Donegal’s familiarity with Meath does not breed contempt, as they face a tricky assignment away to Meath in Navan, according to experienced defender Caolan Ward.
The versatile Ward was playing wing back against Mayo,and is very aware of the very real threat posed by the physically powerful Royals who lost to Tyrone last weekend.
“Yes, we met them three teams last year and each time we came out on the right side of the result so that is something they will be very conscious of.
When they are analysing us, they certainly won’t want another defeat against Donegal.
‘No doubt they will have targeted this game and they will be well set up for us.
“And Navan is a tough place to come to as I played in a Qualifier there in 2017 and came out with a one- point victory.
“It was a lovely summer’s day.”
Fast forward two years and Meath caused Donegal plenty of bother in their three meetings last year.
The Royals were very unlucky not to come away with two points in their League match against Tir Conaill in Ballybofey last year-it took a somewhat lucky goal from Caolan McGonagle gave the home a lucky win by tow points.
Meath also jumped into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead by the 18th minute in the NFL Division Two Final before Donegal hit back through a stellar display from Michael Murphy.
And, Meath stayed with Donegal for most of their Super 8 match in Ballybofey late on last year.
Those three defeats in one year are sure to whet the appetite of Andy McEntee’s towering lively pacey young men.
“Yes they ran at us at pace from deep with the McEntee’s and Bryan Menton, very prominent.
“They ae big strong men and no doubt they will have a couple of new faces like ourselves.
“They will be looking to get their performance right and having lost to Tyrone las Sunday they will be looking to get points on the board.
Meath were winning/drawing up to the final quarter with Donegal last year.
“Yes, they are a good side and growing in pedigree and they were not in the Super 8’s just by luck and you don’t lose that over a couple of months.
“They will definitely be a challenge to us.”
But a major challenge for Donegal is the fact that Stephen McMenamin, Paddy McGrath, Daire O’Baoill, Paul Durcan, Conor O’Donnell (Carn0, Jason McGee, Oisin Gallen, Kieran Gillespie have all been joined by promising midfielder Caolan McGonagle on the treatment table.
Add in the fact that Frank McGlynn and most recently Leo McLoone have retired while Paddy McBrearty may or may not start on Sunday and you can see that this will be a much changed Donegal team-a tad short on experience.
But Ward reckons that these regrettable absentees gives opportunities for other players.
“That is why you have a panel so that when you have things like that happening that you have fellows ready to step in.
“Naturally it is disappointing to be losing players to injury week on weeks but obviously the panel we have now is quite strong.
“They have been playing very well and training very well so that you are not going to be worried about who is going to step in.
“Everybody is there on merit and they have acquitted themselves very well in training and in the few matches that we have had already.”
For now, Ward’s sole focus is on Meath and getting two precious points and in keeping his place in a new look side that has only one survivor from the 2012 All-Ireland winning team and that is Michael Murphy.
One thing is certain-Ward and Donegal are mighty relieved that the Glenswilly giant is in the best of health for Sunday’s potential “banana skin” in Navan.
