We have to practice how to tackle because most teams have a Dean Rock and you will be punished for those mistakes. Rock's contribution to the game was mostly from dead balls.
Michael Murphy found it hard to get frees at times. It was good, also to see Patrick McBrearty back to form with a great contribution of 1-6, while Shaun Patton was excellent between the posts.

Apart from Murphy and McBrearty, we struggle to get scores and yet Dublin got three points from midfield.
But again, it was a great performance and I would be happy with the spirit shown. The game turned when we lost a ball out under the Cusack Stand when we were ahead by four. They got a goal from it and if that had been prevented, we could have had a lead going in at half-time. As it was we never regained the lead and they scored 1-9 to our 0-2 in the second and third quarters.

But, as I said, it was nice to see Murphy back to his best. Peadar Mogan and Eoghan Bán Gallagher emptied the tank; Hugh McFadden got more game time, while the highlight in defence was the display of Brendan McCole in marshalling Ciaran Kilkenny and keeping him scoreless. Brendan is gaining in confidence, playing against some of the best in the country.
Hopefully, by the time the championship comes around, we will have more men ready for action.

The spotlight this week turns to Letterkenny with Armagh in town and it will be a tough game. They need to win to have a chance of making the league final, but we could also mathematically make the league final. But we need to win to ensure our status in Division One.



Our record in O'Donnell Park is not good, but that is just a psychological thing. It is a fine pitch with a good stand.
Armagh started the league well but then they were training since last September and most counties have caught up with them by now. But that said, they won't be easy beaten. They are playing plenty of crossfield ball, like Armagh of old.
Kerry contained them and held them scoreless for a long period last week. We are capable of doing that too.
It is important that we win to keep our status and also for psychological reasons as they come to Ballybofey four weeks later in the championship.

A draw might be enough but I remember a few years back drawing with Dublin in Ballybofey in the last game and then coming out to the car hearing that it wasn't enough and we were relegated. We can't take any chances, we just have to win.
But what is very important is that we outnumber Armagh in the stand and on the terraces on Sunday. We had a poor enough support in Croke Park, and Armagh will come with numbers as they will be thinking they could make a league final. We need big numbers and plenty of noise.

It will be a massive day for all the counties taking part. After Kildare hammering Monaghan last week, there have been some strange results. That came after Monaghan were way too good for us.

But I feel we are coming on well. The weather forecast for the weekend is good and the ground will be more akin to championship. We have a lot to play for. We must get on top and drive it home. We showed last week in the first 15 minutes that we could get good ball in early and we must do that again this week.

GOOD RESULTS
There were some good results for other Donegal teams at the weekend. The U-16s had a big win over Meath and were in the Skylon before going to see Donegal and Dublin in Croke Park.

I was listening on the radio on Saturday to the ladies game; what a finish in Clones with two late goals to defeat Dublin. They now play Meath in the final on April 10.

The hurlers went to Mayo and won again and now contest a league semi-final against Sligo in O'Donnell Park on Saturday. A win there will pit them against Derry in the Division 2B final.

The Donegal minors are also back in action this Saturday when they travel to Celtic Park to take on Derry. It will be a tough test for them.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell