Donegal hurlers have to up the ante against Derry - Brian MacIntyre 

Donegal’s chastising 2-23 to 0-9 NHL loss to Derry is still fresh in the minds of Brian MacIntyre and his senior county hurling teammates. 

It was a blow that sent Mickey McCann’s charges back to Division 3 just three short weeks ago. 

It was all the more galling that on that same O’Donnell Park sod, Donegal had scored a fantastic and much-hyped win over Kerry back at the beginning of March. 

If that was akin to champagne hurling then the display against the Oak Leafers was more like flat beer. One man who does not shirk from an honest evaluation of Donegal on that sorry Sunday is MacIntyre.

“We did not do ourselves justice that day and, to be honest, we let ourselves down,” he said.

“We had a great league overall but that last game was just embarrassing for us.

“But it is great to get the chance so soon to play them again and it gives us a chance to redeem ourselves in some way.”

MacIntyre agreed that it was doubly puzzling and disappointing given the great display against Kerry a few weeks previously.

“I don’t know where that performance against Derry came from.

“There was probably about 11 or 12 of us who were below par that day. We just did not turn up and we went from one of our best ever wins to one of our worst defeats.”

The St Eunan’s duel star added that it was “funny how sport goes” but quickly added that it can change just as quickly again.

“I have been on the end of heavy defeats before, but you can turn it around if you have 15 lads with the right attitude and more coming off the bench.

“You can change things around fairly quickly and that is what we will be hoping for against Derry in Celtic Park on Saturday.”

Asked what Mickey McCann said after that crushing defeat, MacIntyre explained: “To be honest there was not much to be said really as we knew ourselves. 

“It was one of the worst defeats I have ever had and it was a tough few days afterwards too.

“But we have a great squad and training is going well and you have to get over it quickly and move on to the next one.

“It is sport at the end of the day and things can change quickly”.

MacIntyre is well aware that Derry are a big physical team who are strong all over and have a sprinkling of Slaughneil boys in Meehaul McGrath and Cormac O’Doherty. 

They also have Cathal Murray and Shay Cassidy in the full forward line and they are two brilliant players.

“Christy McNaughton is very good too and the yalso have Mark Craig and the Mullans from Dungiven.

“But, on our day, I have great belief that we can match them but we just have to go out and do it.

“Derry have loads of experience but at this stage this is also a very experienced Donegal team and most of the lads have been around for quite a while.”

Donegal are also relatively injury-free in the lead-in which is a big boost going into Celtic Park.

“Training is very competitive and it is hard to get your place on the first 15.

“But it is hard to even make the final 26 and there are really good hurlers who can’t get into that match-day squad and you feel for them.

“There are now replacements for virtually every position and it is a tough team to pick and that is up to Mickey and the boys to try and pick the best team”.

26-year-old MacIntyre has been on the county side now for the past four years.

He is a well-known dual player and picked up a county football championship medal with the Black and Amber last year

“I have not played as much football in recent times but I was with the St Eunan’s senior football squad last year and you are out every day in the week, but I love playing both games.

“I played in the first game against Kilcar and a half against Naomh Conaill.

“It is tough when you are away with the county hurling team as you miss the whole football and hurling leagues.

“I have a county medal from last year, but I did not get on in the final.

“I was later starting at the hurling and have been on the bench for St Eunan’s footballers but I love both games.”

But there is no doubt that MacIntyre will be a very happy man if he and Donegal can do themselves justice in Celtic Park on Saturday.