Allianz Football League Division One: Roscommon v Donegal on Sunday in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park at 1.30pm
The big challenges come thick and fast in Division One – and they don’t come much bigger than Donegal, who bring their unbeaten record to Hyde Park this Sunday.
It’s another very attractive fixture for football supporters. On form, Donegal are the number one team in the country. It will be very interesting to see what attitude they adopt for their remaining two matches. Last year when they were assured of safety (from relegation) they ‘pulled the handbrake’ and didn’t exactly go all out to get to the league final.
This year, there is a feeling both inside and outside Donegal that Jim McGuinness would like to have a crack at winning a league title. If that’s the case, this will be an even more formidable challenge for Roscommon.
The excellent wins that Roscommon had over Monaghan, Armagh and Galway did not transform them into All-Ireland contenders, nor did the recent defeat against Dublin make them a bad team either.
Division One is the place to be playing football, particularly for a team like Roscommon, who have brought on many younger players this year. The experience that the likes of Aaron Brady, Paddy Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Eoin Ward, Conor Ryan, Darragh Heneghan, Eoin Colleran, Jack Duggan, Jack Tumulty and Rob Heneghan have gained over the past couple of months is invaluable. To continue the development of the team, it is vital that Roscommon stay in Division One.
The six points Mark Dowd’s team have secured should be sufficient to preserve their top flight status, but a win on Sunday would guarantee safety. Getting that win will be a tall order against a team that has been outstanding so far this year.
Many of the Donegal players who will be lining out on Sunday are becoming household names. Gavin Mulreany has been impressive between the posts, so much so that the injured Shaun Patton will have a job to replace him when he returns from injury.
The Donegal defence, with the likes of Eoghán Bán Gallagher, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan, Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle and the outstanding Finnbarr Roarty, have been exceptional again this year.
Hugh McFadden and Michael Langan are now the best midfield partnership around. Langan is improving with every passing year and is one of the top three players in the game right now.
Up front, the Donegal scoring is well spread out. Shane O’Donnell, Conor O’Donnell, Ciaran Moore, Conor McCahill, Jason McGee and Oisín Gallen have been superb so far. Donegal also have several talented subs who have been a very important part of their set-up this year.
It will be interesting to see who Mark Dowd opts for between the posts. Both Aaron Brady and Conor Carroll have very strong claims for a starting place. I expect to see Caelim Keogh, Niall Higgins, Colm Neary, Ronan Daly and Senan Lambe in defence. Ruaidhrí Fallon will surely feature at some stage too.
Keith Doyle and Conor Ryan (if fit) will probably start at midfield, however Shane Cunnane is edging closer to the team in that sector and we may see him at some stage on Sunday.
Dylan Ruane, Enda Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh and Daire Cregg will almost certainly start in attack, and Conor Hand and Ben O’Carroll are also possible starters.
The formbook would suggest a win for Donegal. The pressure is off Roscommon to a certain extent and they can give this one a lash. The performance against Dublin was poor, but I am expecting a much better showing this time from Mark Dowd’s men.
It’s another marvellous chance for Roscommon to test themselves against one of the best teams in the country. Donegal have to be fancied to edge it by a point or two.
Prediction: Donegal.
