Mac's View: Good start for Donegal with win over Dublin in Ballybofey

 'Tús maith leath na hoibre'. Donegal got off to a very good start on Saturday night with the four point win over Dublin in MacCumhaill Park. It was a good performance as I thought Dublin were better than I was expecting. They looked quite fit even if they had a good number of new players on board.

But I felt we were well able for them and the four point margin at the end didn’t flatter us. There was also a very good crowd in MacCumhaill Park and they created a good buzz, which is very good for the year going forward.

It is going to be very important to get points on the board from home matches in this league. We know that there are going to be no easy games. Getting those two points on the board in the opening game is just a start, we have to build on that.

I know we have the long trip to Kerry next weekend and that will never be easy. With the game being postponed on the first weekend it means that the season is going to be really condensed now and it will be important to get points on the board early so that players can be rotated and rested, especially as the Ulster championship begins the week after the Allianz League final and we are involved in the preliminary round against Derry in MacCumhaill Park.

The scheduling looks crazy and certainly doesn’t sit well for Ulster teams with our championship the most competitive.

The nature of the new rules is also a factor and while I would hold fire on making any comments on them until I have seen five or six rounds, the physical demands on the players has increased and that along with the scheduling is not helpful.

As I say we have a long trip next weekend to Kerry and they started their campaign last weekend with a very lucky win against Derry in Celtic Park. Three goals in the last few minutes looked exciting on television but it was kamikaze stuff from the Derry side, who have a capacity for that at the  moment. They still have goalkeeping issues and some of their kick-outs led to goals.

Kerry won without David Clifford and I don’t think he will be playing against Donegal either. It was great for Donegal to get the win last weekend, but they cannot risk players who are injured so it is unlikely that they will have Peadar Mogan for Kerry as he was limping towards the end of the Dublin game.

Under the new rules and the tight scheduling, it is hard for amateur players. It looks very important that Donegal use their full panel during the league. They are carrying well over 30 players and it will be a good opportunity for the management to get a look at all of them.

The target has to be the home games and we have a tough one coming up on Sunday week with Armagh coming to MacCumhaill Park.

I felt we were playing well within ourselves against Dublin so we should go to Killarney and enjoy the weekend. It will also be good for bonding the panel. Killarney is a big pitch and with the new three-up rule, there will be plenty of room to exploit.

As regards the new rules, I’m holding my counsel. I do agree with Jim McGuinness that there should be more subs allowed. I feel we will learn more about the rules as we go.

MAC RORY FINAL

Here at home on Sunday we have a massive occasion with Donegal Town school, Abbey VS competing in the MacRory Cup final, the first Donegal school to appear in the decider in 64 years. It is great to have a Donegal school there.

I remember when I was in my first year in St Macartan’s, Monaghan in 1956, St Eunan’s appeared in their first final, managed by John Wilson. Macartan’s won by a point and my heart was supporting St Eunan’s and my head was saying Macartan’s. I don’t know why, but Sean Ferriter was in goals for St Eunan’s in that final.

St Eunan’s were also in the finals of 1959 and 1961 but now Donegal have a chance with Abbey VS to win the MacRory for the first time and I want to wish them well. They are a credit to themselves, their school and their clubs. I’m told they have only lost one game in two years. Good luck to manager Stuart McFadden and all the panel.

The Donegal hurlers under Mickey McCann got back to winning ways against Tyrone at the weekend and they face a tough game this weekend against Down in Ballycran. They are well up in the reckonings over the past few years and good luck to them on Sunday.

The Ladies got another draw against Westmeath away from home and are wished well in their first game at home this Sunday when they face Monaghan in Lifford.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell