DONEGAL’S recent defeat to Cork could well be the “wake-up call” the county needed.
That is the firm view of ex-county player Raymond Sweeney as Tír Chonaill head to Castlebar for a joust with Clare in the final game of their group on Saturday.
Their 12-match unbeaten run came to an end in the tight confines of Pairc Ui Rinn as a physically powerful Cork team targeted the county’s smaller men and rammed in three goals - two coming in as many minutes.
Despite those hammer blows, Donegal rallied and levelled matters but just did not have the energy to pull off a win.
“This could be the wake-up call that was needed and it will dampen down some rampant expectation that was swirling around after the great win over Tyrone.
“And while we may have been waiting in the long grass for Derry, Cork were doing something similar with Donegal - but I don’t think that defeat is fatal.
“They had a lot of games on the bounce and it is hard after a five-and-a-half hour journey to Cork, it would be hard to get a result down there.
“It brings everybody back to earth and that is no bad thing.”
Sweeney added that Cork targeted Donegal’s smaller men. “Donegal don’t have too many out-and-out defenders as they are so versatile and it is about getting the right balance.
“There is a difference in being an out-and-out defender or as an attacker playing in defence.
“You can get away with it sometime but Cork picked up on that and sort of bullied Donegal in some of those positions and I did see a few of their goals.
“We were pressing high and Ryan McHugh was isolated on a one-and-one 40 yards from goals.
“That is not Jim McGuinness parking the bus by any means.
“But if someone had said at the start of the year that Donegal were going to win Division Two, an Ulster title and get through a Group stage and now maybe people are getting carried away and saying we could win an All-Ireland.”
But Clare equally could be waiting in the long grass for Donegal in Castlebar on Saturday although five of their starting 15 were playing in their first Munster final against Kerry.
“I watched them against Kerry and they really put it up to them for 50 minutes.
“Cillian Rouine in midfield and Ikem Ugweuru are top performers. They had a long kick-out strategy and were well set up and looked to attack from that kick-out.
“They were hard to press and it was only in the last quarter that Kerry pulled away and they have a few tasty forwards as well.
“They have nothing to lose and would love to spoil Donegal’s party.”
But Sweeney expects Donegal to win and he would be “disappointed if Donegal did not do it.”
“Jim McGuinness might shake it up a bit as Niall and Shane O’Donnell have put in a savage effort as have Ciaran Moore, Ryan McHugh, Jason McGee, and Michael Langan.
“But we need both midfielders on the field and McGee having to go off against a big Cork team was a huge moment.
“He has been superb this year and he has loads of physicality and is a proper ball player and Michael Langan is also regaining his form of a few years ago. Langan is a great attacking threat as well so I would fancy Donegal to win it.”