Division 2B/3A promotion relegation play-off: Donegal v Roscommon (today, Ballina, 5pm)
DONEGAL make the long trip to Ballina to take on Roscommon in a crunch NHL Division 2B/3A promotion/relegation play-off with two major boosts.
While the county is less than happy about the venue, the return of two of their top performers has lifted their spirits somewhat.
Both Jamesie Donnelly and Danny Cullen saw full action in their last game against Wicklow in Newry.
Donnelly was sidelined for most of the NHL following a work accident while Cullen was out with a recurring leg injury.
Ardal McDermott’s men have been dogged with injury all season and were minus seven players at one stage.
But today’s winner takes all clash in Ballina is one they feel the can win.
Last year, Donegal defeated Tyrone after a replay and today they face a Roscommon side who are the Nicky Rackard Cup holders and were unbeaten in Division 3A of the NHL.
“We are in exactly the same position as we were this time last year,” said McDermott.
“And this play-off is a game we targeted to win from the very start of the League.
McDermott concedes that the Rossies are on a real roll after an impressive victory over Monaghan in the Division 3A final.
“But we feel that we are at their level so it could be quite a contest but we feel that this is a game we can win,” he said.
Tir Chonaill’s chances have also been boosted by the return of marksman Kevin Campbell, but the bustling and penetrative Ronan McDermott is out through injury.
The last time these sides met in the NHL was in 2014 when Roscommon prevailed 3-11 to 0-15 in Athleague.
They are backboned by talismanic captain Michael Kelly and the very accurate Jerry Fallon up front.
The Rossies are physically powerful in central slots.
But Donegal also have the very accurate Lee Henderson, Ciaran Matthewson and Enda McDermott to boost their challenge.
Games between these sides are traditionally very close and today’s encounter looks to be no different.
Donegal’s main weakness has been a tendency to give away goals just after they have hit a major score.
So this is an aspect of their game that will need to be vastly improved against an accurate and opportunistic Roscommon full-forward line.
On form, Roscommon look to be the slight favourites to prevail and get that valuable promotion slot.
But a fired up Donegal, still irked at having to go to Ballina, might just have the necessary motivation to prevail by a few points, and they have two very good aces in Messrs Donnelly and Cullen to steer them through a very tricky encounter.
