Kerry in Ballshannon is just another game for Donegal - Ciaran Moore 

Ciaran  Moore knows that so many eyes will be trained on Fr Tierney Park on Sunday as Donegal once again renew acquaintances with All-Ireland champions Kerry. 

A lively exchange of views between Jim McGuinness and the media took place last Saturday evening, just after Donegal had opened their NFL account with an impressive away win over Dublin at Croke Park. 

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But the attention inevitably zoned in on last July and that 1-26 to 0-19 loss to the Kingdom on Jones Road. 

There is a real fascination attached to how Donegal react to that ten-point defeat and what they’ll attempt to do differently in 2026. 

But it’s difficult not to agree with Moore when he says it’s just another league game. The marbles on the line in Ballyshannon are hardly plentiful.

They might have started in the win over Roscommon last time out, but don’t be surprised if the likes of David Clifford and Joe O’Connor are removed from the equation at the weekend. 

Round 2 of the NFL in the mouth of February, and given the trek Kerry will make to the north west, those two and perhaps one or two others could well be left back at base.  

With Dingle, An Ghaeltacht and Ballymacelligott making it a clean sweep in the All-Ireland club championships, O’Connor will also likely give that cohort another weekend or two off. 

So while he didn’t zone in on any of that, Moore knows that Sunday isn’t any kind of opportunity for revenge. 

But the St Eunan’s clubman says that if Donegal could manage to pick up another league win and make it to four points from four, it would leave them in a seriously attractive position and on the brink of Division 1 safety. 

“Yeah, it’ll get attention because of the final,” Moore said. “But for us and them, it’s just another big game. Division 1, there really is no let-off. Every week, the standard is top. 

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s our first home game of the season and getting the win on the road, first night out, means we can really target that now with confidence. 

“If we got to Sunday evening sitting on four points, it would be a huge thing for the group”. 

Donegal got back down to serious business last Saturday evening on Jones Road with a fine 1-20 to 0-20 win over Ger Brennan’s new-look Dubs.

Moore was excellent over the 70 minutes with his directness and ability to carry ball so crucial early on as the visitors played into the mouth of torrential wind and rain. 

“We were happy to get the win. It’s just good to be back playing games. It’s come thick and fast the last few weeks with McKenna Cup and now the start of the league. 

“We were really happy with the start we made against Dublin, we went in at the break six up with Shea Malone’s goal a huge moment just before half-time. 

“As it turned out, it made all the difference. But even with the breeze, we knew what was coming in the second-half. 

“Dublin, at Croke Park and under new management, they were going to throw the sink at it. 

“We had to weather that but I thought we did well on those occasions not to buckle. They tagged on a few there near the end. But, like I said, we were up for the fight. 

“Again, we’ll look at all of that a lot closer midweek and I’m sure there are some things that worked well and some things we’ll need to improve upon. 

“The first game of the league can be a funny one, so we’re just really happy to get two early points on the board”.

Donegal headed for Mexico in the off-season and with St Eunan’s falling out of the Donegal SFC at the last-eight stage, Moore says he just looked to recharge the batteries and rest up. 

“I did try to relax, switch off. And that was just being around home, family and friends. I think it’s important to unplug for a bit and just enjoy some distraction. 

“But honestly, I was really looking forward to getting back at it. And just with the freshness of the new lads and what they bring, that’s been nice as well. There is a good energy. 

“A lot of those same lads knew that Jim and the management was going to be out and about in the club championships. 

“And the last few seasons, a good few have put their hands up there. That’s how they’ve got their chance. It’s great to see that. 

“I was in that same position a few seasons ago. And I know what it’s like. Coming into an environment like that, it’s exciting and the incentive is there to learn and improve and, most importantly, see game time. 

“Like, they have all come in with that attitude that, yeah, they have time on their side, but they want to make an impression now.  It just boosts the panel and adds to the competition”. 

With the new FRC playing rules now mostly bedded in and with the tweaks not major, Moore hopes that the new season continues to be high-scoring and produces even more spectacles. 

“I hope they’ve settled. I think we all feel we’re used to them. It feels like second nature now which wasn’t the case last season, especially early on as we all looked to get a handle on it. 

“I really like the impact they’ve had. It’s a better game, a more quicker game. And the high scoring is there. 

“We have a range of players that are showcasing exactly what they are about”.