Donegal make the long trip to Killarney for a tough test against Kerry on Sunday without the talismanic Michael Murphy. Murphy sustained an injury in their victory over Kildare and had to go off in the first half.
But his colleagues stood up well in his absence and secured two precious points.
However, they will need a lot more of the same if they are to get any kind of a result against the in-form Kingdom according to ex-Donegal and St Eunan’s star John Haran.
And Haran is yet to be convinced about Kerry’s claim to being a contender for the All-Ireland title.
“It is always hard for Donegal to get a result in Kerry and it’s hard for everyone to get a result in Kerry and Jack O’Connor is coming in now to put on a bit of a push to get success again," said Haran.
“He wants to put a marker down early, but they struggled against Kildare and improved against Dublin.
“But I would not be overly convinced about Kerry.
“Everyone is bumming them up and making them favourites for the All-Ireland, but they have a bit to prove in defence. It will be a big ask for Donegal without Michael Murphy but it's not beyond the bounds of possibility either.
“But Kerry can open on you and David Clifford can destroy any team.
Donegal have three points from their opening two games, but Haran believes they should have maximum points at this stage and that they let a great opportunity slip against Mayo in their opening match.
“We threw away the game against Mayo in Sligo and you would question some of the decisions by the more experienced players in the second half," he said.
“We were in control and winning by five points and at that level you just have to see it out and be cuter and whatever it takes and even a bit more cynical, but you must see it out.
“We had enough experienced men on the field to see it out and we were not caught for a goal, but we were caught for five points which should not have happened.
He added: “Donegal were nearly too cagey and maybe a lack of fitness but I thought that Conor O’Donnell has sone well and Brendan McCole is doing a good job at full-back in Neil McGee’s absence and it will be interesting to see if Neil can come back at this level."
Even without Murphy, Haran still believes Donegal have a chance to get something from their trip to the Kingdom this weekend.
“This is a good test for Donegal in Kerry but you have to go down believing and you never know what might happen if we can get early ball into Paddy McBrearty," he said.
“The Kerry backs are still the same backs that have been suspect over the past few years so we definitely have a chance to win.
“If Michael Langan gets ball and we are capable of winning but we need to be at our best and Kerry have a deadly forward line with the Clifford’s Paul Geaney and Sean O’Shea.
“I think it will be a great test for Donegal without Murphy.
“It will show who are the leaders and who are prepared to stand up when it matters.
“They showed it against Kildare and maybe we rely on Michael too much but this is a chance for the likes of Michael Langan, Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Paddy McBrearty to step up and maybe get us over the line."
