Donegal boss John McNulty labels Tyrone encounter a 'make or break' game

Donegal hope to bounce back from their late draw away to Monaghan when they host Tyrone, on Sunday, in Ballybofey (throw-in 2pm).

The clash could well be a defining one as it will, more than likely, determine one of the two promotion places back to Division 1 of the Lidl Ladies National Football League.

Donegal go into the game at MacCumhaill Park off the back of two wins, one draw and a defeat and currently sit in third place in the table.

They are three points behind their Red Hand opponents who in turn are two adrift of All-Ireland Intermediate champions Kildare.

The Lilywhites are on the maximum points from their four straight wins, one of which came against Donegal in O’Donnell Park with the visitors winning that tie on a 1-8 to 1-4 scoreline.

All that means Kildare currently lead the way on 12 points, followed by Tyrone on 10 and Donegal back on 7 points.

Tipperary and Cavan, who Donegal still have to play in their closing two games, are on six points each, Westmeath are on three and Monaghan and Laois complete the table on one apiece.

“The bottom line is that we have to win on Sunday to stay in the promotion race,” said boss John McNulty.

“The top two at the end of the league are promoted and will also be in the Division 2 final”.

Donegal were pegged back late on in Monaghan when the hosts were awarded a late penalty tie up the game. And it’s a decision that still irks the manager.

“It was awarded for an alleged foot block by Abigail Temple Asokuh. But it was not a penalty. The video shows it was a very good tackle by Abigail.

“But that is not how the referee and his umpires saw it. It certainly was a big call and a wrong call as far as we are concerned and cost us.

“We ended up with one point as opposed to the three league points we deserved to take from the game.

“So it’s pretty simple, if we beat Tyrone we are back in the race. I do think it is between ourselves and Tyrone for that second spot.

“Kildare are the top team and are unbeaten so they are in pole position. On the other hand, if we lose on Sunday our chance is gone.

“People may say we are in transition following so many high-profile departures at the end of last year. And some might think another season in Division 2 might not be the end of the world.

“There is no getting away from it, we are in transition but the objective is still to go back up to Division 1.”

Tyrone - who racked up big winning margins - especially in their victories over Tipperary and Monaghan; are going to provide McNulty and his new Donegal with stiff opposition.

In their four games to date, they have scored an impressive 8-36, which is much better than Donegal’s 3-33.

McNulty will at least draw some solace as he prepares for the weekend’s showdown in MacCumhaill Park when he compares Donegal return of 3-32 to Tyrone’s 3-33.

“Our problem has been scoring but in fairness, we have been creating scoring chances. The last day against Monaghan we missed a host of good scoring opportunities.

“But the good thing is we are creating chances, it is just a matter of finishing them off with scores.

“It is something we are working on and in fairness to the girls they are working hard and I think we are improving.

“The last day against Monaghan we scored 1-13, which is a decent return. But we will have to improve our scoring again to beat Tyrone.

“But we have worked hard over the last two weekends since the Monaghan game and I’m expecting a big performance from the girls on Sunday.”

Apart from sub goalkeeper Orla Corry, broken finger, McNulty has reported a clean bill of health for Sunday’s encounter.